scifichik Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Life this week has been stressful at my "real job," and I'm left trying to figure out "hey, wha' happened?" with a consignment account I have.Here's the lowdown: two months back a friend opened a prim home decor gift shop and wanted to carry my soy line on consignment. Various folks wandered through the shop prior to the official open date (friend also does acryllic nails and had her station in a corner of her shop), raved about the products and made purchases.We had planned to participate in a rather large regional craft show in two weeks. I checked in with her earlier this week to see what stock she wanted for the shop and the show...and I eventually got a story about her not being sure if she wanted to carry my line any longer because product wasn't moving like she expected. When pressed as to whether it was pricing, new packaging design, or scents customers didn't like---the story changed to a couple of glass container candles had gotten broken by customers, so she packed everything up, because she "has no room" for it now.I said I'd call later in the evening and we could discuss, but she said she'd be busy. I said she could call me when she was free. That was three days ago.Hubby suspects that she's found another supplier that will give her a bigger cut of the sales, or a family member wants to "do candles."I know the problem isn't pricing---it's the "going rate" in our region, which is about half Scentsy pricing.I know the problem isn't packaging---it's your basic clamshell with an insert with all the required label items.I know the problems isn't scent selection---hubby brings home orders constantly from ladies where he works.I'm befuddled, because product flies off the shelves at the other consignment location I have in town! Any theories on what's up, or similar experiences to share? I'll be sure to follow up with "the rest of the story" when I get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deb426 Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Doesn't matter. Cut your losses and get your stuff back. There is no way that this will end well for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scifichik Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 Doesn't matter. Cut your losses and get your stuff back. There is no way that this will end well for you.You're right, of course, Deb426---but doesn't stop me for wondering for the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest OldGlory Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Just my 2 cents...Sounds like she has something to hide, which to me lends itself to the 'other supplier' theory. I would show up unannounced in about a week and see what's really going on. And I would ask her to be honest with me and tell me what changed.As a retail manager for decades, it still bothers me when an employee lies to me. I respect the truth even when it's inconvenient. I don't respect liars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuzyK Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I have been burned by consignment before. I would go in asap and get your product back. That's not fair to you that she packed everything up! That's time that you could have made money. Did you have a written contract with her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacktieaffair Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I'm confused ( yeah yeah I know, I stay that way lol )You said her reasoning was a couple of glass container candles had gotten broken by customers, that was her reasoning for packing it all up.. yet then you're talking about it can't be packaging because it's clamshells. What'd I miss? Did you have both in the store, the candles get busted , so she just packed EVERYTHING up you had in there?We gotta name for that around it. Starts with a B.It's not Barbie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitn Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 I am sorry that happened. I hope you get your product back ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scifichik Posted October 14, 2012 Author Share Posted October 14, 2012 I'm confused ( yeah yeah I know, I stay that way lol )You said her reasoning was a couple of glass container candles had gotten broken by customers, that was her reasoning for packing it all up.. yet then you're talking about it can't be packaging because it's clamshells. What'd I miss? Did you have both in the store, the candles get busted , so she just packed EVERYTHING up you had in there?We gotta name for that around it. Starts with a B.It's not Barbie.I left out a sentence in the original post: We had mason jar candles, clamshells, novelty melts in cello bags, and wickless in tins. And yes, she said because mason jars got broken, it all got packed up. Weird, I know, but that was her stated reason.I'll be collecting my inventory this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blacktieaffair Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Bless your heart. I'm so sorry that is happening to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Good Luck & good riddance to friends like her. Liars are disgusting, they assume we don't catch their lies because most of us are too polite to mention we did. Be unpolite!You did write my soy line. You were probably so livid you coudn't see straight!I left out a sentence in the original post: We had mason jar candles, clamshells, novelty melts in cello bags, and wickless in tins. And yes, she said because mason jars got broken, it all got packed up. Weird, I know, but that was her stated reason.I'll be collecting my inventory this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scifichik Posted October 15, 2012 Author Share Posted October 15, 2012 Well, Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things work for good for those that love the Lord and who are called according to His purposes, so I'm encouraged to look for the silver lining in this deal.I dropped in, unannounced, on my friend today at her shop. She was cordial and still insisted that she just didn't have adequate room for display, which is why the glass containers got broken. She has another crafter who does custom stuffed primitive animals, and also had her stuff packed away in the storage room, because of "no room to display." I'm not sure how she didn't consider the logistics of display of invited crafters' products vs her own....but that's not my worry. She did say she plans to move to a larger shop and wants to carry my full line when she has the room.At any rate, I've been invited to a couple of local craft fairs and am sure I will be able to move this inventory there....so less prep time needed to pour, cure and package....and that's the silver lining I'm choosing to latch onto.There is a local specialty shop mall that rents spots to crafters and other vendors. Hubby wants me to consider setting up shop there, so I'll give it some thought.Thanks to all for your patience in listening to my confused rant! I appreciate you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted October 16, 2012 Share Posted October 16, 2012 Glad you got your stuff back. Trust me that is not always the case. Its easy to get burned by consignment. I would totally cross off the idea of waiting for her to get a bigger shop and putting your stuff back in when that happens-- if it happens. If a person blows it once, count on it happening again. You are lucky to get your stuff back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scifichik Posted October 16, 2012 Author Share Posted October 16, 2012 I know, Candybee, and I'm glad I got my inventory back. I've taken in 23 orders from hubby's work and have been invited to one craft fair this month, three next month, and one in December. I don't plan on taking her up on the next offer. Once bitten, twice shy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonshadowLane Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Sorry to hear this person is being a jerk.I've tried consignment before and in my experience, it just isn't worth the hassle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SliverOfWax Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Doesn't matter. Cut your losses and get your stuff back. There is no way that this will end well for you.No kidding. And add to that: Never do consignment. JMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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