Car boot sale advice - updated 2013

savingmore

omg, just done my first boot sale for 17 years! read all the advice on here, thanks for that...we thought we were prepared for 'muggers' but we weren't, got stuck with 2 ladies wanting to buy stuff and someone (i guess with them) trying to nick things at the other end:eek: ...we stayed for 3 hours and made £51 profit but still came home with lots of stuff...now deciding whether to rummage more at home and find more and go back next week, or send it all to the charity shop...surprised at what sold and what didn't and how people haggled over my 10p box, that started off at 50p! i think some people want things for nothing..... one lady got really shirty with me at the beginning when she tried to buy things as i was lifting out my first box and i asked her to wait until i at least got it on my table and she went off on one! :mad: i refused to sell to her ... we enjoyed ourselves however and i know some of the people who bought stuff from us were really pleased and it was nice to give some obviously deserving people some really cheap bargains!
however, £50 and getting rid of some clutter is a good feeling....:T

hotcookie101

any recommendations for boot sales in north essex (colchester/marks tey area)?
thanks

Contains_Mild_Peril

irishcharmer5 wrote: »

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

Depends on the items! You're going to have to be a bit more specific if you want meaningful answers. I would say in general it would have to be very much cheaper than shop prices though: people will be reluctant to pay even half shop prices for things like electricals (usually no usable guarantee at boot sales) and clothes (no changing rooms, and you can't bring them back the next day if they don't fit) popular brand name goods (they'll think it's likely to be fake) and probably most other things too, if nothing else because of cultural expectations that car boot sale goods should be cheap.
I've no idea what the average spend per customer at a car boot sale would be: maybe we should start a poll. My personal average would be about £25-30 total but I would buy a lot of stuff for that sort of money, not just 2 or 3 things.

DanceInThe_Dark

My average spend is about £10 at Boot Sales but I expect to get my moneys worth for that amount. It is rare for me to spend over a fiver for any item.
I wouldn't give half price for electrical items (always a bit dubious in case they don't work), only pay a couple of quid for top quality clothes and books I'll usually want to pay 20p or 50p.

glenni_2

One thing I've noticed is inflation doesnt seem to have happened at boot sales. Stuff I used to sell 10 years ago for 50p still sells for 50p and even if I price it higher people will still haggle it back down.

There is one area where inflation has hit though, and thats costs. Petrol money to get there, stall fee and the price of a cup of tea & hot dog have all gone up!!!

bylromarha

Are there any checks you try and do to see if items are stolen?

Miss_Cinnabon

Hi

I am planning my first carboot at the end of this month to raise some funds for a sponsered walk we are doing, was also thinking of doing a raffle as well, but havent got a clue how to go about it?

Has anyone got any tips etc, havent read through this thread yet but will do tonight, sorry if this has been asked already

thanks

MoaningMyrtle

Maybe to see if they are pirated?

downs523

i did my 1st car boot sale last thursday and it was great, took just over £100 so minus the £7 entry and £15 for my mums things i sold came away with £78 profit. had alot of plumbing bits, dvds and stationary, they sold best. even managed to sell a couple of yoyos!!!!

btw if anyone sees any of them natwest pig saving jars buy them, they go for quite abit on ebay

lappish22

Don't know if this is the correct place to ask on here.....

Does anybody know if there is a car boot at Tansley nr Matlock, Derbyshire tomorrow (Bank Hol Mon 25 aug 2008)

If not does anyone konw of any more in Derbyshire tomorrow?

Thanks!!