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| Raising money for Notting Hill Carnival Club at Wimbledon Stadium car boot sale |
Top tips
Get there early
If you are selling, you generally need to arrive well before the punters. That could mean waking at the crack of dawn and queuing for two hours, or simply rolling up at 11am if it starts late – check with each individual sale.
Take a wallpaper pasting table and fold-up chair
You can track down a table at most DIY stores for around £10.
Make sure you have enough stuff to sell
You’ll be surprised at what people will buy. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and that is never truer than at a car boot sale. If in doubt, take it anyway – someone might well want that sushi-making set your brother-in-law gave you.
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Have prices sorted in your head
And if possible organise your stall in some kind of price order. Items over a tenner at one end, things for a fiver in the middle and a £1 box at the end.
Have your wits about you
When the punters descend, it’s chaos. If possible, set up before they approach you. Sometimes this is impossible and you’ll have 20 nimble-fingered people riffling through your boxes. Don’t be afraid to tell them to go away until you are ready.
Buy a bumbag
This isn’t a time to think about fashion, a bumbag is an absolute necessity to keep your cash and mobile phone safe.
Take some spare change
About ten £1 coins and four £5 notes should be fine.
Don’t accept £50 notes
People often try to get rid of fake notes at car boot sales, so don’t risk accepting one.
Don’t go it alone
You’ll need moral support and back-up when the haggling gets tough and for those all-important tea breaks.
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| Novice car-booter Maggie sets up a stall |
Things that sell well
Books Apparently the bestselling items at car boot sales, followed swiftly by…
Boxed toys, clothing, and CDs
Designer perfume and make-up But only if unused.
Electronics in good working order Boxed MP3 players, video games, mobile phones and the like, as long as you can prove they work.
Handbags For some reason, a good-looking leather, PVC, or glittery bag goes down a treat.
What to buy
Secondhand furniture is almost always dead cheap at car boot sales, so if you see something you love, buy it. You are unlikely to find it again.
China You’ll always find a lot of old tea sets at car boot sales that specialise in secondhand and antique. Look out for quality brands made in England like Royal Doulton. First edition books can be found at many car boot sales for next to nothing and can be resold on eBay for good money.
Designer clothing Always good if you happen upon a stall belonging to a fashion industry insider on a purge. Again, you can sell many designer items in good condition on eBay for a healthy profit.
What not to buy
Soft toys Just think about all the littlun's who may have thrown up on them.
Anything you suspect could be stolen If you purchase it you will be handling stolen goods, which is a criminal offence.
Secondhand lingerie Obviously.
Electrical equipment that you can’t test on site. Even if the vendor can prove something is working then and there, it won’t come with a guarantee.
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18 comments
Does anyone know where the Chiswick carboot sale is? plus details day, time etc.
Lyn
enjoyed article! anyone recommend se london or kent sale for vintage clothes.
theres a really good bootsale in taplo on a sunday and irene carvers bootsale in uxbridge is very good! denham have a great one every saturday!
im looking to do a car boot this sunday anyone know anygood ones have been told of 1 in finchley but i cant find any info on it.
Hello,
I live in norbury, london and am looking to do a car boot sale asap. Woulld anyone out there recommend one happening soon and isn't more than half an hour away please!
Thank-you.
I am looking to do a car boot and am thinking about the one in Burnt Oak or Battersea but not sure which to choose? They seem the best two options. I have a lot of stuff to get rid of - clothes, cosmetics, crockery, allsorts. Any suggestions?
The holloway market is complete garbage,i never seen so much cheap,overpriced merchandisings for sale.
I buy a Pda and it dont work,the black man who sells is no longer there.
time for shut down and do the community favor
Without a dubt, the best car boot anywhere in West London is Denham/Uxbirdge. It's just off the A40 and Oxford Road, Uxbridge. Absolutely massive and held on Saturdays in a field so Spring/Summer dry ground only. Visited by thousands each week with sellers from all over London and the Home Counties. Recommmended.
plz, anyone knows where is the nearest car boot market to, i am in northolt, & wht the procedure to get in there & sell my stuff.
does any 1 know the adress of the grenwich car boot sale ..which was in south wark road..many thanks.
I have read the comments made re: Holloway and I think some comments are very unfair! I have found some great stuff and really cheap buys! Most of the stall holders are really nice people! Yes it does get busy but thats a car boot for you! If you don't like the Frenzy stay at home!!!!
can someone advice me on which car both sale would be best for seliing a load of new unwanted kids suff ,all things are new i just want to get rid of the stuff to save on storage cost
I was surprised to see BATTERSEA BOOT was not featured in this article! It's Easily one of the best Boots in London. Every Sunday afternoon at Battersea Tec' College. It's a great Boot, busier than most and most importantly it's RELIABLE! they open every week rain or shine!
I have just read the really good article about Holloway Road Boot sale and found it very amusing, having just done the last two Sundays down there, I howled with laughter the way the writer described it all - so very fitting. I always enjoy myself when I go but I am going to find out about Chiswick bootsale next time.
RE: Holloway Rd market. Perhaps you're right but I've found some good books there. I used to live in the area so it was always worth a short visit but you're right, I wouldn't commute for it.
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