If you've come across these four terms in SimpleConsign and wondered whether they mean different things, the short answer is: mostly not. Consignor, vendor, and dealer are used interchangeably in the software, with the terminology shifting based on your plan and where in the Back Office you're looking. Supplier, on the other hand, refers to something functionally different. Here's how each term breaks down.
Consignor, Vendor, and Dealer
Consignor and vendor are used interchangeably in SimpleConsign, though vendor is typically associated with a booth or rental space. If you're on the Vendor Mall Plus plan, you'll notice the consignment tab reads "Vendor" instead of "Consignor."
The wording under Settings > Options in the Back Office updates the same way. Future software changes are expected to separate these terms and offer additional configuration options for each.
Dealer is another term used interchangeably with consignor and vendor. It originally appeared when inventory entry was added to consignor access, and like consignor, it's been updated to say "Vendor" under the Vendor Mall Plus plan.
Supplier
Supplier works differently. It's used to link multiple items to a single source, regardless of whether the item is store-owned or consignor-owned. Unlike consignors, vendors, or dealers, suppliers can't be paid out through SimpleConsign, since stores typically pay suppliers up front rather than tracking a split. You can still run an inventory report to see everything linked to a given supplier.