First Time Car Boot Seller Tips Please!

[Canyoucheckonme]

I'm doing one in the morning... It's a large, well established one 15 mins away.

It says sellers from 7am, buyers from 8am. So what time do you recommend 12yr ds and I get there please?

Do we need to make signs or is it ok to just ask people what they'd like to pay?!

All tips gratefully received - thank you!

Watch out for thieving.
Tell people to Fuck off when unloading your boot!

Sell cheap if the aim is to get rid of it all! Nobody wants to pay £1 for your kids book. Sell them at 3-5 for £1.

Take loads & loads of change.
Wear a money belt or bag very close cross body with zip.
Have a price in mind for everything.
It’s a car boot, not an auction or charity shop so low prices work but not too low.
Beware other sellers who will buy from you and then scurry back to their table & sell at profit.
Beware other sellers who arrive early to see what you’ve got and harass you to sell to them whilst you’re still unpacking. Nightmare people.
Keep eyes wide open for pilfering.
At days end sell dirt cheap. Better than taking home again.
Its fun! You might get hooked.

Top tip, park up, lock up the car and go for a walk around. If you're going on your own you really don't want to be dealing with the vultures who will swarm your car the minute you arrive.

Don't bother with signs, you'll change your prices as the day goes on so there's no point. No signs means people start conversations asking, rather than just walking past. Also for some reason when a stall has people looking and talking others tend to stop and browse as well.

Get there 6.15-6.30. There will be dealers who will swamp your car as soon as you come to a stop. They are a pita and will grab stuff from your boot. Have your table on the backseat if possible, get it out, shut and lick the car. Then get stuff out.
Divide it into boxes or bags tonight by price so you can divide yoyr table up into £1, £3, £5 or whatever your pricing is.
Have lots of change in a bumbag, don’t use a box as it can get stolen.
have bubble wrap or paper if you’re selling breakables.

Lock your car, don’t lick it obvs unless it’s very clean and chocolate flavoured.

If you’ve got a lot to sell and it’s a busy car boot, it’s best to mark some stuff up, so you don’t have to answer the same questions over and over, but you don’t have to do that for everything, I find it easier to have sections on the table with a certain price (everything £1 etc), you can take a pen and paper and write out some signs if you wanted, anything that makes your life easier.

don’t arrive after the customers are there as it can be a nightmare to setup as they start crawling all over you the second you get there. I’d aim to get there for 7/7:15.

make sure you’ve got plenty of change as a ‘float’ and some empty carrier bags to give out.

if you’re doing it to have a clear out rather than to make money, make sure you price things to sell, people do not want to spend money at car boots, they want everything for nothing.

I find it helps to be smiley, chatty and approachable, if someone is looking at something you can offer the price, and if they pull a face, you can follow it up with the .. ‘or make me an offer?’ line.

be prepared for idiots!! Good luck!!

Is your aim to make money or clear out all your stuff? If, at the end of the day, you'll be taking leftovers to the tip or charity shop, then price low from the get-go. Most buyers arrive early.

You will be swarmed by other sellers when you arrive. Don't unpack straight away, go and grab a coffee. When you come back they'll have moved onto the next arriving people.

Have an idea about what you want to sell things for but don't bother with labels/stickers - people will ask you what you want for it anyway because they want a reduction. For higher ticket items, I ask them "what do you want to offer me?" And take it from there. "£5? I was hoping for £7" etc.

I'm personally not bothered by other sellers buying my stuff and reselling it - I want it gone! But I don't see car boots as a money-making exercise, I see it as a way of decluttering and stuff not going to landfill. If I come home with £20 more than I went with, I'm happy.

Buyers from 8am means absolutely nothing, people will come early and as soon as you pull up they will swarm and want to buy stuff for pennies or in some cases just pinch it. So pull up and lock the doors and don't be afraid to tell them all to fuck all before starting to set up.

Don't do signs or price stuff as it leads to people asking and people talking to you attracts other buyers.

Take plenty of change and a coffee in flask so you've got a drink to keep you warm. If possible also chuck in foldable chairs so you have something to sit on.

Most importantly remember people don't want to pay much for stuff and you don't actually want this stuff anymore so don't take offense when people make cheeky offers.

Depends what you've got. If you just want rid then chuck it all on the table and knock it out cheap. You'll sell it early on to the resellers and exporters. If you've got decent stuff price it. Don't worry if it doesn't fly off first thing. Be prepared for some hard haggling, but stick to your guns if you're offered less than you want. Here (SE London) you hear some really aggressive almost bullying haggling, especially from the people exporting stuff. Be aware of thefts. Make sure your money bag and phone are attached to you.

Gah! You lot are putting me off 😂

I've not done one before, one reason has been because I hate early starts... No chance we're getting there before 7am! Will aim for 7.15am then, cheers.

Argh I've just put the trestle table on the bottom and boxes on top.

It's mostly toys and yes, just want to get rid... Happy to give 70% away for free! Most of our charity shops won't accept toys, and definitely not soft ones. They're all in good condition.

My change is mostly 10ps, 5ps and copper as happy to sell for pence. Really don't care if anyone buys then sells for profit!

Will use a bum bag then (was going to use an old ice cream tub).

Thank you!

Yes good advice to arrive, lock up and go for a coffee, my first and only car boot experience people were swarming me, one asked how much forthe car seat love? It was in the back of the car with my baby in it 😲i was so pissed off i said depends if you want the fucking baby with it as well!

Bum bag is a great plan and yes the table needs to be on top. 😁 Some bin bags or cheap shower curtains are also great for chucking stuff on either side of the table so it's not directly on the grass.

Argh I've just put the trestle table on the bottom and boxes on top.

Nooo, you need to unpack. The table needs to be the last thing in, first thing out. If you have to put boxes and items outside the car while you unpack things will be stolen,

Will pack camping chairs and bring tea - thanks!

Yep, just trying to avoid lots of plastic going to landfill (this year, anyway). Have things like LOL Dolls and Star Wars figures, a car seat, a couple of nice handbags.

Will bring bags for life to sell/give.

I can do friendly, smiley and chatty 😀

Where are all these posters saying things will get nicked?! I'm in a sleepy town in the SW of England...?

Will make 12yr DS security then!

I don't think it matters which area you're in. Unfortuately it happens all the time at car boot sales. 😔

I was actually thinking that myself, I’ve done plenty of car boots and never had anything nicked, People do get overly handsy though! Touching things and picking things up for seemingly no reason! 😂

It definitely depends which car boot sale you go to. There's loads near us. Some are ruthless, aggressive places to go. Lots of exporters and people who want things for nothing. Which is fair enough but accept it when people want more than 10p for something.

Another I've been to is completely different. It's quieter with more locals so the atmosphere is completely different. It's probably harder to sell stuff there, but also less stressful!

The way I see it, is it'll likely be less hassle that trying to sell it all on marketplace.

I shall update you all tomorrow! Pitch is £8 and if we come home with £9 I'll be happy...

Take another person with you. Good to have an extra pair of hands to deal with dealers swarming so you can unpack in peace.

Update! Thanks for the tips...

Agree need two people - ds was a godsend!

Hot drink in a travel mug and camping chair were appreciated.

Yes, arse holes at 7.30am trying to rummage and buy stuff 🙄 told them politely I was still unloading. Two men almost got into a scuffle at that time as one got too close to the other?! Bizarre. Sellers deffo buying my stock to sell on before 8.30am. Genuine buyers after 9am I'd say. Nice to see little ones get excited to buy some "new" toys for 20p/50p etc and know they'll be enjoyed a while longer.

Made about £40 and split it 50/50 with DS so happy with that! Still need to take some stuff to a charity shop/stick on FB for free but got rid of quite a bit 😊

Glad to hear you had a good time and the tips helped. If you have enough left then have a nosey to see if they are doing one again tomorrow or if there's another one nearby with it being a bank holiday.

Well done OP, it sounds like you did well.

Another tip for the left overs is people actually buy carboot job lots. Just chuck it on FB for £10 and someone will probably bite your hand off. I've found it works much better than listing for free, as if you list for free people often mess you around as they think they're doing you a favour.

It's literally a couple of carrier bags of bits, not enough for another stall. They are doing another next week, and every Sunday until end of Sept, but we are not morning people and I'm wrecked now 😂

Ah yes, I remember posting a huge tub of plastic toys for £5 a few years ago on FB. Had a woman at my door 20 mins later biting my hand off haha. Sure it was headed for a boot sale but didn't care.

Haha......love it!!! 😂