Pay requests: how organizers bill you (and how to stay safe)
A pay request is how organizers collect payment through FindA.Sale. The organizer sets a dollar amount, attaches the items you're paying for, and sends it to you. You review it, confirm the items and total look right, and pay — all inside the app.
Pay requests come through after a hold, after winning an auction, when you've agreed to ship an item, or any time an organizer needs a deposit or partial payment before pickup.
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How to know a request is real
Real pay requests arrive through your FindA.Sale notifications — in the app, not by text, not by email, not through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any other personal payment tool.
If you receive a Venmo request from a name you don't recognize, or a text asking you to pay before you get to a sale, that is not from FindA.Sale. Real organizers use the app. If something feels off, open FindA.Sale directly and check your notification bell. If no request is there, it didn't come from us.
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How to pay a request
**Step 1.** Tap the notification when it arrives. You can also find pay requests under **Notifications** in your shopper menu — look for the payment bell icon.
**Step 2.** Review the request. You'll see the organizer's name, the items listed, the amount due, and any notes the organizer added (for example, "shipping to be calculated separately" or "deposit for large furniture pickup").
**Step 3.** If everything looks right, tap **Pay**. You'll be taken to the payment screen to complete checkout.
**Step 4.** After payment, you'll get a receipt notification. The organizer sees the payment confirmed on their end automatically.
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When organizers send pay requests
**After you place a hold.** Some organizers require payment to confirm a hold on high-value items. If that's the case, you'll see it noted on the hold confirmation screen before you commit.
**After you win an auction.** The organizer sends a pay request with the final bid amount plus any buyer's fee within a short window after the auction closes.
**For deposits.** On large items like furniture, appliances, or equipment, some organizers ask for a deposit to confirm you're serious before they hold the item through pickup day.
**For shipping.** If the organizer agreed to ship an item, they'll send a pay request that includes the item price plus calculated shipping cost.
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What if you ignore a pay request
If you don't pay within the window the organizer set, your hold may expire and the item goes back to available. For auction wins, non-payment after winning may affect your standing on the platform.
If you need more time, message the organizer through the app before the window closes. Most organizers will work with you if you communicate.
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What to do if something looks wrong
If the amount is different from what you expected, or the item list doesn't match what you agreed to, message the organizer directly through the sale page before paying.
Tap the organizer's name on the pay request screen to open a message thread. Describe what you expected versus what you see. Most discrepancies are honest mistakes — a shipping cost that wasn't calculated yet, or an item accidentally included twice.
If you pay and then believe the charge was incorrect, contact the organizer first. If you can't reach them, use the Report button on the pay request.
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A note on safety
FindA.Sale organizers do not have your phone number or personal payment account. They communicate through the app's message system and send pay requests through the app. If someone claims to be a FindA.Sale organizer and asks you to pay outside the app — stop. Do not pay. Report it through the Help link at the bottom of any page.
Legitimate use of external payments does happen: if you pay cash in person at a sale, the organizer may mark the item as sold manually. That's normal. What's not normal is a stranger asking you to send money before you've ever been to the sale.
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Common questions
**Can I pay with cash instead?** Yes. Many sales are cash-in-hand at the door. Pay requests are for remote payment — shipping, deposits, auction wins where you can't be there in person. If you're paying cash on-site, you don't need to do anything in the app beforehand.
**How long do I have to pay a request?** The organizer sets the window. You'll see the expiry time on the request screen. It's usually between 15 minutes and 24 hours depending on the situation.
**Can I get a refund through FindA.Sale?** Refund policy is set by the organizer, not by FindA.Sale. Check the sale's terms before buying. If you have a dispute, start with the organizer.
**Do pay requests expire?** Yes. Once the window closes, the request is no longer payable. The organizer would need to send a new one if you still want to complete the purchase.
**Is my payment information stored in the app?** Payment is processed through Stripe. FindA.Sale does not store your card number.
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Related guides
- [Holds: reserve an item before you get there](/guides/holds-for-shoppers)
- [Bidding on auction items](/guides/bidding-on-auctions)
- [Loot log: track everything you've bought](/guides/loot-log)
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*Last updated: 2026-05-16*