What does the "consignment" process in an auction involve?

The "consignment" process in an auction involves sellers giving items to the auction house to sell on their behalf. This process is fundamental to how auctions operate, allowing sellers to leverage the auction house's expertise, marketing reach, and customer base. When items are consigned, the auction house takes responsibility for presenting and selling the items, often charging a fee or commission based on the final sale price.

In this arrangement, the seller typically retains ownership of the items until they are sold, meaning that they can set certain conditions on the sale, such as reserve prices or minimum bids, but ultimately rely on the auction house's processes to achieve the best possible outcome. This helps ensure that items are showcased to potential buyers who are interested and allows sellers to benefit from the competitive nature of the auction environment.