For Consignors

What is consignment?
Consignment occurs when an item is given to an agent to sell. You are the consignor and are consigning with the agent Going Going Gone. At Going Going Gone, we sell for individuals, organizations and other businesses for a percentage of the final sale price. Sellers, like you, bring us their items and we organize the sale, advertise and run the sales event. You don’t even have to be present to sell your items.

I've never consigned before! Where can I find information about what you'll accept and what you won't accept, tagging instructions, how to get started, etc?
All this information and more is included in the Consignor Success Kit.

Can I get a Donation Receipt for Tax Purposes if I donate some of my unsold items at the end of the sale?
Yes, we are happy to give you a receipt for your donated items. It is easy to attach a copy of the unsold items you donated to this receipt. Our consignment software will print out your list of donated unsold items after the sale ends with one click of a button.

When do I get paid?
We will send you an itemized statement listing all your sold items along with your check within one week of the end of the sale.

What are the most sought-after items at your Sale?
Cozy coupes (cars), cribs, co-sleepers & Pack 'N Plays, slides, play kitchens, ride-on toys and playhouses are often the first items to go and the ones we wish we had more of to sell!

How should I price my items?
Ask yourself what you would be willing to pay for this gently-used item. Remember your ultimate goal: to sell as many items as possible. Items that are priced too high in comparison to other similar items do not sell. Generally speaking, most items in “like new” condition sell for between 25-40% of their original price. Some items, like Little Tikes outdoor toys, generally sell for more. Do a little homework online. Find out what your item retails for and consider including a print out of a webpage with the retail price highlighted. Then the shoppers will know what a great deal they are getting by buying yours. Your items will be the first to sell.

Wouldn’t I make more money if I sold my items myself on eBay or Craigslist or had my own sale?
You might, but consider both the pros and the cons. Many consignors also sell online, but this often involves listing the item, cropping and taking photos, answering questions during the auction, communicating with the buyer after the sale, shipping or allowing the potential buyer to come to your home (in the case of Craigslist). If you decide instead to have your own garage sale, would you get as much money for your NWT (New with Tags) Old Navy 2 Piece Outfit as you would earn at our sale? Probably not. If you decide to drop your outfit off at a local year-round consignment shop, you’d receive a maximum of 50% of the selling price, which would decrease if the item didn’t sell quickly.

What are the benefits of consigning with Going Going Gone?
One huge benefit for many consignors is that you don’t have to haggle over prices. Another is that you don’t have to invite strangers into your home and you remain anonymous as a consignor throughout the sale (so your great aunt won’t know you are selling the outfit she gave your daughter last Christmas that was two sizes too small). You also don’t have to have contact with buyers or advertise in any way. We do it all for you and, if you choose, you can pick up your items that don’t sell at our sale and sell them on your own. We are providing you with a way to make money over a quick 1 week period and clear out some of your extras.

Do I have to wash and iron the clothes I am selling?
Presentation is everything. Shoppers will buy the best looking clothes first for the highest prices. Dresses and formal clothes often look best when steamed or ironed. Many buyers will smell the clothes before they purchase them. We always recommend washing all clothes and ironing your more expensive outfits if needed. You’ll be glad you took the extra time when you get your earnings and see what a difference it made.

Why should I discount my items during the Half-Price Sale?
Discounting your items is critical if you want to “Power Sell.” You can really boost your earnings by selling them half-price on the final day. Many consignors have doubled their sales by discounting them during this time when the bargain hunters are shopping.

How can I find out if one of my items has been recalled?
Go to www.recalls.gov or call 1-800-424-9393.

Why must I use large (1 inch or more) safety pins?
Only 1 inch or larger safety pins are acceptable because smaller pins are difficult to take off at check-out and smaller pins are often inadequate to hold the clothes on the hangers, especially for pants. The 1 inch or larger size safety pin is perfect for holding the cardstock tag securely in place.

Can I price my items however I wish?
The only restrictions regarding pricing are these: Your item must be at least $2 and you can go up in $.50 increments. For example, you could price your item at $2, $3.50, $5, $10 and so forth, but you could not price your item at $1.49, $2.99 or $4.99. Acceptable prices are in whole numbers and in 50 cent increments only.

What supplies do I need?

• a computer & printer
• white or light cardstock paper (weight: 65 lbs.) Please note: Tags on regular copy paper will not be accepted since the tags are not strong enough to withstand handling by many shoppers.
• wire hangers (or children’s hangers for items Size 4T and under)
• large safety pins (1 inch or larger) or a fine tagging gun (fine only – regular sized tagging guns often leave holes once removed)
• zip ties (for tagging shoes, hats, etc.)
• zip lock bags (for items with smaller accessory parts)

Where can I buy hangers, large safety pins and zip ties?
Hangers are often available at your local dry cleaners for free or nearly free. You can also buy them at Target or Walmart for about $1.59 for 15. 1 inch safety pins and zip ties can be purchased at a dollar store, hobby store, sewing store, Target or Walmart. If you have to purchase these items, add this cost in when deciding your item price. Deals, a dollar store in East Peoria, sells a package of 200 pins for $1. We also have supplies available at a nominal cost if you’d like us to put together a supply package for you. Just call Lisa at 309-681-4656 at least one week before your Drop Off Appointment with the amount you need of each item and we’ll have your supply kit ready for your to pick up!

How much $$$ do I make?
Consignors earn 70-75% of their sales less a $6 Consignor Fee. The Consignor Fee helps to offset the cost of the rental location, the database software, advertising, insurance, etc. Consignors who volunteer 12 hours or more during our sale earn 75% and those who volunteer less than 12 hours earn 70%.

What happens to items that don’t sell?
You have three options.

Option 1: You can choose to have them donated to charity. Click here to find out what charities we are donating to after our sale ends.

Option 2: You can pick up some or all of your items at the end of our sale. All items not picked up by the specified pick-up times will become property of Going Going Gone and will be donated to families in need.

Option 3: A combination of Options 1 & 2 - donate some items to charity and bring some items back home.

If I am a consignor, do I have to physically be at the sale the whole time?
No, consignors have the option of dropping off their items and leaving the rest to us. You definitely want to consider becoming a volunteer if you plan to shop at the sale because you will get a VIP Pass to the Preview Sale and get first choice on all the items we are selling.

What is Drop Off?
Drop Off is the period of time before the sale begins when you bring your items to us at the sale location. We inspect your items and return any items to you that don’t meet our quality check. We ask that you have all clothing separated by size and gender so we can easily put them in the correct category once we accept them. We also ask you to bring a copy of your Inventory Sheet with you to Drop Off so we can be sure that you have brought all the items you intended to sell.

How many items can I consign?
You can consign an unlimited number of items, with the following exceptions: Each consignor can bring up to 30 infant outfits (Sizes Preemie up to 18 months). These items are plentiful and therefore don’t sell as well as the larger sizes, so bring your very best. Also, each consignor can bring up to 15 pairs of “like new” shoes.

Do I have to assemble my item fully?
Yes, all items must be fully assembled and in working order. You can assemble it before you come or put it together once you arrive at Drop Off. Please bring any tools you may need for assembly if you choose the latter.

Why do I need to include batteries in the toy I am selling?
Buyers will pass up a toy that they can’t test. Since sales are final and there are no returns, buyers don’t want to spend their money on a toy that may not work once they get it home. For this reason, all toys must have working batteries at Drop Off to be accepted into our sale.

What are some tips to selling my larger items?
Tip 1: Include the manual if you have one. Many manuals can be downloaded for free off the internet. If the manual is lengthy, include a note with the link to the manual to download for the new owner. Shoppers will always choose an item with a manual (or a link to download the manual) over one without one. Even if you are not an “instruction guide reader,” many buyers are. Think like a buyer and you’ll be very pleased with your results.
Tip 2: A little bleach is a wonderful thing. The cleaner your item, the faster it will sell. Backyard items and ride-on toys that have been cleaned will fly off the shelves the first day of the sale. Let those sales be yours.
Tip 3: Test your larger items before Drop-Off Day. Make sure everything works properly and is in the right place. Shoppers will check out all the bells and whistles before they buy so be sure you have checked everything out first.

How do I sell shoes at your sale?
Shoes must be zip tied or securely held together by yarn or string. Punch a hole in your tag and attach it to the shoes. Don’t put your shoes in a plastic bag. They don’t sell nearly as well. Exception: infant booties, slippers or groups of shoes can be in zippered plastic bags with the tag taped to the front of the clear bag. Do not put the tape over the barcode or it will not scan properly.

What are the buyers interested in seeing on the item tag?
The most important things to include on each tag from the buyer’s perspective are:

• the name brand
• the color
• the exact size
• a reasonable price

Buyers know what the better brands are and are willing to pay for quality.

Should I price all my clothes separately or pair them in sets?
Sets, sets, sets! Buyers want a deal and often pick sets over singles. Whenever possible, pair your clothes on 1 hanger and get top dollar. Just be sure that the set is exactly the same size and usually the same brand (for example, don’t pair an 18 month red Old Navy shirt with a 12 month Gymboree pants).

I don't have a working printer. Can I still be a Consignor for your Sale?
Yes, we are happy to print off your bar-coded sales tags for a very nominal charge to cover the cardstock and the ink. We can then either send them to you in the mail or you can pick them up from us. Email Lisa at Info@GoingGoingGoneIL.com or call us at 309-681-4656 if you'd like us to print your bar-coded tags for you.

My printer ink is going and my tag bar codes are faded. What should I do?
Replace your ink cartridge and re-print your tags. Tags that are faded won’t scan at Checkout and ones that are extremely faded won’t sell because the buyers can’t read them well. Make sure your items aren’t passed over for this reason.

I've registered as a Consignor for a similar consignment sale in IL or another state and some of my items still have bar-coded price tags on them from that sale. Do I have to re-do all my tags?
Yes, you do in some cases, but we will help you to re-tag if that is the situation. Please email Lisa at Info@GoingGoingGoneIL.com or call 309-681-4656 to set up an appointment at your earliest convenience. Some sale owners allow their consignors to transfer their unsold items to other similar sales and some do not. If you have unsold items that you consigned with us, we will always allow you to sell these items in another sale (whether ours or another consignment sale) if the other sale owner allows the transfer of inventory. Most sale owners are happy to offer this option to their consignors.

Who can consign?
Anyone who has items in new or “like new” condition to sell can be a consignor. The number of consignors varies by the sale location, so sign up early to reserve your spot. Once we’ve reached our maximum, we will start a waiting list for available spots as they open up. First come, first served.

Where can I find all the information about becoming a Consignor at your Sale?
We have created a Consignor Success Kit with all the information at your fingertips. Click here for a downloadable/printable kit.

Can I donate some items at the end of the Sale and pick up other items?
Absolutely. This is what many of our Consignors choose to do.

Can I "bold" my tags so they will be darker?
No, tags that are "bolded" will not scan.

What do I do with matching accessories for a clothing item?
Safety pin these accessories to the outfit and add the name of the accessory to the tag description (for example: Old Navy Blue Dress + Sock Set)

How do I hang a shirt that won't stay on the hanger?
Safety pin the shirt at the shoulders to the hanger.

How do I hang a pair of pants or a skirt?
Safety pin these items to the hanger at the waistband.

How do I hang a 2 piece outfit?
First, put the shirt on the hanger. Then pin the pants/skirt waistband to the shoulders of the shirt with the garments back-to-back. The pants/skirt are behind the shirt for best presentation. Sets sell well!

What do I do with linens I want to sell?
Linens sell best if they are neatly folded and hung on a hanger. If this is not practical, please safety pin the set together and include the number of pieces on the tag (for example, 4 Piece Full Size Sheet Set).

Where do I drop off my items for the sale?
Items will be collected at the Sale Location during Drop Off. Appointments are required. Sign up online today for a Drop off Appointment to ensure that you get the most ideal time for you. Visit our Consignor Portal and log-in with your Consignor ID and password. Peoria consignors will also have the option to schedule a Peoria Drop Off a few days before the sale begins and we will take your items to the sale location and bring unsold items back to Peoria after the sale has ended. Items requiring a lot of assembly must be dropped off at our Sale Location (for example: cribs). We appreciate your business!

How do you know which items are mine so I get paid accurately?
When you sign up to consign, you are assigned a Consignor ID # which will be printed on all the tags you create for the items you are selling. Every tag also has a bar-code with your information embedded in it. Our computer system reads this information as each item gets scanned when it is purchased.

Help! My tags are not printing!
Usually this has to do with the settings of your Pop-Up blockers. A simple way to stop the blockers is for you to hold down the CTRL key when you click on the Print button. This will disable the Pop-Up blocker. You will need to do this each time you click.

Are my items safe at your Sale? What security measures are in place?
Going Going Gone takes theft very seriously. We hire police, private security and plain clothes security and have security cameras. We do this to provide peace of mind and safety to our shoppers and consignors and to ensure a successful, profitable sale. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Can I see what has been sold of mine during the sale?
Yes, you can check the Consignor Portal and monitor your sales at any time. We are constantly updating the sales information and many of our Consignors love to watch their earnings rise!

When is the deadline for registering to consign?
The deadline is Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 at 11 pm or when all the Consignor slots are filled.

When is the deadline for creating tags for my items?
The deadline for creating tags is Thursday, March 8th, 2012 at 8am sharp. This is a scheduled automatic shut down. Once the system is shut down, it can't be re-opened. If your tags have already been created by this time, you will still be able to print off tags after this time.

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Volunteers

How many hours do I have to volunteer to earn a pass to the VIP Preview Sale?
Any volunteer who works 4 or more hours will get to shop at our exclusive VIP Sale. Volunteers are guaranteed the best selection! Non-consignors who volunteer must complete their 4 hour shift before the VIP Sale in order to attend. We have many volunteer shifts during Drop Off times before the sale officially begins and this fulfills the requirement for Non-consignor Volunteers.

I can’t stand for long periods of time. Can I still volunteer at your Sale?
Absolutely. We need volunteers for all types of jobs. Just let us know what your specific needs are and we will tailor your volunteering duties to those needs.

Are my children allowed during my volunteer time?
No, children are not allowed while you are volunteering since many of the jobs require your full concentration for a successful sale. The only exception is for babies in front slings. We are happy to work around nursing/feeding times.

Can I earn more money if I volunteer more time?
Yes, you can. Volunteers that work 12 or more hours earn an extra 5% on their sales for a total return of 75% of the final sales price. These 12 hours can include hours worked by a husband, a wife or even your responsible teenagers.

Do you provide childcare for your Volunteers?
Unfortunately, for insurance reasons we are unable to provide childcare.

Shoppers

Can I shop at the VIP Preview Sale?
The VIP Preview Sale is for any one who volunteers for a minimum of 4 hours at our sale. Our Volunteers are so important to us and this is one way we say “Thank You” to them. Consider taking a Volunteer shift. The time flies by and we have a really fun time. The VIP Preview Sale is your chance to have “first pick” at all the sale items. Click here to sign up for a Volunteer shift today. Also our valued Consignors, New Moms & Moms-to-Be can register to shop the VIP Preview Sale too!

How can I pay for items at the Sale?
We accept Cash, Mastercard, VISA, American Express, ATM Debit Cards & Discover. We do not accept checks at our sale.

Can I try on the clothes before I purchase them?
Unfortunately, we will not have a fitting room available, so we recommend you bring a list with your children’s sizes as well as a “wish list” with items you are interested in purchasing.

Is your Sale Location wheelchair accessible?
Yes, it is fully wheelchair and handicap-accessible.

What is your Return Policy?
All sales are final.

Are children allowed at the Sale?
Yes, they are allowed, but we encourage you to consider other arrangements if possible. The Sale will be quite crowded at times and children must be supervised by their parents at all times. Most shoppers tell us that they need both arms for shopping.

What should I bring to put the items I want to buy in while I am shopping?
We have Extra Large Shopping Bags for your convenience while you are at the sale. We will also have a Hold Section for larger items. To insure the security of our consignors' items during the sale, we reserve the right to restrict the admission of personal articles in the Sale. The only exception is a Stroller, if you have a child in the Stroller while you are shopping. A large see-thru tote bag or a laundry basket is also acceptable to shop with at our sale.

How do you insure the quality of your items?
We carefully inspect all items during Drop Off and will pull any item from the sale that does not meet our strict guidelines. We want to offer only the very best, and by making sure our items are in new or “like new” condition, we hope you’ll shop our sales season after season. All of our Toys requiring batteries will have them so you can test all items before you buy. We don’t want you to get home and find any surprises. All of our clothes are checked to be sure they are beautiful (stain-free, clean, in style) and ready for their new owners.

Is there a Discount Day?
Yes, the last day of the sale is designed for all you Bargain Hunters. Many of our items will be marked Half Off. It will be very busy during this time, but the bargains are plentiful and items in all categories will be going for rock bottom prices, often 70-90% off retail.

Why should I shop at Going Going Gone’s Sale?
You’ll save money and find only top quality merchandise. This is definitely not a garage sale where you have to haggle over prices and hunt through boxes and bins to find what you are searching for. We have organized everything into sizes and categories and are offering only the very best! And it is all under one roof.

Is there a charge for Parking or Admission to your Sale?
No. Parking and Admission are always free!

I only need to purchase a few items. Will you have an Express Check Out for people like me?
Yes, we will open an Express Lane for customers who have less than 15 items to purchase. The Express Lane will be open during our busiest times and will help eliminate long lines, especially during our Opening Day and during our Half Off Sale!

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