The Rake Archive Seller FAQ
The Rake Archive · Seller Help

Seller FAQ.

Everything you need to know about selling through The Rake Archive — from intake to payout.

Intake process

How to get started selling through The Rake Archive.

How do I start selling through The Rake Archive?

Submit an intake enquiry via the Sell With Us page or email archive@therake.com.au with a list of brands and items. We’ll confirm what we can accept within 1–2 business days.

What information do I need to provide?

Brand, item type, size and an honest assessment of condition. Photos are helpful but not required at the intake stage — we photograph everything properly once items arrive.

Can I drop items off in person?

Yes — bring items to 159 Hunter Street, Newcastle NSW during store hours. Mon–Sat 9am–3pm, Sun 9am–1pm. We’ll inspect them on arrival and confirm acceptance.

Can I ship items to you?

Yes. Once your intake is confirmed we’ll give you our postal address. Shipping costs are your responsibility. We recommend tracked postage — we can’t take responsibility for items lost in transit.

What happens if you decline my items?

If we can’t accept items after inspection we’ll contact you to arrange return. Return shipping is at your expense for posted items. Items dropped off in-store can be collected at your convenience.

Is there a minimum number of items I need to sell?

No minimum. We accept individual items — though if you have a large volume we may stage listings over time to give each item proper exposure.

Commission

How our fee structure works and what you receive.

How much commission does The Rake Archive take?

Our standard commission is 40% of the final sale price. This covers photography, listing, customer service, payment processing and fulfilment. You receive 60% as a cash payout or 70% as store credit.

Are lower commission rates available?

Yes — for exceptional pieces we assess reduced commission rates on a case-by-case basis. Mention it in your intake enquiry and we’ll discuss.

Are there any upfront costs or listing fees?

No. There are no upfront costs, listing fees or photography charges. We only make money when your item sells. If your item doesn’t sell, you owe us nothing.

What does the commission cover?

Everything. Professional photography, copywriting, listing management, customer enquiries, payment processing, packaging and fulfilment. You drop off your items and we handle the rest.

Photography

How we photograph and present your items.

Do I need to provide photos?

No. We photograph every Archive item ourselves using the same setup as our new stock. Consistent, professional product photography is included in our commission.

How will my items be presented on the site?

Archive items are listed on therake.com.au alongside our new stock with clear pre-owned labelling. Each listing includes condition notes, measurements and seller information.

How long does it take for items to be listed after drop-off?

We aim to photograph and list items within 5 business days of receipt. During busy periods this may extend to 7–10 days. We’ll let you know if there’s a delay.

Pricing

How items are priced and whether you have input.

Who sets the price of my items?

We price items based on original RRP, current market value, condition and demand. We’ll discuss pricing with you before listing — you have final say on the listing price.

Can I set a minimum price I’ll accept?

Yes. If you have a minimum price below which you’d prefer items returned rather than sold, let us know at intake and we’ll note it on your consignment agreement.

Can I request a price change after my item is listed?

Yes — contact archive@therake.com.au and we can adjust pricing. We recommend letting the automatic price drop schedule work before requesting manual changes.

Price drops

How our automatic price drop schedule works.

What is the automatic price drop schedule?

If an item hasn’t sold, prices drop automatically on the following schedule:

30 days listed → price drops 15%
60 days listed → price drops to 25% off the original listing price
90 days listed → price drops to 40% off the original listing price

This keeps Archive stock fresh and moving — and gives buyers a reason to check back regularly.

Will I be notified when my item’s price drops?

Yes — we’ll email you at each price drop milestone so you’re always across what your item is listed for.

Can I opt out of automatic price drops?

You can request a fixed listing price at intake — note that items without price drops tend to sell more slowly. We recommend allowing the schedule to run and setting a minimum acceptable price instead.

What happens at 90 days if the item still hasn’t sold?

We’ll contact you to discuss options — extending the listing at the reduced price, returning the item, or donating it if you prefer. No item is disposed of without your approval.

Payouts

How and when you get paid.

How do I get paid when my item sells?

You have two options: bank transfer (60% of final sale price, paid within 5 business days of the sale) or store credit (70% of final sale price — a 10% bonus on top of the cash rate). You choose your preference at intake.

Can I change my payout preference after listing?

Yes — email archive@therake.com.au before your item sells and we can update your preference. Once a sale is processed we can’t change the payout method.

How long does payout take?

Bank transfers are processed within 5 business days of the confirmed sale. Store credit is applied to your account the same day the sale is confirmed.

What information do you need for bank transfer?

BSB and account number. We collect this at intake via our seller registration form. We don’t store payment details beyond what’s required to process your payout.

Unsold items

What happens if your item doesn’t sell.

What happens if my item doesn’t sell?

After 90 days and three price drops we’ll contact you. You can choose to extend the listing at the current price, have the item returned, or donate it. We don’t dispose of items without your approval.

Can I request my item back before 90 days?

Yes — contact archive@therake.com.au at any time. We ask for 3 business days notice to delist and prepare the item for return. Return postage is at your cost unless we made an error.

Do I pay anything if my item doesn’t sell?

No. If your item doesn’t sell you owe us nothing. There are no listing fees, storage fees or photography fees. Our commission only applies when a sale occurs.

Ready to sell?

Start your intake enquiry

Tell us about your items and we’ll get back to you within 1–2 business days.

Sell with us →
Still have questions?

Get in touch directly

Email us at archive@therake.com.au and we’ll get back to you within 1 business day.

Email the Archive team →