This question comes from my reader Elizabeth…
I’m going to try to sell some things to a consignment shop for the first time. I’m wondering what’s the protocol is for selling to a consignment shop? For example, should I try to bargain? If they offer me $15 for my stuff, should I request $20, or is that rude?
Elizabeth says
I wanted to thank all of you for replying! It was really helpful for me as a “newbie” to realize that I need to do a lot more research if I want to get the best price! Thank you so much!!
Keila Oliver says
We have consignment sales here several times a year – two companies – Duck Duck Goose and Rhea Lanes. If they come to your area, I suggest trying those. I think they are run differently than actual consignment stores, and have a different clientele.
Tina says
We have 2 shops where I live. One will pay you a flat amount, one that I feel is on the low side. The other will give you the option to consign or get a flat fee. Generally you will make more if you consign. They reduce prices as the season wanes and you get less the longer your items stay on the racks.
We also have several groups who put on consignment sales a couple of times a year. Here is where you can really make some money. You set your own prices, but if you volunteer to work in the sale, your percentage that you keep goes up. One particular sale I have used lets you earn up to 80% for working 4 shifts. You might put feelers out to see if anyone does those in your area.
Amber says
I have the worst time with our consignment stores. Most of ours have 2 options. Option 1 … They look through your stuff and give you a cash price up front, extremely low in my opinion. For example I had 65 pieces of girls clothes (name brand Gymboree, gap, etc lots of outfits). They offered me a whopping $10 for everything. Option 2 … Consign and it’s a 70/30 split but who knows how long the clothes will sit and sometimes they don’t put the clothes out right away. I have done so much better on Craigslist and even eBay. I just found a local place that has 2 sales per year, one in fall and 1 in spring and you print out tags from their site and bring your clothes in priced already and people who organize it set up and it’s kind of like a 2 day yard sale except the place gets 10 percent. I actually made almost $500 just on my kids clothes this past fall and can’t wait to do it again here shortly!
VickiRae says
Most shops like that tend to low ball you and won’t allow you to haggle the price any as they go based on percentage of what the item currently sells for and what profit they would make. You can request an estimate/offer and then go to another shop and request one from them, tell them what the competitor offered and go from there.
If you have a large annual consignment sale in your area you could get a good deal of money that way, that’s what we do. You make your prices with consignment and just pay the shop a percentage of what you item sold for in exchange for them displaying your item for sale.
Kristina says
Hi Elizabeth,
Also read through each store’s policies, as they will differ. Some stores will put your items on sale, the longer they sit out on the rack, that means your percentage will be smaller as well. Also, make you you make it clear to the store, whether or not you want to pick up your items if they do not sell, or if it’s okay for them to donate them instead. Another tip, make sure the consignment shop sells the type of items that you are bringing to them. Around where I live, there are several types of shops, ones that cater more to teens and twenty somethings, and ones that have clothing more for thirty and above and career wear, you’ll get more money if your items match their stock and of course if they are cleaned and pressed.
If it’s something you feel has some value, and is easy to ship, you may want to try ebay, and keep the profits all to yourself.
One more thing, call the store in advance, some only take clothes from a certain season at a given time, and some by appointment only, nothing is worse than a wasted trip!
Hope this helps!
Kristina says
Also, to answer your question about bargaining, I have never tried to bargain myself with prices, but I’m sure anything you ask the store with a sincere smile, shouldn’t be considered rude. I once took some toys and baby gear to a consignment shop, and there were a few items that they were not going to take, I was not meaning to bargain with them, but I was just simply telling them that they were too bulky and big to take back with me in my car, and that I didn’t want them. They reconsidered and bought them from me anyway. So perhaps there is some room for them to be flexible? I guess it depends on the shop…whether it’s a ‘mom and pop’ or a corporate owned place.
Pamela W. says
It really depends on what you are selling. You need to know what your stuff is worth new, but items are usually placed for sale at the Consignment Shop at 30% of their retail value and then you get a negotiated percentage of the sale once the shop sells it (negotiate 40-50%). So a $300 dress would be put on the floor for around $100 and if it sold, you would get $40-50. Higher end stuff, you really need to know its value and be able to tell them how often it has been worn. New tags make a big difference too.
Toni says
I know the places around here, price everything and then I get a percentage. The place I am currently going I get 40% of whatever they sell of my things. Then I have the choice at the end of my consignment period to pick up whatever doesn’t sell or to donate threw them to a local charity and then they print me out a tax slip.