What is Whatnot?
Whatnot is a live shopping app and website. Sellers go live on video, show items one at a time, and buyers bid or buy in real time from their phone or computer. It's part auction, part hangout. For vintage glass it's great, because you can see a piece turned in the light, flipped over and held up to a UV flashlight instead of guessing from three photos.
Follow sellers and find shows
Start by following the sellers whose stuff you like. Following gets you notified when they go live, and most sellers post their upcoming shows on their profile so you can plan ahead.
Pop into a show before you're ready to buy, too. Watching for ten minutes tells you a lot about a seller: how they describe condition, whether they flip pieces over, and how they treat their chat.
How bidding works
When an item comes up, the seller starts an auction with a timer. You tap to bid. When the timer runs out, the highest bidder wins and the item is charged to the payment method on your account. Keep an eye on what you've won, because it's easy to get carried away when the glass is pretty and the timer is short.
Many shows also have Buy It Now items you can purchase at a set price, either during the show or from the seller's shop.
What is a sudden death auction on Whatnot?
In a regular Whatnot auction, a bid near the end can add time to the clock. In a sudden death auction, no time is added: the auction ends exactly when the timer hits zero, and the highest bid placed before then wins. Whatnot marks these with a skull icon next to the timer.
Practical tip: if you want something in a sudden death auction, don't wait for the last half-second. Connection lag is real, and the timer doesn't care.
Givvys, raids and raid trains
A givvy is a giveaway. Sellers run them during shows to say thanks to their buyers or welcome new folks. Each givvy has rules the seller has to share, so read them before you enter.
A raid is when a host ends their show and sends their whole audience into another seller's live show. A raid train is a lineup of sellers who raid each other one after another, so the party keeps rolling from show to show. They're a fun way to discover new sellers. We run and ride glass-themed raid trains with other sellers, and you'll often find great pieces along the way.
What to ask before you bid on vintage glass
Good sellers are happy to answer questions in chat before the timer starts. Don't be shy. For glass, these are the questions worth asking:
- Any chips, cracks or flea bites? Can you run your finger around the rim and show the base and feet?
- Can you put it under UV, in the dark, if it's sold as uranium or Vaseline glass? A strong green glow is what you want to see.
- What are the measurements? Height and width, because pieces look bigger or smaller on camera.
- Is it marked? Can you show us the mark?
- Is the lid original to the base? For hens, casseroles, butter dishes and candy dishes.
- Any cloudiness, scratches or DWD? Especially for Pyrex and drinking glasses.
- Is that a reproduction or a reissue? Ask what they know, and respect an honest "we're not sure."
How shipping works
Shipping is calculated in the app based on the seller's shipping settings and what you buy. Whatnot generally bundles multiple items you buy from the same seller into one shipment, which keeps shipping costs down when you win several pieces in one show. Purchases made during a live show and purchases from a seller's shop outside a show may ship separately. Check the shipping details in the app before you bid, especially on big or heavy pieces.
Once a seller ships, tracking shows up in your purchases in the app.
Packing matters more than you think
Ask any glass collector on Whatnot what their biggest worry is and they'll tell you: breakage. Glass needs real packing, not one sheet of bubble wrap in an oversized box. Read a seller's reviews and look for comments about packing and arrival condition. It tells you more than any star rating.
If something does arrive damaged, contact the seller and use Whatnot's in-app help promptly. Take photos of the box and the packing before you throw anything away.
Why our shows are worth catching
We're Tina and Tom. Tom brings the jokes. Tina brings the glass. On every show we put uranium pieces under the UV light on camera, flip pieces over to show marks and bases, and call out flea bites and condition up close. Then we pack it like it's our own and get it out fast. Packing comes up in our Whatnot reviews more than almost anything else, and we're proud of that.
Follow us on Whatnot and come hang out. Ask us anything, even if you're just looking.
FAQ
How do Whatnot live auctions work?
A seller goes live and shows items one at a time. Each item gets an auction timer, buyers bid in real time, and the highest bidder when the timer ends wins.
What is a sudden death auction on Whatnot?
It's an auction where bids don't add time to the clock. It ends exactly when the timer hits zero, and the highest bid placed before then wins.
Does Whatnot combine shipping?
Whatnot generally bundles multiple items bought from the same seller into one shipment. Purchases from a live show and from a seller's shop outside a show may ship separately.
What is a raid on Whatnot?
When a seller ends their show, they can send their viewers into another seller's live show. A raid train is a series of sellers raiding one another in a row.