Consignment

Reviewed and revised — 12 September 2026. This article has been updated to correct unsupported claims and reflect the current enquiry-based offer. Its original publication date and URL are retained. Different consignors may agree different terms. The important part is not how many rates you support, but whether a later payout can be reproduced from the terms that applied to that item. Define the basis Record whether the percentage applies to the gross sale, a tax-exclusive amount or an amount after specified costs. Clarify fixed charges, minimum commissions and how refunds affect the calculation. Avoid describing a rate as “30%” without defining what it is applied to. ...

Reviewed and revised — 12 September 2026. This article has been updated to correct unsupported claims and reflect the current enquiry-based offer. Its original publication date and URL are retained. A consignment agreement should make the arrangement understandable before the store accepts the item. A digital signature cannot repair unclear commercial terms. Identify the parties and goods Record the store and consignor details, item ID, description, condition, accessories and intake photographs. Include the consignor’s ownership declaration and a process for questions about authenticity or title. Keep a copy of the accepted agreement linked to the item. ...

Reviewed and revised — 12 September 2026. This article has been updated to correct unsupported claims and reflect the current enquiry-based offer. Its original publication date and URL are retained. A deathpile can contain several different problems: items waiting to be photographed, stock with missing information and live listings that have not sold. Putting them in one age-sorted list hides the next action. Separate the queues Queue Useful next question Unlisted What specific information or work prevents publication? Listed, little evidence Do we have enough traffic and comparable-sale information to assess it? Listed, worth reviewing What observation justifies changing price, description or terms? Consignment ending What does the agreement require for renewal, return or another action? Assign an owner and a next review date. Record missing accessories, testing or approvals so another person can move the item forward. ...

Reviewed and revised — 12 September 2026. This article has been updated to correct unsupported claims and reflect the current enquiry-based offer. Its original publication date and URL are retained. Consigned stock needs one inventory identity even when it has several marketplace listings. Otherwise a sale, refund or price approval can become detached from the owner’s record. Keep a listing map For each item, record its owner, physical location, available quantity and every live listing ID. Distinguish drafts and failed publication attempts from active offers. A title is not a reliable identifier when several similar items are in stock. ...

Reviewed and revised — 12 September 2026. This article has been updated to correct unsupported claims and reflect the current enquiry-based offer. Its original publication date and URL are retained. Lay-by changes when an item is available and when the full payment is received. For consigned goods, the store also needs to explain that timing to the owner. Establish the agreement The ACCC requires a written lay-by agreement with clear terms. A consumer can cancel before receiving the goods; any termination fee must meet the applicable rules and cannot exceed reasonable costs. Business cancellation is limited to specified circumstances. Check the ACCC payment-method guidance when drafting terms. ...

Reviewed and revised — 12 September 2026. This article has been updated to correct unsupported claims and reflect the current enquiry-based offer. Its original publication date and URL are retained. Choosing consignment software is easier when you begin with a representative item, an actual agreement and a recent exception. Ask each system to follow those records through the work your store performs. Map the current process Write down who receives goods, checks condition, approves prices, publishes listings, handles returns and pays consignors. Identify where the same information is entered twice or where a decision has no record. ...