Doing a Boot Market

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Fish

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I'm going to sell at a boot market for the first time in 2 weeks!

We've got that much stuff in every corner of the house in cupboards, wardrobes, attic & shed that will never see the light of day again it may as well be turned into cash and hopefully someone else will benefit from it.

Got all my LP's down and looked on fleabay for price guides and couldn't believe some of the prices. The popular ones like my Dave Bowie, Queen, Alex Harvey, Pink Floyd were all a pittance and daft one-hit-wonders were very high!

Will be taking Ornaments, LP's, Video's (VHS), Clothes, Pictures, Computer Stuff, Vintage Bicycle, Fitness Equipment, CD's (music), Tools (electric and hand) and more.


Any tips and what successes have you had?
 
get there early as most bargain hunters arrive before you set up,make sure there is 2 of you on the stand and keep a sharp eye out for thieves when the first rush happens,be realistic with your prices and be prepared to haddle try and price things up before you go or keep a book with prices in,take a flask and food and wrap up warm with extra socks on,keep the money on you and not in a jar or tin (thieves),your first sales will be to other stall holders who tend to buy stock of the newbies and inflate the prices,have a good time and a laugh.
 
Daughter in law attended her first one as a seller recently... Said it was a very tiring experience but what she took sold well... As 6inch says above as newbies you'll be surrounded by the regulars as you start setting up offering to take your stuff off you to "save you the trouble"... D in L noted that what they were after was what sold well [no surprise really]... Think you also have to be a bit thick skinned as some of the 'customers' can be quite insulting... As 6inch has also said there's a lot of petty thieves on the prowl so keep alert to this...
 
love a car boot!

in my experience, anything child related goes well. clothes, toys, kids films.

DVDs and CD's do OK.. might be better bundling them, and also pick out any good ones prior to you going to sell on ebay.

Things we struggled to sell:

adult clothes
cricket equipment (sold my old golf clubs in 5 mins!)
ornamenty things and cheap old jewelery.

I would only car boot, what you couldnt sell for more than a fiver on ebay. be prepared for people bartering over 10p.. people love to think they have beaten you up on price!

My take is, take it all in the car, anything left in the boot of the car, go home via the tip and bin it.
 
Make sure you mark everything up before you go, if it's outside and raining don't bother.
Take plenty of carrier bags and change.
For rarer items with higher value I suggest you have more chance of getting a decent price on eBay.
Good luck.
 
Don't sell cheap in the early rush, tell customers politely that if they come back in 30 mins and it is still there, they can have it for the price they are offering.
DON'T mark prices on goods, keep a book with the prices of the more expensive goods in.
Take change [bum bag is good] and lots of bags/packing for breakables.
If your stall is quiet, one of you pretend to be a customer. Be chatty to passers by but don't do desperate.
Try to display well, stuff in boxes under the table. Sell clean stuff only. [the number of times I see dirty football/walking boots]

When you start to pack up, take your time as customers will then expect to pick up a bargain, sell cheap then!!
I have done a few of these for family and charity, they are good fun and on all occasions we have done very well.
Keep smiling and good luck.
 
as a newbie, they'll be a rush at first , you'll be targeted by the pros and be hassled at the start to sell cheap, and they will cherry pick your stuff , then take it and sell at higher prices on their own stalls, don't get flustered be polite and be firm right from the very start
 
Presentation is key as is prices shown on items

Think of your table as a shop window, you must stop people in their tracks so have your star items clearly at the front on display

Keep it tidy and have two people at all times

Have some old plastic bags for people


Make sure you have enough change


Keep the money safe and secure


Aim to sell it all and not to bring it home

Star products that sell


XBOX PS Wii GAMES

DVDS

CDS

LPS


BOOKS


FISHING GEAR


TOOLS


DO NOT TAKE HUGE AMOUNTS OF CLOTHES OR TOO MANY YOUNG CHILDRENS TOYS
 
Cars loaded, now that was an experience in its own right but its all carefully crammed in.

Up at 04.30am and leaving at 5am, my god I must be mad, I hope its all worth it!
 
My aim is not to collect the stuff in the first place, my wife is trying very hard it seems but she comes from a family of horders... Myself I could live a change and a spare of the house stuff ie sheets, towels, pans, plates etc, my computer + desk and my golf gear.

I know I will never do any large DIY project, I wont have a shed and I have no need for a book case!
 
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