Car boot sale advice - updated 2013

hopper_mania

I must say, I disagree with the comment about pricing up your items. I have also been going to boot sales/jumbles etc for many years and selling too. I never price up my items- why? If someone doesn't like the price they see, they walk. People like to haggle and it gives you a chance to 'open' and 'close' a sale. Boot sales are about bargains, not expensive items. If you have an expensive item for sale, try eBay/Auction or specialist. You will get a better price from these avenues. I hope I have provided another side to this topic!!!

Brammeldi

I've really sent the date for my very first car boot sale now. I'm going to Stafford Common on Bank holiday monday: http://www.gocarbootsales.com/index.php?/site/stafford-carboot-sale/

I've managed to bring together a huge variety of items for sale, including books, toys, games, as well as silverware, unused cruet sets, slippers, clothes, baby clothes, baby gifts (unused). So, with this variety, I hope to attract a lot of interest.

I'm all unsure about this, "to price, not to price" debate....it all seems very 50/50. I was thinking to price the lower end items like a box of things "20p each or 3 for 50p", then leave the higher end items without a price for the haggle but go with a price in mind for them.

The other thing I'm sort of planning ahead for is the weather. My car is a hatch back, so I'm going to attempt to figure a way to turn it into a shelter for if it rains, as at the moment, weather forcast does not look great for bank hol Monday: "Later on Sunday rain is likely to affect the north and west. Monday will probably be brighter for all but there is still a risk of some more prolonged rain."

Anyone been to this carboot or have any tips not covered on the go car boot sales website?

John_Pierpoint

I use rolls of heavy duty polythene held down by large selected pebbles to cover the tables from a shower.
It is always a gamble trying to decide if it is a passing shower or the start of a lasting storm.
A rack of clothes in a storm is a nightmare.
Sitting on the tailboard in wellies and drinking a well earned mug of soup, watching less well prepared booters scrabble about, gives a certain satisfaction.:D
If you are in a field the customers are likely to leave for the day but in an urban car park, they will shelter somewhere and be back if the sun comes out again.

loveleggins

Hello.
Just to let everyone know that there is a massive car boot in Bridgemarry, Gosport every Sunday in the local Community School there. I've been going for the past few Sundays and have got some really good bargains!

This is my opinion as a buyer..

Every buyer is different but I tend to make a beeline for the clothes, baby things, shoes and bags, or any toiletries that look new that people sell. Also decor for my house that is to my taste. I am weary of electical items as how do you know they are going to work? I was looking for a powerdrill and when asking about a battered looking one they wanted £10 for it! Maybe I'm a cheap scate but theres no way I'd pay £10 for a drill that's about 20 years old!
For clothes I don't like to pay more than £1.00. You can sometimes get them cheaper but for BNWT items I feel cheeky asking for below a quid for them. Sometimes you can be lucky, for example i found a Topshop tshirt that was in good condition and when asking about it she only wanted 20p for it! Winner!
It's very good for baby clothes as well as often babies don't even get to wear their clothes when they are sold on and I was buying brand new clothing priced at 20p an item! Also brand new baby shoes for 50p - £1.00.
What tends to catch my eye as a buyer is attractively arranged stalls, baby clothes at waist level (very important when you have a growing bump! Bending over to rummage in bags is not easy!), rails of clothes and of course, a friendly, cheerful seller! That is really important. If someone looks like they don't want to speak to me it's really off putting and I tend skim the stall quickly or avoid it all together.
I always bring some carrier bags with me as well and lots of change. If someone is still setting up their stall when I arrive and see a few things that catch my eye I'll ALWAYS ask the seller first if they minded me looking through the bag before doing so. When I've asked so far no one has minded but I would feel very rude not to ask first.
I will always try to haggle on the more expensive items, say something priced at £8.00 I will offer £4.50 for and will probably pay about £5.50 in the end if they accept. It all depends on what it is though and what I think it is worth. If I think it is worth the price I will only go down a little bit. For example a man wanted £1.00 for a George baby tshirt and shorts set. Yes this isn't much money but I could probably pick up something very simular in the sale at ASDA so why would I pay for a second hand set the same price? I offered him 50p which he refused so I walked off. Always walk off and don't feel pressured into buying something you think is unreasonable.

monkeypuzzle32

this is what I do when I do a CBS,not saying its right but its right for me and I usually do ok;

I take;
2x paste tables and set these up 1st
1xrail which I put against the tables and use bungee cords to tether it
a piece of fabric to cover the table if I'm selling lots of little collectable type things,it also helps people to remember your stall.
lots of carrier bags
newspaper/bubblewrap to wrap things
a bum bag with lots of change
a flask of tea
something to eat.
scrap card/paper+markers
stickers

• I always say no to anyone who crowds round my car and asks if I have jewellery or mobiles,even if I do have them.
• I usually do 2 price points of clothes on the rail,say 50p+£1
• I price things up or put them in a box saying 'anything' 50p,I personally find this the best way as I am usually doing CBS on my own and lots of times people cant be bothered to ask or are shy to ask how much things are,I find this work well with selling everyday boring items that people might not be really keen on but wil buy if they see it at a good price.Works well on make up as well.
• I move things around as they sell down,and then they usually sell-I see other people standing po faced at their tables and nothing priced and nothing shifting then they wonder why it doesnt sell,I know people like to rummage but I think theres a fine line with this.
• shoes I put on plastic under the rail.
• I take scrap card and re-price things that I want to get rid of as other things sell.
• books I usually put in a cardboard box (the type fruit comes in) and mark up as 30p each or 2 for 50p as I find noone will pay more than this,books don't sell very well I find so if I usually take them to a charity shop.
• take everything you dont want anymore and put them in price point boxes or price them up and someone will buy it!

• I've sold bags of plums before when I did a CBS with my Mom and they all sold like wildfire!I've seen other people selling cupcakes/sliced melon/fruit so thats always worth doing if you have any.

there are certain groups of people who are aggressive with trying to get something for nothing,I like haggling but when something is cheaply priced at 50p and someone offers me 30p I say no,and they always buy it anyway.I think thats all,I'll add more if I can think of anything!:rotfl:

MinniMe_2

Probably a silly question, and maybe there is no answer but thought I would ask those more experienced than I!

I want to do a CBS and have lots of stuff but fear I will end up doing it on my own - how do you cope with the need to use the loo?

dawn1

just get chatting to the person on the stall next to you , they will usualy watch your stall while you nip to the loo

Miss_Laid

MinniMe wrote: »

Probably a silly question, and maybe there is no answer but thought I would ask those more experienced than I!

I want to do a CBS and have lots of stuff but fear I will end up doing it on my own - how do you cope with the need to use the loo?

Lock the expensive stuff in the car ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your stall but obviously if there stall gets busy theres nothing to say items wont go missing from your stall, best way is to see if a friend/relative will pop by so you can go loo

dalek

MinniMe wrote: »

Probably a silly question, and maybe there is no answer but thought I would ask those more experienced than I!

I want to do a CBS and have lots of stuff but fear I will end up doing it on my own - how do you cope with the need to use the loo?

Buy one of these!

Cygnet Female Urinal



click

monkeypuzzle32

:rotfl: I do CBS's on my own,I just dont drink too much tea!!