Car Boot Sales - Advice, Information & News

• History & Facts
• Selling at Car Boot Sales
• Buying at Car Boot Sales
• Your Rights
• Articles
• Car Boot Sales Worldwide
• Weather
• Licences

History & Facts

Car boot sales: Form of market where private individuals come together to sell their unwanted goods/items. They are often held at school grounds and other community buildings, or in fields or carparks. Mainly they take place on weekend mornings or Bank Holidays. Sellers pay a fee for their pitch, and arrive with their goods in the boot of their car or vans. The items are then unpacked onto tables or on the floor.

Car boot sales are great fun as you never know what you will find of use in someone else's junk. Mostly it is just everyday junk that can be found, but occasionally you can find a gem! One mans rubbish is another mans treasure! It is not unknown for stolen goods or pirated videos/DVDs to be sold at car boot sales.

Entry is usually free to the public. Items at car boot sales are mainly unwanted household goods, ranging from old books, records, videos,dvds, toys, stamps, coins, radios, ornaments, tools, clocks, furniture, kitchenware, and clothes. At times a number of commercial sellers often make an appearance, selling vegetables, meat or new goods such as tools, toys, batteries, ornaments and fittings, paper, pens and stationery. Almost everything is sold at knock-down prices ranging from 10p to 50p for books and upwards depending on the type of item.

Anyone can turn up at a car boot sale to sell their items, whether a first-timer, a regular, or a professional.It is best to turn up very early to get a great pitch and to attract the customers.

The World's first 'Boot Fair ' or 'Boot Sale ' was held at Nepicar Farm, Wotham Heath, Kent in September 1980. The title or name 'Boot Fair ' was coined by the originator and organiser, Barry Peverett, in order to create the curiosity that ultimately ensured that Car Boot Sale events became a run-away popular success and a burgeoning nation-wide weekend activity.

Selling at Car Boot Sales

Empty your garage, loft, search high and low then:

• Make sure you want to sell these items
• Find a car boot sale in your area (click here)
• Price up your items and clearly advertise them
• Take lots and lots of change.
• Make sure all items will fit in your car including a table and chair.
• Pack carefully – use plenty of bubble wrap for fragile items.
• Take a table and chair to advertise your items and to have a rest
• Take friends or family to help you and give you a break from time to time.
• Arrive early to get a good spot
• Haggling – the public will want you to lower your prices so mark things up a little higher or suggest deals on certain items
• The weather - clothing and refreshments. Wear suitable clothes, take sandwiches or a flask of tea or coffee. Check the weather report here.

Buying at Car Boot Sales

• Arrive early, the early bird always catches the worm!
• always haggle or suggest a deal on 1 or more items
• check all the boxes even that one right at the back! It could be the one!
• check items for damage, if you still want it ask the selling to lower the price

Articles

Brits splash &pound1.4bn on car boot sales
by Michael Clarke, This is Money.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/moneysavers/article.html?in_article_id=403206&in_page_id=5

ALTHOUGH the advent of eBay was predicted to signal their demise, the UK's love affair with bagging a bargain at car boot sales shows no sign of abating. According to new research Brits are expected to part with £1.4bn at car boot sales this year, while nearly two thirds have visited a sale.

The average car-booter visits a sale at least five times a year, while addicted bargain hunters will visit a sale every month. Those in the Midlands, north east and Yorkshire are more likely to go to a boot sale than those in London, the north west or Scotland. People spend an average of £10 each time they go to one of the sales, rising to more than £13 for those in London.

London is also the most profitable place to hold a sale, according to research carried out by the Prudential. The average Londoner makes £83 per sale, followed by Wales, where people make £80 a sale. Anthony Frost of Prudential UK said: 'It seems that car boot sales are very fashionable this season. They are the 'retro' version of ebay. I don't think we should be surprised because Brits are notorious bargian hunters and a car boot sale is just another place to find a bargain.'

Books are the most popular items to buy, followed by toys, clothing and music. Cutlery, crockery and collectors items are also popular, although computer games, software and electrical goods are less sought after as buyers aren't convinced they are genuine.

Your Rights

Consumer rights and warnings about unsafe goods at Car Boot Sales

Bargain hunters should be wary. That bargain which was too good to be missed may be no more than a worthless piece of junk or at worst put you and your family at risk.

Electrical Goods

Many second hand electrical goods, sold at Car Boot sales, have reached the end of their useful life and may fail to conform to current safety standards. Buying electrical goods at a Car Boot sale could put your life at risk. If you decide to buy an electrical item at such a sale always ask a quailfied electrician to check the item over for you

Counterfeit Goods

Unfortunately some traders use Car Boot sales as an opportunity to sell fake goods. These are of inferior quality and sometimes can even be dangerous. Watch out for stalls that have large quantities of such items for sale at low prices.

Toys

Is there too much lead in the paint? Does the hair or stuffing come out presenting a choking hazard to your child? Are there hidden sharp edges or spikes? Many second hand toys will not comply with current legislation, which aims to prevent such dangers arising. Buying second hand at a Car Boot sale removes that level of protection.

Right to Compensation

What happens when the bargain you have just bought does not work? If you can find the person who sold it to you (and this may be difficult) then you may be able to claim your money back from them.
Private sellers are only liable to pay compensation under the Sale of Goods Act if the goods are misdescribed. You are not entitled to compensation if you buy faulty goods from a private seller, as you would be had you bought from a normal trader. You can only claim compensation if the goods are misdescribed (e.g. “These goods are perfect”).

Bootleg Goods

Car boot sales are often used to sell bootleg tobacco and alcohol on which no duty has been paid. Although this may seem a bargain, possessing the goods is an offence and you could incur hefty penalties

Car Boot Sales Worldwide

We have car boot sales in the UK, in other parts of the world they are called:

• Wales - Arwerthiant / Sêl Cist Ceir
• France - Troc et Puces / Brocante / vide-grenier
• Australia - Swap Meet / Garge Sale
• USA - Garage Sale / Yard Sale / Swap Meet

Weather
Dont forget to check the weather and dress for the occasion!...

http://www.metoffice.com/weather/europe/uk/

Licences
Licences for open air car boot sales
It is the responsibility of the organisers of such events to :
• Obtain permission from the landowner
• Ensure public safety.
• Minimise nuisances such as noise and local disruption to traffic.

If you plan to hold a car boot sale in an area close to a main road,
You may want to contact the police prior to the event to discuss traffic management issues.

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