Most items at car boot sales don't have price tags. That's because people who go to car boot sales like to haggle and will start by choosing something they like the look of and asking how much it is.
We've got 10 tips on what to do and mistakes to avoid if you want to make money at a car boot sale. Popular items at a car boot sale include clothes, accessories, children's toys, baby goods, shoes, furniture, ornaments, photo frames, jewellery and books.
Experts suggest pricing at between 10% and 15% of the original value. If you are desperate to declutter and don't want to take anything home with you, consider lowering your prices.
Ask yourself if you need it, want it and whether it's worth it. Above all, when you're out in the fresh air car booting, it's also about having fun. Car boot sales are about buying and selling unwanted stuff, so keep that in mind when you're haggling, or trying to make a sale. The biggest win is the fun of the day out.
Recycle the black plastic if your local council take them. Put the paper in recycling. Bundle up the DVD's with string and sell as bird scarers. Our local charity shop sells them at 10 for a pound, I've bought some at carboots for 50p or a pound max unless it's a box set.
Price indications should not be misleading. Goods bought duty-free, including perfumes, alcohol and cigarettes, should not be re-sold. Fireworks, firearms, air guns and other weapons should not be sold at car boot sales.
It may not come as a surprise that Rob thinks that weekends are the best time to bag a bargain at a car boot sale. He said: "There's more competition between sellers when foot traffic is higher, so sellers are often more used to, and open to, haggling and accepting lower offers."
If you are a genuine 'non-trader' seller, you will be largely outside the controls of consumer law, but there are exceptions – for example, if you describe goods in any way and that description proves to be false, you will be obliged to give a refund or replacement or reduce the price to reflect the misdescription or ...
As most people have said, 50p for paperbacks, £1 for hardbacks and you'll still bring most of them home. If you think they're worth more try eBay. Some technical and educational books might fetch a few quid but normally 50p/£1 is the norm.
Keep an eye out for teapots, dinner sets or figurines, especially limited editions or discontinued ranges. “The number of times someone picked up an unassuming ceramic piece at a car boot sale and then found it was worth five figures on shows like Antiques Roadshow is endless,” Macsymons added.
Is it still worth selling CDs and DVDs? If all the interest sounds promising for anyone looking to declutter and make money, don't book a holiday on the expected proceeds just yet. As with most collectibles, unless you have something particularly special or rare, you're unlikely to make much selling them.
We do not take cash or cheque. The Car Boot is for householders wishing to sell their unwanted personal goods. If you are a trader selling second-hand goods or you want to sell new products you must do this from the general Sunday Market. There are some things that you cannot sell on any of our markets.
An occasional sale is a group of 5 or more trade stalls that are not on a highway or in a building. This might be a small market or a car boot sale. To organise an occasional sale, you need a licence unless the proceeds are entirely for charitable, sporting, religious or political causes.
Fire Arms, Knives, Tobacco, Alcohol and Controlled Substances, Unless fully licensed to do so, with permission from National Car Boot sale organisers, it is strictly forbidden to sell any of the above items and any items that may fall into the above categories.
WHAT YOU CANNOT SELL: food and both hot and cold drinks. This condition is enforced by stewards. NO COUNTERFEIT GOODS (COPIES), KNIVES, PELLET GUNS, ALCOHOL , ANIMALS AND BIRDS MAY BE SOLD. TRADING STANDARDS STAFF INSPECT THE CAR BOOT SALE.
The research also found that the average person selling at a car boot sale came away with £110 in profit: there is, it seems, money to be made. For many car booters, though – whether they're selling, buying to resell or simply sourcing second-hand to keep costs down – it is often not solely about the money.
Car boot sales are booming but as the season is drawing to its close are there still hidden treasures to be found? The answer is a resounding 'Yes', but your chances of finding them would be greatly improved if you follow my advice.
