Car boot sales are one of the best places to find stock, but the good items go early and you often have seconds to decide. Preparation makes the difference.
What to bring
- Cash in small notes and coins. Many sellers can't take cards or change a £20 at 7am.
- Strong bags or a folding trolley. Books and media get heavy fast.
- A fully charged phone and a power bank for checking prices and barcodes.
- A small torch for early starts and for checking discs and inside boxes.
- AA batteries to test toys and electronics on the spot (ask first).
- Hand wipes. You'll be rummaging.
Timing
Early birds get first pick of the stock; late visitors get the best prices as sellers try not to take things home. Many resellers do both: arrive early for the good items, then do a last lap for bargains. Check each site's rules, as some don't allow buying while cars are still unloading.
Haggling politely
- Ask "What would you take for these?" on a pile rather than haggling over a single 50p item.
- Bundling items usually gets a better price than buying one by one.
- Be friendly and fair. Regular sellers remember buyers, and a good relationship gets you first look next week.
Check before you pay
- Is it complete? Puzzles, board games, LEGO sets and boxed toys lose most of their value with missing pieces.
- Does it work? Look for battery corrosion and missing chargers and leads.
- Is it genuine? Be wary of designer goods, trading cards and branded collectibles at prices that look too good.
- Is it safe and legal to resell? Some items (for example, children's car seats, and electricals without safe plugs) need extra care or are best avoided.
Know when to walk away
Set a rough budget and a minimum profit you'll accept for an item. If you can't quickly see how it would sell for well above what you'd pay plus postage and your time, leave it.