Offering a count group to buyers

Most listings sell one specific animal. A count group is different: it lets you offer a group you do not have listed individually yet, such as a planned litter, a hatch, or a crop of young animals, and let buyers reserve a spot ahead of time. This is a short pointer from the Selling side; the full setup walkthrough lives in the dedicated article linked below.

What a count group sale is

• What it is: an offer based on a count of animals rather than one listed individual. Buyers apply and reserve against the group, and you match them to animals as they become available.
• What it means: you can start taking serious interest (and deposits) before every animal exists or is individually listed, which is ideal for planned breedings and young stock.

Reservation tiers

A count group offers reservations at increasing levels of commitment, so buyers can signal anything from light interest to a firm claim:

• Interest: the lightest tier. A buyer registers interest so you know they want one.
• Priority: a stronger commitment that places a buyer ahead in line, usually with a deposit.
• Specific: the firmest tier, a reservation tied to a particular animal once you accept it.

You choose which tiers to offer and what each requires.

Deposits, held safely

When a tier takes a deposit, that deposit is held safely by Creatures, not paid straight to you. It stays held while the reservation is active, and when the reservation becomes an actual sale the deposit applies to the buyer's final balance rather than being an extra charge. Whether a deposit is refundable, and under what conditions, is your policy for that count group, so state it clearly.

Applications come with it

Count-group reservations run through the same buyer application flow as approval-gated listings, so you can ask buyers questions and approve who reserves. See Requiring buyer applications and building a form and Reviewing and approving buyer applications.

The full walkthrough

For the complete breeder setup, including creating the count group, defining tiers, and managing reservations end to end, see Offer a count group to buyers: applications and reservations. This article is just the Selling-side orientation so you know the option exists and how it fits with your other listings.

Related information

• Listing an animal at a fixed price
• Requiring buyer applications and building a form
• Reviewing and approving buyer applications

Updated on: 23/06/2026