How to Sell at Consignment: Contracts, Splits, and What to Expect
Consignment offers sellers an alternative to estate sales and direct selling — your items are displayed in a professional retail environment and sold over 60–90 days, with the shop taking a commission and you receiving the remainder. It works well for quality items that benefit from an established buyer audience and professional presentation. Understanding how contracts, commissions, and markdown schedules work before you consign prevents surprises when your first check arrives.
Standard Commission Splits
Consignment commissions vary by shop type and item category. Furniture and home decor consignment typically runs 40–50% to the shop, 50–60% to the seller. Clothing consignment typically runs 40–60% to the shop. High-end consignment shops (antiques, fine art, jewelry) may charge 25–40% commission for items where they add significant buyer access and authentication. The split reflects the shop's marketing, space, and staffing costs.
What to Read in the Contract
Before signing, identify: (1) the consignment period (typically 60–90 days), (2) the markdown schedule (how much and when items are reduced), (3) what happens to unsold items at period end (returned to you, donated, or discarded), (4) who is responsible for loss or damage while in the shop's possession, (5) payment schedule (when you receive proceeds — typically net 15–30 after sale), and (6) whether you can remove items before the period ends and if there's a fee for early removal.
Pricing Your Items for Consignment
You set the initial price in most consignment arrangements. Price too high and items sit until they're marked down to the point where your cut is minimal. The benchmark: price at 50–70% of comparable retail for furniture and collectibles, at or above eBay sold prices for collectibles with active online markets. Discuss the shop's markdown schedule with the manager before pricing — knowing items drop 25% at 30 days lets you price with the right initial buffer.
Choosing the Right Shop for Your Items
Specialty shops outperform general consignment for category-specific inventory. A vintage clothing consignment shop will sell your mid-century clothing for 2–3x more than a general consignment store with mixed inventory. Antique consignment galleries with established collector traffic price fine china, silver, and furniture at collector premiums that general shops can't achieve. Match your inventory category to the shop's core buyer base.
What Consignment Works Well For
Consignment is most effective for: quality furniture that photographs well and benefits from in-person viewing, fine china and silver with collector appeal, vintage clothing and jewelry in excellent condition, and art that benefits from professional display. It works less well for: low-value items where commission math leaves little for you, items requiring immediate sale (consignment takes months), and items that don't photograph or display well in a retail setting.
Tracking Your Inventory
Request an itemized receipt when you drop items off and keep a copy. Log each item with description, agreed starting price, and consignment period end date. Follow up with the shop before items are scheduled for markdown or removal — some shops will extend the period or transfer items to another location if you ask. Your consignment account statement from the shop should match your records.
List your estate sale, yard sale, or consignment items on FindA.Sale to reach buyers in your area — or find consignment shops and services near you through our local directory.