The Line Queue: Manage Walk-Up Traffic
When you're running a yard sale or estate sale, shoppers show up without warning. A busy day can mean 20 people at your location at once. The Line Queue is a virtual line—shoppers tap a button to join, you see them in order on your screen, and you call the next person when you're ready. This guide covers how the queue works, how to manage it during your sale, and how it helps you control traffic flow.
How it works
**1. Enable the Line Queue for your sale** Before your sale starts, go to sale settings and toggle on "Line Queue." This tells shoppers they can join a virtual line instead of crowding around your entrance.
**2. Shoppers join the queue** Shoppers open FindA.Sale, see your sale, and tap "Join the Line." They get a number (1, 2, 3…) and a message: "You're next" or "There are 4 people ahead of you."
They can leave the line anytime (tap "Leave the Line"). If they're not watching and you call their number, they stay in line until they manually leave.
**3. You see the queue on your organizer dashboard** Your phone or tablet shows a "Line Queue" panel. It displays:
- Total people in line
- The next person's name and position
- How long they've been waiting
- A big button that says "Call Next"
**4. Call the next person** When you're ready for another shopper (previous one is done, or you have a free station), tap "Call Next." The app:
- Notifies the next person in line (their phone buzzes, pops up a notification: "You're up! Go to checkout.")
- Removes them from the queue (they're now being served)
- Shows you the new next person
**5. Finish and release** When that shopper is done (you've completed their POS transaction), tap "Release" or "Next" on your queue dashboard. They're out of the system, and the queue moves forward.
**6. Manage no-shows** If someone doesn't respond after you call them (they left, got impatient, or didn't see the notification), you can skip them. Tap "Skip" and they're removed from the queue. They can rejoin if they want to re-enter the line.
When to use the Line Queue
Use it for:
- Estate sales with large crowds
- Multi-hour yard sales with steady traffic
- Auctions where you need to manage bidders
- Consignment or flea market events where foot traffic is unpredictable
Skip it if:
- Your sale is small (10–15 shoppers total) and they naturally space out
- You're in a store or permanent location where shoppers browse freely
- You're taking items by appointment only
Managing peak traffic
**Tip 1: Set expectations early.** When you list your sale, mention "Use the Line Queue if you prefer." Shoppers who see this will join the queue instead of showing up early and clustering outside.
**Tip 2: Have a clear checkout area.** The queue works best if shoppers know where to go when you call them. "Come to the front porch" or "Head to the blue table" helps.
**Tip 3: Don't let the queue get too long.** If more than 10 people are waiting, you might ask a volunteer to help run a second checkout station, or let shoppers know the wait is 30+ minutes so they can decide to come back later.
**Tip 4: Be honest about wait times.** You can message the whole queue ("We're running about 15 minutes per shopper, so if you're 6th in line, you've got ~90 minutes to wait") so people don't leave frustrated.
**Tip 5: Use it for all sales, even small ones.** It costs nothing to enable, and even if no one uses it, it shows you're organized and professional.
Common questions
Can shoppers see how many people are ahead of them?
Yes. When they join, they see their position. The number updates in real time as people ahead finish.
What if someone joins the queue and then leaves to shop?
They can do both. They'll get a notification when you call their number. If they're still shopping and see the notification, they can stay in line and finish browsing, then come to checkout.
Can I manually add or remove people from the queue?
You can remove (skip), but you can't manually add. The queue is based on who taps "Join." You could ask someone in person to join via the app if they don't have their phone, and then manually confirm their position if needed (depending on your app's settings).
What if two people have the same name?
The app shows their position number, so you'll know it's "Person 3" or "Person 5," not just the name. You can also call out "Position 3!" and they'll know it's them.
Does the queue show up if I'm not in the sale location?
Yes, you can check the queue from anywhere—at home, in your office, anywhere with internet. But you wouldn't "call" people if you're not there to serve them, so it's mainly for on-site management.
What if shoppers ignore the queue and just show up?
You can still serve them. Just remind them to tap "Join the Line" so the queue reflects the actual flow. Some shoppers won't use it; that's okay. It's optional, not mandatory.
Can I pause the queue?
Not formally, but you can skip people if you need a break. Better: tell the queue via message "We're taking a lunch break until 1pm" or "Closing at 5pm" so people know.
Ready to put this into practice? Your next sale starts here.