By Jess Sharp, Money blogger
Car boot sales might seem to some like a relic of the ’90s, but with the opportunity to nab a bargain or make a bit of money on the side, people are still hunting for them.
Groups on Facebook advertising car boot sale locations have hundreds of thousands of members, and some social media influencers have made careers showcasing their thrifted treasures.
One of those influencers is Becky Chorlton.
What started as a side hustle for the 26-year-old has since grown into her full-time business, Becky’s Bazaar, where she sells her thrifted finds and other vintage goods.
So what are her top tips for making money – and finding hidden gems – at a car boot sale?
When it comes to selling, she says there’s a lot to consider. What does your stall look like? What should you bring with you? When do you stop bartering with customers?
Her first tip is to make sure you’re prepared.
“Load the car up the night before and get there as early as possible to set up. Have a bit of a system and plan how you want your stall to look,” she says.
Pricing your items is one way to attract a buyer’s attention.
“It means they don’t have to ask, they can just hand over the money if they like something,” Becky says.
Make sure you have change and bring bags, is her next top tip.
“I’m sure we all have that cupboard in our house that’s full of plastic bags so might as well take some along, clear them out and recycle them,” she adds.
Setting your own limits is also important, Becky says, explaining that it’s good to know how much you would like to get for an item ahead of time.
“If people negotiate below that, then perhaps don’t accept it,” she says, noting that a seller also needs to be able to “adapt” their pricing.
If you are just trying to clear your house out, she says it is better to accept a fair price for an item instead of throwing it away.
“The negotiation, the haggling, chatting to stall owners, is part of the culture really,” she adds.
How to deal with a tough negotiator?
Part of setting your price boundaries is being firm when a buyer is trying to negotiate, Becky says.
She explains that it is important to be “firm but also polite” when turning down an offer.
“Maybe just tell them why you aren’t willing to accept lower. If they don’t understand, then just get security or something,” she laughs.
Six top tips for buyers
From a buyer’s perspective, Becky urges people to do some research before they arrive.
“I join lots of Facebook groups from around my local area. This is particularly important with car boots because they are quite often cancelled or rearranged and there is quite often a lot of information that you can find out on the Facebook pages,” she says.
Bring plenty of cash and lots of bags to carry home any purchases.
“You don’t want to run out of money. You’ll hate seeing something you want and not being able to buy it,” Becky adds.
Make sure you arrive as early as possible, she says, adding that the best items can be bought up quickly.
But she did note that if you go later on, sellers might be willing to accept lower prices just because they want to get rid of their items.
Don’t be afraid to rummage.
“Me and my mum love going through big piles of clothes, which other people look at and think ‘oh I can’t be bothered’, but we know there will be a hidden gem in there,” Becky says.
“We love that rummage and the adrenaline rush of it.”
She says it’s good to keep your eyes peeled for all seasons, because items are usually cheaper and more readily available out of season.
Lastly, she says buyers should keep an open mind.
“Don’t go into them with a specific item you’re looking for, the joy of shopping second hand is finding unique pieces you love, see the potential in items you may not like at first glance,” Becky says.
