Do you or have you ever shopped at a consignment store?

Question

What makes a good one good or a bad one bad? Do you return often? Do you go there with a specific item in mind or do you just go to browse and find what you can?

Answer 1

You shop--just like anywhere else...often you don't know what's "good" just have to see what's there when you shop..Depends on what they've got-and were they get their products.

I sell my paintings on consignment-on MY end--I prefer a gallery shop that keeps only a 20% commission for selling my work-over a shop that keeps 60% and gives me the piddley 40%...it's not much of an honor when you consider you already have an investment of frames,mat,glass,paint,brushes,education... studio, rent, electricity,time, professional fees-etc just to make the artwork....Art is expensive to create especially if you would like  to make enough to sustain continuing being an artist--it's hard-even if you are good. And I'm good--yet I still have to tap dance.

A consignment shop is fun just go in & explore--if you find something-cool.  Often it's all one of a kind stuff-ands you never know what's going to be there. The  shop likes things from artists-because they don't have to buy items to sell..saves them $ too-they just pay me the agreed upon percentage.

If a shop is a good one--in my view-they pay the artists in a timely way-have a low commission-and don't make us wait years to be paid for our sale (it happens). As far as what they choose to show& sell--it's personal taste...some shop owners have better taste than others. Different clients want different things..just depends on what floats your  boat.  In your perspective as a buyer--a good consignment shop is one that has stuff that interests you.

Usually you don't know what they'll have-but it'll stick to a certain criteria..is it and antique shop? Salvation army? Good Will?  Art Gallery? Army Surplus?  They usually stick to a certain genre-but exact products may be a variable from week to week-day to day..that's what makes it interesting-you never know what treasure you'll find..Some shops are Up Scale and classy--some are junky, dusty and downright dirty.

Answer 2

If they have nice things and are in correct areas, it's a good place. Some places just pile things on a table and tell you to look through them.

Answer 3

Yeah, I found some really good deals