Merchandise Acceptance Policy

Top Hat Vendor Emporium
3015 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27403
336-355-9442
Tophatvendoremporium@gmail.com
Tophatvendoremporium.com

Last Updated: September 3, 2026

Top Hat Vendor Emporium offers a curated selection of antiques, vintage merchandise, collectibles, furniture, home décor, jewelry, memorabilia, and other unique items through our store, vendors, consignment services, and antique buying services.

Because our available space, inventory needs, customer demand, and merchandise mix change over time, all merchandise is subject to review and acceptance by Top Hat Vendor Emporium.

Submitting merchandise to Top Hat does not guarantee that the merchandise will be accepted, displayed, consigned, purchased, or placed in a vendor booth.

1. General Merchandise Acceptance

Top Hat Vendor Emporium may consider merchandise that fits our store’s antique, vintage, collectible, nostalgic, decorative, or otherwise unique merchandise categories.

Potentially accepted merchandise may include:

  • Antique and vintage furniture

  • Vintage home décor

  • Collectibles

  • Antique and vintage jewelry

  • Artwork and prints

  • Glassware and ceramics

  • Books and records

  • Toys and games

  • Signs and advertising pieces

  • Memorabilia

  • Vintage clothing and accessories

  • Retro merchandise

  • Historical items

  • Unique or unusual vintage finds

  • Other antiques and collectible merchandise

Acceptance is determined on an item-by-item or collection-by-collection basis.

2. Factors Considered

When reviewing merchandise, Top Hat may consider factors including:

  • Age

  • Authenticity

  • Condition

  • Rarity

  • Quality

  • Craftsmanship

  • Historical significance

  • Collectibility

  • Current customer demand

  • Marketability

  • Available store or booth space

  • Existing inventory

  • Seasonal considerations

  • Overall fit with Top Hat Vendor Emporium

An item being old does not necessarily mean it is appropriate for the store.

3. Condition of Merchandise

Merchandise should generally be in a condition that is appropriate for resale.

Because antiques and vintage merchandise naturally show signs of age and use, acceptable characteristics may include:

  • Normal wear

  • Patina

  • Minor scratches

  • Fading

  • Age-related imperfections

  • Small dents or surface marks

  • Previous repairs or restoration

  • Signs of ordinary use

The presence of wear or imperfections does not automatically mean merchandise will be rejected.

However, merchandise may be declined when its condition, damage, odor, cleanliness, structural integrity, or overall presentation makes it unsuitable for resale.

4. Authenticity and Accurate Representation

Sellers and vendors are responsible for accurately representing merchandise to the best of their knowledge.

Merchandise must not knowingly be represented as:

  • Antique when it is a reproduction

  • Vintage when it is a modern item

  • Original when it is a reproduction or copy

  • Authentic when its authenticity is known to be questionable

  • Signed or attributed to a particular person without a reasonable basis

  • Historically significant without a reasonable basis

Top Hat may decline merchandise when its authenticity, origin, age, condition, or representation cannot be reasonably established.

5. Prohibited or Generally Unacceptable Merchandise

Top Hat Vendor Emporium may decline merchandise that is illegal, unsafe, stolen, counterfeit, fraudulent, hazardous, unsanitary, or otherwise inappropriate for resale.

Examples may include:

  • Counterfeit merchandise

  • Stolen property

  • Items with questionable ownership

  • Illegal items

  • Unsafe or hazardous merchandise

  • Items containing dangerous substances

  • Severely damaged or unsanitary merchandise

  • Items with significant pest infestation

  • Items with excessive mold or other conditions that create a health or safety concern

  • Merchandise that violates applicable laws or regulations

  • Items that Top Hat determines are inappropriate for the store

This list is not exhaustive.

6. Ownership and Right to Sell

Anyone submitting merchandise to Top Hat represents that they have the legal right and authority to sell, consign, or otherwise provide the merchandise for consideration.

Top Hat may request additional information regarding the ownership or history of an item when appropriate.

Top Hat may decline merchandise when ownership or the seller’s authority to sell cannot be reasonably established.

7. Merchandise Requiring Special Review

Certain merchandise may require additional review before acceptance.

This may include items with questions regarding:

  • Authenticity

  • Ownership

  • Significant monetary value

  • Historical significance

  • Condition

  • Restoration

  • Provenance

  • Copyright or trademark concerns

  • Safety

  • Legal restrictions

Top Hat may request additional information, documentation, photographs, or other supporting information before making an acceptance decision.

8. Vendor Merchandise

Merchandise placed in a vendor booth must comply with this Merchandise Acceptance Policy as well as any applicable vendor agreement and vendor rules.

Vendor merchandise may be reviewed by Top Hat before being placed on the sales floor.

Top Hat may require a vendor to remove merchandise that does not comply with store policies, applicable agreements, or applicable law.

Additional vendor requirements may be established in the Vendor Booth Rental Agreement and Vendor Rules & Regulations.

9. Consignment Merchandise

Merchandise submitted for consignment is subject to review and acceptance before being placed for sale.

Top Hat may decline merchandise that does not meet its current merchandise needs or acceptance standards.

Acceptance of merchandise for consignment does not guarantee that the merchandise will sell.

Specific terms governing consignment, including pricing, commissions, payment, duration, markdowns, and disposition of unsold merchandise, are governed by the applicable Consignment Agreement.

10. Merchandise Offered for Direct Purchase

Merchandise offered directly to Top Hat for purchase is subject to evaluation and acceptance.

Top Hat may choose to:

  • Purchase an item

  • Purchase only selected items from a collection

  • Recommend consignment

  • Recommend a vendor booth

  • Request additional information

  • Decline the merchandise

A request to review merchandise does not constitute an offer to purchase.

Any purchase is subject to an agreed purchase price and any applicable purchase documentation.

11. Collections and Multiple Items

Customers and sellers may present multiple items or entire collections for consideration.

Top Hat may evaluate individual items separately and may accept some items while declining others.

Submitting an entire collection does not require Top Hat to purchase, consign, or accept every item in the collection.

12. Merchandise We May Decline

Top Hat may decline merchandise for any legitimate business reason, including when:

  • The item does not fit the store’s merchandise mix

  • Similar merchandise is already sufficiently represented

  • There is limited space

  • Customer demand is limited

  • The item is difficult to sell

  • The item’s condition is unsuitable

  • The item’s authenticity is uncertain

  • The item presents a safety or legal concern

  • The item does not meet current vendor or consignment requirements

  • The item does not align with current store standards

Acceptance decisions may change as inventory, customer demand, and business needs change.

13. Submission Does Not Guarantee Acceptance

Bringing merchandise to Top Hat, submitting photographs, contacting the store, or requesting an evaluation does not guarantee acceptance.

Top Hat reserves the right to make the final decision regarding whether merchandise will be accepted for:

  • Retail sale

  • Vendor placement

  • Consignment

  • Direct purchase

  • Evaluation or appraisal

14. Responsibility for Personal Property

Until merchandise has been formally accepted under an applicable purchase, consignment, or vendor arrangement, the person submitting the merchandise remains responsible for the property.

Customers should not leave merchandise at the store without first confirming that Top Hat is able to receive and review it.

15. Changes to Merchandise Acceptance Standards

Top Hat Vendor Emporium may update its merchandise acceptance standards from time to time as inventory, customer preferences, market conditions, available space, and business needs change.

The most current version of this policy will apply to new merchandise submissions unless otherwise provided in a written agreement.

16. Relationship to Other Agreements

This policy provides general merchandise acceptance standards.

Where a customer, seller, consignor, or vendor has entered into a separate written agreement with Top Hat Vendor Emporium, the terms of that agreement will govern the specific transaction or relationship to the extent of any conflict.

Applicable agreements may include a:

  • Vendor Booth Rental Agreement

  • Consignment Agreement

  • Antique Purchase Agreement or Bill of Sale

  • Other written merchandise agreement

17. Contact Top Hat Vendor Emporium

If you have antiques, vintage items, collectibles, furniture, jewelry, artwork, memorabilia, or other unique merchandise you would like Top Hat to consider, contact us before bringing large quantities of merchandise to the store.

Top Hat Vendor Emporium
3015 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27403
336-355-9442
Tophatvendoremporium@gmail.com
Tophatvendoremporium.com