Car boot sale advice - updated 2013

damcon

does anyone on here do car boots for a living?

ModernSlave

I went to sell at my first car boot sale yesterday at Nuthill fruit Farm near Guildford.

I arrived at about 8:15 and most of the sellers were already set up but this meant I only had one mugger to deal with.

The things that sold really quickly were a game boy advance, an old working mobile with manual and charger (got more than I would have for recycling it), jewellery (plastic beads bracelets, brooches, cheap rings), shoes (in good condition), old pots and pans, branded books (the Far Side, Lonely Planet) and weird bits like playing cards and Xmas cracker toys.

Things that didn't sell were crockery, soft toys and popular books.

I was only there 3.5 hours but the time flew by and it was much easier than I imagined. People LOVE to rummage and will buy the strangest things.

After costs (fee, petrol) I made over £50 and didn't buy anything. It was a good day and I hope to do it again next year when I've gathered more stuff.

My advice to newbies is to bring a tarp and table, plenty of plastic bags, food, drink and a friend.

It's also worth remembering that some of the things you regard as rubbish are really useful to people with not much money. Making money is good but helping people out is better.

ANNEGEDDES

hi all

im going to a car boot this sat gates open at 12 but starts at 1400
£5 per car

new panteg rugby club, polo grounds new inn pontypool if anyone is local?

hoping to make a few quid! x

Mellika

Hi, first of all I want to say THANK YOU for such a useful thread. I'm thinking of doing my first carboot sale in the next few weeks/months.

I'm not sure how to price the following:

Mills & Boon books (I got almost 200 off Freecycle, precisely for this. They're used but in good condition).

Craft Magazines (Scrapbooking Inspirations, etc). They're all in very good condition, but without the freebies.

I would appreciate any advice, thanks

Meli xx

Mellika

Oh! Also, would people buy bedding if it was in good condition and clean?
We just got a Kingsize bed and were left with lots of Double bedding...

dragonsdaughter

gosh yes you will defo sell bedding, the only thing you always have to remember is that no matter what you paid for it, people will only pay a small amount I would say £1 to £3 tops but its better than slinging it.

Contains_Mild_Peril

Mellika wrote: »

Hi, first of all I want to say THANK YOU for such a useful thread. I'm thinking of doing my first carboot sale in the next few weeks/months.

I'm not sure how to price the following:

Mills & Boon books (I got almost 200 off Freecycle, precisely for this. They're used but in good condition).

Craft Magazines (Scrapbooking Inspirations, etc). They're all in very good condition, but without the freebies.

I would appreciate any advice, thanks

Meli xx

Check prices in your local area: at my local boot sales you'd get about 10-20p each for Mills & Boons and 5-10p each for magazines, and you'd expect some leftovers to take back home with you, but it may be better or worse where you are.
If you're getting things from Freecycle to sell at boot sales then I hope you always make it clear to the donor that that's what you plan to do with them: taking Freecycle goods to sell without declaring your intentions is generally frowned on.

Mellika

Contains_Mild_Peril wrote: »

Check prices in your local area: at my local boot sales you'd get about 10-20p each for Mills & Boons and 5-10p each for magazines, and you'd expect some leftovers to take back home with you, but it may be better or worse where you are.
If you're getting things from Freecycle to sell at boot sales then I hope you always make it clear to the donor that that's what you plan to do with them: taking Freecycle goods to sell without declaring your intentions is generally frowned on.

Thanks for the tip.
Yeah I would never take things off Freecycle without telling them if it's for a sale. She actually offer them to be sold though.
I think 5-10p for the magazines is way too low, as most of them are imported and very hard to find. I think I'd feel better passing them on at my craft club.
Thanks again xx

irishcharmer5

What is the average spend in boot sales
would £10 for new items be to expensive at a boot sale eventhough they are cheaper than shop prices

downs523

im doing one next week, got a few dvds, a webcam with disc, a keyboard, a casio watch, quite alot of stationary(new) back to school soon so hopefully ppl will buy, got printer paper packs, various other bits and bobs, just hope weather holds out!!!!!!!!!