Onboard a Consignor and Set Their Split
Consignment is when someone else brings items to your sale and you pay them a percentage of what sells. FindA.Sale makes it easy to manage consignors: track their inventory, calculate payouts automatically, and issue payments at settlement. This guide covers how to invite a consignor, set their split, manage their inventory, and pay them out.
How it works
**1. Invite a consignor** Go to your sale and tap "Consignors" or "Add a Consignor." Enter their:
- Name
- Email address (so they can get invited)
- Phone number (optional, for payment details)
Send the invite. They'll get an email: "You've been invited to consign for [Your Sale] on [Date]."
**2. They create an account** If they don't have a FindA.Sale account, they create one. If they do, they log in and accept the consignment offer. Either way, they now have access to see their items and get paid at settlement.
**3. They upload their inventory** They can:
- Add items manually (one at a time, like listing a yard sale)
- Upload a spreadsheet with bulk items
- Use the camera to take photos and auto-tag items (condition, category, price estimate)
**4. You review and approve** Each item appears in your sale's inventory pending your approval. You can:
- Approve it as-is
- Edit the price, description, or category
- Reject it if it doesn't fit your sale
- Reach out and ask for more info or a better photo
Approved items go live and appear in the shopper's view.
**5. Set their split percentage** You decide what percentage of the sale price the consignor keeps:
- 50/50 split: they get 50%, you get 50%
- 40/60 split: they get 40%, you get 60% (more for you)
- 30/70 split: they get 30%, you get 70% (you take a bigger commission)
The split applies to all of that consignor's items. You can set different splits for different consignors.
**6. Track sales** As items sell, the app tracks which items belonged to which consignor. At settlement, the app calculates:
- Total revenue from their items
- Their payout (revenue × split %)
- Stripe fees deducted
**7. Pay them out** At settlement, you see exactly what each consignor earned. You can:
- Initiate a bank transfer (if they gave you their bank info)
- Pay by check
- Pay in cash
- Use a custom method you agreed on
Types of consignors
One-time consignor: Someone bringing 10–20 items to your single estate sale. You set terms, run the sale, pay them out, and you're done.
Recurring consignor: A reseller or small dealer who brings items to all your sales. You might offer them a better split (45/55 instead of 40/60) to keep them coming back.
Store consignor: A shop that brings inventory to a consignment space or flea market you're running. They might bring 50+ items and work with you ongoing.
How splits work at settlement
Example:
- Consignor A brings 30 items, 20 sell for a total of $500
- Consignor A's split is 50%
- Stripe fees on the $500: $14.50
- Net revenue: $485.50
- Consignor A gets: 50% of $485.50 = $242.75
- You get: 50% of $485.50 = $242.75
If you charged a commission on top of the split:
- Your commission (e.g., 10% of the consignor's take): $24.28
- Consignor A's final payout: $242.75 - $24.28 = $218.47
- You keep: $242.75 + $24.28 = $267.03
Common questions
Can the consignor change prices after I list their items?
No. You control prices once approved. If a consignor wants to change a price, they message you, and you can edit it from your side.
What if a consignor's items don't sell?
At settlement, they get $0 for items that didn't sell. Unsold items are stored or returned to the consignor. You decide what happens (next sale, pickup, donation, etc.).
Can I charge a consignor a fee if they bring items?
Yes, but it's transparent. You'd state upfront: "50/50 split, plus $20 consignment fee per sale" or "40/60 split, no additional fee." Put it in your terms so there's no surprise at payout.
What if a consignor brings very valuable items (jewelry, antiques)?
You can: - Require photo documentation and appraisal - Set a higher starting price - Offer a different split (maybe 60/40 in their favor for high-value items) - Get them insured while they're in your care - Handle the sale yourself and take a bigger commission
Can multiple people consign the same item?
No. Each item belongs to one consignor. If two friends want to sell items together, they're treated as separate consignors with separate items.
How do I handle returns?
If a shopper returns an item and gets a refund, the commission and fees come out of your pocket, not the consignor's. The consignor gets no payout for that item.
Can I onboard a consignor after the sale starts?
Yes, but they'll need to upload items quickly. The sooner they're live, the more time shoppers have to see them. Late consignors miss out on browsing time.
What if a consignor wants a different split than the rest?
You can set custom splits per consignor. Consignor A gets 50/50, Consignor B gets 40/60. The app tracks it per person.
Best practices
**1. Be clear on terms upfront.** Confirm split percentage, commission (if any), unsold item policy, and payout method before they commit.
**2. Set a deadline for item uploads.** Tell consignors: "All items must be submitted by Thursday midnight." This gives you time to review and approve.
**3. Take good photos of their items.** If their photos are blurry, ask for better ones. Good photos = more sales = bigger payout for them.
**4. Update them during the sale.** Send a message mid-event: "Your items are selling great! 8 of 12 sold so far." Keeps them engaged.
**5. Pay them promptly.** After settlement, pay within a few days. This builds trust and they'll consign with you again.
Ready to put this into practice? Your next sale starts here.