Dorchester Car Boot

Car boot sales are a way of focusing people in one place to recycle still useful but unwanted domestic items that previously might have gone to landfill!

Buyer do's and dont's
. . . be prepared to get there VERY early if you want to find the bargains
. . . take plenty of small change and small notes with you, but leave your credit cards and other valuables behind
. . . keep the notes safe and your small change somewhere accessible
. . . take lots of carrying bags, a rucksack or a trolley if you have one
. . . dress very warmly in winter
. . . tie a carrier bag on your car aerial so that you can find it easily later (hoping that not everyone has done the same of course! )
. . . take a few business cards if you have them, you never know when they might be useful
. . . put your car keys in a very safe place (I once lost mine around a car boot sale in a field - and it was nightmare! )
. . . leave your dog and / or small children at home especially in hot weather if you possibly can. . If you really have to take the kids, give them a small amount of cash as spending money and tell them once it's gone, it's gone. . (I used to have two rules when mine were little - they were not to leave my side or to ask for anything around the boot sale except to visit the loo! )
. . . decide what you are looking for before you arrive, and begin to train your eye, as you walk along the lines, to pick out only those things (otherwise all you will see is an ocean of junk ! )
. . . if you are buying with view to selling on e-bay, make sure items not prohibited, but saleable and with sufficient profit, or you will be throwing money down the drain!
. . . cover the area methodically either looking down the left side and then the right side of the lane or walking more slowly taking in both sides at once
. . . show a little politeness and let sellers unpack a bit before diving headlong into their car boots looking for bargains!
. . . have a good look on, under, around and past the seller's table, because some of the more interesting or special items may be out of harms way
. . . make sure when buying that any sticky price labels on items will come off without damage - if they leave a mark you have good reason for further discount!
. . . be prepared to walk around the car boot sale a second time because other people will have turned over the merchandise and may have uncovered something interesting
. . . haggle, but not unreasonably. Pitches cost money and sellers deserve a decent price for good quality items.
. . . smile when you ask the price - it might just get you a discount.
. . . don't waste your pennies on buying things that have moisture sensitive adhesives at car boot sales - like envelopes, cigarette papers etc. Chances are, the seller will have had them out in the rain on previous occasions and they just won't be that good. Such items are cheap to buy in the shops so it's really not worth the risk.
. . . make sure you have a good look at what you're buying - after all, you won't be able to take it back for refund if it's got faults! Ask questions. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
. . . ask for a discount if you are buying multiple items
. . . consider carefully before parting with large amounts - it's easy to get carried away in the excitement and spend more than you intended. If you are not sure, leave your number with the seller and negotiate after the fair is over if appropriate.
. . .come back later and re-negotiate if something was too expensive earlier on (sellers often reduce prices later in the day or if the weather gets bad)
. . . avoid large impulse buys as it is becomming increasingly difficult to dispose of large unwanted items at refuse tips
. . . . don't take out with you any more money than you can afford to spend as buying at car boot sales can be quite addictive!
. . . avoid leaving precious purchases with sellers for safe keeping - they may go home early or even resell to someone else for a higher price (poor practice, but it happens! )
. . . draw your car up closer to the seller's stall when collecting bulky or heavy items, rather than trying to lug it back miles through the crowds.
. . . your research on e bay if you have any items to sell that may be of value (try the 'completed listings' option in 'advanced search' to give an accurate idea bearing in mind that e bay is an international and not local trading place)

Sellers do's and don'ts
. . . make sure you have a pasting table or two and plastic sheeting if it decides to rain.
. . . go with someone else (it's so much easier as you can take it in turns to serve and it's more fun with two)
. . . get everything ready the night before, check the weather forecast and pack the car
. . . check the pockets of sale clothing for money and other valuables
. . . take plenty of small change, small notes, pen and paper, flask, picnic, carrier bags, a chair and bin liners
. . . try to have the children minded, as they can get bored, irritable or can even wander off
. . . consider making your stall stand out from the crowd with a colourful tablecloth, signboards or have some other attraction (see below)
. . . choose a sunny pitch away from big muddy puddles
. . . arrive early
. . . be prepared for the 'boot-divers' and ask over-eager buyers to wait until you have unpacked the car (unfortunately it's at this time that items often go 'missing' so be firm and vigilant)
. . . consider waiting, say 15 mins after arriving, for the dealers to drift off before unpacking if you don't want this type of trade
. . . leave a gap between your sale area and your neighbours so that people can get between them (unless you want your items trodden on! )
. . . keep your car doors locked when you are serving, and your takings somewhere safe
. . . display some clothes on a (sturdy) rail putting your most colourful eyecatching items in front and some in a pile - people love to rummage!
. . . display your most saleable items where they can best be seen and touched e. g. dvd's, electronics, cakes and jams, digital cameras, mobile phones, perfumes etc on the table but less saleable things like kids cuddly toys old shoes or household junk on a sheet on the ground
. . . if you can, arrange in themes, e. g. all your cosmetic items in one place, framed pictures in another, etc so that there is a logic to your stall.
. . . have a look at your stall from the other side, the buyer's perspective - does it look attractive / inviting / interesting? Is everything displayed to it's full potential? Can people get to the stall itself to pay, or is there too much stuff in front of it?
. . . if you have several tables or dress rails, consider a semi cirular arrangement - psychologically it's snug and inviting, and it gives buyers less chance for their attention to wander to the next stall!
. . . spread your stuff out to the sides so that people can see what it is you're offering.
. . . state the price firmly with no upward inflection in your voice. So, for example, answering to a price quiery with "£3 ??" sounds like you're inviting your buyer to beat you down on price.
. . . charm your would-be customers with some friendly banter (not easy if you've been up since 5 a. m. , I know! )
. . . resist the urge to price things with labels. It may seem like a nice idea but it puts buyers off - let them ask the price and perhaps haggle with you. They can also leave marks on the items. The downside of this suggestion is that you and your helper(s) have to remember prices quoted
. . . keep in mind why you are there - is it to just get rid of as much stuff as quickly as possible or to make as much money as you can? Charge accordingly!
. . . use the tactics of the supermarkets and advertise 'buy one get one free' offers if it suits your purpose
. . . offer to mind heavy or bulky purchases while the buyer continues to walk around the sale (but sure they make a note of how to find you again and tell them what time you plan to leave! )
. . . take part or full payment for any items you agree to deliver, not forgetting the buyers telephone number and address of course!
. . . have a walk around the boot sale yourself and grab any bargains you see - you might even resell them on your stall and maybe make a profit!
. . . leave fake, dangerous or illegal goods at home
. . . don't sell knives, lighterfuel etc to underage kids
. . . consider adding another service to your stall. . . like facepainting for kids
. . . try to be impersonal about your personal items (e. g. no buyer really wants to know that you wore that nightdress when you were in labour with your fourth child! )
. . . when it's over, take all your unsold items home - charity shops are grateful for saleable items but not rubbish! Recycle what is left.
. . . keep smiling, and just hope it will all have been worth it!
Sellers - here's how to clear that trash and make some cash! . . . .