posted on August 5, 2001 07:49:31 AM
I'd love to hear from my fellow AW/ebayers about how they handle consignments, particularly in the antiques and collectibles field:
1. Do you charge a set percentage or is it based on a sliding scale? Either way, what do you charge?
2. Do you take your percentage before or after AW/ebay fees are subtracted?
3. Do you list for free or do you charge listing fees if something does or does not sell?
I seem to go round and round on these issues. Your help is much appreciated!
posted on August 5, 2001 08:02:57 AM
We have been selling items on consignment for over 3 years now through ebay and what we charge is 25% off the top, but all ebay fees come out of our 25%. The only exception to this rule is if the consignor wants a reserve. We charge $2.00 flat rate for reserves (but also work with the consignors, helping them get an idea of what the item is worth...) If the item doesn't make reserve they owe us the $2.00, I also try to work with the consignor in setting opening bids. Naturally I prefer that all opening bids are $9.99 or less, as its only the .30 cents to list. If someone wants $11.00 for something I try to talk them down to $9.99, because we save...
YOu will find that consignors are all different. Some are excellent and have an exact idea what they want, and don't worry about a reserve charge. If it sells, it sells, if not, they want it back....
Some are greedy and demand a top dollar price. When it doesn't sell for their reserve they ask how high the bidding got, and when I tell them, they say "oh, you should have let it go for that price"... Needless to say I hate these consignors, and unless they bring sexy stuff to us that sells most of the time, I try to get rid of them. Others are grateful for whatever you get for them. And others get increasingly greedy. I had a couple of clients in another city that used to send me boxes of stuff. The first load they were amazed at the prices realized, and gradually, with each load, their sale price reserves went up and up and up, until the last time we only sold about 1/2 of what they sent. They used the excuse that shipping the items to us was too expensive and they have since found someone else in their own city that now sells for them and charges the same percentage for selling, but they have to help with photography and shipping. WHat I find funny is that the other seller doesn't get them as good prices as what we got because the descriptions aren't as sexy and the photographs are bland....
