by Ginger Sanders

Created on: March 25, 2008

To wait, or not to wait, that is the question.
The world of selling jewelry is a complicated place with many facets. The planets of eBay and consignment stores often collide in the time continuum.

The top factors are:

1. Where are you placing your items on consignment and do you want top price for your hard work.
2. Do you need the money fast?
3. Theft

Rarely are you blessed with both top price and fast sales. Theft can be found in both worlds.

Being a long time creator and traveler, I have visited both planets on more than one occasion. In general, planet Consignment is a soft lit, slow paced vacation resort destination where quality abides and time can stand still. Your items look wonderful, preserved forever it seems in a beautiful vacuum visited by Betty-Be-Backs, (who'll be "Right back" to purchase everything). As far as placement, I have heard there are a few gravity free zones where shoppers abound and your items will fly out of the cases. I have never found them.

eBay is like Vegas. Money changes hands quickly, fortunes are won and lost amid the bright lights and the action is fast paced. Like the craps table, you can watch as your stack increases and also follow someone else's good fortune. On eBay I have hit the jewelry sales jackpot of both fast turnover and sale price many times my asking price. I have never gotten more than I originally asked for a piece from a consignment location. I also have garnered extra profits through private sales out in the commission free zone via email contact from eBay customers who liked an item they purchased and wanted something else not available on auction. In consignment land this is not possible.

Theft is the big ugly alien in its raider ship hovering around both of the planets. The eBay theft aliens, have to, by nature be much more creative than the sneakier consignment theft aliens. I have had some dealings with both. The alien police at eBay have an edge in that they can usually pinpoint the activity or follow up on complaints and then kick the alien off the planet, the aliens can get more creative and find a way back on but there just don't seem to be as many as the stealthy shoplifting aliens that frequent planet Consignment. Planet Consignment usually makes you sign a waiver saying they are not responsible for theft.

I, myself, am a gambler. I like to create, sell and create some more. I have the patience of a rabid ant. I am happiest on planet eBay. The faster turnover affords me the luxury of working capital and instant self worth. Somebody wants "it"! They even are willing to fight over "it". I am loved by my adoring fans and famous in my own little world.

Learn more about this author, Ginger Sanders.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.