Help required - new to car boots

Snow_Angel

Hello experienced and interested people

I am currently de-cluttering. I have moved student houses and my new room is much smaller....and cheaper ....than my last one. However, this means I am attempting to get rid of heaps of stuff. I am considering doing a car boot. However, I have several problems (being a newbie to even GOING to car boot sales!!!). So here goes :

1. How do I find out where they are? I put 'car boot' in google with the name of my city (Plymouth incidentally) and it didn't come up with anything remotely useful!

2. Is it worth doing a car boot sale if you don't have vast amounts of stuff? Normally I sell on ebay, but I've noticed books and magazines don't go for much and this is mostly what I'm trying to get rid of. Not sure I'll even make the car fee back again?

3. Have no idea what to charge for items :eek: . Example stuff I have are - fiction books, old magazines including surf ones, snowboard ones (please remind me these HAVE to go as I am being hoarder-like with them!), and old girlie ones e.g. Cosmo, Marie Clare, Real etc, some clothes, crockery/glasses etc.

Thanks in advance for your help and advice :A

samspam

Have you tried:

https://www.carbootjunction.com

Look in your local paper.

I wouldn't bother trying to sell old mags unless they are really retro, either recycle them or look at the classifieds in your local paper as sometimes collecters offer to buy magazine collections.

In answer to your question regarding how much you should sell things for, it depends on whether you just don't want to go home with anything or whether you'd rather not sell it than only get £1 for it!

3KIDSNOMONEY

If You Want To Get Rid Of Things Then Price To Sell, Cheap. Always Worth Giving Things A Quick Wipe Down. I Would Say If You Have Magazines To Sell Which Are Similar Bundle Them Up And Sell . I Have Just Done My Last Car Boot Of The Season And Did Really Well Because If Someone Showed An Interest In Anything I Would Tell Them The Price And If They Started To Walk Away Reduce The Price. I Have Sold Lots On Ebay But Sometimes Things Are Just Not Worth The Hassle. If You Have Clothes They Are Worth Putting On Hangers And Definitely Worth Pricing Up, I Found I Sold Lots More Like That. Also If You Are Selling Something Really Cheaply Put A Large Price Sign On It. I Did That And Sold Lots Of Things As Car Booters Can't Resist A Bargain. Take Plenty Of Carrier Bags And Take Your Own Drinks And Snacks, Car Boot Sales Always Have A Burger Van But You Could End Up Eating Up All Of Your Profits. Lastly, Take A Money Float, I Take About £15.00 In Silver So No Buyer Ever Gets Away Because They Haven't Got Any Change! Hope This Helps. Good Luck - Pick A Sunny Day.

Contains_Mild_Peril

You should find info on car boot sales in local papers and/or supermarket notice boards. Bear in mind that many outdoor sales actually start much earlier than advertised.
I disagree with samspam about magazines - I think they are worth taking. I'd price them at 10p each or 6 for 50p. I'd also advise going to a boot sale in your area to look at prices first if possible. Paperback fiction books are usally 20-50p each at my local car boot sales.
If you don't have a clothes rail, borrow one if possible. If customers have to rummage jumble-sale style, some won't even bother, and those who do will expect jumble sale prices.
To guess how much you're likely to make in order to work out if it would be worth your while, you could roughly add up the prices of all your wares then half it for a very approximate idea.

HugoSP

I live about 20 miles North of Plymouth and can tell you that the car boots that worked for me were.

Plymouth Argyle on Sunday
The Sports ground near Marine Projects - again on Sunday

Go to a few car boots as a punter first and see what appeals to you in the way stalls are laid out. Then copy them.

Don't expect to make an absolute fortune from the experience and be prepered for the worst.

Get there early to get a good pitch. You'll know where the best ones are from walking around.

Snow_Angel

All this advice has been really helpful thanks. I'm planning to go to a few car boots first - definitely a good idea. :rolleyes:
Then I shall crack on with the sorting out and determine whether it's worth the effort. If I decide I'll just break even or make very little, then I'd ratehr donate it all to charity anyway.
Thanks again for the advice