(Redirected from Consign)'Consignment' is the act of 'consigning', which is placing a person or thing in the hand of another, but retaining ownership until the goods are sold or person is transferred. This may be done for
shipping, transfer of prisoners, or for
sale in a store (i.e. a 'consignment shop'). In the context of sale, it is usually understood that the
consignee (the consignment seller or the party to which goods are sent) pays the
consignor (the person with items to sell or the party by which the goods are consigned) only after the sale, from its proceeds.
Consignment shops
Consignment shops are
second-hand stores that offer
used goods at a lower price than new. Many offer new items as well. The dealer pays the seller upon sale of the goods. Merchandise often sold through consignment shops include
antiques,
athletic equipment,
automobiles,
books,
clothing (especially children's, maternity, and wedding clothing which are often not worn out),
furniture,
firearms,
music,
musical instruments,
tools, and
toys.
eBay drop off stores often use the consignment model of selling. Art galleries, as well, often operate as consignees of the artist.
Consignment shops differ from
charity or
thrift shops in that the original owner retains some of the revenue from the sale, rather than donating it to the charity. They differ from
pawnbrokers, which acquire the good from the original owner in exchange for money or a loan of money.
In the UK, the term "consignment" is not used, and consignment shops selling women's clothing are called "dress agencies". Although the other types of consignment shop exist, there is no general term for them.
Etymology
Consignment comes from consign, Fr. consigner, Lat. consignare, to affix a signum, seal; whence, in Late Lat., to hand over, transmit..
Further reading
★
'Too Good to be Threw': The Complete Operations Manual for Resale & Consignment Shops, Holmes, Kate, , , Katydid Press, 2006, ISBN 0-9755886-1-3 (Spiralbound, 202 pages)
★
'FutureShop': How the New Auction Culture Will Revolutionize the Way We Buy, Sell and Get the Things We Really Want, Nissanoff, Daniel, , , The Penguin Press, 2006, ISBN 1-59420-077-7 (Hardcover, 246 pages)
References
★
Black's Law Dictionary
★ Showroom Finder
[1]
★ Store Finder by zip code
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