How to Use Consignment Auctions to Sell Your Glass

The question I get most often from readers is “How do I sell my glass?” One method is to find a consignment auction house near your home and take your glass there. Here’s how that works.

What is a Consignment Auction?

Most auctioneers look for people who want to sell quality goods, whether it’s an estate, a house, a business or just plain stuff, and many of them will hold regular auctions of items that people bring in. The idea is you may not have enough to warrant an auction all by yourself, but combine your items with others’ and the auctioneer may have a lovely assortment to sell.

The auctioneer will advertise, display the goods, conduct the sale and handle the cash (or checks or cards). Most charge between 35 and 50% and most will prorate the advertising costs and any special costs across the consignors. Always ask for a full list of charges, such as personnel, credit card fees, building rental. Most auctioneers take responsibility for collecting and paying any sales tax but check.

5 Steps to Consign Your Glass

1. Identify possible consignment auctioneers. Depending on where you live there may be other options but I suggest you check AuctionZip, your state auctioneer association (in Michigan it is Michigan Auctioneers Association), a Google search, EstateSales.net or Craigslist, all online. Or stop in the closest antique mall and ask whether they have any auction notices or a specialty antiques newspaper.
2. Do your homework.
   1. Look at reviews.
   2. Ask the auctioneer how they handle, display and sell glass.
   3. Ask about condition requirements. Most auctioneers do not want junk so don’t bring in a bunch of chipped up glassware. Auctions attract dealers as well as collectors and neither will want damaged glass. If you have a set 10 Patrician dinner plates, ask whether you should include the 11th that has inner rim roughness. If the auctioneer is experienced he should be able to advise you.
   4. Ask how they advertise
   5. Find out how they will auction your glass. Will they group it all as a lot? Choice out the most valuable pieces?
   6. Decide with the auctioneer whether you should provide approximate values if you know them.
   7. Agree on cost splits and commissions.
3. Go to an auction if possible. See how the auctioneer conducts the sale.
4. Clean your glass and label it if you can.
5. Pack your glass carefully and bring it in. Go over it with the auctioneer. Normally when you consign something to an auctioneer you retain ownership until it sells so you would bear any losses due to breakages, but it’s worth asking how they handle careless buyers or the person who stumbles and knocks over a whole table of glass. (It happens.)

Once the sale is over the auctioneer should send you a check along with an itemized list of fees and commissions. I’ve consigned items 4 times and gotten an itemized sales by piece list once.

What About Online Auctions?

There are auction houses that conduct online-only and online-plus-physical auctions. In fact I decided to write this post after getting an email about one of these. In general they will operate much as do the physical auctioneers, where you would drop off your items, they photograph, list on their own site, advertise, conduct the sale and give you proceeds less their fees and commissions.

The same tips apply here: Do your homework, understand the fee structure, clean your items before dropping off. Most likely the auctioneer will want you not to label anything since they need clear photographs, but they would appreciate any information you have about the pieces.

Another type of online auction is where you would retain possession of the glass, photograph, list and ship yourself to any buyers. I participated once in a charity auction like this and it worked fine, but I knew how to photograph and ship. From a seller perspective these don’t offer advantages unless you want to support the fundraiser.

There are people who act as eBay agents, where they sell on eBay, not their own site. Same tips apply.

Realize for all online auctions, and in fact all online sales in general, buyers may pay less than they would in person because shipping costs for glass can add up and because of the uncertainty factor, they can’t see the piece and inspect it for any flaws. Online auctions, like any online sales, have the advantage that theoretically you can reach thousands more people than a sale where you are limited to people who are willing to drive to your location.

Consignment Auction Advantages

Since you still have to clean and deliver the glass to the auctioneer, why do it? Simple. The selling part is easier and faster than to do it yourself. About the only other ways that are as fast and easy are to run an ad on Craigslist or have a nearby dealer buy the glass from you. Even then you have the work to contact, describe and photography what you have if you want any serious interest.

Will you make as much money with consignment auctions? Maybe not. The auction fees and commissions add up; however consider that a good auction house can attract consistent attendees who are looking for vintage glass. You might end up doing quite well. I participated in 4 auctions and 3 of the 4 resulted in low sales, disappointing in fact. The 3rd had more attendees and my item sold well.

The biggest advantage of consigning your glass is that you are done. You have found a buyer.

I hope this helps explain consignment auctions. Please post a comment about your experience with this type of sale.