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Original poster

How do I go about doing a car boot sale?

22 replies

Lilliput · 08/01/2006 21:10

I've got loads of baby gear I want to get rid of and I was thinking of doing a car boot sale. Does anyone have any pointers or tips on making as much money as possible. Is it even worth doing with baby stuff as my dh reckons it's probably a bit of a flooded market? Do I put a price on everything or do I just wait to see what people offer?

OP posts:
helsi · 08/01/2006 21:13

have you tried looking on ebay first - some things go for quite a bit. Ca boot sales are ok but items are much cheaper and its cold, dark and you have to get up very early.

Original poster
Lilliput · 08/01/2006 21:17

I fancy trying to get rid of stuff in a one-er, I just think the effort of putting the stuff on ebay and all the posting fills me with dread.

OP posts:
Marne · 08/01/2006 21:18

I always price evrything because some people dont like asking, put all your best items on hangers and use a clothes rail (if you can get hold of one). Put babygrows and vests in boxes marked with the age/size (0-3 months etc..) Be prepared to lower your prices if things are not selling well or you will end up taking it all home.

northerner · 08/01/2006 21:18

Baby stuff always sells well at a boot sale I reckon. But I agree with Helsi you'd get more for it on ebay.

If you do the boot sale have an idea of how much you want for each item cause people will ask you how much. Always mark up slightly cause they will barter you down.

Original poster
Lilliput · 08/01/2006 21:32

What sort of prive do you put on the little things like babygrows and vests Marne?

OP posts:
Original poster
Lilliput · 08/01/2006 21:33

sorry, price

OP posts:
DustAnyone · 08/01/2006 21:33

I have got loads of baby stuff to sell and thought I'd try ebay but how do you work out your postage costs?

helsi · 08/01/2006 21:43

you could try selling in bundles of items and putting one price on so for example a bundles of 10 vests you could charge approx £5 (50p per vest) at a car boot sale as people don't pay a great deal more. Maybe sell for more on e-bay.

Ebay - postage costs - you can either weight and sell based on the royal mail charges for weight (see thei website) or you could charge a sellers standard fee.

DustAnyone · 08/01/2006 22:05

Sorry if this sounds stupid but where do I buy scales big enough to weigh clothes on. Are normal kitchen scales reliable enough or would the clothes weigh to much?

Skribble · 08/01/2006 22:07

Should be able to weigh most baby stuff on the kitchen scales or if heavier bathroom scales.

helsi · 08/01/2006 22:08

it would depend how you were weighing them either singular or bundles. remember to weith them with boxes etc as they will be weighed to include those at the post office.

you could have a look on ebay for postage costs of similar items.

Skribble · 08/01/2006 22:09

RoyalMail

Skribble · 08/01/2006 22:11

What about indoor bootsales, we have quite a few localy, usually monthly or twice a month.

Ask if any friends want to join you with there junk and make it more fun than standing or your own or with DH .

DustAnyone · 08/01/2006 22:26

Thanks Skribble and Helsi, will look out the baby stuff now!

helsi · 08/01/2006 22:27

what have you got exactly. i am looking out for some things myself.

DustAnyone · 08/01/2006 22:31

Little boys stuff, mostly jeans,trousers,tops etc from new born to about 12 -18 months I think. They are packed in the loft... would need to get them down to tell you exactly whats in there!

helsi · 08/01/2006 22:32

thank but i'm expecting a girl apparently

Original poster
Lilliput · 08/01/2006 22:32

double pushchair
moses basket plus stand
sleeping bags 0-6mths x2
boys clothes 0-6mths
some baby girl clothes
some toddler girl clothes
bambino mio nappies and some unused wraps
Ikea cot bumper (green snails pattern)
Musical cot mobile

Ummm, the contents of my garage!

OP posts:
mumfor1sttime · 08/01/2006 22:37

When doing a car boot sale - be prepared for the 'traders', they will hover around your car like bees round honey, as soon as you enter the site.
They will then proceed to rummage through your things and ask 'how much?' or offer silly prices so that they can sell for more on their stall.

I havent done a car boot since before I had ds, but when I do, I park the car, sit in the car for 5 mins drinking a coffee, to annoy the traders and then go for a walk around the car boot sale - leaving the traders standing by my car shaking their heads!!

Skribble · 08/01/2006 22:41

The traders/ vultures are why I would always take a friend, one of you concentrates on un loading and garding te vehicle and one sets the table while making the early deals. Don't sell for silly prices but you can unload a lot of stuff early to the vultures just don't let them haggle you down to much.

I sold a couple of boxed sets of glasses to vultures that I doubt I would have got much for later. They were only cheap sets from Argos anyway.

mumfor1sttime · 08/01/2006 22:57

skribble I always go with dh. Get the 'not so good' you want to sell cheap out of car first, leave 'good' stuff for when traders have 'done their thing'!

Skribble · 08/01/2006 23:04

mumfor1sttime thats a great tip never even thought of that. I did a boot sale once with DH and he was a pain. I got him to help on my market stall the week before Christmas and to say his heart wasn't in it is putting it lightly. At least he got up with me and helped me set up.

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