Car boot sale advice - updated 2013

CostCutter

Hello Folks

I have never done a car boot sale before (sold stuff that is) and I haven't been to one for years! Not good planning really but I was hoping you could help me price some stuff up I was going to try to go along and guage some prices but I have a spare bedroom full of stuff I have been collecting and I found that there is a good Boot Sale local to me on Saturday and would love to try and get rid of the stuff now rather than wait another month (plus I can't do the one in June).

I have loads of baby clothes all in great condition I have put some things in bundles and other things I have made up outfits, e.g...
6 vests
4 sleep suits
2 trousers & tops
Dungaree with top/body suit and matching socks

Do you think that they will sell?

Also have:
Baby bath & top 'n' tail bowl
Bath Seat
Towel Bundle

Toys:
Roary Silver Hatch Race Track (cost £45 new)
LeapPad system and 7 books/cartridges
Puzzels
Games
Cuddly / Baby Toys?
Big Bag of Mega Blocks

Lots of odd Cosmetics:
Lipsticks / Gloss
Nail Varnish
Gift sets

I think from other posts I have read I could maybe sell other clothes for 50p-£1. Dvd's £2 each or 3 for £5. Videos 20p? Books 20p
I have made a note to get plenty of change as a float and lots of carrier bags. I was also thinking about getting some bags of sweets / lollies to give maybe with a toy sale? I'm a bit nervous about doing it though. Sorry it's a long one but any advice will be great. Thank you :beer:

CC

BikerKieron

My wife and I have done 5 car boot sales and we no longer will be doing them due to the following reasons :

- In Derby's cattlemarket, we both felt like it was taken over by immigration who couldnt speak simple english.

- As soon as we arrived, people was opening our doors to see what was inside it. I went absolutely mad at one bloke who was eastern european who just got in and had a look around.

- Luckily at that time I had two friends who stood guard and pushed anybody away who was trying to push thru

- We labelled everything in prices to make it easier for both parties. Unfortuantely this didnt work as the buyers was pressuring us into selling it for far less. For example £1 became 10p to them.

- One man became very agressive towards my wife to the point where one of my friends punched him on the nose.

The worse thing of all was, when we was packing up, we noticed this massive skip that some sellers put their stuff into that didnt sell - the amount of people that was climbing into it to find things I felt was disgusting. They was even encouraging their children to do so too. How unsafe and stupid.

We felt very put off by Derby Cattlemarket's carboot and vowed never to do it again. We now stick to Ebay/amazon/gumtrees which so far has worked really well and my god people are so polite etc.

In my world, good manners is rewarded. Bad manners is rewarded by a punch/slap/prang.

tired_mum

Hi Need to do a boot sale as my loft is bowing:o
Does anyone know of good ones that have started in the Thurrock/ Basildon areas that are busy?

Miss_Laid

BikerKieron wrote: »

My wife and I have done 5 car boot sales and we no longer will be doing them due to the following reasons :

- In Derby's cattlemarket, we both felt like it was taken over by immigration who couldnt speak simple english.

- As soon as we arrived, people was opening our doors to see what was inside it. I went absolutely mad at one bloke who was eastern european who just got in and had a look around.

- Luckily at that time I had two friends who stood guard and pushed anybody away who was trying to push thru

- We labelled everything in prices to make it easier for both parties. Unfortuantely this didnt work as the buyers was pressuring us into selling it for far less. For example £1 became 10p to them.

- One man became very agressive towards my wife to the point where one of my friends punched him on the nose.

The worse thing of all was, when we was packing up, we noticed this massive skip that some sellers put their stuff into that didnt sell - the amount of people that was climbing into it to find things I felt was disgusting. They was even encouraging their children to do so too. How unsafe and stupid.

We felt very put off by Derby Cattlemarket's carboot and vowed never to do it again. We now stick to Ebay/amazon/gumtrees which so far has worked really well and my god people are so polite etc.

In my world, good manners is rewarded. Bad manners is rewarded by a punch/slap/prang.

Yes staying indoors seems a much better option for you as it seems like you and your friends have "issues"!!!

BikerKieron

Miss_Laid wrote: »

[/B]
Yes staying indoors seems a much better option for you as it seems like you and your friends have "issues"!!!

Only issue we have is the selfish people who don't give a damn about other people. I will never be a doormat for anybody and if anyone does cross me, rude to me or anything like that they will know about it. Either stand up for yourself or go down on the floor and let everyone walk over you.

loveabargain13

tired_mum wrote: »

Hi Need to do a boot sale as my loft is bowing:o
Does anyone know of good ones that have started in the Thurrock/ Basildon areas that are busy?

Not really sure if they come under Basildon, but Dunton and The Big One which is on the pitsea roundabout, I have done both of these, if you go onto The Big One website at the moment you can get a £2.00 voucher off so a car is only £6 to get in. You do have to watch it at both of these sites as sometimes bits your selling can go walkabouts!

I seem to be doing one off bootsales every summer these days! Although last week was a washout so I was hoping to do it this weekend but looks again like it might be a bit naff.

loveabargain13

Costcutter, I think the best way is whatever price you want for the items, add a bit extra to it and then people haggle, unfortunately if you said £1 for something someone would want it for 50p.

I do get a bit annoyed as all my stuff (which is normally clothes, jewellery, cosmetics) is nearly new or from last summer (I have a quick turnaround) and people just want it for like 20p, sometimes I end up saying well you go into a shop and buy it then.
I find cosmestics, nail polishes etc always go really well but 50p - £1 for used bits, gift sets if new £2-£3.
It depends who really wants it, I couldn't be bothered going round asking for prices that I had no intention of buying but you find that a lot at Bootsales.

Sometimes though you will find people who really want the stuff and do a good deal.
I donated all my clothes that I didn't sell to Marie Curie, who were walking round collecting unsold items. Good Luck

funkydresser

My daughter and I have decided to do a Car Boot Sale once a month (hopefully 2 during summer) as we want to go to Washington next year We both have lots of stuff to get rid of, also both of us are looking forward to spending the time together (she lives in london). Our aim is to make £1000.00 and pay the difference with Tesco Vouchers.

Even if we don't make the target it will be great spending time with my daughter.:o

tired_mum

loveabargain13 wrote: »

Not really sure if they come under Basildon, but Dunton and The Big One which is on the pitsea roundabout, I have done both of these, if you go onto The Big One website at the moment you can get a £2.00 voucher off so a car is only £6 to get in. You do have to watch it at both of these sites as sometimes bits your selling can go walkabouts!

I seem to be doing one off bootsales every summer these days! Although last week was a washout so I was hoping to do it this weekend but looks again like it might be a bit naff.

Last time i did the Nevendon one didnt make anything and there seemed to be a lot of traders at Dunton there used to be one at Avely not sure if its still there also is there one on Canvey on a saturday?

loveabargain13

tired_mum wrote: »

Last time i did the Nevendon one didnt make anything and there seemed to be a lot of traders at Dunton there used to be one at Avely not sure if its still there also is there one on Canvey on a saturday?

I've done both of them and always made over £150, so you was at a lost and still stuck with your stuff!

There was one at Aveley on the roundabout I'm not sure if that was flooded out, Willow Farm Rainham has one, down the old A13. I'm not sure of any others.