Luxury Consignment vs Direct Purchase Explained

Consignment and direct purchase are two different ways luxury resale businesses may acquire or sell an item. Understanding the distinction helps you compare timing, payout and responsibility before choosing a service.

What is luxury consignment?

With consignment, the owner retains an agreed financial interest while the resale business authenticates, prepares, photographs, lists and markets the piece. Payment follows a completed sale and the applicable settlement process. The likely result can be higher than an immediate wholesale-style purchase because the item is marketed to the end buyer, although the timing depends on demand.

What is direct purchase?

Direct purchase, sometimes called an outright buy, is when a resale business purchases the item from the owner before selling it onward. It may provide faster certainty, but the offered amount normally reflects the business taking on inventory, authentication, holding, market and resale risk.

Which option does Lost Designer currently offer?

Lost Designer currently accepts seller submissions through consignment. We do not currently provide an outright direct-purchase option. Your written consignment quote explains the expected selling price, applicable fee and process before you decide whether to proceed.

How Lost Designer consignment works

1. Submit photos and details online.
2. Receive a considered consignment estimate.
3. Visit our Toorak boutique or use approved prepaid insured shipping.
4. We inspect, authenticate and professionally present the piece.
5. Payment follows the completed sale and settlement process.

Start a consignment quote or review our authentication process.