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Original poster

Need some opinions on car boot tactics please!

12 replies

Ixel · 27/08/2004 11:42

...Am doing a car boot sale next month, to try and clear the junk before we (hopefully) move house.
Is it better to price label everything, so people dont have to ask, or will that frighten them off if they think its too high and non negotiable? Its mainly baby clothes and equipment, but also some household things and books donated by my Dad!
Also, how much float do you think I'll need? And, are there any cunning display ideas, given that I don't have a trestle table and will have to improvise!
All suggestions gratefully recieved.

OP posts:

StickyNote · 27/08/2004 11:54

Mmm, I'll be interested to see what tips you get as I'm aiming to do one next month as well. I haven't done one for about six years but would recommend the following:

Pricing up beforehand makes it easier - people descend on you as soon as you open the boot and it could easily turn into a bun fight.

Bribe a friend into helping you - two pairs of eyes/hands is a big help. Then if things are priced up already, your friend doesn't have to keep asking you how much.

Try and borrow a table - a wallpaper table works well. It just makes everything easier.

HTH

posyhairdresser · 27/08/2004 11:57

Keep re-arranging your stall every 5 minutes or so and dress yourself nicely
Most folk have small change but take alot of Tesco bags!

posyhairdresser · 27/08/2004 12:00

Agree that it's a big advantage to have 2 of you on the stall.

Don't get jammed in so you can't leave when you are ready

Take a chair for yourself & something to drink

Talk to folk who look at your stall and tell them the prices even if you have priced things already

Reduce your prices after a while...

posyhairdresser · 27/08/2004 12:02

The first folk to turn up will be dealers looking to sell your stuff on at a profit on their own stall. It is likely that you will be able to sell your stuff later on to individuals at higher prices than dealers offer you!

Miriam2 · 27/08/2004 12:03

When it's getting near the end, take what ever anyone offers for what's left. We turned down an offer on a fondue set(!) and guess what we had to lug home...? Ideally you want to come home with nothing but money!

posyhairdresser · 27/08/2004 12:03

Clothes will fetch more if they are on hangers

posyhairdresser · 27/08/2004 12:05

Dispaly your books so people can read the titles easily - don't just jam them tightly in a box on top of each other. Books sold like mad when I did a boot sale 2 weeks ago.

JemimaBobbins · 27/08/2004 12:07

I always label things beforehand but am prepared to drop the price a bit as a lot of people will ask if you'll take less. If you have more stuff than will fit on a table (pasting table or plastic garden table??)take a plastic sheet to put on the ground. Put a cloth on the table to make it look nicer and do make yourself look nice (I only buy off "nice" looking people, lol!!).

Take a picnic and a flask otherwise you'll spend all your takings at the burger van!

Take some kitchen roll and wipes in case you need to give anything a quick clean, extra labels in case you need to reprice, wear lots of layers as it can be quite cold early in the morning. I usually take a couple of blankets to sit on in the boot of the car but others take fold up chair.

Can't think of anything else at the mo....

SenoraPostrophe · 27/08/2004 12:18

either don't price things or take a few bits of card and a marker pen, so you can write a big "everything half price" sign if things don't go too well early on.

Also if you do price things, price them slightly high, so you can discount things - people do like to haggle at car boots.

A table makes a big difference - how about a few big upturned boxes instead? and do you have a clothes rail for the baby clothes?

jodee · 27/08/2004 19:32

Next time, I would price things up. I'm useless at adding up (in my head or on paper!) and when I did an indoor boot sale a while ago I didn't have things pre-priced up and totally lost track when people were buying a couple of items, and when another customer asked "how much is this?" in the middle of my mental arithmetic, well I was stuffed!

A small float is a good idea.

As has been said, lots of carrier bags in a variety of sizes and keep moving things around the table.

Original poster

Ixel · 28/08/2004 08:24

Thanks alot.. had thought of some things, but certainly a few other good tips! My new question is....we have far more than one car load. Is it 'against the rules' to leave one person setting up whilst the other goes back for a second load? Or would that count as 2 stalls? Because that would be unfair to the people with smaller cars! Or could dh and friend carry the second load up for us and get in ok?

OP posts:

posyhairdresser · 28/08/2004 12:44

Ixel - this will depend on the car boot sale - either is possible - why not phone up a few different organisers & see what works out best for you?

IME cheaper pitches go along with a lower pricing car boot sale & expensive pitches mean higher prices paid and a busier sale so probably not much difference profit-wise!

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