Reviewed and expanded — 13 September 2026. This is the store operator’s workflow guide. If you own an item and are choosing how to sell it, start with selling on consignment versus selling yourself . Original publication date and URL retained.
A small consignment operation needs records that let someone follow an item from handover to its final outcome. Begin with a process you can explain to the consignor and to the person covering your next shift. Software cannot resolve an unclear agreement.
1. Agree the arrangement before intake
Record what you accept, the agreed commission calculation, other charges, pricing authority, review dates, payment timing and the unsold outcome. Clarify how returns, damage and missing items will be handled. Use terms appropriate to your operation; this checklist is not a ready-to-sign agreement.
Keep the version of the agreed terms connected to the intake record. A later change to your standard terms should not silently rewrite the recorded arrangement for an existing item.
2. Make one identifiable intake record
| Field | Why it is useful |
|---|---|
| Item ID and consignor reference | Connects the physical item to the correct agreement |
| Description and identifying details | Distinguishes similar models, sizes or editions |
| Condition, testing and inclusions | Separates verified facts from unresolved questions |
| Intake photos and date | Records what was handed over |
| Physical location | Lets another operator find it |
| Agreed pricing authority | Shows who may approve changes |
| Listing IDs and current status | Connects each channel to the item |
| Sale, deductions and payout reference | Explains the final settlement |
Collect the personal information needed for the arrangement and keep access controlled. Avoid copying consignor details into public listing text. Keep an unresolved question visible instead of allowing a generated description to invent the answer.
3. Record the initial pricing decision
Save relevant comparisons and distinguish active asking prices from completed sales. Agree the ask under the arrangement, note missing evidence and choose a review date. An item reaching a particular age is a prompt to investigate, not automatic permission to discount it.
If the item will be sold on eBay, the listing diagnostic guide can help check the listing. The fee calculator estimates a selected sale scenario; it does not calculate the consignor’s entitlement under your agreement.
4. Track listings and operational states
Keep enquiries, reservations, live listings, orders and retained sales distinct. Record any deadline on a hold. When an item sells, confirm other listings are removed or quantities updated. Keep any failed removal as an open task rather than assuming synchronisation worked.
A returned or cancelled sale needs its own recorded outcome. Do not leave the item marked as sold and paid when the underlying transaction has changed.
5. Reconcile before paying
Build the statement from the actual sale and the applicable agreement. Show the sale amount, the commission basis, each other deduction, adjustments and the amount due. Keep the payment reference and date separate from the calculated amount: an amount due is not proof of payment.
For example, A$500 less an agreed 40% commission and no other deductions gives A$300 due to the consignor. This is an illustrative agreement, not a typical split or a TurnGoods default. A refund or extra agreed charge would need its own adjustment and explanation.
6. Close the unsold item deliberately
Record the review decision: retain the current ask, make an authorised change, return the item or take another agreed action. Confirm the physical handover and removal of live listings when returning stock. Do not treat an item disappearing from the catalogue as a complete audit trail.
Test the handover before increasing volume
Walk a small set of records through intake, listing, sale, refund and unsold return. Use an offline example for exceptional cases rather than creating dummy live marketplace listings. Ask another operator to explain the payout calculation using only the record.
For broader setup questions, see the consignment business checklist . Ask about current TurnGoods scope before planning a migration. The public listing-review offer does not promise automated consignor payouts, customer self-service onboarding or direct publishing to every marketplace.