Might need some MSE help...

mrsdwhite · 24 May 2014 at 5:50PM

Hi,
I recently spent my paltry £300 savings on a car of my own as since passing my test last year I've been using dh's which wasn't practical to share anymore. Anyway, it's just failed it's MOT spectacularly. I have now learnt my lesson the hard way about not buying from eBay and not trusting cheap cars. :mad:
So, I have a Ka which I can switch my insurance to. It's MOT runs out at the end of August which gives me some time to figure out what to do if it fails. In the meantime I have to work out what to do with my fiesta.
To top my day off my Dyson died this afternoon half way through hoovering dd bedroom. The Dyson has served me well for almost 10 years, but I know they cost about £500 to buy so that's not going to happen! :eek:
I've got a lot of general clutter and 'stuff' lying around at home that I am considering trying to sell for a bit of spare cash to help with everything. It's not worth ebaying and I've tried the local Facebook selling pages with limited success. There is a small car boot sale every Sunday morning just down the road from me, but I'm not sure if my stuff would sell or how much I should ask for things.
What sort of thing could I consider selling and how much should I expect for them?
I have quite a few books, a few DVDs. Some old clothes. That sort of thing.
Possibly lots of baby stuff, I've kept it all from having dd (now 6) incase we we have another but since having a miscarriage a few months ago I'm now not sure that will happen so I might part with some of that stuff as well.

Sorry for such a long post, I don't usually post much, just the odd question. But dh is off doing a 100km charity walk so doesn't need me whining at him about all of this right now and at least by posting here I feel I'm doing something positive about the situation.

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pandamonium · 24 May 2014 at 6:04PM

IIRC Dyson have a fixed price call out. They will rebuild your machine if necessary and it's all covered by the price. Mine has had two new motors and various other bits over the years. It used to be about £70, I think.
HTH

newthrift · 24 May 2014 at 6:18PM

I would say with your Fiesta, get it to a scrap yard and get what you can for it, I would guesstimate around £100 but anything is better than a car that can't be used cluttering up.
I'm a big fan of Henry hoovers, mine was £99.00 a couple of years ago, my mum/grandma/both aunties also have them and love theirs too which is much cheaper than the dyson (if you can't get it fixed of course).
Books and DVD's I think usually sell for around 50p/£1 depending on how good condition they are in, but anything is better than nothing if you are in need and don't use them!! Clothes vary massively, maybe you could have a walk around the car boot this time and get an idea on the prices of stuff and then go another week?
Sorry to hear about your miscarriage. If you feel you are able to part with any baby things then do so, but don't push yourself to, there is always another time. If you have any toys/clothes that your DD doesn't use now they usually do well at carboots, might be worth having a look through.

Best of luck

mrsdwhite · 24 May 2014 at 6:28PM

Thanks
I've had my dyson serviced in the past, around 5 years ago, part of me wondered if it's getting to the point of not being worth servicing again but £79 compared to £500 is probably what I need to think about rather than wanting something shiny and new.
I've heard good things about Henrys, but I'm not sure it would cope with the pet hair as I have 2 cats which is why I have the Dyson animal, which struggles itself!
I've been so upset this afternoon about my car, I think it's because I spent my birthday/Xmas savings on it and was pleased with myself for using my own savings rather than resorting to credit and now it's barely worth half of what I paid for it :sad:

Pooky · 24 May 2014 at 6:38PM

Get a price for scrapping the fiesta - look at selling it on a local site or fleabay too with a list of the problems - someone might want it, you never know. Would you be able to have a look around at what bits of it sell and then break it down for parts? You might make a decent amount that way.

As for your vacuum cleaner, I had that make for years thinking it was the bees-knees but when it finally gave up the ghost I went for a £39 cheapy from c-urrys. It picked up far more than the other one ever did and lasted a good few years (after being used during extensive kitchen refurbishment it lost its will to live and has been replaced but a cheap one will do for now if you can't get the other one repaired) Check out the online reviews for different low end models.

As for bootsales, I stick with the principle that I don't want the stuff and don't want to bring it home so books are normally 20p, dvds typically sell for 50p/£1 (but check out your local exchange stores as they sometimes off more) Baby clothes are so plentiful so get them washed and presentable, maybe bundle up 5 vests in a poly bag, 5 baby grows etc and shove £1 on them. Adult and childrens clothes will sell if they're in good condition and organised in such a way that it's easy for people to see what's there - maybe have a couple of boxes with a big label on "age 6/7 50p per item" or the like on - people are more likely to have a rummage if they know how much items are and that they're not wasting their time in a box of stuff that's not right. Adult clothes are best hung up. When I've done sales in the past I've kept the higher priced items on the table and had blankets down with "everything 50p" on.

Hope your situation improves soon

mrsdwhite · 24 May 2014 at 7:13PM

Pooky wrote: »

Get a price for scrapping the fiesta - look at selling it on a local site or fleabay too with a list of the problems - someone might want it, you never know. Would you be able to have a look around at what bits of it sell and then break it down for parts? You might make a decent amount that way.

As for your vacuum cleaner, I had that make for years thinking it was the bees-knees but when it finally gave up the ghost I went for a £39 cheapy from c-urrys. It picked up far more than the other one ever did and lasted a good few years (after being used during extensive kitchen refurbishment it lost its will to live and has been replaced but a cheap one will do for now if you can't get the other one repaired) Check out the online reviews for different low end models.

As for bootsales, I stick with the principle that I don't want the stuff and don't want to bring it home so books are normally 20p, dvds typically sell for 50p/£1 (but check out your local exchange stores as they sometimes off more) Baby clothes are so plentiful so get them washed and presentable, maybe bundle up 5 vests in a poly bag, 5 baby grows etc and shove £1 on them. Adult and childrens clothes will sell if they're in good condition and organised in such a way that it's easy for people to see what's there - maybe have a couple of boxes with a big label on "age 6/7 50p per item" or the like on - people are more likely to have a rummage if they know how much items are and that they're not wasting their time in a box of stuff that's not right. Adult clothes are best hung up. When I've done sales in the past I've kept the higher priced items on the table and had blankets down with "everything 50p" on.

Hope your situation improves soon

With the fiesta I am pained to just scrap it, part of me wants to put it on fleabay as spares or repairs, that way I might if I'm lucky get a bit more for it. If I had the knowledge to strip it and sell the parts I would, sadly I think I'd do more harm than good!

A quick google has come up with a reconditioned Bissell pet hair vac for £34.99 with good reviews. Trouble is when I had trouble with the dyson in the past I bought a different hoover which broke twice before I gave up and had the dyson serviced. Just makes me a bit more wary of venturing away from it!

Thanks for the car boot advice, can't go to tomorrow's but might try next weeks, nothing ventured and all that

pigpen · 24 May 2014 at 7:15PM

pandamonium wrote: »

IIRC Dyson have a fixed price call out. They will rebuild your machine if necessary and it's all covered by the price. Mine has had two new motors and various other bits over the years. It used to be about £70, I think.
HTH

they never managed to fix mine I spent the money for the repair which didn't make any difference, bought new ceiling decs (it was xmas and the engineer 'vacuumed' them) and then had to get rid of it.. made easy when KH left and kicked it to yiny bits in the front garden.

asparagus1968 · 25 May 2014 at 4:12PM

remember to get your car tax disc money back if you do get rid of it

mumofthetwins · 25 May 2014 at 6:34PM

Hi
Sorry can't offer any advice on the car but before buying a new Dyson if your gonna do a car boot then wait and check their first .... I run one in the north east and my dad has one close to Peterborough ... I've had 2 dysons (one I use and a spare) my mum has 3 spread across the house and these were all bought at the car boots ... 3 of these are the Dyson ball ones too ! We have never paid more than £20 either

If your selling in anyway then you will be in first and if you take someone with you then you can get a look around before any buyers come in ....

When your selling people will want to haggle so bear this in mind and you will get slot of professional buyers that get in first and try to buy for as little as possible .... don't forget though the stuff your selling you want rid of and it is all money in your pocket

Lisa x

mrsdwhite · 25 May 2014 at 7:54PM

Thanks!
I've had a quick google for Henry hovers and discovered they do a version called Harry designed for pet owners. It's £110 which is reasonable.
Trope is after the car stuff I don't have that right now

to top it off I've been working as a temp for a nursery nurse agency for the last month or so and last week for whatever reason best known to them they didn't pay me, so I'm left hoping and wondering if I will get paid next week either.
If they don't I will certainly be having an interesting few weeks! :eek:

ravingandsaving · 25 May 2014 at 8:25PM

Have you considered Music Magpie for CDs/DVDs? You don't get much, but it soon adds up, and the bonus is that there aren't any fees to pay. For baby/kids clothes, rather than selling them individually on eBay sell them in bundles according to size. You'll always get a much much better price for the items in a bundle. Just make sure you charge enough in postage! You could also try selling toys, etc, in bundles, rather than individually. Hope this helps!

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Might need some MSE help...

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