Car boot sales

[miobombino]

Lots of you will I'm sure have done one of these. I have a lot of stuff to clear out that we don't need; bigger things i'm happy to ebay but i want a one off clear out of loads of smaller/cheaper bits and pieces - clothing, books, videos, DVDs etc.

is it doable without help or do i really need to rope in a willing teenager to help me ? Do I need to price everything up before i go or can i make it up as i go along ?

I've pinpointed an indoor venue nearish to me which provides tables so i wouldn't have to bring my own. Not really a carboot then but ykwim !

Any advice appreciated please.

Probably best to take someone with you to cover table in case of toilet/food break or just to let you have a nosey round.
I priced up some of my bigger stuff, but with smaller stuff I had a rough idea of what I wanted to ask (with room for negotiation of course!)
Have fun!

Haven't done one for ages but worth the relative amount of hassle for the feeling of unburdening the crap for hard cash.

Be careful unloading - you do get some vultures dealers crowding round when they see someone arriving which can cause a bit of confusion when you're still trying to get sorted out. As Macdog said, definitely take someone so you can have a snack or loo break. Don't price anything up first and leave plenty of room for negotiation. Take some change and something with pockets or some sort of tin to hold your cash - preferably something (hideous I know) like a bumbag.

(Btw, you can list and sell books, videos and DVDs on Amazon quicker than eBay and you might get more than at a car boot sale but watch out for the fees/postage.)

Don't forget to put your table in LAST when you are loading up your car. Park it at the sale and walk away for 5mins then the vultures who are circling will go somewhere else.

I do price my big stuff up at a couple of quid over what I want for it, if someone is looking, I'll knock them down a bit and then get a reasonable price.

Have a rummage basket or two at the front of your table, people love a rummage.

Take a marker pen, tape and card so you can re write signs and prices as you go. I have mainly done them by myself. Take a flask and you'll be amazed how much you can make. Oh and by the way, all your old make up and toiletries will sell too! (Ewwww)

Oh I'm jealous. Dreaded doing my first ever a couple of months ago but really loved it. I did it with a friend and it was very helpful to have someone there to look after things when loo and coffee breaks were needed. Also, the vultures were quite intimidating when you arrive so it is very nice to have a bit of moral support too.

IMO it is really important to have your table laid out as well as you can. Don't just chuck things on the table, it grabs peoples attention if things look nice so they can see the wood for the trees.

I didn't price most things up, just flew by the seat of my pants on the day. However, I had a lot of books and videos and I priced them all the same so marked that on the boxes.

It is really useful to have quite a lot of change and I was also asked a lot for bags for items.

It is the most amazing buzz to get money (even 50p) for something that is one small step away from the dump. Enjoy.

Some great help here; thanks everyone. I had thought about change but have no idea how much to bring to start off with. thought a mix of £1 coins and lots of smaller change (obviously would round things down in customer's favour if short of small stuff). How does that sound ?

Mumemma have had some success on amazon for books/music;enough anyway for new startrites/swimming lessons etc. It's the stuff i haven't shifted there i want shot of...along with assorted clothing from 4 dcs and dh and myself which isn';t desirable enough for ebay but which put together would bring in some cash.

Maidamess...the make up ?? really? In that case my stall will be really popular !!

Looking forward to it already.

Just a thought, if you are selling clothing, can you get hold of a clothes rail? It is a really handy way to display the clothes and doesn't keep getting messed up if people are rifling through them like folded clothes would. Lots of people at my boot sale had them and it looked very professional.

About £10 in £1 and 50p coins would probably be enough plus some small stuff.

If there are no prices I walk away because I'm too scared to ask.

I have done them alone, it's fine, tho take some snacks and something safe for money (eg bumbag).

I find you need a few big ticket items which will make £10+ or it's no tworth th egrief.

Clothes don't tend to sell unless Boden or things like coats. No-one ever wanted my lovely Gap dungarees!

Toys sell well - last one I did I shifted the ELC easel for a tenner and the ELC garage for £5.

I do prices in my head then make it up on the spot. Write down in a book what sold and for how much (that's just because I'm anal tho).

Yeah clothes rail is a good plan. Also something nice to draw the eye - last time the garage drew a lot of attention to my stall (until someone bought it lol)

miobombino - I know what you mean, some things just don't shift via Amazon or eBay and you get bored of listing them. Sometimes a morning at a car boot sale is a better use of time to offload those items.

Definitely get a clothes rail and if you have time, iron a few of the nicer items - Ikea do one which you can dismantle reasonably easily although obviously you don't want to outlay too much - maybe someone could lend you one? Group similar clothes together.

Also an idea to get a throw or tablecloth of some kind to put over the table. Looks better and also you can stash spare stuff, boxes and bags and things under the table out of sight.

Try and start saving supermarket bags or ask your newsagent if you can buy a pack of carrier bags off him. Ours gave me a packet of those cheapo striped ones they use.

It sounds like I'm out flogging stuff every week - done about five in my life!

The last time we did a car boot we made £67, not that much but it was all stuff that, as you say, was heading to the dump. It was only a 3 hour car boot and it was a lovely day in the country. If you have anything that comes apart for storage put it together for showing and stand it up on top of its original box if you have it. Computer games games go well, but keep the disks in the car in individual envelopes with a little note on the case to say that they have been taken out, or they will walk.
If selling anything with batteries, take some to show it working, but take the batteries out on selling. The batteries will probably cost you more than you will receive, and you may need them for another toy etc.
I second the lots and lots of carrier bags.