Car boot sales / selling

[AliceRR]

I have lots of “stuff” to get rid of - clothes, shoes, some handbags, beauty products. I used to shop a lot (and spent my money unwisely in the days before I got a mortgage etc but nvm). I have some clothes and shoes I’ve never worn, I have unused and brand new make up and beauty products (often where I’ve bought things on 3 for 2) or things I’ve got in beauty boxes like Birchbox and Glossybox (I don’t buy those any more) and probably some unwanted gifts.

I would be prepared to sell a lot of it v cheaply like £2 for a clothing item in good condition but then I have just a few other items that I might want more for like a brand new Ted Baker dress (tags on) that I pad £90 for in the sale or some leather shoes and boots I didn’t wear.

Most of the beauty products I’d sell cheaply to get rid of the things I won’t used. My cousins have said they’d like first dibs but I feel awkward selling to family and one of them has a habit of always going out without any money!

I suppose my AIBU is AIBU to think it’s worthwhile selling at a car boot sale? I used to sell on eBay, a few years ago, but I find t quite labour intensive to list each item individually.

I sell a lot on eBay and am in a routine with it so don’t find it takes too long
2-3 times a year I do a car boot with unsold eBay items and generally make between £75 and £150
I price shoes and bags £1-3 depending on brand and condition
Most clothing unless designer I let go for £1 apart from maybe coats and dresses at £2
Make up sells ok eg £1 for nail varnish
Part used perfume sells very well and can often get nearly half of RRP
I always do ok with bedding cushions and curtains too
Costume jewellery sells ok
I find books cds DVD’s not worth bothering with
Bric a brace same unless antique or collectable and even then goes very cheaply

I think with the good stuff you need to be wary of car boot sales. Someone I know decided to try one: she and her DH had some very good stuff to sell … as other posters have said, it was like being attacked by vultures. Their car was surrounded as soon as they arrived: someone opened their boot and started looking through the stuff before friend and DH had even got out of the car. They couldn't unpack properly before people were grabbing stuff out of boxes, they couldn't keep track of who had what, and a lot of stuff was stolen before they even set up. The thing about a Ted Baker dress: very easy to scrunch up and stick under your jumper! I know not everyone is a thief, but you need to be very aware. I doubt you would get more than £5-10 for the dress at a car boot sale, tbh.

There are also Facebook selling groups for specific things (like a Boden/Seasalt/Cath Kidston group etc.), try to look for some of those maybe as they are closed groups and have their own rules, I find it's better than just Marketplace.

I've just made about £100 profit (after p&p and Paypal fees) selling my clothes on FB in the past week or so although it's quite hard work photographing, listing everything with details, packing, posting etc. It only works if you have brands people want and items are in good condition.

Their car was surrounded as soon as they arrived: someone opened their boot and started looking through the stuff before friend and DH had even got out of the car. They couldn't unpack properly before people were grabbing stuff out of boxes, they couldn't keep track of who had what, and a lot of stuff was stolen before they even set up.

😲 Oh gosh that doesn’t sound good. It did occur to me if it was a busy boot sale (which is presumably more worthwhile in many ways) then there would be a risk of this.

I’m going to look at Facebook marketplace and see if that seems more feasible for me than eBay. I just think it takes ages to list things on eBay but with Facebook it looks like listings just contain a picture and basic info

If you are prepared to sell for 10p a boot sale is ideal. Have done a few but really it isn't worth it and once was next to a lady who didn't sell a thing (clothing etc.).

You need to lock the car on arrival and sit in it until the horde has gone or you end up with a boot full of thieves. Or get out and go for a wander. I chose a place where buyers are let in after sellers are set up so only had to contend with people rushing up asking for perfume and jewellery as soon as we got out of the car.

Sell online, or give it away, the stress isn't worth it.

Ebay! Sounds a pain but if you know the value of your stuff, you will make good money. Brand new cosmetics and tpiletires sell for quite a few decent pounds. Just have patience. I recently made £450 on ebay, sold about 75 items😩

I have done all of the suggestions and feel pleased and frustrated with all the results.

ebay - put your high ticket items on here when there is a £0 listing fee. Dont over egg your postage. Enough for the stamp and around 50p for packaging etc to cover overheads. Make sure you weigh each item before listing.
Also send items with a tracking number unless sending recorded etc.
Make sure all faults are listed as you will get people pulling fast ones.
With good items I generally sell 80% and usually have about 2% of issues if that.

facebook - be specific about collection if you dont want to deliver . Be prepared to reply to alot of messages and not get a response. This is usually because when you scroll through an item its really easy to hit the " send a I'm interested message" and it's very hard to stop that message going.
I always work on a first come first served basis. So if I get 5 messages within a day. I sell to the first person who responds and can come soonest.
Just remember that some people can be annoying and not turn up. Be ready to tell them to take a hike if they take the pee.
also it's ok not to give your address until day of collection when they confirm they are still coming.

Gumtree - same rules as Facebook really. You dont need to pay to list stuff

For Facebook and gumtree you can post just make sure you ask for payment via PayPal goods service which gives protection and you post with some form of tracking. Take photos of the item packaged up etc as proof as well.

carboot I only take stuff to carboot which is of low value or I dont mind giving away. Stuff which has failed to sell on any of the above I will take if I have lost the will and will be my top costing items .

Price up higher ticket things. Or put a sign like 50p each or 5 for £2

When you pack the car put the tables, rails etc in last so they are the first things you get out. When you arrive take them out and shut the boot. If someone asks if you have something reply politely but say they will need to come back. Take your time doing things,they often get bored and wander off.

If you can take someone with you who can keep an eye on things while you unpack.

Be prepared to either refuse a sale if you have a price in mind or give something alot cheaper than you intend.

Take lots of change but watch what people give you as I had people giving me old £1 coins.

I think the thing to remember with selling is that when you bought something it gave you pleasure and you have had the happiness it bought you. So selling it is just a way of recouping a small amount of money you spent on it.
Unless its collecitble or vintage etc then you are unlikely to get back the money you spent.

Good luck.

Hi Alice I’m West Yorkshire too. I scoped out the airport carboot the other week and there were a lot of sellers and buyers but things selling for 20p 50p etc

I would sell tagged clothing and bags on ebay. Just take a few pics on your phone and use the mobile app. I sometimes used fb marketplace but things get buried on there

Years ago I used to do the York hardcore car boot and that was better but no idea if it still would be. My mum lives in a village with a craft festival and we would put a stall outside her house with stuff it would do really well

Seriously thinking about driving round picturesque villages in search of the perfect pitch now on village fete day

Dont over egg your postage. Enough for the stamp and around 50p for packaging etc to cover overheads. Make sure you weigh each item before listing.

I’ve always found it difficult guess postage. If I weigh the item, should I be able to accurately work out what it will cost to post online?

Also send items with a tracking number unless sending recorded etc

How do I send a tracking number if it isn’t sent recorded or special?

Hi @ilovetolurk I’ve heard of the airport carboot and also the York one. I think I had in mind that I would go to one of the bigger ones like that but from what I’ve read it might not be worth it.

I think I need to pull my finger out and list some things on eBay now especially as I have some time off work. I’ll probably give away the stuff that isn’t worth much

Just one question If I list someone on Facebook am I obligated to sell it? So could I list something on eBay and Facebook and then just take it off FB if I get a buyer on eBay (or vice versa)

Royal mail have a thing where you can put the weight and rough size (clothes are generally small parcels) and it will tell you the postage. Most of the time mine come up at £3.05 so I charge 3.50 for postage.

When you take to post office if using a person asked for 2nd or 1st class tracked. They enter the post code and number of the address and it gives a tracking reference so you know when its got to the address you used.
It doesn't guarantee 100% especially if the buyer has given royal mail authority to leave parcel with a neighbour but it helps to see it's not stuck in the sorting office.

If you use the machine you can enter the postcode and number as well but you have to make sure you add it correctly.

If you list in 2 places. If you put it on Ebay as soon as it has a bid you have to sell it to that person or whoever has the highest bid as it forms a contract unless the item becomes damage or no longer fits the description . Ebay does frown upon sellers who frequently list and then cancel, you can do it on the odd occasion if there is an error etc. You may also still be charged for listing.

If you put on Facebook and Ebay I would recommend signposting the person to Ebay and saying you are happy for collection in person.

From personal experience I would try on fb or gumtree first as its free. If you get no joy then list on Ebay as it hits a wider market.

Facebook is a bit more loose on rules however if you become a frequent seller who cancels a sale buyers get annoyed and can report you.

Where I am we also have a group for reporting dodgy or frustrating buyers or sellers.

I always think how would I like to be treated if I was the buyer and try to keep to that attitude.

Have a look at Depop if you have good, fashionable items, specially brands that young/ students like. It works a bit like a social media site and ebay buy it now. List your items for the price you want plus 10/15% as people like to negotiate. Charges are similar to ebay but things sell for more money if the right brands. It is particularly good for vintage branded clothing. My teen DD uses it quite successfully to sell her unwanted clothing and shoes. You don't pay for listing so worth a try.

Royal Mail find a price:

m.royalmail.com/mt/www.royalmail.com/mobile-price-finder

You need to weigh accurately if it is close to the price band though. Or just weigh it and use the price list:

www.royalmail.com/personal/sending-parcels

I don't charge for packaging or recorded delivery as it puts people off, just actual postage cost. Or use freepost and factor it into the selling price.

Sell it all really cheaply at the car boot, get rid of what you can, anything you don’t sell drop off at a charity shop on your way home, otherwise it will just find it’s way back into your home the next car boot sale.

Personally I prefer car boot sales to Facebook selling pages. Facebook attracts lots of people who mess around wanting it then disappearing or changing times for collection.

Also the bigger problem for me is people then know your name and your address. Who wants that.

A car boot and you pack a car put it out and gone.ive always found most of our stuff goes. Choose a big one and price to sell and all good things will go. It always amazes me if I walk around the junk people try to sell. Who the hell wants to buy used mugs!

A car boot and you pack a car put it out and gone.ive always found most of our stuff goes.

That’s what I was thinking but not worth it to me if I’m only going to get up to about £1 an item.

Who the hell wants to buy used mugs!

Literally the only things I bought from my recent car boot recce were a 20p pair of bbq tongs and 50p for a mug

It is a very nice bone china mug in my defence

I normally put the prices I want on or have an idea of what I want and then reduce it as the day goes by. I also put my stuff out straight away as actually I find the dealers easier to deal with than people later on and actually most pay nearly what I ask.

It helps if you are a common size I have size 5 or 6 feet, hubby size 9 so our shoes are an easy sell. Same with clothes.

Things that are expensive like your dress, put somewhere near you like on the car same with small bits that are worth money put at the back

@ilovetolurk ah ha I am wrong! Just goes to show there is something for everyone. I love the idea of us all reusing things rather than binning.

I’m a size 5 in shoes and a size 8 in clothes

We did two car boot last year big one where we live in South West. Sold most stuff for about £2.00 maybe £3.00. labeled stuff a bit more. To be honest we had so much crap we made about £400 over the two sales. Wouldn't do it again as we don't have enough stuff but was a nice afternoon out.

Oh and people will buy anything they think is a bargain we literally sold old rope

As mentioned above, depop is the place for higher end clothing.

Also worth giving shpock a try. I recently sold a 15 year old car on shpock and the buyer travelled over 300 miles to collect it. And as long as you don’t sign up for premium membership and remember to say that all your items as collection only, there are no fees to pay. (If you are happy to post, you will pay PayPal fees)

I've tried Depop recently and I'm probably too old for it (at 36) but I've had people message me things like "I'm interested in these!" with nothing else in the message... I've responded to ask if they have any questions and had no response. I don't understand why they don't just buy, or if not, just not message...

I've tried Depop recently and I'm probably too old for it (at 36) but I've had people message me things like "I'm interested in these!" with nothing else in the message

Oh that’s strange. Are there stock responses people can send without typing anything?

I’m 35 so I’m probably too old as well 😂