are carboot sales worth it?

ThinkingOfLinking

I am in the same boat as the OP and am considering doing a one-off sale with a friend of mine. Another friend also recommended a website called iBootsale which is like an online car boot sale and people are allowed to haggle (you do not have to accept). I just have a lot of unworn clothes, eg FCUK dress with tags on, and some CD singles and bits and bobs.

cjsmummy_2

Im doing my second car boot sale in a few weeks, last one was years ago. Didnt realise all the people climbing over your stall were dealers, it all makes sense now :T

I felt as if I gave everything away the last time as I had no idea about pricing. I have a lot of cd's and baby clothes amongst other stuff. How much do people usually charge for cd's and baby stuff?

Any help appreciated.

MORPH3US

I have heard of people doing car boots around me and making £35 - £55 after paying for the pitch...

For me that isn't worth getting out of bed for, I work my @rse off all week.

I would rather give stuff away on freecycle than barter with an idiot over 20p and waste my time getting up early and wasting a day of my precious time.

MORPH3US

jason1970smith wrote: »

geenie mentioned not paying fee's to ebay anymore, understandably so especially with the current economy state. I searched for weeks in february to solve the problem and found a website offering free listings, free membership and no sale fee's!! The website is currently run through volunteers.

The website has houses listed, cars, sat navs, laptops and all at car boot prices, except the homes and cars of course :rotfl:

Hope more people start to use it as it is the ultimate alternative to other charging websites. If someone can sell there home for free on a website then something is working amazingly well!:t:t

reported this post as spam!!! Blatantly advertising your site in all your 4 posts!!!!

Don't click and let the spammer win!!!

Taffybiker

cjsmummy wrote: »

Im doing my second car boot sale in a few weeks, last one was years ago. Didnt realise all the people climbing over your stall were dealers, it all makes sense now :T

I felt as if I gave everything away the last time as I had no idea about pricing. I have a lot of cd's and baby clothes amongst other stuff. How much do people usually charge for cd's and baby stuff?

Any help appreciated.

Your best bet would be to do a little market research. Why not take a trip to a local sale and have a look around? You may even spot a bargain for yourself.

Mummy_McThrifty

Good luck with the next boot sale cjsmummy, just batter those dealers with your pasting table! I usually price CDs at £1-2 only depending how old they are, as most people I know are downloading music nowadays. Baby clothes for usually 50p/item, poppered vests cheaper, coats dearer, Clarks shoes you'd get at least £3 for. I package same size socks, tights, pants, mitt/hat sets into sandwich bags that seal and write size on, saves everything getting in a mess when folk rake in boxes or on table top. You'll get more for special items or designer/Monsoon etc, but high st. doesn't go for much more in Fife unless new with labels still on. Other baby items sell quite well. Can research prices of bigger items on online sale sites to get idea of a start price for haggling. Pre-labelling with prices can be off-putting to some, you don't want to lose the chance of a sale!

Awec

It's my idea of hell. Walking around a crowded area trawling through tables of rubbish to find possibly one or two items worth something, whilst everyone pushes past you trying to find the same items.

The amount of junk means you're sure to come home with more rubbish than you went with and will regret most of your purchases, spending 5 minutes trying to buy one item because the seller wants a ludicrous amount of money and then having to cart said item around with you all day, else risk the seller bringing it and your money home with them.

Going into a field, haggling over 20p and having to spend a whole day doing it is not worth my time and effort.

Give me ebay, where it's a few clicks and it arrives at my door, I don't have to fight off hordes of excited bargain hunters and where I am sure to not buy a load of old rubbish.

poppyjay

i did a boot saLE yesterday and made over £200 it was only bits that had come off freecycle given aways as carboot items .The 20p and 50p soon add up.
my tips for boot sale are

Take your own food

Have lots of change but check notes given to u

Dont put small items/expensive items at front they disappear

Take wet wipes

Have a cheap box 20p/50p or £1 they love them

DaveAshton

If you sell DVDs or computer games, it may be worth keeping the discs in the car, and only displaying the cases (same reason as expensive items at the front).

Take a clear plastic sheet to put over your table in case it rains. Take an umbrella for the same reason (but not for the table ).

Take carrier bags.

eadieb

I've done about 5 boot sales over the last 2 years.

I take my teenager with me for looking after the stall for when I need the loo or 5 mins to stretch my legs.

lots of change, lots of carrier bags, nice cloth for the table top.

we set up in a V shape with 2 tables to attract attention from both angles and use space at the point for either a large item or box of something. I have one table and my daughter runs the other with all her toys and stuff shes selling.

I've found that even though I spent hours sorting all the baby and child clothes into separate crates for separate ages, and priced them at 20p an item or 10 for a £1, hardly anyone with children bought kids clothes. Friends have reported better sales with just 5 expensive kids clothes hanging up off car, or more items on a rail.

At my next car boot I plan to have some themes on the kids table e.g just a tabletop of beanies (we have loads which didn't sell on ebay). And I plan just a tabletop of baby toys and books.