Car-boots in the rain?

porto_bello

Elvisia wrote: »

Next time I'll get a job lot of costume jewellery and say "grandmamma left that to me, I don't think it's worth much, we didn't get the stuff valued when she left her mansion".

Call that out at a carboot and you'll be crushed by the stampede of scurrying rats! Most of the costume jewellery will probably also be crushed in the fight that follows!

Hezzawithkids

Elvisia wrote: »

My mum and I have tried a few times to have car boots sales, and every time it has rained. It was so bad at one point I swear it was raining UP my trousers, and the only umbrella we had was a Chinese parasol made of paper that I thought would be alright for a light rain shower - as soon as the rain started I ended up pretty swiftly with a paper hat

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Thanks for that - the mental imagery has made my day!!

EssexGirl

greenstreetprince wrote: »

haven't been to a car boot since they did away with the famous old hackney market...boy i miss that...

Oh that place was awful! I remember Brick lane & Petticoat lane when they were proper dodgy markets. You could buy a puppy with 3 legs out of an old cot.... and the stench of gas from the tropical fish stall's heating system. Oh the memories

happyinflorida

I've had my eyes opened reading the above tales! I am really shocked that so many thieves are about at car boots - I mean most of the things are as cheap as chips so why nick it?!! I'm especially sad to read of a woman nicking a teddy - nice of you to let her have it.

What is happening in the UK, this is really bad. People used to be so honest and caring, it used to be the odd bad one - now it's becoming common place - why?

John_Pierpoint

happyinflorida wrote: »

What is happening in the UK, this is really bad. People used to be so honest and caring, it used to be the odd bad one - now it's becoming common place - why?

An unequal fragmenting dog eat dog society?
A swirling mass of anonymous dispersed individuals.
No clearly established moral code - little chance of being caught - and no penalty if you are.
A nasty feeling that "crooks" at all levels of society are "getting away with it" even if only in the terms of a 50% rate of tax.
It is only fairly recently that the medieval rights of "market ouvert" were repealed from places such as Petticoat Lane.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March%C3%A9_ouvert
In medieval times the average person lived in a radius of less than 10 miles from where they were born. [The invention of the bicycle and the railway increased the distance between the average bride and the average groom from 3.5 miles to 7 miles]

That said and to misquote Adam Smith: people are never more innocently employed than at a boot sale trying to make a profit

So if you live in a posh gated community, take a chance and pile, what is "old stuff" to you, in the boot, and take it to a poor diverse area and have a go at flogging it off. I think you might be amazed.

Remember economics teaches us that the greatest profits accrue to the agent who can make a bridge between disparate societies.

Oliver14

Isn't a Carboot in the Rain a WellingtonCarboot?

MoaningMyrtle

Loads of regular sellers/traders have a gazebo or two at our Car Boot Sale if the weather is inclement.

charlies_mum

happyinflorida wrote: »

What is happening in the UK, this is really bad. People used to be so honest and caring, it used to be the odd bad one - now it's becoming common place - why?

You obviously didn't watch Secrets of the Shoplifters recently ? One guy proudly stated to the camera that he can earn £250 a day shoplifting !!

DKLS

I hate car boots but used to do them regularly, trick is you have to be confident very confident, I never had anything stolen and this was my method:

As soon as you pull up, jump out of the car and lock it, if anyone tries touching the back of your car tell them to jog on or go forth and multiply depending on the car boot. Then walk off. Grab a coffee walk around a few stalls for 5 mins.

The dealers will move on to the next car/s.
Come back and setup, DO NOT sell anything til you are setup, DO NOT let anyone "help" you with your boxes.
Once you are setup watch your stock, keep the valuables at the back or under the table and enjoy selling your unwanted stuff.
If people were polite and nice they got a cheap price if they were rude they didnt.

e.g. Big bloke asks "uggg how much for digi camera?"
Me £10
BB "quid!"
Little girl not with BB asks "Hi Mister how much is your camera please"
Me "To you 1 pound"
Sale done and BB duly indignant.

heygringo

I like that, but polite "little girl" was probably BB's Daughter! loL

I've done loads of car boots over the years in & around Lancashire, mainly using our Motorhome with the veranda wound out. It was amazing how many buyers we got when it suddenly rained. I was also always amazed that the gear I considered I'd be taking back home, goes, whilst the "good stuff" doesn't always sell.

Looking forward to the next one we can do, but only when this gawd awful weather abates, as I no longer have my Motorhome!!!;)