Car boot sales can vary depending on the time of year, weather and the location.
Below are some tips for buying and selling.
Below are some tips for buying and selling.
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Tips of the trade
Sellers
Arrive early. If you arrive when buyers are waiting you will be immediately surrounded by people looking for bargains and emptying your car boot for you.
Research your items before selling; children’s toys such as Happy Land, Moshi Monster and Disney can be collectable so do not under value.
Take a table for your goods, such as a paste table.
Pack the night before.
If possible do not park to close to the next car to have as much room as possible and you will also need to move around.
Put price stickers on your goods before the day of sale or have a good mental picture of what you've got and what you want for it.
Take a helper. Having someone with you will be useful to keep an eye on the stock when things get busy, it also enables you to visit the toilet and to have a look round the other stalls, but mind you don't end up taking home more stuff than you sold.
On arrival, unload your table and one box then lock your car while you unpack the box, otherwise people will swarm all over your car, picking up items and confusing you totally.
Dealers come early to make offers. Don't take them unless you are happy with the price; better to tell them to try again later as you've only just started selling.
Take lots of change and a container with a lid for your float and takings. Once you have a few notes, lock these in your car.
Take a chair, sandwiches and a drink, and carrier bags for buyers.
Take spare batteries for electronic items that you do not want to sell with batteries.
If you are selling clothes, use a clothes rail.
View your stall from the front as a buyer’s perspective and determine what would appeal to you.
A plastic sheet can be useful to cover your items if it starts to rain.
Do your homework. Go along the week before to see what sells well, or what people are not selling.
Remember to smile. A miserable looking seller is likely to keep buyers away from a table of attractive items.
Buyers
Take a bag with you. Sellers often underestimate the amount of bags and packaging they need.
Always haggle, people have come to sell and usually lower their prices rather than take items home.
Come early as it is the best time to find the bargains.
Don't be afraid to ask for a discount if you're buying multiple items from one seller. The worst they can say is no.
Check items for damage and sizing. Make sure labels can be peeled off without damaging the item.
Get on your hands and knees and search through the boxes on the floor. The best things are sometimes hidden in boxes and baskets. Sellers tend to put things that they think are valuable up front and in prime positions but more often than not the things they think are valuable are very different to your idea of valuable
Ask for more. Sometimes a seller will they'll indicate that they're planning to come back on another date with other items or take your details and get in contact at a later date if they're having a future sale.
Sellers
Arrive early. If you arrive when buyers are waiting you will be immediately surrounded by people looking for bargains and emptying your car boot for you.
Research your items before selling; children’s toys such as Happy Land, Moshi Monster and Disney can be collectable so do not under value.
Take a table for your goods, such as a paste table.
Pack the night before.
If possible do not park to close to the next car to have as much room as possible and you will also need to move around.
Put price stickers on your goods before the day of sale or have a good mental picture of what you've got and what you want for it.
Take a helper. Having someone with you will be useful to keep an eye on the stock when things get busy, it also enables you to visit the toilet and to have a look round the other stalls, but mind you don't end up taking home more stuff than you sold.
On arrival, unload your table and one box then lock your car while you unpack the box, otherwise people will swarm all over your car, picking up items and confusing you totally.
Dealers come early to make offers. Don't take them unless you are happy with the price; better to tell them to try again later as you've only just started selling.
Take lots of change and a container with a lid for your float and takings. Once you have a few notes, lock these in your car.
Take a chair, sandwiches and a drink, and carrier bags for buyers.
Take spare batteries for electronic items that you do not want to sell with batteries.
If you are selling clothes, use a clothes rail.
View your stall from the front as a buyer’s perspective and determine what would appeal to you.
A plastic sheet can be useful to cover your items if it starts to rain.
Do your homework. Go along the week before to see what sells well, or what people are not selling.
Remember to smile. A miserable looking seller is likely to keep buyers away from a table of attractive items.
Buyers
Take a bag with you. Sellers often underestimate the amount of bags and packaging they need.
Always haggle, people have come to sell and usually lower their prices rather than take items home.
Come early as it is the best time to find the bargains.
Don't be afraid to ask for a discount if you're buying multiple items from one seller. The worst they can say is no.
Check items for damage and sizing. Make sure labels can be peeled off without damaging the item.
Get on your hands and knees and search through the boxes on the floor. The best things are sometimes hidden in boxes and baskets. Sellers tend to put things that they think are valuable up front and in prime positions but more often than not the things they think are valuable are very different to your idea of valuable
Ask for more. Sometimes a seller will they'll indicate that they're planning to come back on another date with other items or take your details and get in contact at a later date if they're having a future sale.
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