FAQ
 

• What’s the difference between thrift, resale, and consignment shops?
• What should a consumer look for when shopping resale?
• Why is resale so popular?
• How does consignment work?
• How do I get paid for my items that have sold? 
• How do I know if my items have sold?
• What happens if my items don’t sell?
  
  

Q: What’s the difference between thrift, resale, and consignment shops?

A:While all shops which sell gently-used consumer goods are "resale" shops, The distinctions as follows:

A resale shop is the phrase most often used for stores that buy their merchandise outright from individual owners. A consignment or thrift shop can also be called a resale shop,
but ONLY a store that actually consigns their inventory can be called a consignment store, and ONLY a store run by a Not For Profit organization is considered a thrift.

A thrift shop is run by a Not For Profit organization to raise money to fund their charitable causes. These range from the large Salvation Army / Goodwill chains to
individual school, church or hospital thrift shops.
Not For Profits can obtain goods through donations or they could operate on a consignment basis—some do both.

A consignment shop accepts merchandise on a consignment basis, paying the owners of the merchandise a percentage when and if the items are sold.

The majority of such shops pay the owners from 40 to 50% of the selling price, and have a policy of displaying goods for anywhere from 30 to 90 days, although there is a wide
range of policies across the country.
Some consignment shops also purchase a variety of items outright from individual owners and/or wholesalers

WE PAY 50%

Q: What should a consumer look for when shopping resale?

A: Look for quality of workmanship and materials. A quality item might cost more at resale than an inferior item does new,
but the workmanship, style, and value of any well-made item, from a sofa to a designer outfit, provides more value at resale.

Know the retail prices of items you are shopping for to appreciate how much money you will save by shopping resale.

Explore a variety of resale shops to find several that will become your favorites. Each  shop is unique, and so is their merchandise.

Get to know the staff, sign their mailing list to receive sale notices, customer only premiums, and valuable information sent out in their flyers or newsletters.

Check all items carefully and know the store’s return policies before purchasing

Q: Why is resale so popular?

A:There are numerous reasons for the increased popularity of resale. One is the increased awareness by the public of recycling. People would rather consign, sell or donate their unwanted or unneeded items than just add to the waste stream. Consignors, donors and sellers make money by selling under loved items at our shops, without the expense, work, and bother of a tag or garage sale. By having a resale expert price and market their goods, sellers realize more income than if they attempted to do this themselves. Eco-aware consumers would also rather purchase recycled articles in order to minimize their impact on our limited resources.

Of course, one of the foremost reasons for increased popularity of resale is very simple . . .

People LOVE a BARGAIN!

 Today's consumer is more economical and would rather buy clothing, accessories and furniture for a third to fourth of the original price, leaving money for other things in life such as vacations, education, investments and hobbies. The public is also keenly aware that resale shopping means more quality for less money. Since resale has evolved from the image of dark, musty junk stores, consumers today find clean, attractive and well displayed stores that offer value and selection without the new-price markup.

Q: How does consignment work? 

A: We sell your items on your behalf. The Monkey Cage  handles the sorting, pricing, tracking and collection of applicable taxes. We pay you 50% of the sale price after the item sells.

Q: How do I get paid for my items that have sold? 

A: As soon as an item sells, your portion of the sale becomes available to you. You may either use the money in your account as a store credit , pick up the cash or have a check mailed to you.

Q: How do I know if my items have sold?

A: The Monkey Cage  is proud to offer our consignors a way to track their account online.
Go to www.myresaleweb.com ,There you can find out and the balance of your account.

Q: What happens if my items do not sell?

A: You have 7 days to collect them or they will be donated to charity.