How Co-Buying Works
Join forces with other buyers to access wholesale liquidation pallets at a fraction of the cost. Here's how the process works from start to finish.
Reserve Your Spots
Browse available deals and choose how many spots you want to reserve. Each spot represents an equal portion of the total load (pallet or truckload). For example, if a deal has 10 spots, each spot equals 1/10 of the total inventory and cost.
- •No payment yet - Reserving is free and requires no payment authorization
- •Flexible commitment - You can cancel anytime before the payment window opens
- •First come, first served - Spots are limited and fill up fast
Payment Window Opens
Once all spots are reserved, an 8-hour payment window begins. During this time, you'll need to authorize payment for your reserved spots.
- •Payment authorization - Your card is authorized (held) but NOT charged yet
- •8-hour window - You have 8 hours to complete payment authorization
- •Automatic reauth - If the auction takes longer than 5 days, we'll reauthorize your card
- •Miss the window? - Your spots are released to other buyers
What is Payment Authorization?
Payment authorization is like a "hold" on your card. The amount is reserved but not actually charged. You'll only be charged if the organizer wins the auction and provides proof. If the auction is lost, the hold is released and you're never charged.
Auction & Bidding
The organizer bids on the liquidation auction with the pooled funds. You'll be notified of the auction results.
- •Organizer responsibility - The deal organizer handles all bidding
- •Real-time updates - Track the auction status in your dashboard
- •If won - Organizer uploads proof and payments are captured
- •If lost - Payment authorizations are released, you're never charged
Manual Capture Process
Once the organizer wins and uploads proof (receipt, invoice, etc.), an admin manually reviews and approves it. Only after approval are payments captured from all co-buyers. This ensures transparency and protects buyers.
Delivery & Distribution
The pallet is delivered to the organizer's location. Co-buyers coordinate pickup or shipping arrangements to receive their share.
- •Organizer receives pallet - Delivered to the organizer's specified location
- •Coordinate pickup - Contact the organizer through the platform
- •Shipping options - Some organizers may offer to ship your portion (at your expense)
- •Deal complete - Mark deal as complete once you receive your items
Key Concepts Explained
What are "Spots"?
Spots represent equal shares of a bulk purchase, whether it’s a pallet or a full truckload. If a deal has 10 spots, each spot equals 1/10 of the total merchandise and cost. You can reserve multiple spots to receive a larger portion of the load.
Payment Authorization vs Capture
Authorization holds funds on your card but doesn't charge you. Capture is when the funds are actually taken. We only capture after the auction is won and proof is approved.
Day 5 Reauth Policy
Payment authorizations typically expire after 5-7 days. If the auction takes longer than 5 days, we'll automatically reauthorize your card to keep the hold active. You'll be notified before this happens.
Role of the Organizer
The organizer creates the deal, manages the auction bidding, receives the pallet, and coordinates distribution. They're verified members with a trust tier rating based on successful deals.
Trust Tier System
Organizers earn trust tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) based on completed deals. Higher tiers indicate more experience and reliability. Always check an organizer's tier before reserving spots.
Manual Capture Process
After winning an auction, the organizer uploads proof of purchase. An admin manually reviews this proof before approving payment capture. This protects buyers from fraud and ensures transparency.
Deal Timeline
DRAFT
Organizer creates deal, sets details
OPEN
Members reserve spots (no payment yet)
PAYMENT_WINDOW
8-hour window to authorize payment
BIDDING
Organizer bids on auction
WON
Auction won, proof uploaded, payments captured
DELIVERED
Pallet delivered, members pick up shares
Ready to Get Started?
Browse available deals and reserve your spots today. Join the co-buying revolution!