Reviewed and expanded — 13 September 2026. This guide explains the item owner’s decision. Its original publication date and URL are retained. Store operators can use the separate consignment workflow guide .
Selling on consignment means placing an item with a seller who sells it on your behalf under an agreed arrangement. The seller deducts the agreed commission and costs from the sale proceeds. It differs from an outright purchase, where a buyer agrees to buy the item from you rather than waiting to sell it for you.
The useful question is not just “what percentage do they take?” It is what you expect to retain, what work transfers to the seller and what happens if the item does not sell.
How the process should be made clear
Before handing over an item, ask the seller to explain acceptance, condition records, the initial price, permitted price changes, deductions, payment timing and the unsold outcome. Keep a copy of the agreed terms and an itemised intake receipt with photographs where appropriate.
These are practical questions to resolve with the seller, not a standard contract. Arrangements differ; do not assume another store’s terms apply to yours.
What is a typical consignment split?
There is no single percentage established by the evidence used for this guide. Get the actual quote and ask which amount the percentage applies to. Commission on the item price and commission on proceeds after other deductions can produce different results.
Ask whether the quote includes any applicable tax on the seller’s service and whether photography, preparation, authentication, marketplace fees, storage or return delivery are charged separately. Compare the complete calculation, not two headline percentages.
Compare both routes using the same assumptions
The following is an illustration, not a recommended commission or market benchmark. Assume an item sells for A$500 in either route:
| Route | Illustrative deductions | Amount retained |
|---|---|---|
| Consignment | 40% commission on A$500, no other deductions | A$300 |
| Sell it yourself | A$80 combined selling, packing and delivery costs | A$420 |
Selling yourself leaves A$120 more in this example before valuing your time. It does not follow that the item would achieve the same price or sell within the same period on both routes. Neither amount is accounting profit; acquisition cost and other unlisted costs are excluded.
For a direct sale, use the eBay Australia fee calculator or the relevant marketplace worksheet . Check the seller scenario instead of applying one blanket percentage. For consignment, ask for a sample statement using your proposed item price and every deduction.
Count the work and uncertainty
Selling yourself can involve researching, cleaning, photographing, listing, answering questions, packing, arranging collection and handling a return. Consignment can transfer some tasks, but confirm which ones the seller actually performs.
An experienced specialist may understand an unusual item better than you do. That is a reason to assess their relevant work and proposed terms, not a guarantee of a higher price. A straightforward local collection may be manageable yourself. Consider the item and your available time rather than choosing one route for everything.
Agree the unsold and refunded outcomes
Ask these questions before the item changes hands:
- Who approves a reduced price, and is there a minimum acceptable return to you?
- When will the arrangement be reviewed, and can you withdraw the item?
- Who pays storage, withdrawal or return-delivery costs if it remains unsold?
- When is payment made after a sale, and what happens if the buyer returns it?
- What records will identify the item, sale price, deductions and payment?
- How are loss, damage and disputes handled under the proposed terms?
Keep a record of the answers. A high proposed selling price is less useful if deductions and timing remain unclear.
Choose the route you can explain
Write down your expected proceeds, effort and timing for each option. After the outcome, compare the actual amount retained with those assumptions. An unsold item remains an unsold item; the listing price is not realised revenue.
If you decide to sell on eBay yourself, use our listing diagnostic guide before publishing or cutting a price. TurnGoods’ listing-review enquiry concerns an operator-assisted review of listings; it is not an offer to take physical goods on consignment. Scope, availability and any cost are agreed first.