Holds: reserve an item before you get there
A hold is a temporary reservation. It tells the organizer you plan to buy the item and asks them to set it aside while you make your way to the sale. It is not a purchase — the item stays unpaid until you show up or pay online.
Hold length varies by organizer. Most run 30 to 90 minutes. You'll see the exact expiry time on the hold confirmation screen before you confirm.
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How to place a hold
**Step 1.** Open the item you want on any sale page — estate sale, yard sale, auction preview, flea market, or consignment shop.
**Step 2.** Tap **Hold**. The button appears below the item photo on the item detail screen.
**Step 3.** Review the hold window shown. You'll see how long the organizer allows and when the hold expires if you confirm now.
**Step 4.** Tap **Confirm Hold**. You'll get a notification confirming the reservation. The item card updates to show your name and the expiry time.
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What happens when a hold expires
When the hold window closes, the item goes back to available for anyone to buy. You won't be charged anything. The hold simply ends.
If you're running late, message the organizer through the sale page before the hold expires. Some organizers will extend it. Most won't if the sale is busy.
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How to cancel a hold you placed
Go to **Holds** in your shopper menu. Tap the hold you want to cancel, then tap **Release Hold**. The item goes back to available immediately. No penalty, no charge.
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What holds cost
Nothing. Placing a hold is free. Payment happens in person at the sale or through a pay request the organizer sends you.
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Common questions
**Can I hold more than one item at a time?** Yes. Each hold is tracked separately in your Holds list. The organizer may limit how many holds one person can have open at their sale — you'll see a note on the sale page if that's the case.
**What if I show up and the item isn't set aside?** Message the organizer through the app. Show them your hold confirmation. Holds create a record the organizer can see on their end.
**Can the organizer cancel my hold?** Yes. Organizers can release a hold if something changes — for example, if the item was damaged or already sold before the hold was placed. You'll get a notification if that happens.
**Do holds work at auctions?** Not on items currently being bid on. Holds apply to fixed-price items. Auction items have their own bid flow.
**I confirmed a hold but the button still says "Available" for other shoppers — is something wrong?** No. Once a hold is placed, the item shows as held on the sale page. Other shoppers see it as unavailable. If you see "Available" after confirming, refresh the page.
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Related guides
- [Pay requests: how organizers bill you](/guides/pay-requests)
- [What the condition grades mean](/guides/condition-grades-for-shoppers)
- [Bidding on auction items](/guides/bidding-on-auctions)
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Video script
*45-second screen-capture VO — narrate over phone screen recording*
Open a sale. Find an item you want. See that Hold button under the photo? Tap it.
You'll see how long the organizer is giving you — let's say 45 minutes. That's your window to get there and pay.
Tap Confirm. You'll get a notification. The item is now yours to pick up.
If you change your mind, go to Holds in your menu, find it, tap Release. Done.
Holds are free. No payment until you're at the sale. If you're running late — message the organizer before the timer runs out.
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*Last updated: 2026-05-16*