What is a pricing guide?
A pricing guide is a reference tool that helps resale store staff assign consistent prices to incoming inventory based on factors like brand, category, and condition. Rather than leaving pricing up to individual judgment each time an item comes in, a pricing guide gives staff a repeatable framework to work from.
You’ll also hear pricing guides called price books or pricing books. The format varies — some stores maintain a simple spreadsheet, others use a printed binder, and many consignment software platforms include a built-in pricing guide as part of the intake workflow.
What a pricing guide typically includes
A pricing guide usually organizes items by category and then layers in variables like brand tier and condition. A mid-range women’s blouse in good condition might be priced at $18; the same blouse from a premium brand in excellent condition might be $40.
Common variables included in a pricing guide:
Category — the type of item (jacket, pants, handbag, etc.)
Brand tier — value, mid-range, premium, luxury
Condition — like new, excellent, good, fair
Why pricing guides matter
The real value of a pricing guide is that it decouples pricing from any single person’s knowledge. A new staff member can walk into an intake session and price items accurately — without needing the owner on the floor or years of category experience to draw from. That independence makes intake faster, more consistent, and far less dependent on who happens to be working that day.