When to car boot and what do people buy?

mrs_s_11

Hi All,

Hope you can help me out. I have been ebaying successfully for a while, but have a garage full of stuff that I think would be better taken to a car boot as I don't have the time to sell it all on ebay, and by the time fees, postage etc come in to account it wouldn't be very worthwhile. So I have never done a car boot sale and am totally clueless. When would be the best time, I assume January not good after Xmas, March/April??

Also what do people buy at them? Just anything? I have got baby clothes, toys, will save up SIM cards and heaps of skincare/cosmetics which I have accumulated via me going too mad on Boots gliches. Would people buy skincare? Not bothered what I make on it, just want to clear some space to make room for new stuff!

Anyway any help would be MOST appreciated, thanks in advance.

Thanks,
Mrs S

webbie

I am a "car boot buyer" on an occasional basis.

Only go on dry Sundays - and look for toys/clothing/books which are immaculate and suitable for re-sale.

Most large car boots attract asylum seekers how want EVERYTHING - kettle, curtains (go very well) household items.

Remember what prices you quote - many people go back and ask again and again until you lower the price!

katskorner

Baby items sell really really well. We also sell garden bits and pieces, tools and elctrical stuff very successfully. Our season doesn't start until March and the sunny days do best - as long as it is dry then you can do OK.

Yorkielass

On the car boot sale I did I included cosmetics I'd got free from boots, charged about 25% of retail price and sold them all - again I wanted the space (because I was moving a couple of weeks later) so wanted something for them - went very well though.

Good luck

Crazychik

I used to sell, clothes, shoes, household items, either electric or knick-knacks, garden items, cd'd, dvd's (videos are rarely selling these days, but worth a try), Ive too sold cosmetics & toiletries, Had loads left over from my days of being an Avon Lady. Homemade cards also.

Try and price things up, people will still ask if you will come down.

Toys sell well, providing they are in ex cond, and if they are battery operated, try and have some spare batteries to demonstrate the item prior to selling.

maggiemay11

I found everypennyhelps.co.uk a really useful site for selling and exchanging stuff.

Agutka

I find cosmetics/skincare are very popular, although would never buy used stuff myself! Any perfumes, even the emptiest of bottles get huge interest . Take EVERYTHING with you. People sometimes want your junk. Fill your car up the fullest you can. I have heard folks bemused that they only managed to sell stuff they thought worthy of the skip, while their 'best' stuff remained untouched. Also, different carboots attract different buyers, different prices. Try them all, it is such fun. Read previous posts for tips!

Contains_Mild_Peril

Agutka wrote:

Fill your car up the fullest you can. I have heard folks bemused that they only managed to sell stuff they thought worthy of the skip, while their 'best' stuff remained untouched.

Yep, that happens sometimes at boot sales and on eBay. Good advice - take as much as you can squeeze in your vehicle (along with the other stuff like your table, something to drink, a plastic sheet (ideally transparent) to keep your stuff dry if it starts getting rained on, and an assistant if you can recruit one). Good quality bric-a-brac often sells well, and car boot sales are really useful for heavy and/or fragile items where p&p on ebay would be prohibitively expensive.
The best thing is to take a good variety of stuff, since you never know what people will be looking for. If your kid(s) are old enough, invite them to sell their own outgrown clothes and toys: not many customers will try to beat the price down when the seller is young and cute, and most kids love making their own money.
If you're not familiar with car boot sales in your area, it's a good idea to go to one beforehand to get an idea of prices.

Horace

Don't be surprised if people start rummaging in your car before you have unloaded it - dealers do that to get the best deals. Sometimes, I go with my mum and she sells plants (she always grows too many) and I sell, books, glassware, bric a brac and then I use the money to buy antique glass or pottery. Somehow, I always manage to make more money than I spend (yippee). If you have any old powder compacts, take them with you because they sell quite well as there are lots of collectors out there.

badmumof1

we sell sweets
we have 2 permanant pitches
one goes on all year round but we dont
we start and of march and finish around november.

i know some people moan about people selling new stuff at car boots but its swings and roundabouts the new stuff brings in punters as does the second hand gear.
where we sell from we get alot of holiday makers aswell as regular local buyers.

MercilessKiller

Whats the best time to go to a car boot sale? As in not date, literal time of morning!

I have loads of Sim Cards to sell as wlel as other random things... would love a good spot as the Sim Cards ar eimportant to get rid of due to so many lol!

Thanks