Best Practices for Shipping
After you’ve sourced, listed, and successfully sold your items, it’s time for arguably the most integral part of the Whatnot seller process: shipping. Ensuring items reach the buyer safely, in a timely manner, and in the same condition as when sold, creates a seamless buying experience to keep those 5-star reviews flowing in. In this article, we’ll answer some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the shipping process.
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What packaging should I use? For bigger or more fragile items, choose a sturdy box with about 2 inches of extra space on each side of the items. For cards and small items, polymailers are suitable but still need to be well-secured to avoid any bending or ripping.
Why leave extra space around items? Extra space allows room for padding (kraft paper, bubble wrap, etc.) to protect items during transit. No buyer wants an item they’ve been looking forward to to break or get damaged during transit.
What if I don’t have these items, can I just ship the order? If you don’t follow the packaging guidelines and send an unsecured package that is prone to damage, you may face higher seller fees or risk losing your selling privileges if the package arrives damaged.
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Do I need a packing slip? It’s not required but it is recommended. After generating labels from the Seller Hub, you can email yourself the labels and packing slips to print. Think of it as a physical receipt for your buyers, even though they can find the details in the app, a physical packing slip may be helpful to them as well.
Can I include promotional flyers in my shipments? Yes, as long as they do not include written or printed solicitations. In fact, we recommend including a thank you note, your business card, or even throwing in some fun stickers with your packages to set yourself apart from the competition and leave a lasting impression on buyers as they open their packages.
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Can I split an order into multiple shipments after generating a label? No, the original label will be voided and replaced with a new one so you will not be able to use the original label. Contact our Support Team if you need assistance with labels for multiple shipments.
Can I send multiple items in a single package if I have multiple labels? Yes, but this depends on your Custom Shipping Profiles and Max Bundle Size. You will need to bundle the items in your Seller Hub before printing labels.
Can I ship items with Hazardous Materials with regular shipments? No, hazardous and non-hazardous items should not be bundled together in the same package. You can review our Hazardous Materials policy for more specific details.
What if my packages show no scans after drop-off? Delays in shipping can occur whether it’s due to holidays, weekends, or the post office itself but if there’s no update after 3 business days, please contact our Support Team.
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How do I set up a thermal label printer? Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and update your label preferences in your account settings on whatnot.com. Note: You cannot retroactively change the format for already generated labels.
What if I’m affected by an emergency and cannot ship my items right now? We get it, things happen and the most important thing is your well-being. If you find yourself affected by an emergency, be sure to contact our Trust and Safety team to notify them of the situation and any possible delays. We also recommend turning on ‘Vacation Mode’ if you do not want to receive any more orders for the time being.
We hope this article gives you a little bit more guidance on best shipping practices. For more in-depth answers to specific topics, please visit the Whatnot Help Center or contact our Support team through the app.
