Car boot sale advice - updated 2013

Harry_Flashman

It seems it may be worthwhile checking out the general 'feel' of a carboot before trading on it.

We bombed at Otley mainly because we weren't selling the sort of stuff that others were (Otley seems to be more lower end antique type stuff) and we're selling cheap tat

Pembroke

Dan2012 wrote: »

Im after some advice

Basically im 22, From a small town and have been unemployed for quite a while now.

Im currently on JSA and i get £60 to myself every 2 weeks (pay £40 to live at home)

Can i make a living out of doing carboots? It's just im sick of being on JSA and i dont feel that anytime soon i will be finding a job, So i was wondering if i could become self employed and do this on a regular basis, What do people recon?

Thanks :beer:

Hi Dan,

Well I was in exactly the same situation as you last July and did just as you suggest although I also added selling on Amazon and Ebay to the mix. Last summer I was going to a different boot fair in my area every day of the week except Mondays. The clients are mainly tourists and there are a lot of local holiday caravan sites in my area with loads of residents who look to the boot fairs as a day out.

Am I making a living from it ? Well not really, on the advice of a friend who also sells at boot fairs I signed up for working tax credit which gave me a bit of cash on a regular basis. I'm registered as self employed.

My aim for the future is to find some regularly selling 'widgets' to sell on Ebay, this will give me a higher regular income and let me sell at boot fairs more for the fun of it. I've only just started at boot fairs again this season as I find I can make more on Ebay. I get most of my stock either as Ebay job lots or buying at my local general auction house.

Good Luck.

Scarlet77

I am having a carboot tomorrow, but I have a cupboard full of crisps that no one likes - would it be ok to sell these?

Thanks

tilly78_2

Hi

Had planned on selling at Taplow car boot today; however due to the weather decided it wasn't worth going.

Everything is still pilled up in the back of the van, therefore thought I would just try again next week. However it is on the monday as bank holiday and I have plans...

Instead I noticed there is a car boot in Denham on the saturday... does anyone have any experience of this car boot... is it busy... what sells well... How much is it to get in.

Or is there any others this coming saturday 1st May around the Reading/maidenhead areas that anyone can recommend.

Thanks:)

JesaRose

There is a big one on at/near the Swallowfield bypass which is close to Reading, thats on Sundays though

I-Owe-You

Im planning on doing my 2nd ever car boot this weekend as Ive cleared out a load of junk and cant be bothered with eBay anymore...

Anyway, couple of questions... can anyone recommend a good one in London or surrounding?? I went to one in Chelmsford before which was super busy... but was a bit of a drive from my place!

Also - as its the bank hol weekend, are the sunday bootsales still held on Sunday? I think I remember reading once upon a time on here that they run on the Bank Hol mondays instead?? I assume this depends on he site...

thanks for all your handy advice on here!

candygirl

Haven't read the whole thread but as an avid car booter can I please remind sellers to hang their clothes up, or have them on a table,or i'll just walk past, as I can't be bothered getting on the floor to look:D;)

thefunkygibbon

candygirl wrote: »

Haven't read the whole thread but as an avid car booter can I please remind sellers to hang their clothes up, or have them on a table,or i'll just walk past, as I can't be bothered getting on the floor to look:D;)

but other people will.. so you'll be the one losing out!

emerald_starcat

Yeah I have either a 50p pile or a 25p or 5 items for a £1 on the floor.
I sell loads that way, people love rummaging through. Especially on the 25p pile, where people try to find 5 items so they save money!

monkeypuzzle32

I-Owe-You wrote: »

Anyway, couple of questions... can anyone recommend a good one in London or surrounding?? I went to one in Chelmsford before which was super busy... but was a bit of a drive from my place!

what part of London, I know of a few good ones East/Essex.