Has anyone ever run a stall at a car boot sale?

[Workingman]

Well there's only me and Ria posted and we are both in favour??????

I know you were so I have found a couple of local ones to visit as a 'secret shopper' on Sunday to get a proper 'feel' of things.

[saundra]

Used to go years ago
But good luck hope you and ria make a fortune and you get sunshine

[Kaz]

I don't know anything about them Frank, sorry

[meriad]

Frank - just thought I'd give some feedback

Car loaded and on our way by 7am; got there 7.15am and started setting up. According to Emily this weekend was very very quiet compared to usual so I'd like to do another one or two just for comparison. Admittedly I didn't sell much but still - it was good fun and I actually did enjoy myself. I was quite surprised at what stuff people do buy / sell; and oddly enough it seems the cheaper the item the more people try to haggle

As said, I'll definitely do more car boots - but things I'd do different is the layout of things. Emily had two pasting tables but we could easily have done with more. We had clothing on a blanket on the ground; up on a rail would have been better but they need to be either very sturdy or tied down well. Lots of brick a brac on the tables for people to rummage through. I had some books but only sold 2; clothing wise, between Emily and I, we only sold one item. Oddly enough things I sold most of was old lightbulbs - well new still in box, but I don't use them anymore; 50p a bulb so a real bargain for those that needed them. I probably under-priced a few things; but at least I didn't have to take them back home.

Oh, and if you do go, then pack a flask of something warm / cool, pack a chair and bring change - lots of change if you can

And be prepared to stick to your guns for the price of some things and hugely reduce the price of other things

[Kaz]

Sounds fun Ria

[Workingman]

Thanks Ria, very interesting.

I missed the Sunday c-b sales. Life got in the way, but I am ready for the weekend to do a bit of browsing and spying.

[Workingman]

So I went spying. It won't be for me.

One was in a field near the airport and the other was in the old livestock market area of a local town. Both of them had pitches that were well marked out and were being run adequately.

The one at the airport was mainly clothing, bedding, baby stuff such as cots pushchairs and so on with a few car parts, tools and things. The livestock one was more a bric-a-brac market with ornaments, ceramics, paintings, books and "collectables".

I enjoyed my browsing, but I was not keen on the way some of those buying behaved. It wasn't too bad at the bric-a-brac place but the airport one was like Black Friday, Boxing Day sales and the school jumble sale rolled into one. People were picking things up from neat piles, sizing them up, then just dumping them back any old how. I just know that I would not feel comfortable.

I will sort out some of the nicer clothes and other gear - camping stuff etc. - and share it out between the Air Ambulance, Mencap and local hospices' shops. The rest can go for recycling at the collection point at Asda.

[TheOstrich]

Very interesting, WM. I've not had any experiences of car-boots myself, but I think I'm right in saying that many years ago Mrs O and Master O tried to get rid of some of his old toys and things at a car-boot, and it was all a bit of a waste of time.

If you're heading for a charity shop, might be an idea just to check first that they are actually accepting stuff - many round here still aren't. Might save yourself a wasted journey ....

[Workingman]

Thanks for the tip, Ossie, I'll ring round.

[meriad]

Frank, two other options if charity shops aren't accepting...

anything that is of value try sell via your local FB selling pages
anything not of value put onto FreeCycle (another site), or also the FB selling pages

That way you don't have to worry about getting stuff anywhere; people will come collect. But equally you end up having to hang around for people (unless you can leave it outside somewhere safe) and risk potential no-shows

But I hear what you say about the buyers - most of the ones at the car boot I went to were really nice, looked without much touching / folded up clothing again, but some... just mind boggling how they can think their behaviour is acceptable.