| Here are nine top tips to help you plan your first | | | | Haggling at car boot sales is a British tradition, and |
| stall at a car boot sale. There are a few things to | | | | it is something alot of us are very good at! In |
| bear in mind: | | | | your defence you might want to inflate your |
| Plan Ahead | | | | prices slightly so that when you drop your prices |
| You need to ascertain out where your nearest | | | | you are still near the original price you had in mind. |
| car boot is located and what day of the week it | | | | Research before hand If you want to get fair |
| is on.. You can usually find this information in your | | | | prices for your items, then it is essential that you |
| local paper or on a car boot sale directory such as | | | | have a basic idea of how much that actual item is |
| Your Booty.. Once you have found your nearest | | | | worth. In this respect, eBay is a great reference |
| sale, make sure you phone the organisers to | | | | as you can view both active and completed |
| confirm it is on at the weekend, as many only run | | | | listings to see how much similar items are selling |
| for so many weeks in the year.. | | | | for. |
| I have lost count of the amount of times people | | | | One word of warning though you won't get |
| have been left disappointed when they tell me | | | | anything like an items true value at a car boot! If, |
| they reached their local car boot sale only to find | | | | for example, you had a mobile phone that would |
| that it closed for the season 2 months previously. | | | | sell for £50 on eBay then you are going to |
| Preparation | | | | struggle to get anything more than £20 for it at |
| Consider the following points before you set off | | | | a car boot sale. |
| for your first car boot sale; | | | | You should also make sure you don't say anything |
| - Make sure you pack your pasting table last to | | | | like 'It sells for £50 on eBay so I want £45 for |
| make it as quick and easy as possible to get your | | | | it' as this infuriates buyers. They don't get up |
| stall set up when you unload your car. | | | | early to be told about eBay and they will usually |
| - I have yet to experience good quality, value for | | | | tell you to go and list it on eBay instead! |
| money food at a car boot sale. A family could | | | | Dealing with the Dealers |
| easily burn through £10-15 buying food so save | | | | Also referred to as 'boot divers' and 'vultures' |
| yourself a few £'s by taking your breakfast | | | | dealers go to car boot sales to buy stock for |
| with you. | | | | their own stall, shop, or for their online business. |
| - Wear warm clothes. Even in the peak of | | | | They want to resell your items for a profit which |
| summer, it can be pretty cold when you're setting | | | | means they want to pay as little as possible for |
| up at 6am. Standing still also makes you feel the | | | | them, as any sensible business person would try |
| cold considerably more so several layers are | | | | and do. |
| advisable, though you'll soon warm up. | | | | Dealers are renowned for crowding round new |
| - Take lots of carrier bags, in multiple sizes if | | | | sellers stalls, asking them if they have any |
| possible. Buyers will really appreciate this. | | | | 'Jewellery love' or 'Mobile Phones'. If you want to |
| Get up Early! | | | | avoid these people, then simply lock your car and |
| It is a good idea to get to your chosen car boot | | | | go and have a look around the other stalls for |
| early, especially if it's a particularly large sale. You'll | | | | 10-15 minutes. When you return, the crowd will |
| get a better pitch nearer the entrance of the | | | | have passed and you will be able to setup in |
| sale, where customer footfall is at its highest. | | | | relative peace. |
| I recommend that you phone the organisers to | | | | One note on traders though. They are a ready |
| confirm when sellers start arriving as advertised | | | | source of funds and are often prepared to buy a |
| items are usually inaccurate I have no idea why! | | | | large number of items from you.. Without traders, |
| To price or not to price? | | | | there would certainly be less stress, but you |
| It can be difficult deciding whether or not to price | | | | would probably make considerably less from your |
| your goods. On the one hand, pricing goods can | | | | pitch.. |
| help to get sales from casual buyers who do not | | | | Take a float |
| like to ask you for a price. On the other hand, if | | | | Ensure that you find the time to go the bank to |
| you want to reduce your prices later in the today | | | | get some coins and bank notes before you sell at |
| as you become more desperate (!), then you will | | | | the weekend. Whilst it is a little irritating for a |
| need to reprice your items or remove any price | | | | buyer to pay for a £1 item with a £20 note, |
| labels. | | | | you want to make selling your items as easy as |
| Consider Supply and Demand | | | | possible. |
| It is a great idea to do a little bit of research | | | | Be Approachable |
| about what you intend to sell before you load up | | | | Make sure that you are warm and friendly with |
| your car. Some items sell considerably better than | | | | browsers, without making them feel |
| others, and you don't want to clutter up your stall | | | | uncomfortable. And whilst the enthusiastic |
| with items which have little chance of selling. For | | | | salesman should be commended for his efforts, |
| example, if you intend to take a large number of | | | | trying to sell people items that they don't want |
| books or old video tapes, then you might struggle | | | | doesn't do much good and tends to make people |
| to make much more than the pitch will cost you! | | | | rush away from your stall!! |
| Haggling - A necessary evil? | | | | |