Buying FAQ

Why should I shop at Cornerstone?

Visit the “Why Shop Cornerstone” page to learn more:

Why Shop Cornerstone?

Yes! See more info here:

Delivery Information
  • Yes, you may call us during business hours and place a 2-hour hold on the item(s) you are interested in.
  • Note that no holds or sales are taken by email, voicemail, or text. You need to speak to someone live.
  • We do not take holds on Saturdays or 15 minutes before closing, so that it is a ‘first come, first served’ basis each morning.
  • No sales are taken by email, voicemail, or text. You must speak to someone live either in the store or on the phone during business hours.
  • Note that in-person customers at opening get first priority on purchasing, followed by phone call purchasers.
  • Cornerstone will store your items for free for up to 1 week from purchase.
  • We are happy to store your items beyond 1 week for $25.00 per item per week.

Yes! The first week is free, additional weeks are $25.00 per week for standard items.

**Additional week prices may be quoted at an alternate rate based on size and amount of items, subject to change at any time based on management discretion.

Selling FAQ

Why should I consign with Cornerstone? There are other options like estate sales, auction houses, and facebook marketplace.
  • Cornerstone has an exceptional marketing reach via our website, in store traffic, and ‘Want List’ with thousands of unique eyeballs on our inventory weekly. 
  • Estate Sales & Auctions will typically sell at a lower price point than Cornerstone, but also charge a similar split. This means the seller (YOU) will make less money (~50%) using an auction or estate sale service.
  • Selling on Facebook is NOT a passive method to sell your items. This will often require significant effort answering questions, sending dimensions, and following up. Scheduling and coordinating with buyers proves frustrating as they often bail/reschedule last minute. 
  • Cornerstone is Baltimore’s Only Consignment Store with a dedicated “Prep Shop”! If your item has an imperfection we can touch it up to make sure it brings TOP DOLLAR!
  • We have 40 years of industry and pricing knowledge to make your item move quickly at maximum value.
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  • We specialize in High Quality Furniture. Following today’s trends we find that the furniture styles selling the best are from high-end designers, as well as mid-century classics, and timeless “period” pieces by the best manufacturers and cabinet shops of the past 100 years.
  • We also handle a variety of accessories like Sterling Silver, Wall Art, China, Porcelain Pieces, Jewelry, Lamps, Rugs, and Fireplace Tools. As a general guideline, we have a minimum starting price of $50 per item. (Metals License #01-2669).

A good place to start is by browsing the “manufacturers” drop down list on our website. It will give you some of the most popular brands we sell. Another way is to browse our website by “category”. This will give you an idea about the different styles that sell well in our store.

Items are consigned for a 4-month period. After 30 days, prices on any unsold items will be reduced by 15%. After 60 days, the price will be reduced by an additional and final 15%. The customer receives 50% of the selling price on all items. Checks will be mailed to the consignor by the fifteenth of the month for items sold during the previous month. A $2 handling fee is deducted from each check.

  • Before putting your furniture in front of our customers, we make sure it is showroom ready. In our “Prep Shop”, furniture is cleaned, brass polished, and loose knobs tightened. 
  • Fun fact! Cornerstone is Baltimore’s Only Consignment Store with a dedicated “Prep Shop”!

In most cases, we will offer to buy or consign your furniture. Accessories and most other items (non-furniture) are done only on consignment. Either way, expect a good return, fair treatment, and prompt payment.

Not sure what your pieces are worth? Is your family heirloom a treasure, or just a doorstop? With almost 40 years in business, and hundreds of satisfied consignors, Cornerstone has the expertise to help you determine what the market will bear.

In most cases, Yes! Start the process by emailing pictures of your item(s) to “[email protected]”. Describe the condition in detail (age, wear, scratches, etc) along with the manufacturer’s name if available. Include your name, phone number, and zip code where the pieces are located in your email. You’ll get an email back from us letting you know that we received your pictures! After a phone call from us to discuss the pictures you sent, it may be time for one of Cornerstone’s experienced professionals to visit your home and assess your items in person. Distance from our store, along with the number and types of pieces you have, will all play a part in our ability to visit in person.

Yes! Whether you are selling one piece or a complete household, Cornerstone can help. We will tailor a program to your individual circumstance by putting you in touch with local professionals that can help with organizing needs, haul-away and clean-out services, and more. Large items and small, antiques and newer pieces, put Cornerstone’s years of service and connections to work for you.

We have a variety of ways we can help to make the whole process go smoothly. Our company truck and delivery team can handle most local moves. For other moves, we have a list of recommended carriers that can pick up things near and far!

The Consignment Process Step by Step

Furniture

  • What We Take.
    By visiting our store or looking through our website you will get a good sense for the types of things we sell. Following today’s trends we find that the furniture styles selling the best are from high-end designers, as well as mid-century classics, and timeless “period” pieces by the best manufacturers and cabinet shops of the past 100 years. We are able to sell a good mix and are tuned in to what is in high demand. In addition we sell fine accessories and higher-end collectibles. Only furniture in good condition sells for a good price. Just think that if you were a buyer what condition it would have to be in for you to consider it.
  • Contact Cornerstone.
    Either call (410-561-3767) or email us ([email protected]). We can answer many questions by phone but will need to see pictures of items to begin the process of determining whether we can help you move them. In many cases we can refer you to other resources to fill your needs if we are not the best venue for your items.
  • Seeing What You Have.
    A picture is truly worth a thousand words. Always feel free to email photos of the things you have to sell. We are happy to look and let you know where we can help. And when we determine that you have furniture we can sell, we will set an appointment to come and see you. For small items (silver, prints, china, etc.) we ask that you call ahead and make an appointment to bring them in for us to review with you at our consignment counter. Wherever we see your furniture, a thorough examination is critical to establishing the right price, so we need to be able to see it easily — not stacked, covered, or stored tightly.
  • How We Determine Price.
    Because we handle a multitude of brands — ones that are still made, and many great brands that are no longer in business, we have extensive experience in determining the value of your items in the secondary marketplace. Current market value is based on form, quality, condition, demand, what the piece would cost new, and our store’s past experience. We will consult with you to determine the starting price of all items.
  • Consign vs Selling Outright.
    Once we determine what furniture of yours we can help with, you can consign it, or in many cases have the option of selling it to us outright. When you sell furniture to us, there are no pick-up charges. Consignment terms are explained above.
  • Getting it To the Store.
    Once we’ve determined that our store is a good fit for your items, you are welcome to bring or send your pieces to us by appointment. We can also assist you with our own truck and delivery team or recommended movers.
  • Getting it Sold.
    Once we polish your pieces in our prep shop, they are photographed and posted to our website. We update our website throughout the week, every week, removing sold items and posting the latest arrivals! This commitment has built us a large online following. We have been noticing more and more over the years that people who see our website show up from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, etc. with houses to fill. When they get here, we have a great sales staff to help them. We also maintain a huge “Want List” of people who are searching for specific pieces. Our custom software allows us to email interested patrons a photo, price and measurement of furniture items that fit their needs. Finally, our 9,000 sq. ft. store is located in the middle of an upscale metropolitan area. We take great pride in displaying your items in our clean, easy to shop showroom!

Small Items

If you are unsure of what we take, just call. We do well with higher end collectibles, nice porcelain, good sets of china, sterling silver, unusual silverplate, better jewelry, paintings, prints, good fireplace accessories, nice lamps, and Oriental rugs. We take small items at our consignment counter by appointment. Our consignment manager came to us through the antique business and that can be a great advantage if you have older things to sell. Small items are on consignment terms only. (Metals License #01-2669)