In a society where there are thousands of places to shop online, the WhatNot app stands out above the rest.
Starting in 2019, WhatNot allows people to buy or sell almost whatever they please on the app. There is an array of items to go searching for to fill any shopping desires. From sports cards to clothes, or even jewels, the diversity of the live auction in the app makes it special.
Recently gaining traction in the Goodpasture senior class, Whatnot stands above others in accessibility, variety, interaction, and fun in the shopping world. The app has live shows where buyers can bid, sellers can give away free prizes, and people can start selling their specialty almost immediately.
When someone sells something, it is quite easy to get the sold items shipped out. WhatNot creates shipping labels for the seller. Then all the seller has to do is print out the label, put it in an envelope, and stick it in the mailbox, making it easy for the seller to ship their products.
Recently, senior Luke Vierkant started selling sports cards on WhatNot.
“I love selling cards and chatting it up with new people every day,” Vierkant said.
This statement shows the community that can be built around someone’s channel and how easy it is for anyone to start a channel.
Even more simply, buyers just have to put in a payment method and address and swipe “Bid” on whatever their hearts desire. The next step is waiting for the item to be shipped by the seller.
Goodpasture teacher Coach Bryan Ayer has also recently hopped on the WhatNot trend as a buyer.
Reaching out to a small channel that may not have much can brighten their day, and Coach Ayer sees the happiness in it.
“It’s fun to support the entrepreneurship,” Coach Ayer said.
Another huge upside for users is the giveaway system. Sellers can put different giveaways up for their audience to win for free. There are two benefits to this feature. It allows people to enjoy the live streams without spending their money, while also taking out any expensive shipping fees involved in purchasing items.
However, with every positive, there are some downfalls. One is the cost of shipping depending on the seller. Shipping can sometimes go upward of $8, and when someone is buying a $1 card, that’s not cheap. Another is the chance that someone can bid for something at the same time as someone else, and the price shoots up. This could lead to someone spending money they don’t have.
One more major downfall could be getting too addicted. People may think they are getting stuff for cheap, but if they keep buying and buying, the cost can add up. If someone ends up buying a lot of things and doesn’t sell any, they could lose a lot of money.
Overall, WhatNot is an enthralling app that has grown a vast audience in only a few years. Recently, it has added some new members from the Goodpasture community who have found enjoyment in what WhatNot stands for.
