Consignment Terms
How the arrangement works.
Plain English. No surprises. These terms set out the basis on which Charles sells items on consignment.
Collection and written record
On collection, Charles provides a written record listing every item taken and the minimum price agreed for each one. Items remain the property of the consignor until sold. Charles takes responsibility for their safe storage and handling from the point of collection.
Minimum price
Before any item is listed, a minimum sale price is agreed with the consignor. Nothing is sold below that figure without the consignor's explicit agreement. Charles will give a realistic indicative price range for each item at the point of collection to help set a sensible minimum.
Fee
Charles's fee is 15% of the net sale price. The net sale price is the final sale amount received after any platform fees and shipping costs have been deducted. There is no upfront fee. No fee is due on items that do not sell.
What is included in the fee
The 15% covers the full service: price research, photography, listing, all buyer communications, packing and postage materials, shipment management, and buyer dispute handling. There are no additional charges for any of these.
Platform fees and shipping
Marketplace platform fees vary by category and typically range between 0% and 15% of the sale price. These are deducted before Charles's fee is calculated. Shipping costs are usually paid by the buyer and do not affect the consignor's return. Charles will explain the likely deductions for each item before listing.
Payment timing
Payment is sent to the consignor within 30 days of the sale completing. The delay exists to allow for the buyer's statutory right to return items that are faulty or significantly mis-described. Returns occur in approximately 1 in 200 transactions. In the event of a return, Charles handles it entirely and relists the item for resale. The consignor receives no payment for that item.
Cancellation after listing
If the consignor wishes to withdraw an item that has already been researched, photographed and listed, a cancellation fee of £7.50 per item applies. This covers the time and materials invested. If an item has not yet been listed, it may be withdrawn at any time with no charge.
Items not sold after three months
If an item has not sold within three months of being listed, Charles will contact the consignor to review. The usual options are: revise the minimum price, have the item returned, or ask Charles to donate it to a named local charity on the consignor's behalf. Charles will not dispose of items without the consignor's instruction.
Discretion
All items are listed under Charles's Marques seller accounts. No buyer at any point sees the consignor's name, address or personal details. The consignor is not identifiable from any listing or transaction.
Consignor's responsibilities
Items submitted for sale must be owned outright by the consignor, free of any finance or third-party claim. Counterfeit, stolen or significantly misrepresented goods will not be accepted. The consignor is responsible for the accuracy of any information provided about an item's provenance, history or condition.
Liability
Charles takes reasonable care of all items from the point of collection. In the unlikely event of loss or damage while an item is in Charles's possession, liability is limited to the agreed minimum sale price for that item. Charles does not accept liability for items that fail to sell, for market price fluctuations, or for any consequential loss.
Questions
If anything here is unclear or you have a specific situation not covered above, get in touch - Charles is happy to discuss the arrangement before any commitment is made.