Consignment

Part of what keeps bidders coming back to our shows week after week is our thoughtfully curated and always eclectic slate of items.

There are countless variables that go into determining what items we pick, including, but certainly not limited to: aesthetic value, design, subject matter, condition, rarity, age, and value. We especially love items with dark or esoteric subject matter, items that tell the stories of everyday people through the material objects they left behind, items with interesting and thoughtful design, and one-of-a-kind items.

Being a primarily online auction house that ships most of our merchandise, there are also logistical considerations made when we select items, such as size, weight, and fragility.

When you begin our consignment process, you'll send us pictures and information about your items, and we may select or reject certain items based on these and other criteria. The decision to reject certain items is by no means a reflection of our opinion on the quality of your piece, and we ask for your understanding of our curation goals.

Consignors bear the expense of shipping or delivering their items to us here in Jaffrey, NH. Consignors may also be responsible for the cost of having passed items returned to them, or for any no-sale fees associated with a reserve, both of which are outlined in detail below. All other expenses, including transaction fees, advertising, shipping to the customer, materials, and consumables, come out of our end.

Consignors are paid for their sold goods within one week of the date of the sale. We offer digital payment through PayPal or Venmo (which must be personal accounts, not business accounts, or you will incur a fee) and Zelle. We can also mail a check, if you prefer, though this will delay payment.

When we receive your items, we will send you a list of all items consigned by you, along with any condition notes as necessary. After the sale, you'll receive an updated list including the sale price of each item, and the amount of your payout.

If you consign an item that passes (does not receive any bids), you will be responsible for any shipping costs incurred to return the item to you, if you are unable to pick it up in person.

If the high bidder for one or more of your consigned items backs out of their obligation to purchase the item(s), you will have two options as the consignor:

1. You can re-consign the item to us to sell again at the next available auction, or
2. The item can be considered passed, and returned to you, as outlined above.

All items in our auctions have set minimum start bids, which are advertised to prospective buyers prior to the sale. Part of the appeal of an auction to buyers is the opportunity for a bargain, and they tend to resent being denied that opportunity. We set start bids based on many factors, but in general the goal is to set the start low enough to encourage competing bids and offer the opportunity for a bargain, but not so low that there is a risk the item will sell far below its value.

In general, we at Memory Hole will decide the start bids for all consigned items, based on our expertise and knowledge of the merchandise, the market, and our buyers. However, if you would like, you may set a reserve for certain items greater than what we would select as a start bid. A reserve is the minimum price an item must reach in bidding in order for it to be sold. If the high bid does not meet or exceed the reserve price, we will pass the item, and it will not be sold. Reserves will be advertised to bidders before and during the sale, though the specific amount of the reserve may not be revealed.

In our experience, selling items with reserve significantly dulls bidder enthusiasm and participation.