are carboot sales worth it?

victoriaplum1

I have been doing bootsales on and off since they first got popular years ago but these days people want everything for nothing...they will haggle over 50p...I find that it is better to do smaller bootsales (less competition) in nice areas...in my experience in a better area if someone wants something they will be more likely to pay what you want...depends if you got lots of cheap stuff to clear or more expensive items really. I price my stuff beforehand too its an invtiation to buy and they can still haggle but it saves you getting offers of 20p for designer shirts worth alot more for example...you gotta be quite thick skinned sometimes too as people will make rude comments about your things, I once took my boyfs designer shirts (bought for well over £100 each) and was trying to sell for £3-4 max and still got comments of 'they are fakes'...which was utter rubbish and quite offensive I thought. In general they are fun to do they can be hit or miss but if you are just wanting to clear general junk then it can be a fun way to spend a morning and can earn you a bit of pocket money in the process! Make sure you take loads of change and carrier bags too, a flask of tea and some snacks, a folding chair is also a good idea and a sunhat and sun lotion if its hot....you can burn to a crisp standing in a field for a few hours.

stargazers

We all know there's a recession, but it just sounds like people are being nasty about haggling! Where's the fun in that?!

brightonman123

can be fun- take a comfy stool/cushion, something to reead, plenty of change, carry bags, a sheet to cover your goods (fnar!) when it rains, be ready to haggle - a BIT,

DONT let dealers catch you unawares- tell them you want to setup first- so never reduce prices earluy doors!

and remember why you are they to get shot of unwanted stuff (hopefully for some good beer money!)- be realistic when pricing up, and be prepared to reduce prices if not shifting as fast as you had expected.

dvd's, cd's and interesting niknaks always get people hoverng- then its time to charm a sale!

videos and books take up too much space- sell by the boxful if you can!

oh yeah- no 'knock off' goods- you will likely get barred / reported to the cops.

brightonman123

oh yeah, almost forgot- do the pricing/packing, and load up ypur car the night before, so less to worry / rush abour with, the early morning.

i have also parked up near front of the queue overnight, to get a good spot!

goanmad

Don't forget to pack old newspaper (for wrapping up breakables) and to take lots of carrier bags, too.

ukjoel

top tip is get out your car and walk around for 10 to 15 minutes looking at other peoples stuff. The first 10 minutes after you open your boot are when the traders decend on you like vultures and also when opportunist thieves nab what they can as you are being hounded by 15 people.

Wait 15 minutes they move on to the next row and then come back and unload at your own pace. Nothing more annoying that being harrassed into taking a fiver for something that they then take back to their car and sell for £30 an hour later.

You get there at 6am and are there till midday. The first 15 minutes you can miss.

heygringo

We've done a fair few boot sales (selling) The best one was a new set-up in a huge field, where all stalls were free:T I persuaded SWMBO that we needed to do as many as we could, because that situation wouldn't last. But it did for 2yrs. Then the Farmer handed the running of it over to an established Co. to run & a £10 entry was brought in. The farmer was happy with the revenue from the car parking, but he was persuaded to hand the job over. We used to use our small Motorhome, but they tried to charge extra because it was bigger than a car. When I pointed out that gear can't just be crammed in a £20,000 MH like you can with a van, they relented. Over all, in the 4 yrs we've done car boots, we've cleared around £1000 of all our own stuff. It's amazing that, what we considered as throw away gear, someone snapped it up, but sometimes, real quality items, we'd end up taking home. Also, just watch the scroungers/spongers going through the junk that car booters throw in the skips provided for unwanted items. It takes all sorts.

monkeymonkeymonkey

heygringo wrote: »

Also, just watch the scroungers/spongers going through the junk that car booters throw in the skips provided for unwanted items. It takes all sorts.

Better than it going in a landfill, I'd say!

suzyfluzybadminton

Throbbe wrote: »

As long as you don't mind people climbing into your car to see what you've got (OK, maybe I went to a bad one) or haggling over a 5p item (I'd happily have given it away free tbh, but that just wound me up).

Only doen a couple of car boots but I find the best way to avoid people climbing into your car as soon as you pull up is to make sure you have your tables handy, pushed down the side (back of drivers seat) so you can open the car door and slide them out. Put the tables up in front of the boot before you open it. It stops them going through your boot as your trying to empty it.

Some do want the stuff for nothing. I know you only take stuff because you don't want it any more but I'd rather give it to charity than accept some of the offers you get on stuff.

Trying to psyche myself up to doing a booty this weekend.

Taffybiker

I used to do car boot sales though not recently. My past experience led me to the following simple rules:

1. ALWAYS visibly price each item, masking tape will do. Some people are interested but don't like to ask how much it is. I used to add 50% to what I really wanted to allow for haggling. Sometimes people just paid the full amount so I was quids in.

2. If you suspect someone to be a dealer, they can buy at the same price as anyone else. They will most likely approach as soon as you arrive and make a low offer for something. I would tell them that if it hadn't sold by *1pm* then they could have it at the price they offered. (I don't really want to take it home again).

3. Take food and drink with you. Many of these places allow expensive burger/doughnut/ice cream/drinks vans which prey on those who have forgotten to cater for themselves.

4. Take plenty of small change. It is so easy to allow yourself to be haggled down if you can not supply change.

5. Have a bargain box. All items £1 or whatever. This usually attracts people to your stall.

6. Electricals can usually not be proved to be in working order. If you want a good price be prepared to hand over a mobile number (never your landline). This indicates a good "after sales" service and people become more confident in your item.

7. Have batteries ready for any battery operated items. You can prove the item is in good order, plus you can ask for a bit extra for the batteries.

8. Don't make your stall too elaborate. Posh stalls indicate market traders and Joe Public wants to deal with you, not them, with the firm belief of getting a better bargain.

9. Don't be afraid to call people to your stall. I have made many sales in this way. "There must be something here to interest you" works quite well.

10. Make sure everything you sell is as clean as possible. This last rule really speaks for itself but is often overlooked because even if you think it is worthless, your buyer will think differently.