A general list of car boot tips
1. Pack your car up for the car boot sales and bring with you a folding table to display your goods and if possible a sheet to cover your table with in case of a shower.
2. Take these items to the car boot sales - carrier bags, folding chairs, sheets of plastic as a cover or to spread on the ground (good for displaying clothes), warm jackets, sun hats, an umbrella, sun cream, (check weather forecast very important) wet wipes .
3. When you get to the car boot sales and start setting up your pitch, there will be people who will swarm around. These are probably going to be to people who also have stalls, they'll be professionals Who'll buy something from you and then sell it on their pitch for a higher price. To avoid this, once you've parked up on your pitch, lock your car up and walk away for a few minutes then the professionals will have moved on to the next Booters who are arriving.
4. Have in mind what your prices you want for your car boot sales goods and wait, don't sell all your best stuff for a knockdown price within five minutes of getting there, you can always reduce your price a bit, if it's not sold, as the day goes on.
5. Don't be afraid to say "no" (politely of course) to offers and have a counter offer ready.
6. Take lots of change and a container with a lid for money taken at the car boot sale. Once you have a few notes, lock these in your car or put them safely in your pocket. Don't leave your money tin on the table, there are people who will distract you and someone could nick it. Take something secure to put your money in. A money belt is best, because then no one can run off with it.
7. It is best if there is 2 of you on the car boot sale pitch, sometimes you can have a crowd of say 10 people all looking and handling your goods so it is best to have at least 2 people to deal with the crowd. You also get a toilet break!
8. Take a table and cover it in a clean cloth to set up your stuff at the car boot sale. Lay it out nicely so people don't rifle and ensure that everything is on display. Some people just pile all their stuff on the grass and expect people to buy from them. If it looks like junk people will regard your goods as junk.
9. Make sure all of your stuff for the car boot sale is CLEANED and mended where necessary.
10. Buy a packet of little price tags, and price up everything before you go. Some people will haggle, but many people won't, and if there's no price on the item some people won't give it a second look. Take the stickers with you, so you can drop/up your prices throughout the morning at the car boot sale as required.
11. Get to the car boot sale early and make sure that you have a flask of tea/bottle of drink and some sandwiches with you. (You DON'T want to be spending money whilst you're there).
12. Take some small change to the car boot sales. Make sure that you know how much you've brought, so you can work out your earnings.
13. Don't be shy... It's amazing what some people will buy at car boot sales. It's great fun, and as long as you make your pitch money back, then you've lost nothing.
14. Make colourful signs for any larger/more expensive items, with any useful information in bold letters.
15. Put a smile on your face, it will attract people to your car boot sale stall.
16. Some Car Booters like to buy from other Car Booters to compliment what they've got to sell, that's great fun if you like people watching and wheeling and dealing.
17. Don't sell all your best stuff in the first few minutes for less than you want for them, have a price in mind. You can always drop your price if after a while if you don't sell it. Its normally the dealers who come early and they will try to get it for next to nothing so you have everything to gain by not clearing out straight away at the car boot sales.
18. Don't be worried about taking anything back home with you. What doesn't sell today, will sell next week.
19. Pack a collapsible chair and possibly an umbrella if you can fit it in the car, as it can get very hot in the summer. You'll probably be on your feet for a good 6 or 7 hours, and it can be tiring (but it's well worth it).
20. If you're there mainly to clear out items that you were thinking of just throwing away, then take any reasonable offer. Some people usually price their stuff quite low. You will get a feel for pricing as you go along.
21. VERY important...check bank notes...especially twenties, as there are fakes around. Do not accept a cheque from anyone.
22. The main thing is to ENJOY the car boot sale. It's great fun, and think of all the clutter you're clearing out! Good luck.
Accommodation
Art and Entertainment
Automotive
Beauty
Charities
Community Clubs
Education
Estate Agents
Fastfood
Health and Medical
Heritage and Attractions
Leisure and Fitness
Local Services
Nightlife
Pets
Professional Services
Public Services and Government
Pubs And Bars
Religious Organisation
Restaurants
Shopping
Sports Clubs
Tradesman
Travel
