---
title: How do I buy an item? | TimeBank Ireland
description: Buy an item with money or time credits, or claim a free item.
canonical: https://hour-timebank.ie/help/members/marketplace/buying_an_item
generated: 2026-11-12T16:59:09.698Z
---Marketplace

# How do I buy an item?

Buy an item with money or time credits, or claim a free item.

You buy an item from its page with the **Buy Now** button.

1. Open the item.
2. Check the price and how you will get the item.
3. If you see Choose how to pay, choose to pay with money or with time credits.
4. Press Buy Now.
5. If you pay with money, enter your card details and pay.

The order then appears in [My Orders](/marketplace/orders) .

## Paying with time credits

Some sellers accept time credits, the platform's unit of time. When you press **Buy Now** , the credits move from your wallet to the seller's wallet straight away. You need enough credits in your wallet.

When you pay with time credits, you cannot use a coupon and paid delivery is not offered. Choose collection or free delivery instead.

## Free items

For a free item, pressing **Buy Now** claims it. No money changes hands. Message the seller to agree when to collect it.

## Paying by card

Card payment only works if your community has switched it on and the seller has set up payments. If it is not available, you see a message when you try to buy. Message the seller to agree what to do instead.

When card payment is available, payments are handled by Stripe, a payment company. Card details are entered in Stripe's secure form.

If a card payment is not finished, the order is cancelled after a short time. You can then try again.

## If something goes wrong

Contact the seller first using **Message Seller** . If you cannot sort it out, contact your community administrator.

[Go to this page](/marketplace)

## More guides in this topic

[How do I find things in the marketplace?](/help/members/marketplace/browsing_the_marketplace) [Looking at an item and contacting the seller](/help/members/marketplace/looking_at_a_listing) [How do I sell or give away an item?](/help/members/marketplace/selling_an_item) [Managing your listings](/help/members/marketplace/managing_your_listings) [How long do marketplace listings last?](/help/members/marketplace/marketplace_listing_limits) [Making and answering offers](/help/members/marketplace/making_an_offer) [Following your orders and rating a seller](/help/members/marketplace/marketplace_orders) [How do I report a listing?](/help/members/marketplace/reporting_a_listing)

## Still need help?

If you can't find what you need, get in touch and a person will help you.

[Contact us](/contact)