Consignment shop - is this a good policy?

I go to a consignment store that sells movie tapes, antiques, glass etc (no clothes). There are about 4 clerks that price the items for the consigner. Well today I was in the consignment store and a clerk had just finished prices a consigners items - a bunch of knick-knacks.

Now for those who don't go to consignment shops a person brings in merchandise then the clerk prices the items based on what the store should be able to sell the items for. The consigner gets 70 percent and the store keeps 30. Percentages vary from shop to shop.

Well I was interested in an item and was looking at it. The clerk told me that I could only look at items once they had a chance to examine it and see if they want to buy it. So basically the clerks that price the items can then buy it. I know the owner owns two other shops and today she was not in the one I was at.

All pricing is based on judgement calls by the clerks except for movie tapes - the owner set the price for an even 6 dollars no matter the movie. There is nothing stopping the clerks from taking advantage of the consigner. For example if the consiger does not know value of an item and that item should be priced at 50 dollars that clerk could easily price it at 20 if they wanted to buy it for themselves. I know two clerks have space rented at various antique shops in the area.

I hope the owner didn't set this policy. I hope its just greedy clerks - although when the clerk said 'they' makes me wonder how pervasive this practice is. Is this common or expected in these type shops?

if the consigner doesn't know the value, who's fault is that? If the owner is being cheated by the clerk, that's what lawyers are for.

A lot of this goes on. In two cases I know of, the clerks are paid a pittance, but their occasional personal bargain is seen as an accepted perk of the job.

For a consignment shop selling low-value items, this works to the owner's advantage, in keeping costs down. The only person losing is the seller, which goes to show that you should always try to judge the value of something before you sell it.

Consignment shop - is this a good policy? <snip happens>

(*<~ LOL It took me over a week to remember where I'd heard this name before. Count Alucard, of course. Dracula spelled backwards.......

I'm using that greasy kid stuff in my hair and my memory is slipping,

Doug ~>*(((>< Big fish eat Little fish ><))*<~