AIBU to object to a £1 charity entry fee at car boot sale?

128 replies

TightwadTilly · 27/03/2026 18:27

My local car boot sale has been running for years, apart from a Covid hiatus.

As it's now reaching the time of year when getting up early on a Sunday morning is a pleasure, I was planning to start going again. However, I've found out they are now imposing a £1 entry fee for buyers. Apparently this will go to charity - I haven't found out which charity or charities, however that isn't greatly material to my point.

I want to be clear that I could afford a £1 entry fee, but I really object to the principle of it and - this might sound odd - the fact it is a charity 'donation' is even more annoying. I could live with it better if it was a case of the sellers having their pitch fees reduced by £1 to 'share the costs'.

It also puts me off selling there (which I have done in the past) as I'm sure there will be others deterred from going in by this fee, either on principle or because they go to car boot sales to get things cheap that they couldn't otherwise afford.

Quite prepared to be told I am tighter than a gnat's arse, hence name change, but AIBU?

OP posts:

Zov · 28/03/2026 20:57

Because it's a pound, I wouldn't give it the time of day @TightwadTilly For all you know, they may have been giving 5 or 6% of the profits to charity already. And to a charity (or charities) you may not want to give to.

I think you are really fussing over something incredibly trivial. I'm not going to bash you or mock you though, as you've been battered on here.

Only thing I can suggest is that you don't go to the car boot sale, if you resent paying one pound so much.

As a number of posters have stated, just because something has always been free, it doesn't mean it always will be. You need to accept this, or, as many people have said, just don't go.

Original poster

TightwadTilly · 28/03/2026 20:57

TheLette · 28/03/2026 20:53

OP I think you are being ridiculously tight (and I say this as someone who is also very tight!). HOWEVER are you sure it's not clear who the charity is? It should be clear, legally, before you pay, because obviously you should know. You might not want to donate to a particular charity because you don't share their aims, who knows. I wonder if the advertising refers to a charity donation because the charity varies but when you go on a particular day they make it clear which charity your money will go to? If it isn't clear, then you do have a point (but personally I would have made your point without mentioning the £1 element, because your point isn't really the amount but rather the fact that the charity recipient is unclear).

I haven't been able to find this out either online or by looking at the signs around town. If I'm up for a walk one Sunday morning, I might see if it says on the spot (can't tomorrow, have other plans).

I thought I would mention the amount to avoid a stream of posts asking what the amount was!

OP posts:

Original poster

TightwadTilly · 28/03/2026 21:42

Zov · 28/03/2026 20:57

I think you are really fussing over something incredibly trivial. I'm not going to bash you or mock you though, as you've been battered on here.

Only thing I can suggest is that you don't go to the car boot sale, if you resent paying one pound so much.

As a number of posters have stated, just because something has always been free, it doesn't mean it always will be. You need to accept this, or, as many people have said, just don't go.

Yes, it is my plan to vote with my feet - I realise I have to accept it in the practical sense. I don't have to agree with it, and I'm allowed to moan about it on an anonymous forum where I have taken steps (name changing) to avoid identifying either myself or the location of the event.

OP posts:

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