Line Queue
# The line queue: manage walk-up traffic
The line queue is a digital waiting list. Shoppers scan a QR code at your entrance, get a number, and wait wherever they want. When you're ready for the next person, you tap Next and their phone buzzes. No crowd at the door. No one cutting. No one standing in the cold wondering how long.
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When to use it
Most yard sales don't need a queue. If you're expecting fewer than 20 shoppers at a time, people naturally spread out.
The queue earns its keep at:
- Large estate sales where the first hour brings a crush at the door
- Auction preview events where only a few people can browse at once
- Consignment sales in a small space
- Any sale where you've had crowding problems before
If you've run a sale and had people pushing at the entrance, set up the queue next time.
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Set it up before sale day
1. Print the entrance QR code
Go to `/organizer/qr-codes`. Find the **Line Queue** type (not the item QR or sale share QR — this one specifically). Print it on a sheet of paper or, better, laminate it. Tape it to a sign or stake at your entrance.
The QR code links directly to the queue join page for your sale. Shoppers don't need the app installed — it opens in their browser.
2. Post it somewhere visible
Eye level at the entrance. If shoppers can't see it from where they're standing in line, add a second copy. A handwritten note next to it helps: "Scan to join the line. We'll text you when it's your turn."
3. Enable the queue in your sale settings
In your sale dashboard, go to **Sale Settings → Line Queue** and toggle it on. This activates the queue for your sale date. You can set a maximum queue size if you want to cap it (optional).
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How to manage it on sale day
Open /organizer/line-queue on your device
Keep this tab open on a tablet near the entrance or on a second phone. You'll see:
- The number of people currently in queue
- Each person's position and how long they've been waiting
- A large **Next** button
Tap Next when you're ready
When a shopper finishes and leaves, tap **Next**. The next person in line gets a push notification: their number, a prompt to come in, and an estimated wait. They don't need to be standing at the door — they can wait in their car.
How shoppers see their place
After scanning the QR and joining, shoppers see their number and position ("You're 4th in line"). The number updates in real time as people ahead of them enter. When you call them, their phone shows: "You're up — head to the entrance now."
If someone doesn't come
Give them 60–90 seconds. If they don't appear, tap **Skip**. They're moved to the end of the queue, not removed. They get a "you've been moved back" notification. Tap **Remove** only if you're sure they left.
Close the queue
When you've stopped taking new walk-ins, tap **Close Queue**. Anyone already in the queue stays and gets called through. New scans show a "Queue is closed" message instead of a number.
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What shoppers see
- They scan the QR at your entrance.
- A browser page opens. They tap **Join the Line**.
- They see their number and position.
- They wait wherever they want.
- Push notification arrives when it's their turn.
- They walk in.
Shoppers who don't get the push notification (phone muted, no signal) see a banner on the queue page if they check it manually.
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Running the queue alongside the POS
Both screens live in your organizer nav. On a tablet: open the queue in one tab, POS in another. On two phones: queue on one, POS on the other. You don't need separate accounts or devices — it's the same login.
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Common questions
**Do shoppers need the FindA.Sale app?** No. The queue join page opens in a browser. They tap Join, that's it. If they have the app installed, it can send push notifications instead of browser notifications — that's more reliable. But the browser version works fine.
**What if shoppers ignore the queue and crowd the door anyway?** The queue doesn't physically stop anyone. It's a tool, not a barrier. Post a sign: "Please scan the QR to enter — we're managing capacity." Most people comply when there's a clear system.
**Can I see how long each person has been waiting?** Yes. The queue screen shows wait time next to each position. If someone's been waiting 45 minutes and you've moved fast, you'll notice.
**What if I have two staff members managing entry?** They can both have the queue open. Only one person should tap Next at a time — otherwise you'll double-call. Assign one person to the queue screen.
**Can shoppers check their position without being there?** Yes. The queue page is live. They can check from the car, from down the block, anywhere. Their number is linked to their browser session.
**Does the queue work at multi-day sales?** You can run it each day. Close the queue at the end of day one and reopen at the start of day two. Positions don't carry over — everyone starts fresh each morning.
**What if I don't have cell service at my location?** Push notifications need cell service on the shopper's phone. The queue itself runs on your device. If shoppers are in a dead zone, they'll need to check the queue page manually or you'll need to call numbers out loud. A mix of digital and verbal works fine.
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Related guides
- [Run the POS: take payments in person](/guides/run-the-pos)
- [Message templates and the built-in inbox](/guides/message-templates)
- [Yard signs and QR codes](/guides/yard-signs-and-qr-codes)