Essex Car Boots Sales - Lazybones vs Willow Farm

TraceyB_2

Has anyone been to either the Lazybones Car Boot in Rettendon (starts about 10) or the Willow Farm one in Rainham (early start I think)? If so, which one would you say is best - havent been to either and I'm determined to do a boot sale tomorrow so cant do any market research!

Have so much stuff may need to take my car and hubbys van! Will try to cram as much into the van to save on one pitch fee.

Have mainly babies clothes, bath stuff, toys and my clothes/toiletries (Tesco H&B vouchers - too many bags in spare room!).

Any help greatfully appreciated - in desperate need of a declutter - before I start buying more clothes for DD!:rotfl:

ilovebooks_2

Hi
Willow farm you will need to get up early! Last one I done, I was in the queue at 5.30 and I was in the 3rd row from the end. People there seem to want stuff for free and will offer you silly money. Stick to the price you want for it unless you are desperate to get shot of it and some people will know they are getting a bargain still and pay for it. Last bootsale I did I came home with 28 pound after expenses. Take toilet roll with you the loos are dreadful.
Lazy bones was better for us but I know we took better stuff. You also do not get as many buyers as willow farm. If you are going to take the kids with you take snacks and drinks as it will eat into your profits buying food and drinks. Take change with you as well at least a tenner in small coins. Be careful about parking your car and taking stuff from it to your stall. Some organisers get a bit stroppy about it, though a lot do turn a blind eye.
We was going to do a bootsale and was thinking lazy bones as I can't face getting up really early for little reward. Still undecided. Good luck hope you make lots of money and let me know how it goes.

TraceyB_2

Thanks ilovebooks.

Think I might try Willow Farm as although it is an earlier start - it is nearer to me plus it will be over sooner.

My stuff is nearly all Next, Mothercare etc and I have already decided that I would probably stand my ground rather than take silly money for it and if it doesnt go - Cancer Research or one of the others can have it!

Will report back on how it goes - better go off and start sorting!

Good luck if you decide to do one - let me know how it goes - if it comes to it I could always do lazybones next week and then take the leftovers to the charity shop!

shykins

prob too late for today but we have done lazybones.. i like it cos u dont have to get up too early and its very busy

lots of traders initially but then u get lots of ordinary buyers and it keeps going all day especally if its nice weather.. some people offer silly money for what u are selling but on the whole other than a little bit of banter i found most people willin to pay what u ask

happy selling

TraceyB_2

Thanks I went to Willow Farm purely as it is nearer to where I live.

Had a great day - took just over £170 and got rid of loads (but still brought stuff back).

Was a nightmare getting in - queued for an hour (got there at 5.30) - some people were turned away although I was told it was unusually busy.

Good day though - very busy place - some people do want something for nothing but I just told them no and most times they met me somewhere in between nothing and what I wanted!

soolin

I went to Barleylands yesterday as a buyer, the late start one. Quite small but I did buy some nice paperback books but there were still the usual sellers wanting silly money for tatty books and very silly money for videos...

I'm not sure I would recommend it for selling as its a bit small, but it's a nice walk round for a buyer.

shazzy67

I would suggest the Collier Row boot sale on Sundays during the Summer months.

It usually run's in June, July and August.

Bonzer is a great mid-week one on Thursday on the A127 near romford.

I've been to Willow Farm and it's a free for all and very hard to get a decent price for stuff.

The other one to consider is Lazybones out at Rettendon and is held every Saturday from mid-March.

Happy booting to you all!

carolinosourus

It's quite interesting that this has come up, I live near Witham/Chelmsford way and was wondering if anyone knew any good ones round there (as a seller)? It would probably have to be a weekend as I work in London during the week but I've got quite a lot to get rid of! Also how much do the 'expenses' work out and what do they entail? Never done a bootsale before!

dawn27

i did a bootsale last sunday at Dunton, i found that very busy and only £7 a pitch, cleared out most of the stuff i wanted rid of.
Cleared out my attic, now only the rest of the house left!!!

I like the wickford bootsale as a seller, but not sure i would go as a buyer
it was quite busy up until November last year

I like the one on sunday opposite city limits in Collier row as a buyer but not as a seller.

The bonzer carboot sale on the A127 opposite the Moby !!!!!! started last thursday and its the one they seem to use a lot on the cash in the attic/car booty shows and always seems busy

regarding the expenses mentioned previously, it would proberly include entrance fee, petrol & refreshments.

there is a good carboot website called carbootjunction you can search for local bootsales on there, or buy your local paper

Boomdocker

My sister and I have done one of these for the last 3 summers. We share a table to split the admission costs (£8 IIRC) and so that we can make a nice 'display'. Again we get there around 6am and the queue is huge but in fairness is very well organised. Can take 45 min or so to get in. Usual traders in the first half hour or so walking round as you set up ( i hate that bit!) then its very busy with a lot of footfall all through the morning. We leave when it starts to twindle at about 1pm. Loos are OK and plenty of food stalls if you want a cuppa but we usually take our own to save cash.

lloydyd

Avoid Lazybones at Rettendon. Its awful and the people who run it are rude. You get a lot of thiefs too, had two phones stolen. Other sales in the area are good and Lazybones IN LEIGH STATION not the awful one in rettendon, is a great ALL YEAR sale. Nice punters and usualy take a lot when I go.