Buying from someone new online can come with questions.

Is that the actual item? What condition is it in? Can I trust this seller? What if it never arrives? What if what turns up isn’t what I expected?

On Whatnot, you can get answers before you buy. In a live show, you can see products on camera, talk to the person selling them and ask questions in real time. You get a better look at what you’re buying and who you’re buying from before you decide to purchase.

And once you buy, Whatnot Buyer Protection is there in case you need it. Here’s how it works.

You spot something you want in a live show. Want a closer look at that corner? Curious about the condition, size or what comes with it? Wondering where a vintage piece came from? Ask the person selling it.

That’s part of what makes shopping live different. You can see the item, talk to the seller and get your questions answered before you buy. It brings more of the buying experience out into the open and gives sellers a chance to earn your trust in real time.

You made your purchase and your order is on its way. If something doesn’t go as expected, you can feel confident knowing you’re not on your own. Your eligible purchase is backed by Whatnot Buyer Protection.

You’re covered if your order:

• Doesn’t arrive

  It wasn’t shipped, gets lost or delayed in transit or never reaches you.

• Arrives damaged

  It’s broken, defective, expired or unusable.

• Isn’t what you purchased

  It’s the wrong item, something is missing, it doesn’t match what was described,or it isn’t authentic.

Get what you purchased, or we’ll make it right.

Most orders arrive just as expected. But if something isn’t right with yours, you can contact Whatnot for help. Click the Activity button in your app, tap the order and select ‘Get help with this purchase’. Tell us what happened, including as much detail as possible and any relevant photos, and we’ll guide you through the next steps.

A lot happens behind the scenes at Whatnot to keep every purchase secure. Sellers are verified before they can sell, and our systems continue monitoring for fraud even after they’re approved. 

Our Trust & Safety team operates 24/7, and one in three Whatnot employees works on buyer and seller trust, from keeping bad actors off the platform to supporting you when something goes wrong. And eligible purchases are backed by Whatnot Buyer Protection, so you can shop and buy with confidence.

We’re building Whatnot to be the most trusted marketplace to buy and sell. That means working to earn your trust with every purchase.

Learn more about Whatnot Buyer Protection →