Online Car Booty VS Car Boot Sales

As a keen car booter and founder of www.onlinecarbooty.com I thought it would be of interest to point out some of the differences between an actual real world car boot sale and our online car boot sale. I will also discuss the pros and cons of each. I personally don't think you can beat the real thing.. The atmosphere, the excitement and anticipation of finding a bargain is second to none. This was my primary reason for creating a website which try's its very best to mimic this, attempting to retain a similar environment. Online Car Booty is the closest you'll find to the real thing.. It has a weekly start time of Sunday 3pm so that everyone gets in at the same time. It is also visually based around a car boot sale unlike other attempts out there.. We have paste tables!

I think the main 'pro' of an Online Car Boot Sale, is that if you pay a Seller through PayPal then you have more protection and rights to return an item if it is faulty. This however, doesn't mean returning faulty goods is not possible in the real world. However, returning items at real car boot sales can prove difficult for a few reasons.. Firstly, there is usually no proof of purchase and you will normally be dealing with the Seller without the help of a third party such as PayPal. A lot of faulty goods however, are not returned due to the plain and simple fact that the Buyer doesn't check them out until they arrive home. It then becomes a chore to have to return to the Car Boot Sale, maybe having to pay for re-entry and then trying to find the stall.

Speaking of getting lost at a car boot sale, another aspect we attempt to recreate at Online Car Booty is the randomness of finding an item or stall. We could easily add a SEARCH function to the sale but what's the point ? Doing this would eliminate the 'Hunt' which is where the fun is! It's worth noting that our virtual stalls are also set out in 'Aisles', again replicating a booty as best we can.

When I set up Online Car Booty I wasn't even aware of the next advantage of the site until I started receiving 'Thank you' emails.. Online Car Booty is absolutely ideal and easier to visit for the elderly and disabled. Many people struggle to get out to the real thing or indeed may struggle to find a car boot sale in their local area. Couple this with the fact that it NEVER rains at Online Car Booty and you will start to see why we are fast becoming the UK's No.1 choice.

As with many Buying/Selling sites, there is one big disadvantage over the 'Online' version and that is simply that you don't have the 'hands-on' experience. At a real car boot you can examine an item thoroughly from every angle. Bear in mind though and for reasons mentioned above.. At a real booty you NEED to thoroughly examine items for your safety. The one mistake I used to make a lot at real car boot sales was that I was that excited when I spotted something I was looking for, that I would rush to buy it and only give it a quick examination. Try not to do this! There are a lot of dishonest sellers out there and it's easy to miss the price label covering a crack in a vase or a spray painted LCD TV screen to hide the fact that the screen has cracked/leaked!

Finally, although we have a virtual burger van at Online Car Booty.. You simply can't beat a nice greasy overpriced quarter pounder with onions at 6 o'clock in the morning :-) Our burger van again adds a little authenticity to the car boot feel of things.

I would love to hear any other comparisons you can think of or indeed suggestions for the site. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you at www.onlinecarbooty.com

Car Boot Sales - Ultimate Survival Guide !

INTRODUCTION

Hi, I'm Mark, I have over 20 years experience of wheeling and dealing at Car Boot Sales. I started www.onlinecarbooty.com in 2013 which is an online virtual car boot sale, ideal for when you can't get out to the real thing or simply can't get out of bed! Of course there's no substitute for the real thing and whether you're a Buyer, Seller or Both.. This Blog will give you a headstart on getting it right when you Go Booting !

Firstly and most importantly, make sure you ask around and find the best car boot venue for you.. There's indoor and outdoor, some have a bit of both. It's not all about which is the biggest or busiest one as that can sometimes be a negative. Imagine standing as a Seller with your bargain priced Xbox for sale. If the sale is so big, you can bet that there's an Xbox or two on every single aisle and somewhere there will be a cheaper one or it will have more bundled accessories. Choose a sale that's not too big, yet attracts the crowds. Visit Carbootsales.org to find a car boot sale near you.

Before you go, always keep a check on the weather, especially if you're going to sell. Some organisers will charge you at the gate which means once you've paid and then it tips down.. You're done for!

If you are going as a buyer, a lot of organisers will let you get in early for a higher admission price. In which case it's sometimes best to go as a Seller which may be around the same price. Remember, the earlier you get in to a car boot sale, the more chance you have of bagging the bargains. If a car boot had been running for even just an hour.. I myself wasn't interested.

SELLERS

Try to keep what you're selling as varied as possible and aim to have an item of intrinsic value to draw in the crowds. Cheaper items are best put in to 50p boxes under the table etc. Clothes should be ironed and if you have a portable clothes rail, you will achieve better prices. Taking along carrier bags and a float will save you so much heartache and ensure that you don't have to turn your back on the public as you hunt about for change or a spare box.. Remember, thieves exist at car boot sales !

Pack your car well, leaving the paste table till last so you can get it out first !!

Make sure you pack some sandwiches and a flask of coffee. You might not be hungry when you set off but standing in a field for 6 hours can give you an appetite and those onsite burger vans aren't cheap.

Don't arrive too early OR too late as you will get put in a poorly positioned spot which doesn't enjoy a busy footfall.

DO NOT reduce your prices before the public get in! Be aware that the people walking round as you are setting up are usually other Sellers who are looking for picking up under priced items to sell on their stall or online.

I always recommend putting price labels on items as some people are too shy to ask. Negotiate carefully and don't be silly.. If you want £3 for a foot spa, price it up at £4 and come down. If however, you have an item priced up at £10 and you're not entirely sure what it's worth.. If many people repeatedly enquire about it, try increasing the price on the next ask, It's also worth noting that if you were selling an Xbox for £10 and others are selling them for £30.. People may assume yours is faulty and not bother.

If you have the time, and a helper, have a look round the car boot yourself.. You might just see something you can sell for more on your own stall.

Towards the end of the sale, if your intention is to get rid of as much as possible, it is always worth setting up a 50p table for example and shout out "Everything on this table 50p!"

Keep your takings in a safe place and don't blow them all in McDonald's on the way home! Treat yourself with your hard earned money or pay off a bill.

BUYERS

Before you get to the car boot, already have in your head an idea of what you're looking for and you will subconsciously be tuned in to hunt these items out.

As I've already mention, if you want the bargains make sure you get in early. A lot of car boot sales will allow you to get in early as the Sellers are setting up for a few extra quid. For example, a local sale I used to visit regularly would charge: £8 Sellers (10am), 80p Buyers (From 11am), £5 Early Buyers (From 10am). It is usually well worth getting in early if you want first digs.

As you walk round, remember to check under tables and behind the stall. A cheeky peek in a Sellers car is always a good idea if they are still setting up, but don't be too cheeky !

There's various techniques and speeds when bargain hunting. I always prefer to whizz round a few times as the Sellers are setting up, after which I will then take a leisurely stroll round whilst rummaging through boxes and checking the going rate for items online. This brings me to my next tip..

Always make sure your phone is charged and check out what price items go for on Ebay. However, before buying, consider Ebay's fees and postage costs etc. If you are buying to sell back online, there are other solutions than just Ebay.. Our site www.onlinecarbooty.com is unique in that it displays full stalls in front of buyers. It is also a browsing site rather than a site where you would simply key in what you are looking for. Therefore, it's worth picking up items that simply look good or are in excellent condition to put on your virtual stall at Online Car Booty.

The most important aspect of buying from any car boot sale is of course.. Haggling! Always try to knock the Seller down on price unless of course it's only 50p or a £1. As a rule of thumb, try working on a 70% offer.. EG: An item is for sale for £10. Ask if they will take £7.. Usually they will say yes or maybe ask for £8. Fair enough you could be cheeky but sometimes it's not worth upsetting the Seller incase you get their back up. It also leads to a fair and happy sale keeping your reputation in tact!

Ok, Electrical goods.. Be very careful here and if you buy any, take extra precautions when powering them up. Some indoor car boot sales may have usable power points to test items. You can also try asking someone with a generator if they would check it for you. I invested in an 'inverter' which plugs in to your car cigarette lighter and gives you a 3 pin socket to plug electricals in to. My golden nugget of advice though, is to ask the Seller if it works and if you hear these words.. "As far as I know" Then it DOESN'T work!! Also, If an electrical item is seriously under priced then ask yourself why? However, you can take calculated gambles for instance, if an Xbox was £15 and came with 5 games and a controller.. Work out how much these accessories are worth as you could make your money back on those alone if the actual console it faulty.

Don't forget to try our Online Car Boot Sale...

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Top 10 Recommended UK Couriers

As recommended by Mark Davies, Director at 'Online Car Booty'

The UK's No.1 Virtual Car Boot Sale

Okay, so you’ve sold an item on at the Online Car Boot Sale and now it’s time to book a parcel collection with a cheap courier who offers good service.. Which is the best courier for you ? The following list does not necessarily show which is better chronologically, it has been created to give you an overview of each company so you can select the best one for you or for what you’re sending at that time. Here’s my 10 top UK couriers.. 

COLLECT MY PARCEL are recommended by Online Car Booty throughout the site. Their Quick Quote feature is easy to use and you can be comparing prices from top couriers in seconds. Customer service is exceptional.

INTERPARCEL is my own personal preference. It is a courier comparison site that is quick and easy to use. Interparcel offers Instant quotes, multiple payment methods and provides all documents and labels required. Customer services have never put me wrong.

PARCEL FORCE is a well established and very reasonably priced courier, They have a range of delivery services available to get your parcel to its destination safely and within a timeframe that suits your needs.

PARCEL2GO is one of the best leading courier companies there is ! Their site features a Quick Quote where you can choose from a range of couriers. Looking for a faster way to send all your parcels? This could be what you’ve been looking for. Booking a large number of parcels for delivery can be a time-consuming task, Parcel2Go have a bulk delivery tool that works with popular selling platforms to help automate most of the work for you.

SHIPLY is a fantastic site where you can get cheap courier quotes and save up to 75% on standard rates. List the delivery required and couriers will approach you with quotes. They try to offer you their very best price in order to beat others to the job. I highly recommend this site when sending a very heavy item and wanting a cheaper quote.

P4D have a courier booking system which makes it quicker and easier for you to send a parcel or ship a pallet. As an official reseller, they offer you a wide range of delivery services from major couriers at discounted prices. Extended customer service support available late into the evening.

PARCEL MONKEY is fast becoming a front runner in the world of courier comparison. They offer a really simple and cheap way to book parcel delivery services within the UK. When you book with Parcel Monkey you choose which premium carrier (eg. City Link, Parcelforce, DHL etc) you'd like to collect and deliver your item. You pay for the service online and it will be collected from your home or work, then delivered. Simple!

COLLECT+ is a less expensive and no hassle option with thousands of parcel stores across the UK, CollectPlus is a convenient and easy to use parcel delivery and returns service. No more wasted Saturdays or lunchtime queues, just the freedom to get on with your day.

MY HERMES are possibly the cheapest option but make no mistake, My Hermes is a VERY reliable service. Delivery time is usually 2-3 days. Many local drop off points across the UK if required.

UPS offer a very reliable and professional delivery service. Prices are very competitive and from my own personal experience, they are one of the most reliable for adhering to collection times and for getting your parcel there safely.