June 27, 2011 by Auntie Kate
Sometimes you want a few options. Get them in our OPEN HOUSE. Ask, answer, offer your suggestions and see how others handle situations you might face. I trust our more-experienced consignment, resale, & thrift shopkeepers will help answer our questions and offer their wisdom. In fact, why not head over there right now?
Then check out our Ask Auntie Kate page. Sure, Auntie Kate’s there, but your knowledge and experience are eagerly sought as well. Go add your opinion & experience.
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Is sharing coming back? I miss it!!
I am in the process of looking at consignment software for my consignment shop. I have a friend that used ConsignPro and loved it, but I wanted to get feedback from others. I have downloaded a 30-day free trial of ConsignPro. What other types of software have you used in your consignment business? I would like to use a reputable software. I’d love to hear your feedback! Thanks for any advice!!
GROUPON
Who uses Groupon? Any Luck? Suggestions? Etc..
Appreciate it!
Avg ticket $43 is a $12 groupon for 25 value too high/not high enough?
They expire the promo portion of the groupon 6 months from issue.
Example: 25 gift card in 6 months will be worth face value of 12 (what they paid)
We get paid for the sold groupons in 1/3′s??? 1/3 the day after, 1/3 20 days later, and the final 60 days after… Sales rep from groupon said it was to prevent business from taking they money and running/closing shop.
Groupon takes 1/2 of the $12 + 2.5% credit card fee…. so we will only see $5.10 for every $25 purchase.
Only 1 per person may be used… one person can only buy 1 and 1 for a gift.
We exclude GOLD and Silver Items.
I am thinking we will not make money, but this is an advertising expense.
We will break even if we ring the sale in AT 50% OFF and add a misc fee called grouon difference for the 50% .
Example
$25 item, paid for with $25 grouon
ring in as a 12.50 item and add a 12.50 groupon dif fee
apply 25 groupon gift card
consignor of item (50/50) split gets 6.25 (store is out 1.15)
Now this is only if they ONLY use the $25 only… and not above… which we are hoping for.
Any thoughts?
It sounds like you’re saying you’re going to reduce the consignor’s item from $25 to $12.50 and give the consignor their split from the reduced price. That doesn’t seem fair. If you’re going to think of the amount as a store advertising expense it doesn’t seem right that your consignor should be paying for it. What if someone bought that item withOUT a Groupon? Would they be paying $25? Why should your consignor be penalized because you decided to run a coupon?
When we do regular markdowns in the store, the consignor gets their share out of the reduced amount. When a customer is using a coupon, the store eats that discount. That’s part of the cost of doing business for us…at least that’s how I see it.
Who is OPEN on the 4th of July?
Antiques/Furniture consignment could be a holiday adventure for families out of state visiting??? Or should we just go home and lay by the pool???
Unless you’ve spent the last few weeks alerting your clientele that you WILL be open when they expect you’re probably closed, it could be a waste of time to be open…
Then again
there’s ALWAYS something to do around the shop, so you might as well BE there…
I’ll lay around the pool for you.
I agree with Jarred. Are the checks mailed with delivery confirmation? They should be. ..that way you can actually verify that it was delivered and justify that any fees come out of their check.
I wouldn’t spend money on delivery confirmation… if the bank said they were mailed… (Is it a BIG bank or a local bank)… either way they are a trustworthy source, if they say it was mailed… it was mailed.
I can go into our Business Online banking and print a confirmation screen for online checks… tells me when i sent it on the computer, when the bank mailed it, and when it should arrive.
Even though it’s down, I’m hoping someone will be kind enough to help me with a question?! I mail checks to consignors through my bank (they print, address envelopes and pay postage, nice right?!). But I have had several consignors who claim they haven’t received it or missplaced it. It costs me $35 to cancel a check. I don’t think they get the how this cost can add up! Do I tell them about a $35 cancelled check fee or just graciously send them another check without mentioning it? The latest consignor who made the request has a nice $175 check coming to them.
I would speak to the bank to find out if in fact it was mailed… see what they can do. If it was mailed…chances are the consignor misplaced the check. The store cannot afford to eat the $35, deduct it from there check(s).
hey – I need THAT “spa”
woah – hope it will be fixed real soon -
Thanks Cheryl, for your concern… it’s not broken, it’s “at the spa” teehee… and when it comes “back home” it will look 10 years younger