Car boot sale advice - updated 2013

John_Pierpoint

tenmah wrote: »

Out of interest, does anyone know the history of why car boot sales start so early in the morning? I have seen a few that call themselves late starters, but even they open at 8.30am or something! I would much prefer to go to one in the afternoon because getting up at 5.30am doesn't appeal! Even as a buyer, I would like to find an afternoon one to go to.

The early Sunday start is probably the best way to avoid trouble from:

1, The "Old Bill", who get involved if the booters look like blocking the hightway or the access point is not really in compliance with regulations for access.

2. The local council, who is responsible for applying the law that says "fairs" are only allowed 14 days per year - so who is counting on double time early on Sunday?

Anyway we all want to be in the pub by lunch time don't we?

soolin

clothesforcash touting for business is not allowed on here and your post reflects very badly on your organisation.

You arefully aware of the rules having been reminded on this thread...which I suggest everyone reads before considering dealing with you:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3243840

blossomhill_2

soolin wrote: »

I had an even worse experience last year. I went along to support a new charity car boot, paid my £10 pitch fee and after 4 hours and taken a grand total of £2.50.

It actually put me off doing car boots for months but I started up again this year at a newish one and the buyers seem to like my stuff so I will stick with it and not be tempted to change venue.

Likewise, I have been to some where v little profit made but stuck at it and now make approx £60 a time - if you can find one with a steady flow of customers all morning that's your best bet

Its hard to judge what will sell; I recently decided books were a waste of boot space but took along about a dozen paperbacks this week just for the h**l of it and they were pounced on in the 1st hour - 50p each, I was v happy

I dont think china is selling well, I didnt take any but heard other stallholders say they had only sold 3 items and another say they'd only taken £1.50

soolin

blossomhill wrote: »

Likewise, I have been to some where v little profit made but stuck at it and now make approx £60 a time - if you can find one with a steady flow of customers all morning that's your best bet

Its hard to judge what will sell; I recently decided books were a waste of boot space but took along about a dozen paperbacks this week just for the h**l of it and they were pounced on in the 1st hour - 50p each, I was v happy

I dont think china is selling well, I didnt take any but heard other stallholders say they had only sold 3 items and another say they'd only taken £1.50

I think it depends as I can sell huge amounts of china and collectables but where others say they can sell books and clothes I struggle with them. The car boot I currently use have quite a few 'dealers' so we attract other dealers in that area.

Raspberry_Swirl

I will be doing one this Sunday in Basingstoke and have a bit of everything to sell - books, clothes, cd's, bits & bobs, glasses and I have a load of fishing gear which I don't really know much about. I know that I'd probably get more for it if I listed it on Ebay, but I don't know enough about it to list it correctly.

Does fishing gear sell does anyone know?

John_Pierpoint

I've got some fishing gear too - let me know how you get on.

I remember at the Hounslow Heath boot sale (under the LHR landing flight path), there was a van semi professional who sold nothing but second hand fishing gear, probably picking it up cheap from the likes of us.

(There was another guy who sold nothing but baby buggies)

Remember that economics teaches us that the greatest profit is to be made by the trader who can bridge the greatest gap between two disparate societies - immigrants/benefit claimants can be gold if you are selling "Giffen" goods.

I went exploring a public teenage fishing haunt of mine some 50 years ago SW of London and was surprised to find that most of the "anglers" were Polish migrants (perhaps fishing for the pot as much as for the sport).

Raspberry_Swirl

Did my boot on Saturday with my parents as they had stuff too and didn't have enough space to take all mine so will need to do another boot this weekend or next. Made £100 between us.

Didn't take the fishing gear but mentioned it to a guy who bought a knife from me. He said the knife was for fishing so I told him about the gear I had and he came round to my parents house the next day and I sold him the lot for £60. Could've got a little more if I had taken the time to sell it all individually at a boot or on Ebay but there's the time factor with that so was just glad to get rid of it!!

paulprescott

try and have a nice visible price on each item if possible this saves people the embarrasment of asking and then maybe not being able to afford said item, saves you plenty time aswell

sue1980

what things do you all find sell well

soolin

sue1980 wrote: »

what things do you all find sell well

It seems to depend on your area. The CB I go to attracts a lot of dealers in china and collectables so named stuff does well. We also get the usual crowd round the car wanting gold and mobile phones. I can't sell books and I can't sell clothes, but other people report great success at CBs they attend with both those types of things.

Also if I have one of my sons with me we also get dealers asking about Mecanno, Lego or even Warhammer.