Car boot help!

DWhite

I'm staying at my paren't for the week, their house is storing a lot of my DD baby/toddler stuff. She's 10 now and as I'm in the process of buying a house it's time I get rid of some of the bits I've held onto. If I have another one now I can buy new bits, though I'm not holding my breath on that.


I've decided to car boot it - I have no idea what I'm doing other than turning up and putting it out for people to buy.
I know it will be an awful early start (I'm not a morning person) and I've heard people will start flocking generally as you're setting up so I'll be prepared for that.
I don't have any kind of table to put the bits on. Can I just use sheets and blankets and boxes?
How do I price things? Have a set x price per item/bundle and allow haggling?

A lot of it is clothes so my thinking was have an idea how much to ask for for the items. Such as 20p/50p whatever.
What would people expect to pay for things? There's books, stuffed toys and plastic toys as well. I've sorted through everything and made sure the bits are all in good condition and anything sentimental is being left behind.

debsy42

I've done a few car boots in my time and yep the getting up early is a killer.


From my experience kids stuff does sell, books not so much, adult clothes can be a bit hit and miss however quite often people seem to want to pay next to nothing for everything so it's balancing act.



Do you want to sell stuff cheap to get rid or stick to a figure to make a bit more money which could mean you could end up going home with things you've not been able to sell at your price. So maybe start higher and then be haggled down, you'll soon get in the swing of it!


Hope you have a good time selling, we're usually home by 11am all done and dusted :j




Have a float of change and a bumbag to keep notes in. I think a table would be good, we got a cheapy one for £10 for B&Q. Helps to demonstrate your items better as people sometimes don't want to be rummaging on the floor.

Grumpelstiltskin

If you don't know what you are doing don't take any children with you. OK depending on their age they can help BUT they can be a pain.

No problem putting things on a sheet on the floor but if someone can lend you a paperhanging table or camping table it will be easier.

One word of warning if you are on your own do not get everything out of the car at once and keep your car doors closed, under no circumstances let anyone poke about in your car.


Take a drink with you and something to eat if you flag after a while and if some family can turn up a little later it will give you the chance to use the toilet etc.


Don't accept a £20 note for someone spending 50p. Tell them you will keep the item on one side until they get some smaller change, most people are honest but car boots attract chancers.

PasturesNew

If people don't know how much you want, they'll assume you want "too much". Stalls that clear quickest are those with clear/fixed prices, e.g. "everything on this sheet £1", "everything on this sheet £2", "Bag of mixed girls/boys, 20 items, age X to Y, £££".

Many people don't like to ask, for fear of looking tight if you say a price they weren't expecting.... often you're selling at a price they're prepared to pay but you won't sell the stuff as nobody likes to ask.

PollyWollyDoodle

A table will be better if you can borrow one, easier on the back for you and people are more likely to look than if they have to bend down. A picnic chair is good too although I find I spend a lot of time getting up and down, it's easier to stand sometimes.

Take lots of change, have it in a bum bag or similar - don't leave your handbag on the floor or in the car. If you've got any spare carrier bags, take them in case people buy more than one thing. Thermos, water, a snack and wet wipes/hand gel are all good.

I'm fairly rude to the people who come up soon as you open the boot! They usually asking for specific things like costume jewellery, mobile phones, perfume et cetera and I told them I haven't got any of those, but I have told them just to go away sometimes. I've had people pick things up and then break them, so I'm a bit grumpy with them.

Children's clothes and toys often sell well, have a price in mind and it's sometimes easier to say "all these items 50p each" e.g. for kids clothes rather than trying to give individual prices. It goes without saying that everything should be clean, and displayed if possible so people can see it, but don't go to town on that. They like to think they're getting a bargain, my friend used to take boxes and tablecloths to display things but I don't think she sold any more than me!

As said above, you'll soon get in the swing of it !!!8211; if you asked £2 and people walk away, the next time someone asks you'll say £1. Don't go too low, people like to haggle! Good luck.

jwil

I agree with pricing things generally with items priced the same grouped together.

Also if you are selling children's clothes, put them into separate piles/boxes according to age and label them. People don't want to dig through a big pile of clothes having to check each label to see if it's the size they want.

Floss

Bear in mind that some baby "kit" will possibly be beyond reasonable use, e.g. mattresses, car seat, booster etc. Wooden things should be fine, plastic (bath, high chair etc) may be brittle & not sellable.

DWhite

Thanks for the tips!
I have found someone kind enough to lend me a table to borrow, got to love local groups on FB! I was going to buy one but if someone can lend one then even better.
I bought some post it notes - my plan is to have post its with prices with the clothes. It'll be mostly clothes going this time around as there's so many boxes of them taking up space in the house. Then I'll focus on the books and toys.

We didn't keep the bath etc. it was gifted to SIL for the nephews. I do have the cot bed frame, that will go at some point, it's a great bed frame, jsut needs a new mattress.
Weather forecast looks to be on my side so fingers crossed!