Today’s post for consignment and resale shop owners was going to be about now being a good time to make consignor agreement changes.
But reality intervened.
I went looking and found some agreements that made me cringe. Wording that shows that the writer forgot the REASON for putting her/his info on the web: to entice potential clients to come to the shop.
So today let’s talk about how your agreement is presented. Without careful consideration, your wording can sound like military orders. Is that the way you want your shop’s image to come across to a potential supplier of your business?
An example of a web page about consigning:
*Please choose one of the following account types. BE ADVISED: Account types and percentages cannot be changed on sold items.
– 50% of the selling price to consignor to be paid in STORE CREDIT ONLY. Monies over 1 year old in an inactive account will revert to the store.
– 40% of the selling price to consignor to be paid in either store credit, cash under $20.00 or check over $20.00. Monies over 6 months old in an inactive account will revert to the store.
My, my. How about making it sound friendlier…AND like a customer benefit? Maybe:
Get more! You receive 40% of the selling price once your items sell. You may use this towards purchases or request a payout. If you’re an avid shopper, you may choose to receive even more by selecting “store credit only.” With this love-to-shop option, we credit your account with a full 50% of the selling price that you can spend on anything in the shop.
And here’s an email received from a shopkeeper I can only assume is feeling overstressed:
- ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN STORED IN A MOLDY MUSTY BASEMENT OR SMOKE FILLED HOME.
- APPLIANCES, TV’S, PHONES, EXCERCISE EQUIPMENT.
- DOLLAR STORE ITEMS OR NANTUCKET BRAND CHRISTMAS TREE SHOP ITEMS.
- BROKEN UP SETS OF GLASSWARE,PLASTIC KITCHEN ITEMS, (unless Tupperware).
- MUGS (unless Pottery or unique), INEXPENSIVE WALL ART, CHEAP FRAMES OR BASKETS.
- TOYS, GAMES, PUZZLES OR STUFFED ANIMALS. (Newly packaged toys are acceptable).
- HOMEMADE CRAFT ITEMS, PLASTIC FLOWERS, FREE COSMETIC BAGS.
- ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS OR GAUDY 80’S FURNITURE PIECES
- DIRTY DUSTY OR MOLDY MILDEW FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD.
- NO MEN’S CLOTHING.
- ANYTHING WITH CHIPS, OR PIECES MISSING.
- OLD CLOTHING ROLLED IN A BALL INSIDE A GARBAGE BAG! OR CLOTHING THAT IS FROM THE 80’S & 90’S.
- YARD SALE LEFTOVERS
- JUST PLAIN JUNK!
How about:
Items presented for consignment must be in perfect selling condition. Call us anytime or email us if you have questions.
What missteps have you seen…or made yourself in the past?
At a loss for words? Try the consignor agreement in Too Good to be Threw The Complete Operations Manual for Resale & Consignment Shops. There’s even a point-by-point explanation about how to design each section of your agreement.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
[…] OMG Turning suppliers off […]
Hi Laurel, If you don’t have Too Good to be Threw: The Complete Operations Manual for Resale & Consignment Shops to help you out, there is a mini-Product for the Professional Resale that answers just the question you’ve asked at http://tgtbt.com/luncheonette.htm …it’s the 3rd item down, Making a Change…
Best wishes on your new shop, and I look forward to your participation in our resalers’ discussion board, Sharing, at http://www.tgtbt.com/w-agora/index.php?site=tgtbt&bn= Isn’t it a great industry?!?
Kate,
Great words of advise…but my question is…what DO you do to change the wording in your contract. I am a new shop owner (open 6 weeks) I already have 300 consignnors but would like to change the wording regarding mailing checks at the end of the month. I no longer want to do this…but need to know how to make the change. Obviously, change the contract for all new consignors moving forward…but what about these first 300?
Thanks so much
Laurel
You’re right, Kate, I kind of got o/t there. I just finished revamping my consignor’s agrt but since reading this post, I’m going to have another look at it with a view to making it more ‘supplier friendly’. Thank you!
Always good reminders Kate. It’s so important to look at verbage from others perspectives.
I have to say, I will be reviewing my wording regarding payment split/store credit. On the other hand, I do have a “no garbage bags/paper or plastic grocery bags” rule at my women’s consignment shop. Maybe it’s a psychological thing, but I find I receive items folded neatly and in better condition in dept/clothing store shopping bags with this rule.
Thanks, Christine. In this entry I wasn’t addressing the “rules” situation…I was merely pointing out that language is SO important to setting the tone…what a supplier or shopper thinks of your business even before coming in. If I’ve helped you step back a bit from your way of expressing yourself so you can “see” how it might come across to another person, I’ve done my job!
The first example is certainly off-putting to say the least. How much nocer your version sounds, Kate!
The second example really made me laugh though… In the furniture and home decor resale environment, that’s exactly what I’ve said to myself a hundred times (in my head only!) Although it seems like common sense, not everyone knows that you don’t want to consign a blue plastic flower dust garden from 1970 😉 Better not to put it in writing though and instead, a polite NTY. Plus, every time a consignor or seller comes into the shop to see if we want to buy something, there is a good chance they will end up a shopper. Win Win for us both.
Oh yes, Jenni, I am sure we’ve ALL muttered these things to ourselves…and probably even worse 😉 But to put them out into the universe…in all caps? I just feel so bad for the shopkeeper who was SO upset that she was driven to write this…and then hit the “ENTER” button. Where’s a paper shredder when you need one…and a nice glass of Chardonnay?
All I can say is wow! I’m sure I should review my wording, but I have to hope I never sound like either of those. Thanks for sharing, Kate.