Trade items with other shoppers
The trade feature lets you propose a swap instead of (or alongside) a cash purchase. You offer something you own in exchange for something another shopper has, or for an item listed in an active sale. Both parties review the proposal and accept or decline. No cash changes hands through the trade itself — if a sale item is involved, the organizer still processes the physical exchange.
Trades work best for collector-to-collector swaps, or when you spot something at a sale and realize you have something perfect to offer in return.
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What you can trade
You can offer items from your own collection — things you already own that you're willing to give up. The other person sees a photo and description of what you're offering before they decide.
You can propose a trade on an item from an active sale (fixed-price items only, not auction items currently being bid on) or on an item another shopper has listed in their profile as available to trade.
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How to start a trade
**Step 1.** Find the item you want. Open its detail page — on a sale listing or another shopper's profile.
**Step 2.** Tap **Trade**. This opens the trade proposal screen.
**Step 3.** Select what you're offering. You can choose from items you've previously marked as tradeable in your profile, or tap **Add item** to describe something new with a photo.
**Step 4.** Add a note if you want. A short message like "I've got a matching lamp if you're interested" goes a long way.
**Step 5.** Tap **Send Proposal**. The other party gets a notification with your offer and a photo of what you're offering.
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What the other party sees
They see your proposal in their Trades inbox. They can view your item photo, read your note, and look at your shopper profile before responding. They have three options: **Accept**, **Decline**, or **Counter** with a different offer.
If they counter, you'll get a notification and can respond from your own Trades inbox.
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How acceptance works
When both parties confirm, the trade is marked as agreed. If the trade involves a sale item, the organizer gets a notification that you've agreed to swap. The organizer decides whether to honor the trade — they are not bound to accept it.
Physical exchange still happens in person. The trade agreement is a mutual intent, not a binding contract. Payment processing (if any cash difference is involved) goes through a pay request from the organizer.
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When trades make sense
Trades work best in a few specific situations.
Collector-to-collector: You find another shopper at a flea market or consignment shop who has something you want, and you have something they'd take in return.
Same-sale swaps: You want a lamp at an estate sale but you notice a mirror that's similar in value and you'd rather trade. Message the organizer first to confirm they're open to it before proposing.
Value-gap trades: Sometimes you want something priced above what you'd pay in cash, but you have something the other party wants more than the money. A trade bridges that gap cleanly.
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What trades can't do
A trade does not replace payment to an organizer. If you're trading for a sale item, the organizer still receives payment — whether that's cash in hand at pickup or a pay request through the app. The trade is an arrangement between you and the other shopper or between you and the organizer. It does not create a zero-cash transaction at the organizer's expense.
Trades also don't work on auction items that are actively being bid on. Fixed-price items only.
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Keeping track of your trades
Open **Trades** in your shopper menu to see all active proposals — ones you've sent and ones you've received. Each shows the status: Pending, Accepted, Declined, Countered, or Completed.
Completed trades move to your trade history. Items you traded away are noted in your loot log if they were previously logged there.
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Common questions
**Do I have to have items listed to trade?** No. You can propose a trade with a photo of anything you own — you don't need a pre-existing listing. Add it on the spot from the trade proposal screen.
**Can an organizer decline a trade for a sale item?** Yes. Organizers are not required to accept trades. The trade agreement between shoppers is a starting point, not a guarantee.
**Is there a fee to trade?** No fee to propose or accept a trade. If cash changes hands alongside a swap, that goes through the normal pay request flow.
**What if the other person ghosts me?** Proposals expire after 72 hours if the other party doesn't respond. You'll get a notification when a proposal expires.
**Can I cancel a trade I proposed?** Yes. Go to your Trades inbox, open the proposal, and tap **Withdraw**. You can withdraw any proposal that hasn't been accepted yet.
**What if someone sends me a bad-faith trade proposal?** Tap **Decline** and use the Report button on the proposal if needed. FindA.Sale reviews flagged trades.
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Related guides
- [Holds: reserve an item before you get there](/guides/holds-for-shoppers)
- [Pay requests: how organizers bill you](/guides/pay-requests)
- [Loot log: track everything you've bought](/guides/loot-log)
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*Last updated: 2026-05-16*