Carboot sales

messia07

I was just wondering how people here feel about carboot sales? Do members here, still go to carboots to buy / sell ?

I like going to carboot sales.. up to a point lol, I sometimes find nice things. I never spend that much money and it is a bit of a morning out. I’m also a big fan of recycling and I like the fact a lot of clothes/items are getting reused and saved from being thrown away.

they have changed quite a lot in recent years. Unfortunately those operating businesses seem to out number normal people, just selling their own possessions.

I’ve also noticed buyers have become quite rude, without permission, they will openly take photos of items on sellers tables to do reverse google image searches to find out if any profit can be made. They will also sometimes block anyone else from seeing the item or box of items until their research is done 😐️. I avoid these type of buyers because sometimes they are quite aggressive (I know taking photos is not new but buyers don’t care anymore about upsetting sellers).

Flugelhorn

I often go to car boot sales, there are some people who are bar code scanning all the books and buying huge numbers - you never see the same ones twice so suspect they don't make that much on them

yes lots of businesses selling and some very challenging buyers around

I sometimes also think that people must take away a lot of stuff at the end of the event as not much seems to sell and you see the same things next week

yesterday one stall was giving everything away at the end and it still wasn't shifting

Lorian

I've not been a seller at one since C. I used to like the occasional sale in nice weather. At the last one I did the lady on the store next to me bought a lot of my things (sorry!), and plenty of people wanting things for nothing.

About a year ago I went for a casual walk around the same one in preparation of trying selling again, but it was not at all what it was previously, so I never did.

elsien

A huge one near me closed following an inheritance dispute between the family owning the land it was run on.

Not been able to find one worth going to since.

Brie

I used to go to them years ago but haven't recently other than 1 in France while on holiday.

I wonder how much stuff just gets left - I'm sure after an unsuccessful day many stallholders would love to just get in their cars and drive off leaving their unwanted items to be tidied up by someone else.

Kantankrus_Mare

We did one just last weekend!

Mainly to get rid of some of the accumulated junk that was cluttering our loft. Sold lots of puzzles, some books, various crap we no longer needed after re decorating and a few bits of old clothing.

Made about £50 along with £15 extra on selling some books on line and about £12 on vinted.

It wasnt really about the money (we treat ourselves to a lovely thai takeaway on Saturday night) it was more about clearing some space in the loft and the fact I dont particularly like just dumping stuff if someone can make some use out of it.

People dont want to pay much at car boots so everything went really cheaply.

I love people watching at these type of things and have met some really interesting people.

Its something we do maybe once every three years or so to clear the junk.

Cherryfudge

I love a car boot sale and rarely come away without buying. It used to be for bargain clothes but I have too many now and don't want to add to them so I keep a look out for a certain set of china I collect (successful once in a blue moon), plants and old books. It keeps me out of mischief and the favourite car boot is in a lovely location. I do struggle when it's crowded, though.

Some sellers are great to chat to: the man who was selling tomato plants a few weeks ago gave me tips on how to treat each variety and the people at the end of a certain row always have a fascinating selection of older second hand books.

All that said, I avoid the busy early hours and usually get half way round before they start to pack up!

Murphybear

I used to go to a lot of car boot sales before the advent of the internet. I bought a lovely jacket one day for £2 and when I wore it the following day I found about £3 of coins in one of the pockets. Bargain 😺

Soontobeoap

I love a car boot sale mainly for the people watching. We do one about every 2 years. There is a huge one in Chale on Isle of Wight.always do well. We try things on Wightbay first

Mirrors,small bedside cupboards, wallpaper steamer. That sort of thing and what doesn't sell in 2 weeks comes with us as well. Always try to have a couple of bigger items that will sell for about £15.00 each of we can. We keep our prices low and what we don't sell goes straight to the skip. I had a lot of craft kits this time from my sister's bits when she passed away so have donatedthe ones left over to to charity. I think we made £70.00 at the last one. We are retired so it's a way of putting more money in our pockets.

subjecttocontract

If you don't want to take your stuff to a boot sale you can donate it to any local charity shop instead of taking it to the rubbish tip.

Jumblebumble

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6675224/carboot-sales

I feel miffed if I want to take a photo in public and an entitled seller mistakenly believes I need permission.

Why anyone cares what happens to an item they no longer own is baffling