Car Boot Virgin

choogirl

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post. I have hopefully taken everything on board that has been advised.
I also agree with kerrie gt, I just want to declutter the house and anything that we get for our items is a bonus rather than just having them sat in a cupboard.

Thanks again, I'll post again after the sale and let you know how I got on xxx

CouponWoman

I have done loads of car boot sales over the years. I keep a box and if we dont want something we throw it in. When the box is full we get another one, when we have enough we do a car boot.

I price everything, and yes, people sometimes ask the price, but they are the ones who want to knock the price down.

My top tips would be to have carrier bags with you, I found that people were more inclined to buy more than 1 item that way.

I keep a carrier bag in my pocket at all times so I can whip it out when needed.

I also take lots of change, keep the money well out of the way of the customers.

Also don't go on your own, too many thieves at car boot sales, I sell and the person I am with sorts the carrier bags out and the money and keeps a watchful eye on things, even then we have had things stolen.

The best tip though is not to be rushed. Put your table out and leave everything in the car. Take out a few things at a time and put it where you want it to go, be it on the floor or table. Watch out for the early dealers trying to get things cheap.

Good luck and hope you gets loads of money
CWxx

fiona79

I've got a garage full of junk i've been looking to get rid of for ages. Forgive me if i'm a bit naive but can i just turn up on the day or do i need to pre book a space. Does anyone actually make any money doing this.

lincroft1710

fiona79 wrote: »

I've got a garage full of junk i've been looking to get rid of for ages. Forgive me if i'm a bit naive but can i just turn up on the day or do i need to pre book a space. Does anyone actually make any money doing this.

Usually just turn up on the day, but some sales do require you to pre-book.

From experience,you'll be lucky to sell 50% of the stuff you take, often a lot less. Your costs could be as high as £15+ (pitch fee and petrol) or as low as £6 - £8. So if the higher figure you've got to make £25 to see £10 and as there should be at least 2 of you doing the boot, that won't go far. It will depend on how good and how reasonably priced your items are.

Have personally made £60 net a day, but split between 2 becomes £30 and taking into account time loading car, travelling, attending sale then unpacking car and putting unsold items back, I think worked out about £4 an hour, possibly less.

kerri_gt

fiona79 wrote: »

I've got a garage full of junk i've been looking to get rid of for ages. Forgive me if i'm a bit naive but can i just turn up on the day or do i need to pre book a space. Does anyone actually make any money doing this.

I think it depends on what you mean by make money. Unless you're a professional trader, chances are most of the stuff you sell, you've bought at some stage or another, and you're very unlikely to sell it for what you paid - so in that respect - you're not making money.

However, I share a pitch fee with a friend (two sets of eyes better than one, allows pee stops etc) but also we split the £12 pitch fee. Once I make the £6 I count anything else as a profit. My friend and I each take the money for our own stuff.

I don't bother breaking the takings down into what I have earned per hour. It's my free time and chances are I'd just be vegging or snoozing (at the early hour I have to get up) if I wasn't at the car boot so in a sense I'm making more than I otherwise would. I find takings can vary between £30 - £70 depending on the weather, location of pitch etc etc.

Oh, thought of another tip for car boot newbies this afternoon. If you have some - take some polythene (pref clear) that you can put over your stall should it rain at all. We learned this the hard way. Also an umbrella for you and I usually wear a top with a hood that I can pop up too. And wear layers - it can start of chilly in the mornings but soon heat up. Nothing worse than being too hot/cold.