Best POS System for Consignment Store: A Review of Leading Solutions
Every day you are overloaded with a heavy load of complicated tasks to operate your consignment store. And many of them require you to track and monitor manually.
But how can we overcome this challenge?
The best POS system for consignment store is your go-to solution here, which can unlock unprecedented growth for your business. In this article, we will show you a 360-degree review of the top choices in this market with detailed information about the key features, pricing, pros and cons of each POS.
If you are ready, let’s go!
Contents
1. Best POS system for consignment store: A quick look
Running a consignment store smoothly and efficiently takes expert craftsmanship. Payments, inventory, and eCommerce are just the start. This is the reason why you should lean on an all-in-one POS system to simplify your day-to-day operations.
A best-in-class POS for consignment stores will be your smart partner to connect every tool that keeps your business moving forward with cutting-edge features.
Now, let’s check out these top-notch POS systems to see which one can bring you the preferred features to take your business to a new height.
- Shopify POS: Best for multi-location operation
- Ricochet: Best for full consignor management
- ConsignCloud: Best for inventory management
- SimpleConsign: Best for ease of use
2. Best POS system for consignment store: our top picks
Shopify POS | Ricochet | ConsignCloud | SimpleConsign | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Features | – Multi-location inventory – Multiple payment options | – Consignor management – Product lifecycle management | – Bulk inventory workflows – Integrated printing | – Consignor scheduling – AI-automated item entry |
Price | From $25/month | From $159/month | From $119/month | From $159/month |
Pros | – Transparent pricing – Popular payment method integration | – Custom dashboard – Efficient & clear data entry | – Integrated cloud printing and custom tags – Customizable policy and workflows | – Easy to use – Scalable and searchable inventory |
Cons | Must subscribe to a Shopify plan | Limited payment methods | Limited payment methods | Require additional costs |
2.1. Shopify POS – Best for multi-location operation
Score | 4.6/5⭐ |
Pricing | From $25/month |
Free trial | 3-day free trial |
Transaction fee | Start at 2.4% + $0.10 |
Known as one of the best POS systems for small businesses, Shopify POS is an all-in-one solution for all retail businesses, especially for consignment stores with multiple locations.
2.1.1. Pricing
Shopify POS has two primary software plans, including Shopify POS Lite and Shopify POS Pro.
Shopify POS Lite is included in all Shopify plans. In other words, it is a must to subscribe to a Shopify plan to use Shopify POS. The transaction fees vary depending on your Shopify plan. Here are more details:
Monthly subscription | Transaction fee | |
Basic | $39/month | 2.9% + $0.30 online payments 2.6% + $0.10 in person |
Shopify | $105/month | 2.7% + $0.30 online payments 2.5% + $0.10 in person |
Advanced | $399/month | 2.5% + $0.30 online payments 2.4% + $0.10 in person |
Shopify POS Pro is an advanced plan with more built-in modern features at the price of $89/month/location.
>> Check out this detailed Shopify POS review for more valuable insights!
2.1.2. Features
Shopify POS allows you to access a full variety of advanced features to convert every sale and keep customers coming back.
- Multi-location inventory: Create and allocate inventory by accurately tracking individual items, their consignors, and their specific sales terms to your various online sales channels, warehouses, retail stores, or wherever else you store stock.
- Customer profiles: Create and manage customer information to track order history and preferences.
- Multiple payment options: Simplify the payment process for both consignors and customers by accepting various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and cash.
- Barcode scanning: Consignment shops rarely have two of the same item, your POS needs to quickly scan items to process sales and track inventory.
- Consignment performance reports: Generate detailed reports on consignment sales, commissions paid, and overall profitability.
2.1.3. Hardware
Shopify POS provides various compatible hardware devices:
- Tap & chip countertop kit for USB-C tablets (US only): $219
- Barcode scanners: $229
- Label printers: $299 to $499
- Receipt printers: $299 to $369
- Cash drawers: $139 to $159
- POS Go (with case): $429
- Shopify tap & chip card reader (US only): $49
2.1.4. Payment methods
With seamless integration with over 100 payment providers worldwide and in the US, there is no doubt that Shopify POS is a go-to POS for consignment store with a well-optimized checkout process. Here are some popular options:
- Credit/Debit cards (e.g.: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.)
- Cash payments
- Gift cards
- Shop Pay installments
- Third-party payment processors
2.1.5. Who should use it
- Small & medium businesses
- Consignment stores that have an online presence
- Businesses that need a reliable and scalable POS system
2.1.6. Pros & Cons
2.2. Ricochet – Best for full consignor management
Score | 4.7/5⭐ |
Pricing | From $159/month |
Free trial | 14-day free trial |
Transaction fee | Start at 2.6% + $0.10 |
Designed specifically for secondhand shops, resale, and retail businesses, Ricochet POS streamlines your business operations all from one place.
2.2.1. Pricing
Ricochet offers straightforward pricing, with only one plan at $159/month. With this plan, you will create unlimited accounts, use Ricochet POS on unlimited devices, and track unlimited items.
The transaction fees of Ricochet POS are:
- In-person transactions: 2.6% + $0.10
- Online transactions: 2.3% + $0.30
2.2.2. Features
As a top-rated POS system for consignment store, Ricochet is popular with a package of various built-in features for this type of business. Let’s see them in detail:
- Consignor management: Track your consignors’ inventory from item entry to sale, and adjust consignor credit for services your store provides.
- Loyalty program: Implement a loyalty program to reward consignors for their continued business, such as offering discounts on future consignments or exclusive perks.
- Product lifecycle management: Tracking items from the time they are received to when they are sold or returned.
- Flexible access controls: Allowing different levels of access for employees and consignors.
- Automatic splits: Create and monitor default and automatic commission splits for all of your consignors or vendors.
- Integrated payment processing: Run credit cards, gift cards, and more directly through Ricochet Pay.
2.2.3. Hardware
Here is a breakdown of Ricochet POS hardware:
- Path15 Windows All-In-One Touch Computer: $867.5
- 10.2″ iPad (9th Generation): $379
- USB Cable: $13
- Zebra ZD411 Direct Thermal Label Printer: $441.96
- Dymo LabelWriter 550 Direct Thermal Label Printer: $167
- Star Micronics TSP100III USB Receipt Printer: $255.63
- SocketScan 700 Series 1D Imager Barcode Scanner: $256.06
- Star Micronics CD3 16″ Cash Drawer: $120
- Windfall iPad Stand Heckler Design Stand: $129
2.2.4. Payment methods
It is important to keep in mind that Ricochet POS doesn’t directly integrate with other third-party payment gateways or platforms. It is now working with a fully integrated payment solution called Ricochet Pay, powered by Fortis. You can use credit cards, gift cards, and more directly through Ricochet Pay.
However, if you are looking for other payment methods, you need to integrate indirectly via text invoices, which are sent to customers for off-site payments.
2.2.5. Who should use it
- Consignment stores who are willing to use Ricochet Pay
- Businesses need built-in features specially designed for consignment stores
2.2.6. Pros & Cons
2.3. ConsignCloud – Best for inventory management
Score | 4.6/5⭐ |
Pricing | From $119/month |
Free trial | 14-day free trial |
Transaction fee | Custom |
ConsignCloud is one of the best POS systems for consignment store, where you can streamline your consignment process with end-to-end inventory management, extensive database, dashboard customization, and much more.
2.3.1. Pricing
This POS inventory software has three basic plans. The basic plan (ConsignCloud Complete) includes all basic features for consignment stores. You can upgrade to access more add-ons and unlock more advanced features.
Basic | Professional | Enterprise |
---|---|---|
$119/month | $149/month | $179/month |
2 add-ons | 5 add-ons | Unlimited add-ons |
2.3.2. Features
Let’s check out the POS features of Consign Cloud POS for wherever you sell:
- Bulk inventory workflows: Allow you to bulk updates, import, & return resale items, as well as customizable item tags & bulk printing easily when handling a wide variety of different items on a consignment store.
- Integrated printing: Use the ConsignCloud Print Client to print receipts and labels on branded templates, or print the entire layout, providing clear identification and tracking for consigned items.
- Dashboard overview & action items: Get quick insights and action items on consignment sales, commission fees, and overall performance metrics to have a comprehensive view of sales in your store.
- Automatic emails: Send account history, current inventory list, receipts, payout documentation, etc. with your consignors by email.
- Commission-based calculations: Accurately calculate and distribute profits based on agreed-upon commission rates.
2.3.3. Hardware
Currently, Consign Cloud does not sell its own hardware devices. If you choose its integrated credit card processing, Consign Cloud will send you a terminal for free.
This resale POS software works with most standard hardware in the current market. It is highly recommended to use with:
- A Star TSP100 receipt printer
- A DYMO LabelWriter 550 for item labels
- TEEMI Bluetooth Barcode Scanner
- A MICR-compatible printer
2.3.4. Payment methods
ConsignCloud offers integrated credit card processing through Gravity Payments. This provides a seamless and efficient way to accept credit card payments directly within the POS system.
You can also use several basic payment methods like cash, gift cards, etc.
2.3.5. Who should use it
- Store owners looking for an affordable option
- Consignment stores with complicated inventory tasks
2.3.6. Pros & Cons
2.4. SimpleConsign – Best for ease of use
Score | 4.7/5⭐ |
Pricing | From $159/month |
Free trial | 15-day free trial |
Transaction fee | Custom |
SimpleConsign POS enables you to seamlessly schedule consignors, take payments, and build your business. You just need to focus on growing your shops, SimpleConsign tackles everything from inventory to transactions.
2.4.1. Pricing
SimpleConsign POS pricing provides you with three monthly plans, including:
Basic | Standard | Professional |
---|---|---|
$159/month | $259/month | $359/month |
In addition, if you are searching for third-party integrations and add-ons, you need to pay for additional costs. Some popular integrations and add-ons are:
- QuickBooks Online integration: $50 – $75/month (for basic & standard plans)
- Consignor Access Label Printing: $175/month (only available in the professional plan)
- Store Insights App: $75/month (for basic & standard plans)
Regarding transaction fees, SimpleConsign does not publish them on its website. To get the most accurate and up-to-date information on SimpleConsign’s transaction fees, we recommend you contact their support team.
2.4.2. Features
SimpleConsign POS is supposed to have the tools to help modernize the customer experience. This POS management system is designed with your staff and customers in mind, which allows them to familiarize themselves with this tool at their fingertips and enjoy a smooth experience. Let’s see how SimpleConsign features can support your consignment store:
- Consignor scheduling: Consignors can schedule their own drop-off appointments online themselves with ease to save time.
- Consignment inventory management: Keep your inventory current and never lose track again in multiple locations.
- AI-automated item entry: AI tools provide recommendations for descriptions, pricing, categories, etc. of your products.
- Customizable and pre-built reporting: Generate real-time data not only about commission payments, fee deductions, and overall profitability but also specific inventory trends, sales trends, business insights, and more.
2.4.3. Hardware
Like Consign Cloud, SimpleConsign does not have its own hardware package.
However, rest assured that its POS software works seamlessly with the most popular hardware devices in the market. If necessary, you can contact SimpleConsign team for more helpful suggestions on which hardware devices are recommended for SimpleConsign POS.
2.4.4. Payment methods
With SimpleConsign’s SimplePay, you can work with multiple payment methods like:
- Debit cards
- Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express)
- Tap payments (Apple Pay)
- Online payments
2.4.5. Who should use it
- Growing consignment stores
- Businesses that need AI support
2.4.6. Pros & Cons
3. Benefits when using the best POS system for consignment store
3.1. Consignor management
Running a consignment store means that you are not only working with customers but also a lot of consignors and resellers. Therefore, with a POS system, you can effortlessly let consignors schedule their appointments within a few clicks. In addition, they can log in from any browser, receive important notifications about their products, view agreements, and add & adjust inventory from their device.
3.2. Inventory management
The unique characteristics of a consignment store make its inventory management a challenge. Your POS system needs to track the essential factors, for example, consignment period, consignor splits, discounting, flexible payouts, inventory levels, and more.
You should be able, at a click, to track which products are bought outright, donated, or resold in some capacity and all other activities within your business.
3.3. Flexible pricing
Your POS system for resale shop will help you do the heavy lifting of researching prices in seconds. By offering flexibility and customization in pricing, it can compare competitive pricing across sites to adjust prices based on product performance, market demand, seasonal periods, or trends.
3.4. Payout management
It is essential to ensure accurate and timely commission payments to consignors. It is where a POS system can shine when it automates commission calculations and generates clear, detailed statements. It will reduce errors and improve efficiency while also ensuring compliance with relevant sales tax regulations, maintaining transparency and legal adherence.
3.5. Customer relationship management (CRM)
With a POS system, you can connect with existing customers, reach new ones, and grow relationships with ease. It can help you turn walk-ins into repeat customers with built-in loyalty programs or gift cards online and in-store. In addition, you can personalize their shopping experiences with customer profiles that track contact information, preferences, lifetime value, etc.
3.6. Other features
Besides these foundational features, the best POS system for consignment store is supposed to have seamless eCommerce integration, security features, accounting software compatibility, third-party tool integration, and much more.
4. Factors to consider when choosing the best consignment POS system for your business
4.1. Consignment-specific features
As we mentioned before, the consignment business will have several specific characteristics that require your consideration. You should take account of these features, for example:
- Consignor management
- Item-level tracking
- Consignment agreement management
- Consignment fee tracking
(*) Note: Of course, make sure that your chosen POS system also supports other foundational features like inventory management, employee management, real-time reports, and so on.
4.2. Ease of use
No doubt that your consignment team has different employees and consignors with varying levels of technical expertise. Therefore, it is a must to look for systems that offer intuitive navigation, easy-to-use labeling, and straightforward workflows.
4.3. Integration with other systems
With an integrated POS system, you can work on only one single dashboard, which shows you real-time and accurate data from all other software such as accounting tools, inventory management systems, and e-commerce platforms.
We also recommend a system with open API capabilities, as it allows for custom integrations.
4.4. Customer support
Let’s imagine: There are a lot of things you need to learn about this POS tool, and when unexpected issues arise, what can we do? 24/7 assistance through multiple channels will save your life.
A responsive and reliable support team should be listed as a must-have factor for any POS system.
4.5. Pricing
There are several types of fees when running a POS system, including software fees (normally a monthly subscription), transaction fees, hardware fees, and sometimes, additional costs for third-party add-ons. You need to pay attention to all of them, making sure that your POS tool fits your budget.
All choices listed in this POS system for consignment store review offer free trials, don’t miss a chance to take advantage of these to test the water out.
5. Conclusion
To sum up, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question, “What is the best POS system for consignment store?”. Depending on the specific conditions of each business and this comprehensive, we believe you can make a smart decision and choose a perfect-fit tool.
Last but not least, eComStart subscription is just one click away, so give us a hit to keep updated about the eCommerce world!
6. FAQs
If you are running a small consignment shop, you should choose an affordable POS system. It is important to make sure that it has all the basic features for you to operate your business more easily. Each POS system has various plans, so you should contact their sales team for helpful suggestions. For example, Shopify POS has a plan for Shopify Starter to sell on social media at $5/month.
On the other hand, if it is a large-scale consignment business, the most essential factors you need to care about are not the pricing but the advanced features that the POS system provides. You should choose a POS system that can meet your specific requirements, for example, unlimited accounts, large data storage, multiple location supports, scalability, etc.
If you choose a retail POS system in general like Shopify POS, it supports multiple payment methods, with a wide variety of third-party integration. However, it might lack the built-in consignment features (e.g.: consignor scheduling/management).
To solve it, you can choose a POS system specifically designed for consignment stores like Ricochet or ConsignCloud. But keep in mind that integrations and add-ons of these POS tools are limited when compared with Shopify POS (including the payment methods). Also, they are not as scalable as the highly-reputed Shopify POS.
Depending on your specific requirements and budgets, you can choose a suitable solution.
Consignment business means that you are working with different people – not just your customers but also consignors and vendors. Normally, the consignment items do not focus on only one type, hence, inventory management is a challenge.
These specific characteristics of a consignment store make its operation complicated and overloaded if you run everything manually. Therefore, a POS system will be a smart investment, helping you save more time and effort to focus on what really grows your business.