Doing a Car Boot Sale

I did my first car boot sale 17 years ago, and did not know what to expect, so I thought I would write out this guide to try to help others who perhaps want to do a car boot sale.

The first thing to do is to find out the date and time of the event.  This gives you an idea of how long you have to sort out your car boot sale stuff, and to know where and when you are going on the day itself.  If you don’t know where the event is, a good idea would be to go and check out the venue beforehand so that you know where you are going and to know how long it takes you to get there.

If you are going to a car boot sale that begins at 7am, it is a good idea to get there just before that time to set up.  It may seem like an early start, but real bargain hunters do go to car boot sales early.  Do be warned, though, that real bargain hunters do hang about your car when you are trying to get your stuff out – they just want to know what kind of stuff you are selling.

When sorting out your stuff, I do not think that it matters if you have your stuff priced or not, as if people are interested in something then they will ask you how much you are selling it for.  It is a good idea to have an amount in mind, though – and it is a good idea to start at a reasonable amount than too little as you can always take the price down later if you don’t sell.

Another tip is to set your table out well. You can get painting tables from your local DIY store that don’t cost too much, and they fold well to go in your car. If you lay things out neatly then people will be able to see your stuff much better and will be more inclined to linger at your table (and hopefully buy from you!). 

Find out beforehand how much the entry fee is for the car boot sale that you are going to as the fee varies.  Also, I have noticed that some car boot sales that I have been to will wait until you have been selling for a little while to give you a chance to make some money, while others will take the money on your way in, so you are probably best to have this money ready on your way in just in case.

You will come home with stuff, but hopefully not too much stuff – as I don’t know anyone yet who has come home with nothing.  On a good day, though, you can make quite a bit of money from a car boot sale. I go down and meet a friend round the corner first so that we can get parked together – this way, if either of us have to go to the toilet, or want a look around, the other can watch the two tables for a little while.  It is a good idea to take a flask of tea with you and snacks if you are planning on being there for a while (don’t forget the suncream if you are going on a nice day – I’ve been to a car boot sale and got burnt before). 

Do take lots of plastic bags and loose change with you as you will find that you will need them on the day.  Happy selling!