Car boot sale advice please

Seaxwyn

Hi there

I am keen to do a car boot sale to clear space and raise some cash. I haven't been to a boot sale in years so have a few questions:

- when is the best time to do it? I've read comments about 'when it gets warmer' - how much warmer does it have to get?
- do children's/teenager's clothes sell well? I have loads, mostly in what I'd call good condition (ie clean and intact but not 'as new')
- do vinyl records sell well, or is it better to look for a specialist record sale?

Thanks for any advice you can give!

pennyuk

Hi, although I visit car boot fairs in blustery wind, near zero temperatures and even rain etc. it definitely is not worth trying to sell on days like these - only ever a handfull of buyers and very few sellers, so many people that would've visited just drive on by! Plus, if you are going to go to all the hassle of packing/getting up early/paying full sellers fees, it would be better to wait until either some school holidays (they are packed then!) or considerably warmer weather. If you have a regular car boot fair site near you, maybe you could check it out the week before to see if it is worth it?

Have you considered selling your stuff on-line? I don't just mean eBay, you could try some classifieds sites (free to list!) or even your local newspapers? Just a thought....

Good luck!

Contains_Mild_Peril

Records are probably better at a car boot sale than trying to sell online, since they're not cheap to pack & post safely. Vinyl's made a bit of a comeback over the last few years, with LPs often making £1 each nowadays, more for some collectable ones.
Likewise, kids' clothes often cost about as much to post as they're actually worth. If selling clothes at a boot sale, use a clothes rail to display them if possible.
Last time I went to a car boot sale (earlier this month) there were only a few stalls and not many customers either. The weather forecast had been for rain, but it actually stayed dry. I'll wait till Spring before I try to sell at a boot sale though.

freebie_junkie

- when is the best time to do it? I've read comments about 'when it gets warmer' - how much warmer does it have to get?
- do children's/teenager's clothes sell well? I have loads, mostly in what I'd call good condition (ie clean and intact but not 'as new')
- do vinyl records sell well, or is it better to look for a specialist record sale?

hi, with regards to weather, peopel dont mind coming out in a chill but they wont coem out in rain! clothes sell weel, especially kids, id invest in a clothes rail and hang them up if they are all jumbled up or get dirty people wont buy. records sell well at teh ones i do, my oh had a huge collection given him by his grandad and he sold them 50p each or 3 for £1.

alos, take food and drinks as teh prices are usually silly, take placcy bags people will buy more if they know they can carry it all home, take lots of change as everyone will have £20 notes for 10p things, but keep it in a bum bag not a change box as these can go walkies, take a taupaulin in case it does start to rain so you can cover your stuff until it stops so you can pack up, take chairs as standing up all day wont be fun (unless its a school car boot as of course these are full of chairs!) good luck!

mazz1953

I have been going to car boot sales since they started and I think the best time to have them is after Easter.

I have done quite a few car boots myself and from experience I would like to offer the following general advice in addition to what has already been posted:

Find out the weather forecast beforehand. The BBC website can give the local forecast a few days ahead.

It is a good idea to have everything priced previously, forget about what the experts say on the TV programmes. If the stuff is not priced some people assume that it is quite expensive and pass on.

Be aware that when you first pull in and start to unpack the car, buyers will rush you , they will try rummaging in your boxes and some will try to get in the back of the car, looking for bargains. This is usually referred to as "getting mugged".

Do take reasonable offers on items, but d'ont be bullied into give things away for a song.

If you have any small items such as jewellery, display them where they can easily be watched. I have seen very respectable looking people steal off a stall, while the seller was serving another buyer.

Let the buyers browse in peace, while keeping a discreet eye on them. Do not pounce on people and try the hard sell as soon as they pick up an item, it will only put them off. If they are interested they will approach you with any offers, queries etc.

As stated in a previous post, take plenty of change in a bum bag. I used to take around £30 including 2x£5 notes. If someone gives a large note for a low priced item usually £1 or under, but do not give them all your change, instead offer to put the item aside for a short while, till they obtain change. if they do not return by the alloted time, redisplay the item.

Take plenty of carrier bags and newpapers to wrap-up fragile items.

Do bear in mind, that you may have to queue for the toilets (and some of these can be really gross), so ease up on the liquids.

Wear comfortable shoes, I wear a pair of Trainer, Hush Puppies or Skips.

Have a smile, be polite and thank the buyers, no matter how little they spend.

Finally, it is a good idea to have had your dinner pre-cooked as you will probably be so shattered, that you just want the sofa or an armchair and not move for the next few hours.