Selling at a car boot sale: a first-timer's checklist
Most of the work happens the night before. Price things, pack the car in the order you'll unpack it, and check the sale is on.
The week before
- Pick your sale. Check seller arrival times. They're usually earlier than buyer opening, often 5:30am to 7am for Sunday sales.
- Check whether you need to book. Most sales are turn up and pay, but some indoor and London sales take bookings.
- Sort and price. Group things into boxes by price: 50p, £1, £2, £5. A box of "everything 50p" sells faster than individually priced items.
- Check the rules. Many sales ban food, alcohol, counterfeit goods, knives and fireworks. If you're unsure, ask the organiser.
What to bring
- A pasting table or folding table, and a groundsheet for bigger items
- A clothes rail, because hung clothes sell better than piled ones
- Your pitch fee in cash, plus a float of coins and £5 notes
- A money belt or bum bag, so cash isn't left in a tin on the table
- Carrier bags and newspaper for wrapping
- Price stickers and a marker pen
- A card reader if you have one. More buyers carry less cash now
- A flask, snacks, a coat and sun cream. You'll be outside for five or six hours
On the day
- Check it's on. Look at the live status on the sale's BootDay page, or the organiser's Facebook page, before you leave.
- Expect early buyers. Dealers often crowd round while you unpack. It's fine to say "give me ten minutes".
- Leave room to haggle. Most buyers expect to offer less than the price on the sticker.
- Keep valuables in the car and keep an eye on your table when it's busy.
What didn't sell?
- Drop good-condition items at a charity shop on the way home.
- Books, DVDs, CDs and games can be scanned into trade-in apps for a quote.
- Branded clothes and collectables often do better on resale apps than at a boot sale.
If you start selling regularly to make a profit, check GOV.UK guidance on trading and side income. Selling your own unwanted things usually isn't treated as trading, but buying to resell can be.