Carbooting On Your Own?

passatrider

I was just wondering whether anyone has or does car boot sales on there own? I want to do one myself but don't know whether doing it on my own will look a bit sad or if it's a good idea or not?

Any tips?

lulu650

I don't think it looks sad, honestly no-one will be interested. They will be too busy looking at your stuff for sale! The drawbacks are, if the buyers swarm on you there's more chance of pilfering. You will need a toilet break. If you feel under pressure you may accept low offers and kick yourself afterwards. All of that has happened to me.

I have bought my husband along, but he's so miserable about doing it, it's embarassing.

Dizzie77

I do car boots on my own - but I only go to the local one, I don't do any of the big ones.
I keep my jewellery/make up in boxes near to the car so less likely that people will help themselves and "forget" to pay...!!

I have a car boot buddy now - she goes on her own too, and we always park next to each other, and look after each other!
I usually bake us cakes to keep us going and she brings drinks..!!

Dizzie77

ohhh - also, I don't even have a pasting table to put my stuff on - I just have a huge tarpaulin!!

If you don't take anyone with you, you have more room to put stuff to sell...!!!

Going_4_A_Million

I'd definitely recommend taking someone! Especially for the beginning and end bit where you are trying to get stuff out/in your car and people are diving into your boxes. You can't be looking in your car and at your stuff at the same time! And you can't serve someone and keep an eye on what someone else is doing at the other end of the table.
Toilets breaks and even having something to eat (as a general rule, as soon as you have a mouthful of food, someone will want a detailed description of something on your stall!) Plus, it's a long old morning on your own, unless you're lucky to get chatty neighbours
Like the idea of having someone come along with their own stuff and park next to you though, shame my local car-boot parks people all over the place rather than forming a row straight away!
G4AM

emerald_starcat

I would never do one on my own as I have a weak bladder so have to go toilet at least twice!
My best friend always goes with me, we have such a laugh. It's quite a big car boot, we arrive about 6am and go home about 12.30 so it would be really boring on my own!
It all depends on how brave you are if you want to do one on your own!

Money_maker

I used to do them on my own but the dealers soon saw I was a regular so no swarms there. I took my wind up radio for music and tied it to the windscreen wipers with a 'not for sale' sign on it.

You need to have everything already priced up, a rough idea of what will be going where. You can keep boxes in a shut boot and bring them out slowly if you are swarmed. Money in waist belt or inside car. Plenty of change and a strong bladder. I also like to get tarpaulins/tables up quickly as other booters tend to spread - particularly if the pitch sizes are limited.

Either take a flask with you or ask a friend/family member to pop in a few hours along. That way they can either buy you a hot drink or cover if you do need the loo!

Good luck.

DKLS

Learn to be tough, or the dealers will open your car for you and start rooting through your stuff, tell em to back off and wait for you to set up. They wont be offended they are thick skinned swines.

Dizzie77

DKLS wrote: »

Learn to be tough, or the dealers will open your car for you and start rooting through your stuff, tell em to back off and wait for you to set up. They wont be offended they are thick skinned swines.

This is what I do - I get the boxes out of the car and then set up - if they try to "help" me do it, I say - "Just give me a chance to get everything out and you can have a rummage" - they're not all bad, and they are just trying to make a living. Quite often they help me to put my tarpaulin down too - although they still don't get a discount!!!!

Also - contrary to the other poster, I never price any of my stuff - if someone shows an interest in something (i.e. picks it up) then I say "I wanted X amount for that" - my prices vary depending on what I think the person will pay for it..!!! :rotfl:

DKLS

Dizzie77 wrote: »

This is what I do - I get the boxes out of the car and then set up - if they try to "help" me do it, I say - "Just give me a chance to get everything out and you can have a rummage" - they're not all bad, and they are just trying to make a living. Quite often they help me to put my tarpaulin down too - although they still don't get a discount!!!!

Also - contrary to the other poster, I never price any of my stuff - if someone shows an interest in something (i.e. picks it up) then I say "I wanted X amount for that" - my prices vary depending on what I think the person will pay for it..!!! :rotfl:

I found that the vultures hung around the cars just pulling in, so would often pull up, get out of the car, lock it and go for a wander for 5 mins, the vultures were usually on another row by then, leaving me peace to setup.

Very true, I never priced an item, and the price would vary according to the customer and whether they were genuine buyers or traders.

cats!

Planning on doing my first car boot soon. Had no idea that people would be waiting to "help" me unload the car! Crikey, do they really start unloading yr stuff for you?