Schedule a Sale and Pick Your Visibility Window
Decide when shoppers see your sale listing and when the actual sale happens. These don't always have to be the same day.
The three visibility options
**Immediately (go live now)**
Your sale listing appears right now on FindA.Sale. Shoppers can browse your items and message you starting today.
Use this if:
- You're posting a few days before the sale
- You want maximum visibility time
- You're ready for shoppers to start messaging
Example: You post on Wednesday for a Saturday sale. Shoppers spend three days browsing, asking questions, and planning to visit.
**At a specific date (schedule for later)**
Your sale listing stays hidden until the date you choose. It goes live automatically at that time.
Use this if:
- You're posting the listing early (e.g., 3 weeks before the sale) but want to control when shoppers see it
- You want all promotional activity to happen in a specific window
- You're not ready for questions yet, but you want to post items now
Example: You create the sale listing on April 1 but set visibility for April 14. For two weeks, only you can see it. On April 14, it automatically goes live and shoppers can browse.
**Never share publicly (keep it private)**
The listing never appears in public searches. Only people with a direct link can see it.
Use this if:
- You're hosting a private sale (invitation-only)
- You're doing a preview for a select group before general public
- You're testing the listing before going live
Example: You create the sale, send the link to close friends, let them browse and reserve items before you open to the public.
Setting the visibility date
- Go to "Create sale" or edit an existing sale.
- Look for "Visibility" settings.
- Choose "At a specific date."
- Pick the date using the date picker.
- (Optional) Set a time if you want the listing to go live at a specific hour (e.g., 8am). If you don't set a time, it goes live at midnight.
- Save.
Changing visibility after you create the sale
You can change visibility anytime:
- Go to your sale and click "Edit sale."
- Scroll to Visibility settings.
- Pick a new option (Immediately, At a specific date, or Private).
- Save. The change takes effect right away (or at the scheduled time if you picked a date).
Sale date vs. visibility date (they're different)
Sale date: When the actual sale happens (Friday–Sunday, 9am–5pm).
Visibility date: When shoppers see the listing.
These can be very different:
- Post the listing 2 weeks early (visibility = today) for a sale happening in 2 weeks (sale date = May 20).
- Schedule visibility for May 18 (48 hours before the sale) but the sale happens May 20. Shoppers get a short window to find you.
- Schedule visibility for May 19 (1 day before) for a weekend sale May 20–21. Maximum urgency.
You pick both dates independently when you create the sale.
Common questions
Should I go live immediately or schedule a date?
Depends on how much time you have. If you're posting 1–2 weeks before, go live immediately — more visibility time. If you're posting 3+ weeks early and want to control the buzz, schedule visibility for closer to the sale date.
What happens if I schedule visibility but the sale date has already passed?
You can do this, but shoppers will see the sale is in the past. They can still message you if you leave the listing up, but it won't appear in "upcoming sales" filters.
Can I change the visibility date after I've set it?
Yes. Go back to edit and pick a new date. The new visibility date overrides the old one.
If I schedule visibility for Monday but the sale is Wednesday, when do shoppers stop seeing it?
Shoppers keep seeing it. You have to manually end the sale (click "Mark sale complete") or leave it up indefinitely if it's a consignment shop.
What if I set the visibility date for Monday but change my mind and want to go live today?
Go to "Edit sale" → Visibility and choose "Immediately." It goes live right away.
Can I do a preview for friends and then go public?
Yes. Set visibility to "Private," share the link with friends, then change visibility to "Immediately" or "At a specific date" when you want the public listing to go live.
If I choose "Never share publicly," can I still get a link to share?
Yes. You always get a shareable link to your sale. Choosing "Private" just means the sale won't show up in public searches or filters.
What time of day should I schedule visibility?
It depends on your audience. Morning (8–9am) works if shoppers plan trips the night before. Evening (5–6pm) works if shoppers browse after work. Weekend sales usually get visibility Friday or Saturday morning. Test what works for your area.
Do I have to set an exact time?
No. If you don't pick a time, the sale goes live at midnight on the date you choose. That's fine if you don't care about the specific hour.
Visibility strategy for different sale types
Yard Sale:
- Post 1–2 weeks early
- Go live immediately or schedule for 3–4 days before
- Shoppers often browse day-of or night-before
Estate Sale:
- Post 2–3 weeks early (estate sales are a destination)
- Go live immediately for maximum time
- Shoppers plan trips and may travel far
Auction:
- Post 1–2 weeks early
- Go live immediately so bidders can watch
- Close bidding at a specific time on auction day
Flea Market (vendor booth):
- Coordinate with market organizer
- Go live when the market listing goes live
- Shoppers are already looking for the market; they'll find your booth
Consignment Shop:
- Go live immediately
- Keep the sale open indefinitely (no end date)
- Refresh items weekly as your inventory changes
Ready to put this into practice? Your next sale starts here.