Consignment stores generally net you much less than online sales options because at consignment stores, you are reaching a more limited audience. An online option potentially connects your item with thousands of interested buyers! I would recommend selling higher quality, more expensive name brand items on ebay every time though, it is often well-worth your effort. Only bring your items to a consignment store if you don’t want to invest the time and effort it takes to sell something on ebay, or if you know you item will likely not sell on ebay.
Another disadvantage to selling items at a consignment store is you really have no control over whether your item goes on sale. Most consignment stores have a cycle for their items–when an item has been there for 30-60 days they start to discount it and you cannot control how much money you receive because you run the risk of getting paid much less than you would have liked to have received for the item. Unless you are really over an item and don’t care what you get for it–you just want it out of your closet–I don’t recommend going to a consignment store with most items.
There are several types of consignment style stores, however. You may find one that gives you a set amount of money for your items up front and you don’t need to return later to see if your item sold or to find out that your item was marked down to next to nothing. This type of consignment style store is better in my opinion because it allows you to decide then and there whether you will accept their offer. That being said, they will offer you less than what you think you will get, that’s how it goes, they need to make some sort of profit as well. So if this bothers you, you should sell your item on ebay.
Always save receipts/care cards/warranty info/dustbags and original boxes for higher priced items–they will sell for a higher amount compared to similar items without this accompanying “pedigree” which proves the item’s authenticity and reminds other buyers that the owner took good care of their items.