Online Auction FAQs
 

Soulshine offers online auctions in two different ways: curated consignment auctions and online estate sale auctions. Both give us the ability to connect great things with the right buyers, but they're designed for very different situations.
 

What's the difference between a curated consignment auction and an online estate sale auction?
 

Curated Consignment Auctions
 

Our curated auctions bring together select items and collections from multiple consignors into one online sale.
 

These auctions may be built around a particular category, season or collecting interest — like vintage Christmas, jewelry, mid-century, advertising, records or other specialty collections.
 

They're a great option when you have desirable things worth selling, but not enough for a full estate sale.
 

You bring or send us the collection, and we handle the rest: sorting, lotting, photography, cataloging, marketing, auction management, payment collection and buyer fulfillment.

Because these auctions are intentionally curated, all collections are reviewed and approved before we accept them.
 

Online Estate Sale Auctions
 

An online estate sale auction is the liquidation of a larger portion — or all — of the contents of a single home or estate.
 

Instead of combining items from multiple sellers, the auction is dedicated to one estate. Soulshine photographs and catalogs the contents, markets the sale and conducts the liquidation through online bidding rather than—or in some cases alongside—a traditional in-person estate sale.
 

This option may make sense when the contents of an estate are particularly well suited for online bidding, when a collection can reach a larger audience online or when other circumstances make an online format more advantageous.
 

Not sure which option you need? That's okay. Tell us what you're working with and we'll recommend the approach we believe makes the most sense.
 

How does consignment work?
Consignment applies to items accepted for one of our curated multi-consignor auctions.

Once your collection has been reviewed and accepted, your items are delivered, picked up by arrangement or shipped to Soulshine. From there, we handle sorting, lotting, photography, cataloging, marketing, auction management, payment collection and buyer fulfillment.
 

After the auction is complete, we deduct our commission and any agreed-upon expenses and pay you the remaining proceeds according to your consignment agreement.
 

What does Soulshine charge for consignment?

We work on commission, meaning there is no upfront fee for the auction service itself. Soulshine retains 30-50% of the final selling price and the remaining proceeds are paid to the consignor.
 

Any additional costs, such as pickup, shipping or special handling, will be discussed with you before your collection is accepted.
 

Full terms are provided before you commit to consigning your items.
 

Are online estate sale auctions priced the same way?

Not necessarily.

Online estate sale auctions are a full-estate liquidation service and may have a different fee structure than curated consignment auctions depending on the size of the estate, scope of work and services required.

We'll discuss the recommended sale format, commission and any applicable fees with you after evaluating the estate.
 

What kinds of items do you accept for curated auctions?

Our curated auctions are selective, and what we're looking for may vary from one auction to another.
 

We are generally most interested in vintage, antique, collectible, unusual and highly desirable items with an established resale market. This may include collections of vintage décor, jewelry, advertising, toys, holiday collectibles, art, records, ephemera, glassware, pottery, household collectibles and more.
 

Some auctions may be built around a specific theme or category.

Not sure whether your collection is a fit? Send us photos. You don't need to know exactly what you have or what it's worth.
 

Do I need enough for a full estate sale?

No. That's one of the reasons we introduced curated consignment auctions.

Traditional estate sales and online estate sale auctions are designed for larger household liquidations. Curated auctions give us another option for people who have desirable items or collections but don't have enough volume for a full estate sale.
 

Do you accept individual items?

Sometimes, but our preference is generally for collections or groups of items rather than individual lower-value pieces.
 

Exceptional individual items may be considered depending on their value, rarity and buyer demand.
 

Will you accept everything I submit?

Not necessarily.
 

Every collection is reviewed before acceptance. We consider factors such as age, condition, desirability, quantity, expected selling price and current buyer demand.

Because of the amount of work involved in preparing an auction, we may decline an entire collection or accept only a portion of what is submitted.
 

Is there a minimum value required?

We don't require you to know the value of your collection before submitting it.

We evaluate collections as a whole to determine whether they make sense for our auction format. Smaller collections may still be a great fit if the individual items are particularly collectible or desirable.
 

How do I get my consignment items to Soulshine?

Once your collection has been approved, we'll determine the best intake option with you.

Local consignors can typically schedule a drop-off at our New Braunfels warehouse.

Pickup may be available for qualifying collections depending on location, volume and value. Pickup fees may apply.
 

Out-of-area consignors may be able to ship approved items to us. The consignor is responsible for safely packing, insuring and shipping items to Soulshine unless otherwise agreed upon.
 

Please do not drop off or ship items before receiving approval and intake instructions from our team.
 

Do I have to live near New Braunfels or San Antonio?

Not for curated consignment auctions.
 

Because our auctions are conducted online, we can consider collections from outside our traditional estate sale service area — especially items that can be safely and economically shipped to us.
 

Full-estate services are geographically limited, but consignment gives us the opportunity to work with collectors and families from a much wider area.
 

All collections must be reviewed and approved before shipping.
 

Can I set the price for my items?

Online auctions work differently from traditional fixed-price sales. Items are offered according to the bidding structure established for each auction, and the market ultimately determines the final selling price.
 

If you have an item you are unwilling to sell below a certain amount, please tell us before consigning it so we can determine whether it is appropriate for the auction.
 

What happens if something doesn't sell?

Unsold items will be handled according to the terms of your consignment agreement. Depending on the auction and the item, options may include offering the item again, returning it to you or another agreed-upon disposition.
 

We'll make sure you understand how unsold items are handled before you consign with us.
 

Where do buyers come from?

Soulshine markets our auctions to our established community of collectors, dealers, vintage lovers and estate sale shoppers, along with targeted audiences appropriate for the items we're selling.
 

Because bidding takes place online, we're able to reach buyers well beyond the people who would physically walk through a traditional estate sale.
 

How long does the consignment process take?

Timing depends on our auction calendar and the type and size of your collection.
 

Once your collection is accepted, we'll let you know which upcoming auction we believe is the best fit and provide an anticipated timeline.
 

Because our auctions are intentionally curated, items may not be listed immediately after we receive them.
 

When do consignors get paid?

Consignor payments are issued after the auction has closed, buyer payments have been collected and the applicable settlement period has passed.
 

Your consignment agreement will specify the exact payment timeline and method.
 

What if I inherited a collection and don't know anything about it?

That's completely fine — and very common.
 

You don't need to become an expert before contacting us. Send us several clear photos, tell us approximately how much you have and share anything you happen to know about where the collection came from.
 

We'll let you know whether we'd like to take a closer look.
 

Why consign instead of selling everything myself?

Selling a collection piece by piece can mean researching values, taking photographs, writing listings, advertising, answering messages, collecting payments, coordinating pickups and potentially packing and shipping dozens — or hundreds — of individual purchases.
 

Consignment allows you to hand that process over to us.
 

Soulshine handles the work of preparing and marketing the collection while connecting it with a large, established audience of people who genuinely enjoy buying vintage, antique and collectible things.
 

How do I get started?

If you have a collection or smaller group of desirable items, submit information and photos for consideration in one of our curated auctions.
 

If you're dealing with the contents of an entire home or estate, contact us about our full-service estate liquidation options. We'll help determine whether an in-person estate sale, online estate sale auction or another approach makes the most sense.