It's carboot season again - What's your best buy?

Kovu2013

It's the weekend again, have fun if you're going to any carboots, and don't forget to share your bargains

PasturesNew

It's area dependent if they're any good. Last year I excitedly trotted out to them all and found they were dire. Mostly tat or kids' stuff. I did have one good day at one that runs monthly.

I figure if I went to one every Saturday and Sunday it'd be costing me £10/week in fuel/parking/entry....and, no doubt, a grim hot dot for £2. So I don't go.

Kovu2013

PasturesNew wrote: »

It's area dependent if they're any good. Last year I excitedly trotted out to them all and found they were dire. Mostly tat or kids' stuff. I did have one good day at one that runs monthly.

I figure if I went to one every Saturday and Sunday it'd be costing me £10/week in fuel/parking/entry....and, no doubt, a grim hot dot for £2. So I don't go.

I find that some areas are better than others, but also the large ones that are on consistently seem to have better items than the random one offs that pop up.
I guess that's because people can plan to go to the ones that run weekly or monthly, so save up some items and take them all at once.
Outdoor carboots seem better than indoor ones, as there's usually a lot more space so therefore more stalls.

The ones in the next couple of weeks should be really good, as people haven't really been able to declutter over the winter, so often just take everything and will take lower prices just to get rid and avoid taking it home.

At the end of the day I suppose it depends on what you're looking for though. If you want baby things, furniture, books, clothes and household nick naks there will always be plenty of choice. However, more usual items such as power tools, designer items and antiques pop up occasionally, and I guess it's just about being in the right place at the right time.

enfield_freddy

I got shouted at for taking the carpets out of a mondao boot and asking how much

Kovu2013

enfield_freddy wrote: »

I got shouted at for taking the carpets out of a mondao boot and asking how much

I guess they must have loved their carpets a lot to shout at you

Out of interest how much would you have paid

Magpied

So far this year : TY Magic the dragon beanie baby (my parents paid £40ish for that one back in the day as a birthday present!) for £1 and a couple of books I've been looking at on Amazon, second hand 'esoteric type' more than £8 were 50p each.

I'm finding I'm being more reluctant to part with my cash this year, and turned down a light pendant for £5 - the seller apparently paid £12.99 for, but that story wasn't enough to get me to buy it...

Kovu2013

Magpied wrote: »

So far this year : TY Magic the dragon beanie baby (my parents paid £40ish for that one back in the day as a birthday present!) for £1 and a couple of books I've been looking at on Amazon, second hand 'esoteric type' more than £8 were 50p each.

I'm finding I'm being more reluctant to part with my cash this year, and turned down a light pendant for £5 - the seller apparently paid £12.99 for, but that story wasn't enough to get me to buy it...

I love when you're able to buy things you had when younger, or items that you are already on the look out for, like your books.

I also find i'm being a bit more choosy with what to buy, the buyer originally wanted £8 for the plant pot holders, which I thought was a bit steep considering they are well used. If he'd refused I think I would have walked away.

Kovu2013

No bargains for me today, I hope everyone else did better

mandragora_2

First booty of the year. My haul was:

• A perfect condition, black two litre Le Creuset pitcher. I picked it up because I liked the look of it, but really don't actually *need* any more jugs, but picking it up and holding it, I loved it. The chap asked for £3, I asked if he'd take £2 - turns out he would, as long as he could have a grumble about it (I would have felt bad, but I'd heard him telling the previous customer he was flogging off stuff someone had left in his lock-up and then done a runner ).

• A lovely Denby casserole dish and lid and a 'le Creuset style' lasagne pan, together for the princely sum of £4.

Not bad, as I know I'll use them all.


(Just couldn't resist looking up the Le C pitcher online - it's OOS now, but prices from retailers seem to start at around £40 and go up to around £90 :eek:)

Kovu2013

mandragora wrote: »

First booty of the year. My haul was:

• A perfect condition, black two litre Le Creuset pitcher. I picked it up because I liked the look of it, but really don't actually *need* any more jugs, but picking it up and holding it, I loved it. The chap asked for £3, I asked if he'd take £2 - turns out he would, as long as he could have a grumble about it (I would have felt bad, but I'd heard him telling the previous customer he was flogging off stuff someone had left in his lock-up and then done a runner ).

• A lovely Denby casserole dish and lid and a 'le Creuset style' lasagne pan, together for the princely sum of £4.

Not bad, as I know I'll use them all.


(Just couldn't resist looking up the Le C pitcher online - it's OOS now, but prices from retailers seem to start at around £40 and go up to around £90 :eek:)

Oww i'm very jealous, I love Le Cruset, but it's too expensive to buy new. I would love to stumble across some bits at the car boot. You got some great bargains, and it's wonderful that you'll get lots of use out of them, the things you need and will use all the time are the best finds. :T