Friday, October 7, 2011

SHOPPING EXPERT SHEDS LIGHT ON CONSIGNMENT SHOPPING

"A BARGAIN IS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T USE AT A PRICE YOU CAN'T RESIST."  Franklin P. Jones

We all know that bargains are good and services acquired at less than their market value.  The less the price, the better.  So, here are the bargain store or off-price shopping options highlighted in our "Savvy Shopper's Guide to Thrift & Consignment Stores":

CONSIGNMENT STORE
The actual term "consignment" comes from the French word "consigner" meaning "to hand over or transmit".  Consigning, then is placing a person or thing in the hand of another, like clothing or furniture, but retaining ownership until the goods are sold.

A consignment store (consignor) takes new or used goods from a consignee (person consigning) and agrees to offer to sell the merchandise within a certain time frame to the public in a retail setting for a profit.  Used may mean formerly-enjoyed, gently-used, previously-treasured, repurposed, redesigned and/or or resurrected.  The profit is usually split between the store owner and the consignee for anywheere from 40% - 60%.  Items are usually hand-picked by staff, kept for sale for 2 - 3 months, and then either donated, or retrieved by consignees.  Consignees also have the option of purchasing items in the store with the credit accumulated in their accounts from the sale of their items.

Consignment is distinguished by:

1.  The relation between the two parties is that of consignor (store owner) and consignee (person consigning)
2.  The consignor is entitled to receive all the expenses in connection with consignment
3.  The consignee is not responsible for damage to goods while in the possession of consignor
4.  Goods are sold at the risk of consignor who also absorbs any profit or loss
5.  Although consigned, title to the items is retained by the consignee

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