Using Risk-Free Consignment Items
TL;DR
Risk-free consignment items are provided directly by CharityAuctions.com with no middleman. Add high-value travel and experience packages to your auction at no upfront cost. Zero platform fees. Zero credit card processing fees. If the item sells, we handle all booking and winner redemption and add your profit to your payout automatically. If it does not sell, you owe nothing. Browse risk-free items to get started.
Risk-free consignment items are high-value travel packages, resort stays, spa getaways, and experience packages that you can add to your auction with no upfront cost and no financial risk. CharityAuctions.com is the consignment provider, which means there is no middleman. You get direct access to our curated catalog of packages, and we handle everything from booking to winner redemption.
If an item sells, you keep 100% of the profit above the item cost with no platform fees and no credit card processing fees on consignment items. See charity auction ROI benchmarks for data on what well-run auctions raise when consignment items are included. If an item does not sell, you owe nothing.
According to CharityAuctions.com platform data:
- Auctions that include risk-free consignment items raise an average of 28% more than those featuring only procured items
- Risk-free travel packages are among the top three highest-bid item categories across all CharityAuctions.com events
- 100% of the profit above item cost goes directly to your organization with zero platform fees and zero processing fees
See charity auction ROI benchmarks for data on what well-run auctions raise when consignment items are included.
What are risk-free consignment items
Risk-free consignment items are packages sourced and provided directly by CharityAuctions.com. Because we are the consignment provider, your organization gets direct access with no third-party vendor to deal with, no middleman, and no separate contracts or arrangements.
These items:
- Are provided directly by CharityAuctions.com
- Require no upfront purchase or commitment
- Only generate a cost if they sell
- Include travel packages, resort stays, spa weekends, golf retreats, and experience packages
- Come with zero platform fees and zero credit card processing fees if they sell
How the profit structure works
Each consignment item has a set item cost. When your bidder wins the item and pays, here is what happens:
- The item cost is deducted from the winning bid
- The remaining amount is your organization's profit
- That profit is added to your auction payout automatically
- You are charged no platform fees on the item
- You are charged no credit card processing fees on the item
Example: A resort package has an item cost of $400. It sells at your auction for $700. Your organization receives $300 as profit, added automatically to your payout. No fees. No invoice. No action required.
Note: the item cost is the only amount deducted. There are no platform fees, no processing fees, and no other charges on consignment items.
Because CharityAuctions.com is the consignment provider, you keep 100% of everything above the item cost. There is no additional layer of fees on top.
What happens when a consignment item sells
When a winning bid is confirmed on a consignment item, here is exactly what happens:
1. We contact the winner. CharityAuctions.com sends the winning bidder a congratulations email explaining what they won and how to redeem their package.
2. We handle all booking. Because we are the consignment provider, our team coordinates everything directly with the winning bidder. They are in good hands and will have a seamless experience from confirmation through travel or redemption. Your organization does not need to contact anyone or arrange anything.
3. Your profit is added automatically. We calculate your profit (winning bid minus item cost) and add it directly to your auction payout. There is no separate invoice and no payment you need to make to us. It is handled automatically.
No fees on consignment items
Risk-free consignment items have a completely different fee structure from standard auction items:
| Fee type | Standard items | Consignment items |
|---|---|---|
| CharityAuctions.com platform fee | Yes | No |
| Credit card processing fee | Yes | No |
| Upfront cost | No | No |
| Cost if item does not sell | No | No |
Your organization keeps 100% of the profit above the item cost. That is your full margin with no deductions.
Using consignment items at live and in-person events
Risk-free items work in online, live, and hybrid auction formats. If you are running a live event or silent auction, we provide everything you need to display consignment items in the room.
Display sheets: We provide a print-ready display sheet for each consignment item you add to your auction. The display sheet includes the item name, description, destination or experience details, fair market value, and bidding information. Print it and place it on your silent auction table alongside your other items. See how to display auction items effectively for table setup tips, lighting, and signage guidance.
Winning bidder packets: When a consignment item sells at your live event, we send the winning bidder a packet with all redemption details. You do not need to prepare or distribute anything at the event. We handle all winner communication and booking from that point forward.
This means your volunteers and staff can focus on running the event. We take care of everything on the consignment side.
What happens if a consignment item does not sell
If a consignment item does not reach its starting bid or goes unsold for any reason:
- You owe nothing
- There is no invoice
- There are no platform fees
- There are no processing fees
- No action is required
The item simply remains unsold. Your organization has zero financial exposure.
Browsing available consignment items
To browse available consignment items in your dashboard:
- Log in and open your auction
- Click Item Management in the left menu
- Select Risk Free Items
- Browse the available catalog
You can also browse available packages at risk-free auction items before creating your auction.
Adding a consignment item to your auction
- Go to Item Management > Risk Free Items
- Browse or search for the item you want
- Click to add the item to your auction
- Open the item in your Item Catalog
- Assign the item to a time block
- Set the Item Status to Active
- Save your changes
The item will appear in your live auction immediately, just like any other catalog item.
Summary
| How it works | |
|---|---|
| Who provides the items | CharityAuctions.com directly |
| Upfront cost | None |
| Platform fee if item sells | None |
| Credit card processing fee if item sells | None |
| If item does not sell | You owe nothing |
| Winner communication | Handled by CharityAuctions.com |
| Booking and redemption | Handled by CharityAuctions.com |
| Payout | Profit added to your auction payout automatically |
| Live event materials | Print-ready display sheets provided |
| Winner packets | Sent by CharityAuctions.com after the event |
Related help articles
Frequently asked questions
What are risk-free consignment items?
Risk-free consignment items are high-value travel packages and experiences provided directly by CharityAuctions.com that you can add to your auction with no upfront cost and no obligation if they do not sell. Because CharityAuctions.com is the consignment provider, there is no middleman. Your organization keeps 100% of the profit above the item cost, with no platform fees and no credit card processing fees on consignment items.
Where do I find available consignment items?
Browse available items under Item Management > Risk Free Items in your auction dashboard. You can also browse the full catalog at charityauctions.com/risk-free-auction-items before creating your auction.
How do I add a consignment item to my auction?
Go to Item Management > Risk Free Items, browse or search for the item you want, click to add it to your auction, open it in your Item Catalog, assign it to a time block, set the Item Status to Active, and save your changes. The item will appear in your live auction immediately.
What happens if a consignment item does not sell?
Nothing. You owe nothing and have no financial responsibility. There are no platform fees, no processing fees, and no payment of any kind.
Are there fees on consignment items?
No. CharityAuctions.com charges zero platform fees and zero credit card processing fees on risk-free consignment items. If the item sells, you keep 100% of the profit above the item cost. That is your payout, added automatically with no invoice or separate payment required.
What happens when a consignment item sells?
We send the winning bidder a congratulations email explaining how to redeem their item. Because CharityAuctions.com is the consignment provider, we handle all booking and coordination directly. Your organization does not need to contact any vendor or arrange anything. The profit is added to your auction payout automatically.
Can I use consignment items at a live in-person event?
Yes. For live and in-person events, we provide a print-ready display sheet for each consignment item that you can place on your silent auction tables. When an item sells, we send a winning bidder packet directly to the winner with all redemption details. You do not need to handle any of this at the event.
Do I need to pay the consignment provider separately?
No. CharityAuctions.com is the consignment provider. We handle everything automatically. The item cost is deducted from the winning bid and the profit is added to your payout. There is no invoice and no separate payment.
Related articles
- Adding and Managing Sponsors
Add and manage sponsors from Item Management > Sponsor Logos. Upload logo images or enter sponsor names, choose display locations, and organize by sponsorship level.
- Adding Auction Items in Bulk
Use the bulk upload in Item Catalog to import many items at once. Download the sample template, fill in your items row by row, then upload. Use Bulk Edit for mass updates after import.
- Can I Automate or Bulk Upload Images to My Auction?
CharityAuctions does not support bulk or automated image uploads. Images must be added individually to each item. Learn the fastest way to add photos—using your mobile phone.
- How do I add an item to my auction?
Go to Item Management > Item Catalog and click Add Item. Enter item name, description, starting bid, fair market value, category, and optional images.
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