NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

[Deleted User]

Re Car boot sales I doubt whether anyone makes much money from them.The few I have been to seems to be full of the tatt that I have been getting rid of over the year.When the DGC were small they liked to go and have buy a few bits ,normally books or toys but I don't think I have been to one this year at least that was worth the effort going to.Thinking back about 5 years or so ago I did a couple with my DD and I don't think we made more than about £25.00 once we had paid for the 'site'.certainly not really worth getting up at 6.00 a.m. and loading and unloading the car for .I did notice at the last one that I went to there seemed to be an awful lot of 'traders' of shop stuff which was obviously not stuff from the attic.a 'meat stall,a greengrocers and a hardware stall.Certainly not someones old junk.I have bought a couple of old bit of stuff at various times that I refurbished by sanding down and repainting a chair,desk and an old stool, but I don't think anyone has any old treasures at all. probably the ones to make a few bob are the hard pressed farmers who have let a field out,although by the time they have cleared up all the junk that's left behind because folk can't be bothered to take it back home I don't think even they can make a great deal.maybe I live in an area where there is not a great call for it.I know they are few and far between round here at least. The local social club have an indoor one now and again which they not only charge the stall holders to have a stall but also the people who go to have a look have to pay to get in irrespective of whether they buy anything or not,not very money saving at all.

GreyQueen

I've seen carboot sales change a lot over the past 25 years to the point where there are fewer genuine carbooters than traders at many sales. By genuine, I mean Jo(e) Soap selling off their household excess etc.

You can get useful things at some sales at the height of summer, when more of the genuine type of person, those who will go to once or twice a year to sell, are to be found. For a lot of the time, it's really not worth bothering with.

I used to do a lot of carbooting as a seller circa 18-20 years ago and, even then, the pitch fees were getting higher and the amount of money taken very small, so much so that, once you factored in the car's fuel, you were getting into negative cash flow.

Unless you have a booter nearby which you can access with minimal use of fuel and which doesn't charge admisison, I think you're probably better advised to chazzer-hunt your requisites.

Living_proof

GreyQueen wrote: »

I've seen carboot sales change a lot over the past 25 years to the point where there are fewer genuine carbooters than traders at many sales. By genuine, I mean Jo(e) Soap selling off their household excess etc.

You can get useful things at some sales at the height of summer, when more of the genuine type of person, those who will go to once or twice a year to sell, are to be found. For a lot of the time, it's really not worth bothering with.

I used to do a lot of carbooting as a seller circa 18-20 years ago and, even then, the pitch fees were getting higher and the amount of money taken very small, so much so that, once you factored in the car's fuel, you were getting into negative cash flow.

Unless you have a booter nearby which you can access with minimal use of fuel and which doesn't charge admisison, I think you're probably better advised to chazzer-hunt your requisites.

I have had so many real bargains this summer from car boots that I have to strongly disagree. Most have come from non-traders who may have moved or inherited possessions etc. and who just want to get something for them. On Sunday I bought a new, still packaged bamboo steamer for 50p, an enormous roll of string still packaged 50p, a lovely personalised Christmas card 20p and a small cast iron casserole with lid in a very fetching shade of blue, 50p. Also a brand new water butt with stand and water diverter, tap etc. for #8. This is much more likely to cover its cost quickly than had I paid full price, around #25. From a purchaser's point of view, what's not to like? From a seller's viewpoint, what is a sensible alternative other than gumtree and freecycle. At least with a car boot you know how much time is involved in the process.

pm2326

:mad::mad::mad:

Have just had a lovely woman at energy supplier try to explain to me why my bill has just come in at £816 for a quarter!!

Let me explain, they replaced my gas meter last Friday, then asked for a meter reading on Monday, I duly submitted meter reading only to be told I've now used over £1000 of gas and they're increasing my DD from £42 a month to £220!!

I think not, and I told them as much in a very polite email, girl just called me to explain that as I submitted meter reading before they had a chance to update my account with new meter info, I've confused matters...but 'you asked me for the reading' her reply..'yeah, that's probably our fault for not explaining the problem this would cause...'

Soooo having explained they either reduce the DD back down until it's sorted or I cancel it, I've now got a disputed account and a payment arrangement in place for November....:mad:


Rant over....sorry

nursemaggie

pm2326 That is just what caused all my problems. Either the tenant before us or mostly likely the one before them had the meter changed and who ever changed it did not do the paperwork and register the new meter with the authority. Right from the minute we moved in our supplier refused to accept my meter readings.

I had to get my new supplier to check it out and tell me the meter had not been registered for me to be able to get it sorted out. I guess once I knew the meter had been changed and not registered they could not bury their head in the sand any more. It did take 18 months to sort it. I hope yours does not do that. What took the time was the registering it with the national authority, apparently nearly a third of meters are not properly registered and this is what causes most of the problems.

If a human looked at the sudden rise they would know it was impossible for usage to increase that much.

pm2326

Thanks nursemaggie, my supplier changed the meter, and they've confirmed this is showing on their systems, however the problem is they have to calculate a final bill for the old meter and create a new bill for the new meter and they didn't do it straight away.

Basically they should never have asked for the reading on Monday.

They've said it could take a maximum of 2 weeks to sort out...not holding my breath though!

MyHappinessProject

Have just had a lovely woman at energy supplier try to explain to me why my bill has just come in at £816 for a quarter!!

Let me explain, they replaced my gas meter last Friday, then asked for a meter reading on Monday, I duly submitted meter reading only to be told I've now used over £1000 of gas and they're increasing my DD from £42 a month to £220!!

I think not, and I told them as much in a very polite email, girl just called me to explain that as I submitted meter reading before they had a chance to update my account with new meter info, I've confused matters...but 'you asked me for the reading' her reply..'yeah, that's probably our fault for not explaining the problem this would cause...'

Soooo having explained they either reduce the DD back down until it's sorted or I cancel it, I've now got a disputed account and a payment arrangement in place for November....:mad:


Rant over....sorry [/QUOTE]
Hi, you aren't with Sc******Power by ant chance are you? Because I have a similar problem with them that happens EVERY MONTH. I have to phone them every month as on lin submitions adjust my £65 dd per month to £300 as it does not register the meter readings I submit but refers to it s own random unrealistic estimated readings,,,EVERY MONTH. This has been happening for over a year and I am pig sick of it! They apologise profusely every month, refund the excess and agree that it is an IT problem at their end! I am unable to switch suppliers until this problem is sorted out.
Just wondered if you were with the same supplier as me as I am beginning to suspect this is a ruse to retain customers...

nursemaggie

MyHappinessProject You can change your supplier. I joined the MSE Energy club and just used the estimates they give if you fill in your details. It has turned out to be a little over but not very much. I just got fed up with Npower burying their heads in the sand because they had made a mistake and did not know what it was.

My new supplier found out what the mistake was straight away, not registering the new meter, so they filled in my complaint form for me and it did finally get sorted out a few months later. I don't think I would ever have got it sorted without OVO's help so they were a God send. Both Scottish Power and Npower have terrible reputations.

Npower have never apologised so at least they are a slight improvement on Npower. When I moved into my last address before this one Scottish Power called me about 20 times a day. In the end I had to threaten them with the police as I am sure that often is harassment and illegal. It worked anyway. I think I have saved well over £100 this last year by switching. Sorting Npower out was worth a lot more. I also got £30 back from the energy club.

GrannyKate

Very pleased with my October totals as Groceries came in under £300 for only the second time since I started in March. I am not counting August as we were only home for 2 weeks. I started at £400 in March and my current target is now £250 - a lot for just 2 of us plus frequent DGC visitors but we are progressing with baby steps.

Not buying my daily newspaper, a few small finds and sales and saving the value of any vouchers used has enabled me to add £800 to my ISA holiday saver. My great win of £1000 was also added to this. Need to cut back on spending on eating out (usually with DGCs) and household items. Fuel was more than usual this month but got it all at Sainsbobs with their x10 points plus my daughter needed fuel and couldn't find her points card - I was happy to help with loan of mine! Have got about £45 in points now towards Christmas.

DawnW

nursemaggie wrote: »

.

My new supplier found out what the mistake was straight away, not registering the new meter, so they filled in my complaint form for me and it did finally get sorted out a few months later. I don't think I would ever have got it sorted without OVO's help so they were a God send. Both Scottish Power and Npower have terrible reputations.

I have just signed for another year with Ovo, as they have been a pleasure to deal with. I didn't even bother to compare this time, as I feel that good customer service is worth more than a (possible) small saving I was with nPower before :eek: