Car boot sales.

[carrust]

I'm going to do my 1st ever car boot sale next week, as I've had a big clear out!

Any of you more experienced car booters got any tips you can pass on?

[carrust]

Thank you all for your answers. I'm a bit reticent about going now. However, we've picked a car boot where they charge the punters 50p to get in, so, that should keep some of the riff-raff out :-)

[chrissa1]

Are you 'avin a larff carrust?

[HarryFindlay]

Agree 110%^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[welshlibranr]

beware that folk will be inside your car boot before you've had time to unpack, this flusters you a bit, and so just say 'no, not ready yet, come back in 10 mins if you're interested in anything' otherwise they'll be grabbing things and offering you stupid prices, and get your lowest price per item in your head, and stick to it, if not, you'll leave with very little cash!......

[HarryFindlay]

Basically it`s like your first day abroad in a Turkish market... you keep getting hassled and then you just tell them to feck off!

Harsh but it works

[grasscarp]

If you have any baby clothes sort it into boxes like 0 to 6 months etc. we recently did a boot sale and one daughter who had brought baby clothes said if she ever did another she would do this. Another tip is dont go looking around other tables! You are there to get rid of stuff not buy more!

[welshlibranr]

carrust, you will get riffraff by the bucket load, make no mistake about it!.......they'll all be there 50p entry or not!..........just don't let them knock down your prices further than you want to go, be tough!.........they'll get the message, I made £220 on my last car boot sale!....not easy!.............but worth it, as long as you don't let anyone knock down your prices too much!...............Good Luck with it!.....

[HarryFindlay]

And don`t do one with a woman, she`ll walk off and return an hour later with more stuff than you are selling

Believe me it`s true

[DEN53]

Harry - hahaha that is so true - I often used to go missing from my stall and return with an arm load of stuff - and some real bargains (:o)

[welshlibranr]

Have to admit that I have done this too!..............lots of lovely cheap plants though!...

[grasscarp]

Although I said dont look at other things at boot sales I am here drinking wine out of an elegant cranberry coloured shaped tumbler, etched with vine leaves, which is absolutely gorgeous and cost me one pound at last boot sale. On set up one early bird who looked like a dealer was asking any lego!!!!

[welshlibranr]

yes grasscarp, beware of the dealers, if they offer a price, at least double it!.........

[HarryFindlay]

No grasscarp he was a perv lol

[grasscarp]

I must add carrust. There will be one item on your table that everyone will look at and handle but nobody will buy. Dont know why this is but we always notice it. Also, like others have said here, watch out for the nimble fingered. We have often noticed things have disappeared but none of us have actually sold it. e.g. one person came up when we were selling a bike and said will you just sell us the pump. We said no, it comes with the bike. Later bike was still there but the pump wasnt!

[carrust]

I think I'll take an electric cattle prod with me to fend the scrotes off. I can't believe that some people can behave so badly:-(

[jessiedog]

If you have jewellery to sell, try pinning it to your clothes so that people have to ask to see it - or perhaps make a bib out of say a teatowel that you can hang around your neck and pin on the jewellery - try to pinch that!

Also, try asking double what you want and then haggle down to the price you really want, you may get more than you think. Not worth doing this with books unless really special, stick to 20p or 50p marked either on a sign on the box or on the inside front cover.

Good Luck and pack your stun gun !