General FAQs

What is While It Lasts?

While It Lasts is the easiest, on-line local way to buy and sell unique, unusual, eclectic furniture and décor that you don’t find in your everyday department stores.

What does While It Last Charge?

There is no charge for listings, but there are fees when your item sells, depending on which service you choose. We offer three ways to sell your items.

  • Self-postings – we take a 10% fee that means you get 90% of your asking price. Compare that to 40- 50% taken at local consignment shops, 20-40% taken on other on line services.
  • Auction Services – we take 20% of your sale, meaning you get 80% back of your asking price
  • Concierge Services – we take 25% of each listing’s asking price at time of sale, meaning you get 75% of your asking price.

What is your coverage area?

We are a local, Houston company and our basic coverage area is a 50-mile radius surrounding the Houston Metropolitan area. That said, sellers may make special arrangements to deliver or ship outside of the radius at their own discretion if requested.

What if I need more information?

There are three ways for you to ask us additional questions

  • See our Contact Page and submit our form with your question
  • Email us at info@whileitlasts.com
  • Give us a call at 713-694-8881.

Seller FAQs

How do I list an item?

We have made it easy to list your items.  You will need to list your asking price, measurements, descriptions and photos.  Provide an accurate description of the condition of the piece as well as a description of any materials or fabrics it is made from.  The more information you can provide to the buyer, the more likely you are to have a successful sale without a return. Take good, well-lit photos from varying angles, then post.

We will review your item and generally respond within 48 hours to let you know if the item has been accepted. Once accepted, we will have your item ready to go on our site in 3-5 business days.

Watch our short video that describes our selling process information in a quick and easy format here.

How much does it cost to list?

Listing is free and you can delist an item at any time.

What type of items does While It Lasts accept?

We accept all furniture and décor with a unique, eclectic, designer, custom, antique, modern or vintage style. These items should be in good to great condition, possess character and/or have one of a kind artisan flair.

How long is an item listed?

Listings are good for as long as the seller has the item available for sale and While It Lasts feels it should remain active on the site. After 30 days, we may suggest or require that you lower your listing price.  If an item does not sell in the first 30 days, the price is likely too high for consumer demand.

Who maintains the listing?

Sellers are required to maintain their listings to ensure that all items listed on While It Lasts remain available for sale. If an item is no longer available, you will need to remove the listing immediately.

How do I get paid?

Earnings from sales are transferred to your bank account. To get paid, please make sure you've included your bank account details in your seller profile.

Payment will be visible in your bank account three-to-five business days after pickup is confirmed, depending on your bank's processing time. If you don’t receive your payment within that time frame, please contact us and we’ll be happy to assist you with your payment.

What are my responsibilities as a seller?

  • You are solely responsible for all aspects of your listing and item, including providing accurate item information and photos, and adequately storing and maintaining your item. While It Lasts reserves the right to revise your listing for grammatical errors and minor corrections. You agree to accurately describe each item to the best of your ability.
  • You must provide each item in clean, stain-free, dust-free, smoke free, and safe condition and with a desirable quality for resale, unless any condition you have clearly disclosed in writing or per photographs in the listing description.
  • While It Lasts reserves the right at any time to inspect or reject any item as unsuitable for sale at any time.
  • If While It Lasts finds a buyer for the item and you circumvent or go around While It Lasts in an attempt to avoid payment of the Commission to While It Lasts, by selling to the buyer developed by While It Lasts directly, this will be treated as a sale and the Commission will be due and payable to While It Lasts.
  • You covenant, represent and warrant that you have all rights, authority and clearances necessary for While It Lasts to sell the item on your behalf, and perform your rights and obligations under other terms and conditions.
  • You will give While It Lasts or a buyer any documents necessary to transfer the ownership of the item to the buyer. You are solely responsible for all aspects of dealing with your clients and your business (e.g., paying or getting paid by your design clients, handling logistics between you and your clients, and managing your business), and handling all related inquiries and disputes.

Are there any items you will not take?

  • Mattresses, sofa beds, convertible sofas and recliners (due to Federal & State regulations)
  • Certain oversized items requiring special shipping and handling beyond the scope of our services
  • No animals (including taxidermy) or endangered species products (i.e. ivory tusks)

Auction FAQs

How Does Auction Bidding Work?

Our Auctions last for a 48 hour period. Be sure to Bid Like You Mean It! All Auction Sales are Final!

What do I need to do to place a bid?

You must register on our site. Registration must include a valid address, email address, phone number, and credit card number on file.

How Do I Start Bidding?

To start Bidding, click on the Bid Now ButtonYou will see: Time left to bid, Current Bid Price and Original Bid Price. Place your bid.

Will I know if I have been Outbid?

Yes, you will receive an email notifying you that you have been outbid.

Can I retract a bid?

Once bidding has started, no. If you have made an urgent mistake on your bid, contact us a 713-694-8881 or via our contact form.

Can I bid on the item I’m selling?

No, we don’t want sellers unfairly bidding up the prices on auction items. If we discover that a seller has bid on their own auction item, their account will be cancelled and all sale products removed.

How Will I know if I am the Winning Bid?

You will be notified by email that you are winning bid! Your credit card will be debited afterwards.

Can I return an Auction Item?

All Auction Sales are Final. If you feel your item arrives broken or completely misrepresented, contact the seller first and also contact us. We want you to be happy with your purchase.

Shipping FAQs

How does shipping work with While It Lasts?

All products are located in the Greater Houston area. While It Lasts allows the seller to offer a number of options to get their products to buyers.

The options available for each individual product will be listed on the product page along with the description and selling price.

For Pickup options, times and locations will be coordinated directly with the seller.

For Shipping/Delivery options, it is the seller’s responsibility to select the option most suitable and make arrangements with the shipping/delivery vendor.

What are the various shipping options offered?

While It Lasts allows six methods of getting products from the seller to the buyer. The seller will determine which of those six options are available for each individual product they are selling. All the shipping methods and descriptions are below:

  1. Shipping (Greater Houston) – This option ships items to locations within the Greater Houston area by USPS, FedEx, UPS or other carrier chosen by the seller.
  2. Shipping (Outside Greater Houston) – This option ships items to locations beyond the Greater Houston area by USPS, FedEx, UPS or other carrier chosen by the seller.
  3. Delivery (Greater Houston) – This option has items (typically larger items) delivered by courier/truck to locations within the Greater Houston. The courier/truck service will be chosen by the seller.
  4. Delivery (Outside Greater Houston) – This option has items (typically larger items) delivered by courier/truck to locations within the Greater Houston. The courier/truck service will be chosen by the seller.
  5. Pickup at While It Lasts – Sellers have an option to use our Houston facility as a safe drop off point for buyers to pick up products.
  6. Pickup From Seller – Sellers and buyers can agree upon a mutual location to meet and exchange sold products.

What are the Seller’s shipping responsibilities?

The seller must properly pack and ship the item within three business days of the sale. While It Lasts is not responsible for any loss or damage that may occur during shipment.

For Pickup options, the seller must coordinate times and locations with the buyer. While it Lasts is not responsible for any damage that may occur on transport to or from the Houston facility.

For Delivery options the seller must either pack or have items packed for shipment and delivery. They must also coordinate and be available for delivery service pickup time windows.

Seller must be responsive to buyers who have not received ordered by the expected date of arrival.

What are the Buyer’s shipping responsibilities?

Buyers must select shipping method and associated costs from those offered at time of checkout and payment.

For Delivery options, buyers must notify seller of any unusual delivery situations such as more than one flight of stairs, unusual or limited access for vehicles or delivery personnel or any other impediments for delivery. Note that any of these situations may result in higher delivery costs.

Buyers should contact sellers if their item has not arrived by the expected date of arrival.

LOCAL Pickup & Delivery FAQS

What is Local Pickup?

Local pickup allows a buyer to avoid shipping costs by picking up an item in person.

The buyer must contact the seller within five business days of their purchase to coordinate a pickup date and time. If you're interested in local pickup for an item that is not marked as such, please contact us. We will help you make arrangements for that.

Don’t forget you can also make arrangements to pick up your items at our secure location within the Houston Heights.

What are the seller's responsibilities for Local Pickup?

After purchase, the seller must ensure the item is prepared and available for pickup at the agreed-upon location, date and time.

What is Local Delivery?

Sellers may opt to offer local curbside delivery or deliver your item to our secure drop off location for pick up through While It Lasts.

The buyer and seller should coordinate a delivery date and time within five business days of purchase.

If additional labor is required to move your item inside or upstairs, please make sure to plan accordingly. If a buyer refuses delivery for any reason, he or she will be responsible for the cost of delivery out and back.

What are the seller's responsibilities for Local Delivery?

After purchase, the seller must ensure the item is delivered at the agreed-upon location, date and time.

Return Policy FAQs

Can I return an item purchased on While It Lasts?

Yes. While It Lasts know these are important purchases and your satisfaction is critical.

Except for Local Pickup, buyers have 48 hours after receipt of delivery to inspect their item(s) and contact support@whileitlasts.com to make a return. There are no restocking fees, but While It Lasts may deduct outbound and return shipping/delivery charges from the buyer's original purchase price (including taxes). Buyers will not be reimbursed for returns that are not received in their original condition.

Can I return an Item bought from Local Pick Up?

For Local Pickup, the 48-hour return policy does not apply.

You must reject the item at the time of pickup. Do not take the item with you. If you do take it with you, the item cannot be returned.

While It Lasts strongly encourages you to closely inspect item photos, descriptions and details before purchasing anything and then again upon delivery or pickup. If you're unsure about an item's condition, dimensions, quantity or description, reach out to support@whileitlasts.com with your questions before making a purchase.

Can I return an Item bought in a While it Lasts AUCTION?

Items bought during a While It Lasts Auction are non-returnable and non-refundable. All Auction Sales are Final.

How do returns work for shipping/delivery?

Buyers have 48 hours after delivery to inspect their item and email support@whileitlasts.com to initiate a return of an item.

The cost of the return shipping will be determined by the reason for the return.

If the item arrives damaged, and the buyer has photographic evidence, the cost of return shipping will be paid by the seller. Likewise, if the seller misrepresents the item, the return shipping will be paid by the seller.

If the item is returned because of buyer change of mind, the return shipping will be paid by the buyer.

In your return request to support@whileitlasts.com, please include:

  1. Reason for the return
  2. Your While It Lasts order number (find this in your order confirmation email)
  3. The best phone number to call for pick-up coordination
  4. If the item arrived damaged, photos of the damage

While it Lasts will determine the cause for the return, and the responsibility for the shipping return. At that point, the seller and buyer will make arrangements for return delivery with each other.

Each returned item must be received in original condition.

A refund of the purchase amount, less processing charges will be processed upon confirmation that the item has been safely returned to the seller.

Can a purchase be cancelled?

Yes, as long as your item has not yet been scheduled for delivery. Your order must not have started the shipping process, which generally happens within 24 hours.

Can I cancel an item bought in an Auction?

No, all auction items sales are final. Be sure to bid carefully.

How do I cancel a purchase?

If you want to cancel a purchase, contact us via support@whileitlasts.com or call us at 713-694-8881 with your While It Lasts order number. While It Lasts will try to accommodate you as best we can.

How can sellers avoid returns?

The best way to avoid returns is to be accurate, clear and honest about the description and condition of your item.

We recommend that you be clear and concise in your description of the item. Include well-lit photos from all angles that capture the beauty of the items as well as any damage, big or small.

If While It Lasts determines the listing was inaccurate, misleading or misrepresented the item in any way, While It Lasts may charge the seller for both outbound and return delivery charges.

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