How much should I sell for at a car-boot sale?

tortoiseshellcat

Hi we are doing a car boot sale tomorrow to declutter and try and get as much cash as possible, we haven't done one for years so novices really...

1) As a buyer would you prefer it if stuff is already priced or do you prefer to just ask the person how much it costs?

2) I have no idea how much to price stuff (we have all manner of stuff, kitchen nicknacks, nice women's clothes, baby clothes, children's clothes, DVDs, computer games, toys, mixed box of Lego etc) we obviously don't want to give stuff away for next to nothing, but equally want to price it so the stuff will sell. It's all decent stuff, no old tat lol :rotfl:

Any advice from experienced car-booters would be valued. Thanks.

tibawo

TBH I actually do a mixture of both. I tend to price the things slightly higher though to give room to hagglers but know giving people an idea of prices can draw them over.

I would say some people near where I live want things for free given the chance so be firm with your prices!

elsien

Price the things that the dealers might want. In your head if nothing else. This stops you from getting flustered when you're trying to unpack the car and they're diving into the boot to see what you've got.
The Lego should go well and you could always drop the price later if there's no takers. Kids clothes are popular by me but don't go for much. People will haggle even if you're only asking 20p. And the things that seem to go quickly for me is practical household stuff rather than or ornamental.

Edit- as a buyer. I don't mind prices on more expensive/furniture type items. I'm less keen on it on smaller stuff, unless its an "all clothes on here £1" type set up. Everything priced up makes it look like a professional seller who I then assume will be more expensive than the casual seller where I'm more likely to find a bargain.

tortoiseshellcat

Thanks for your quick replies, I just wondered how much is toomuch to ask really? I know when we did before and I had a really nice crystal vase worth about £20 and someone offered me 20p :eek:

Is £1 per item for clothing too much? Coats maybe more?

50p for CDs? Maybe £10 for all the Lego.

Think will definitely price more expensive stuff and leave cheaper bits open to offers,

Sorry for sounding naive lol.

carmel11

Bag the Lego separately and bring out bit by bit for maximum price. I had a boot sale last week and before I unpacked a dealer had approached asking me if I had any Lego- that gives you an idea of how sought after it is.

carmel11

The rest of the stuff is general and I would just say nice women's clothes ask 2 or three pounds, don't be fooled by the initial low offers.

clumsy_cupcake

I did my first car boot 2 weeks ago and while I enjoyed it people will as someone has said haggle you down. I was selling good high street clothing for 50p/£1 which sold really really well, good quality toddler girls dresses etc for 50p each and shoes and sandals for £1 which sold really well.

Only you can know what you want for your items and will be happy with.
I was doing a one off bootsale to have a clear out and get some extra money, if I was a regular carbooter I would have priced some items slightly higher but as I wanted rid quickly I was happy and made £130 for 6 hours work.

soolin

tortoiseshellcat wrote: »

Thanks for your quick replies, I just wondered how much is toomuch to ask really? I know when we did before and I had a really nice crystal vase worth about £20 and someone offered me 20p :eek:

Is £1 per item for clothing too much? Coats maybe more?

50p for CDs? Maybe £10 for all the Lego.

Think will definitely price more expensive stuff and leave cheaper bits open to offers,

Sorry for sounding naive lol.

I sold a large heavy crystal vase for £1 at the car boot before last- and bowls for the same and they don't go quickly at that price but they do go.

Where I live clothign tends to be well less than £1 a piece, we have several dealer types who just pile it up on hige play pen type arrangements at 20p a go.

CDs I couldn't even give away at 30p , so I ended up sending them in to Music Magpie.

It really depends on your area though, strangely enough mine is supposedly affluent, yet people won't spend much at all as they are just not desperate for any of it. Unlike many others I welcome the dealers and professionals that crowd you as soon as you arrive, as they will pay for stuff and do bulk deals as they are in a hurry to get on to the next new arrival.

Did a car boot last week though and took barely over £25 after pitch fees so it's put me off a bit

carmel11

Most things I would ask 50p £1 to get rid.

carmel11

It also depends on your area. In my area we have a lot of people who culturally, will haggle hard. Some people get angry about it, but I was amused to see a dealer a few weeks ago offering initially ridiculously high prices to anyone who looked like they might haggle, they walked off looking bemused.This dealer prices stuff very competitively and couldn't be bothered with the constant time wasting haggling.
There is a difference between proper cut glass modern crystal , and the 1940-1950s stuff that you can barely give away. Even then the better stuff your only talking £5 ish probably.

tortoiseshellcat

clumsy_cupcake wrote: »

I was doing a one off bootsale to have a clear out and get some extra money, if I was a regular carbooter I would have priced some items slightly higher but as I wanted rid quickly I was happy and made £130 for 6 hours work.

Wow I'd be more than happy with that