FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Consignment and how does it work?
Consignment means that you are giving us the opportunity to sell items for you on your behalf. We price and tag everything but you get a 50% share of the profit when your items sell. This is a great way to make a little extra cash or use your earnings as store credit towards purchasing items that your kids need in the next size up! We keep everything in the store for 90 days and keep track of all of your sales for you. You can call or stop in for a total at any time.
Why should I consign instead of having a yard sale?
Consigning saves you the time of having a yard sale and typically pays out the same, if not more! You don't need to price anything, prepare signs, hang or iron your clothing or get up early on a Saturday morning. We do all of that for you. You get the profits without all of the work!
Who does the pricing when I bring my items in?
The owner, Karen, does all of the pricing but will work with you. We do everything we can to make sure you get the best payout for your items.
How do you keep track of everything?
We have a wonderful software program that keeps track of everything. When you bring your items in, each piece is given a consignment number and item number. Each tag has this unique number on it. When the item sells, the number is entered into our system and it automatically credits your account for 50% of the selling price. We do a triple back up at the end of every business day so you can be assured that your information will never be lost and your account will be updated daily. Call anytime for an up-to-date total of your sales.
Why do I need an appointment?
We currently have over 600 consignors! With so much merchandise coming in and people adding onto their existing consignments, we want to make sure we are ready for you. Your appointment time will allow me the time to look through your items without worrying about them getting mixed up with other incoming merchandise. I need to set aside a time for you to come in and give myself about an hour or two after you leave in order to price and tag all of your items.
Why did you give back some of my items at my appointment?
This is always a touchy situation. Please do not get offended if I give something back to you at your appointment. It is nothing personal, just using my experience from what I have seen sell in the past. When a consignment is up, I have to pull all of the unsold items to return to the consignor. I use these "pulled items" to help guide me in what I should or shouldn't take in the future. The lighting in my store is very harsh and shows stains on clothing that most lights in your home will not show. It happens to everyone, including me! Other things can also be missed like broken zippers, pilling, fading, wash wear, worn knees, worn pant bottoms, recalls (anything with drawstrings), etc. I want to fill every space in the store with items that I know will sell. In order to make the most I can for you, I need to make sure the items I am taking are in the best possible shape!
Where do you get all the new stuff you sell?
I get it anywhere and everywhere! Direct from the manufacturers, from wholesalers, etc. I want my customers to be able to find new items at a fraction of what they would pay in the store so whenever I find a deal, I snatch it up. Even if I only make a few cents on it, at least I am supplying the store with a nice variety of quality merchandise. I love to see variety when I shop and I want my customers to find the same in my store!
What do the tag colors mean? How do you know when to put a tag color on sale?
The tag color corresponds to the time the item came into the store. If something is on sale, it means it has been in the store for at least 30 days at the full ticket price. The timing of the sales is crucial because I want to make sure everyones items get their fair chance at being full price. I usually reduce items after I have been pricing with the "new color" for at least 30 days.
Why do you sell some items for $1 towards the end of my consignment?
Occasionally I have dollar sales and mark items down to $1. Please know that this is only done when items have been in the store for a long time and I don't feel like they are moving (even at half price). I want you to be able to pick up a check and not have to worry about picking up items that didn't sell. Sometimes (especially during yard sale season) there are items that just don't move unless they are $1 or less. The tags that I use are thermal print tags and they cost much more that your average price tags (about 4 times more)! If items don't sell, it actually costs me money because I had to use my supplies to tag them. Selling these unsold items for $1 towards the end of the consignment does two things: It helps to recoup the cost of my supplies and gives you less to have to pick up or donate at the end of the consignment period.
Can I bring items back to re-consign next season if they don't sell?
If something doesn't sell after 90 days, usually it means it will not sell in my shop. Same holds true for items I give back at your initial appointment. If I turn it down the first time, or it does not sell the first time, please do not bring it back to try to consign again. Please add these returned items to your yard sale inventory or donate them.
Can I bring the leftovers from my yard sale?
When items are leftover at sales like these, there are usually two reasons. The item is either not in demand or the price was too high. I don't mind NICE leftovers, but if you couldn't get the price you wanted, I might not be able to either. All I can do is try! The items I have the best luck with are the ones that you may have priced too high at your yard sale. Anything you had priced a couple dollars or less that didn't sell, I probably won't be able to sell either.
I was told that some of your merchandise comes from yard sales. Is this true?
Of course! In fact, don't be surprised if I show up at your yard sale! I love finding a bargain just as much as anyone. Other shops "buy outright" by having you bring your items to them and they decide how much they will give you. I don't do this! Going to yard sales is my way of "buying outright". The only difference is that I come to you. I respect the prices you set for your items and will never bargain or haggle. That's not me! Part of why I do not normally buy outright IN the store is because I am not one to decide how much you sell if for. If it is too much for me to resell, I simply pass. Being a "gogetter" is part of what makes my store such a success! Used items are used items no matter where you get them. All items can be checked for recalls whether they come from a yard sale or from a consignor bringing them into the store.
