What does a Whatnot giveaway actually cost?
The true cost is more than the item. Add what you paid for the giveaway, the shipping deducted from your seller balance, and any mailer, label, sleeve, or protective packaging. Multiply that amount by the number of giveaways planned for the show.
Allocate giveaways across paid orders
If five giveaways cost $35 in total and the show produces 30 paid sales, each sale must support about $1.17 of giveaway expense. A sale that appeared to earn $8 after marketplace fees and inventory cost contributed closer to $6.83 after the show’s giveaway budget.
Important shipping detail
The seller covers giveaway shipping
Whatnot says giveaway shipping is deducted from the seller’s balance, including international shipping when enabled. If the balance is not sufficient, it can become negative and be recovered from later earnings.
Read the official giveaway rulesFrequently asked questions
Who pays shipping on a Whatnot giveaway?
The seller pays giveaway shipping, including international shipping when it is enabled. The charge is deducted from the seller's Whatnot balance.
Does Whatnot charge commission on giveaways?
Whatnot states that sellers are not charged commission or payment processing on giveaways because the buyer pays nothing. The seller still covers shipping and the cost of the giveaway item.
How should giveaway cost be included in profit?
Treat the item, shipping, and packaging as a show marketing expense. Divide the total giveaway cost by paid sales to estimate how much giveaway cost each sale must support.
Compare the estimate with actual results
After the show, use the private CSV profit analyzer to review actual giveaway shipping and transaction adjustments. For paid-sale planning, use the Whatnot fee calculator, or review package tiers in the Whatnot shipping calculator.