Car boot sale - advice

Road_Hog

Now, I know this has probably been done to death, but it is a struggle searching through all the old posts.

I've got a load of Airfix kits and action models to sell. Plus a few other bits like old comics (Americam Marvel comics) and the odd bit of stuff like electronics, such as DVD players and mobile phones.

The main focus is the Airfix kits and action figures.

Over the years I've read all the horror stories, such as, you're recognised as a newbie straight away. The regulars try to come and get everything for 10p as soon as you oull up and you neeed eyes in the back of your head, as people try to nick eveything.

So, what's the average price of a pitch, is a pasting table the ideal item to sell things from, what do people pay, e.g. do they expect everything for 10p and is it worth going to a big place that charges more, or do you get the same prices from a small sale.

All advice gratefully received.

soolin

Road_Hog wrote: »

Now, I know this has probably been done to death, but it is a struggle searching through all the old posts.

I've got a load of Airfix kits and action models to sell. Plus a few other bits like old comics (Americam Marvel comics) and the odd bit of stuff like electronics, such as DVD players and mobile phones.

The main focus is the Airfix kits and action figures.

Over the years I've read all the horror stories, such as, you're recognised as a newbie straight away. The regulars try to come and get everything for 10p as soon as you oull up and you neeed eyes in the back of your head, as people try to nick eveything.

So, what's the average price of a pitch, is a pasting table the ideal item to sell things from, what do people pay, e.g. do they expect everything for 10p and is it worth going to a big place that charges more, or do you get the same prices from a small sale.

All advice gratefully received.

Airfix kits can vary, some are worthless and some fetch good money so I would do some research on Google before you let stuff go for pennies at a car boot.

Car boots vary a lot, I do one within Greater London and pay £8 for a pitch and I take a basic pasting table. Prices where I am seem to be low even though the area is considered affluent. I suspect you will be offered pennies for the comics , perhaps a pound a go in bulk. The Airfix kits will probably attract £1-£2 offers at best unless you get someone desperate for a particular kit.

Action figures unless collectable sell for pennies as well, most people are only buying to resell on ebay (they will come up with stories about how they want it for their child- but they are almost all dealers) so the price they offer will leave them enough to make money on ebay even with postage and fees.

I am unusual as I don't mind the dealers approaching the car when I arrive, I have usually shifted a great deal of my stock before I even get the paste table out. I know the dealers, they know me and they know I deal as well, so I keep stuff aside for them and let them go through it under supervision of course, and basically they try and outbid each other for bits. If one offers say £2 I will ask th eothers if anyone wants to pay more before I agree to the sale.

I have never sold a mobile at a car boot but again would think they are looking to resell so will need to buy low.

cootuk

Pitches round our way in Yorkshire are about £10.
Pasting tables are ok as long as anything heavy isn't put in the middle.

When you park up you usually get people asking for mobile phones or Sky boxes. Then there's the idiots trying to take things out of your car before you've even started to set up.
We price high to start just to let them know we're not going to be mugged.

I don't see many people buying electronics as there are just so many broken ones sold "working, honest guv!"...unless it's dirt cheap with salveagable parts and sold honestly with the fault stated.

Price things whatever you want.
We sold some decent stuff for £50+, but they were good quality branded stuff. People do have the money if there's a good deal. It's surprising how much women will fork out for genuine useful designer goods (like Hunter boots, Barbour jackets etc).

If the models are collectable, you might get more on a specialist forum or auction site. Otherwise it depends what condition they are in...not much for prebuilt as they will be playthings for kids. Boxed kits could sell for xmas.

I would always try to have a few decent things so that at least your pitch fees are covered. I feel a bit bad for people that turn up, lay out a few bits of tat they got from a skip, and hope to make £££.

Above all, take it as a good day out with a bit of banter.
Have fun with people. Take an interest in them and they'll stop and talk too.
Worst people are those that ask a price, you tell them, then they just walk off without even trying to bargain you down or even acknowledge you answered them. These are the ones that want brand new top range goods for 10p and would rather turn down an absolute steal of a bargain at a few quid.

As an aside, watch out for the gangs with fake £20 notes trying to clear you out of change. And make sure you know where the toilets are and have someone to cover your stall if you go.

Flyonthewall

Road_Hog wrote: »

Now, I know this has probably been done to death, but it is a struggle searching through all the old posts.

I've got a load of Airfix kits and action models to sell. Plus a few other bits like old comics (Americam Marvel comics) and the odd bit of stuff like electronics, such as DVD players and mobile phones.

The main focus is the Airfix kits and action figures.

Over the years I've read all the horror stories, such as, you're recognised as a newbie straight away. The regulars try to come and get everything for 10p as soon as you oull up and you neeed eyes in the back of your head, as people try to nick eveything.

So, what's the average price of a pitch, is a pasting table the ideal item to sell things from, what do people pay, e.g. do they expect everything for 10p and is it worth going to a big place that charges more, or do you get the same prices from a small sale.

All advice gratefully received.

As already said, airfix ranges in price. No matter what you're selling though, do your research.

What sort of action figures are they? Things like action man you won't get much for (unless they're vintage, special edition or something), but if it's something like a super hero possibly with hands or weapons that you can add and remove it's probably worth more and things like that generally sell well on ebay.

Doesn't matter what you do carboots often or it's your first time there will be those after everything for 10p and they'll happy pass you 10p and try and walk away with an item even if you are stating £10 very clearly.

Just stand up for yourself, say no and pass them the 10p back/refuse it.

A lot of people don't haggle, but if it looks like they're about to walk away you can always start the haggling. Some will reconsider and haggle back, others will take the offer and some will just walk off.

I always start prices that little bit higher so that if people haggle I still get a fair price.

It helps if you have more than one person on the stall too. Not only because it's boring by yourself, but it means you can watch the stall at all times. Some people may try to steal things and you may find you're getting asked questions by more than person at a time so it helps if someone else can answer them.

Before you've set up people will be trying to get into your boot and asking what you've got. So just be aware of that.

Around my way the carboots are about £8/10.

CouponWoman

If I were you I would go through your items and check the prices on ebay first. It would give you an idea of an items worth.

Check out completed auctions, you can then price your items accordingly and work out what your prepared to accept when your buyers try to haggle.

Buyers will try and get things as cheap as they can obviously and you need to be on the ball as regards thieving.

Take a paste table, a tablecloth for over it as well looks better. Plenty of change is needed too.

Dont let anyone take anything out of your car either, things will disappear while your busy.

Good luck, oh and take some carrier bags.

justapoorboy

What are you trying to achieve ?
A quick clearout or maximum sales prices ?

If your going to research prices online then why not list online ? Ebay has a shortcut.

Realise that selling anything for the full market price involves "work".
If you enjoy selling at car boots like Soolin then it doesn't feel like work. Ditto for online if you enjoy searching through online items, photography, writing descriptions, seeing your listings online, packing & posting out to various countires.

A middle road might be to list on a classifieds site to get local buyers who if they take to trouble to make even a short journey are likely to buy. They could be dealers but you may also get hobbyists / collectors. One or two photos help but not absolutely necessary. No need for detailed descriptions as they will see before buying.

soolin

justapoorboy wrote: »

What are you trying to achieve ?
A quick clearout or maximum sales prices ?

If your going to research prices online then why not list online ? Ebay has a shortcut.

Realise that selling anything for the full market price involves "work".
If you enjoy selling at car boots like Soolin then it doesn't feel like work. Ditto for online if you enjoy searching through online items, photography, writing descriptions, seeing your listings online, packing & posting out to various countires.

A middle road might be to list on a classifieds site to get local buyers who if they take to trouble to make even a short journey are likely to buy. They could be dealers but you may also get hobbyists / collectors. One or two photos help but not absolutely necessary. No need for detailed descriptions as they will see before buying.

Some good points there and worth noting that road-hog is not an ebay fan, hence trying to sell elswehere.

Incidentally, I dislike car boot sales and do them only out of necessity to clear stuff I can't sell elsewhere. I buy a lot of mixed stock, the best stuff goes on ebay / facebook/ retail or to collectors I already have contact with. The stuff that won't sell at any of those venues goes to car boots as someone will buy them thinking they can sell it on ebay *. The stuff I sell to dealers is mainly items out of my range of usual sales- stuff I am not sure about on the basis that between 2 or 3 interested people I will find a level of price that is 'fair'. 4-5 hours in a muddy field either getting wet or burnt to a crisp is not my ideal Sunday

I have about 8 boxes packed here already and was hoping to do one last car boot this eyar, but have completely run out of enthusiasm. I am probably going to decant it into brown card boxes rather than stock boxes and charity shop it.

* I hear them all the time, they pick something up and whisper to each other that they can sell it on ebay for a lot of money. I on the other hand have already checked ebay and know they can't.

mac666_2

When i do carboots i pay to go in. Park up the car, lock it and then go get some breakfast. By the time i've done that and gone toilet most of the traders have moved on.

One time i took all my ds Thomas the tank engine collection. I only put a bit of it out. Some trader was trying to get me to sell all i had out for a tenner. I kept saying no he was trying his hardest and i didn't let it go. He hung around to watch what i was doing. A little boy came up with his mum. Bless him he was so excited by the bits i had out. Saying he didn't have this one or that one. I sold the lot including the stuff i had held back to the mum for £10. I knew it was going to a child who would enjoy it not going to be sold on for profit. The man had a face like thunder. I was prepared to take it all back home if i had to.

Rhymsta

mac666 wrote: »

When i do carboots i pay to go in. Park up the car, lock it and then go get some breakfast. By the time i've done that and gone toilet most of the traders have moved on.

A little boy came up with his mum. Bless him he was so excited by the bits i had out. Saying he didn't have this one or that one. I sold the lot including the stuff i had held back to the mum for £10. I knew it was going to a child who would enjoy it not going to be sold on for profit. The man had a face like thunder. I was prepared to take it all back home if i had to.

Good for you! I'm a Top Rated Seller specialising in Thomas stuff and to be honest I often get more satisfaction from feedback comments like, 'Grand child absouletly thrilled. Thank you.' than I do from any profit I might make.

Norma_Desmond

The first and last car boot I ever did was 10 years ago before we moved here - we needed a major de-clutter.

I did it with Dad, a big ex England rugby international who was scared of nothing and no-one, but I actually saw fear on his face when we opened the car and the hordes descended.

I hated it - apart from someone nicking a brand new sandwich toaster, people were trying to aggresively beat us down in price for everything and I really was selling cheap: vintage leather bags for £1, good clothes for 50p, expensive old ornaments for a couple of quid.......you get the idea.

Of course a few folk were really nice - I ended up giving a polite little boy a paperweight he loved priced at 50p because he'd spent all but 32p of his pocket money.

On the whole though it was worth it for a morning's work - I know we made over £300 - but I'd never do one again.

justapoorboy

Sorry Soolin
From your earlier post here sounded like you enjoyed car boots.
I did give the OP an alternative in classified sites if you read on.

Good for you Mac666... thats the way to do it.

I used to do car boots years ago and did used to enjoy it but not any more - too many vile, pushy people. What really gets me is when they won't take "no" for an answer.

These days if I can't sell it for £5 on Ebay or another auction site it goes to the Charity shop.