A new consignment tack shop just opened and they are boasting a temporary discount on their consignment fee of 50% of purchase price from their normal 60%. 60% or 50% sounds like a lot for a commission; I’m used to 25% or 30%. Is this the norm now? How much do others pay in commissions? Just curious if this is the way it is.
I have used multiple consignment shops for tack and NEVER paid more than 25%. WOW!!!
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I know! it seems unreal, I thought they were kidding at first. What surprises me is that so many people are on board with it.
I’ve sold three saddles through The Horse Saddle Shop, which is what I would consider a nation-wide store, within this year, and they were 25%. I also have a bunch of tack consigned locally, and again 25%.
I am a little surprised!
Been at this since 1970, never paid more then 25% to consign anything and have paid as little as 15%. Always got proof of the eventual selling price with the funds as well.
Since they are new and consignment only (right?). I’d be careful consigning anything lest they go poof with it. Never dealt with a consignment only tack store, only ones that took them as an addition to their regular retail business. Would think it tough to even break even with consignments only in retail store space. Even at 50-60%.
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There’s a store that opened near me about 2 years ago that charges 30% and they are going gang busters. They have a huge space and are doing really well. They have an extensive inventory from endurance riding to eventing and everything in between. Everything is brought in by consignors, nothing from wholesalers, and not an extension of an existing tack shop.
I did have one experience with a consignment shop that went poof. In my case they owed me $75 in commissions and never did get it.
50-60% sounds extremely high to me. I have never paid more than 25%. Do you mind telling us what state you are in so that I can open up a consignment shop? Just kidding, kind of :lol:
30% is the consignment fee for the shop I use. I believe it’s lower than that for saddles, too, but I’ve never sold a saddle through them so I don’t know for sure.
Washington State
That’s insane! I know a lot of retail marks things way up on original pricing to then “slash” prices but uh…if anyone falls for 50% they may deserve it.
There is one in Sherwood, OR that is new and, I think, trying to take 50%.
I have seen 40% for non-saddle items. I think that’s too much for me.
IME, places that take that much are either in a very wealthy market where folks buy good quality stuff and don’t mind losing money; they don’t want to put in the time to sell it themselves. Or the consignment shop starts getting on the cheap or trashed stuff that the owner has written off anyway.
I regularly consign at a place that charges 25% for saddles and 40% for everything else. I actually drive past other consignment options with lower (non-saddle) rates to get to this store because they are good at what they do. They price items fairly, know what they can sell and what they need to turn down, and the check for sold items shows up every month like clockwork. It’s so easy to work with them, and I’m very happy to pay to let them handle it vs spending my time dealing with Facebook Marketplace chaos.
I’m on the opposite coast, in a horsey area, FWIW.
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We had a tack and grain store that charged 25% for a purchase credit and 30% for cash. Sadly they closed down… A consignment only shop lasted about 18 months. Mediocre inventory and I don’t know what they charged.
The store I go to has good quality and cheap stuff. Several really good quality dressage saddles and a number of high end western saddles. However, they do have a lot of junk saddles that aren’t worth the space, I have never seen them turn anything down. I bought a brand new hay bag for $8.00, Thin line reins for $10.00, New Kensington stall guard for $10.00, and numerous new saddle pads for about $6.00 each. They have a high turnover as their prices are good and they have a huge inventory. I have no idea how a shop that charges a 60% consignment rate is going to stay in business for long.
