Most people will have travelled past Birmingham car boots events, usually a local field, pub car park, open space, etc and seen large numbers of the population clambering around the various tables and stands displaying the numerous and various items for sale. It would be, therefore, a reasonable statement to say “A large majority of people love Car Boot Sales” be they indoor or outdoor. Car boot sales can be found throughout the West Midlands and even as far as the majority of counties in the UK like Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Essex, etc. If you intend to visit unknown car boot locations, either in a local town or at a distance, you would be well advised to consider the purchase of a map or maps, as the last thing you want is to get lost and perhaps miss that once in a lifetime bargain. 

Generally, most car boot events take place on a Saturday or Sunday and sites can be found located either indoor or outdoor.Car boot or carboot sales can be regular weekly events, occasional school fund raisers or those run by charities or a specific charity. Generally car boot sales will identify three types of seller, the caterer with his hot dog, burger, tea & coffee sales, the private sellers having a clear out who are usually in the majority and the professional market trader or dealer selling mainly new items. The majority of worthwhile finds will be with the less experienced private seller.

Birmingham car boots, car boot fairs and occasionally pub bar boot sale, are probably attended weekly by many thousands of people during the car boot season. The locations of boot venues and their dates can usually be found in local papers, displayed in shop windows, sale display boards, advertising boards at the venues themselves, also within the pages of Activ Birmingham are all car boot sales events notified to date.

Any car boot, markets, fairs or fair attracts a lot of interest from people looking for bargains and those looking for the seller’s unknown knowledge of antiques and other expensive items that they may have on offer at low prices, which may be reduced even lower by customer bartering/haggling.

With all the problems that have been identified of late by Trading Standard officials and the Police with regard to copies being widely circulated for sale at Car Boots and the like, there is a serious need to be very wary of items you consider purchasing from the professional market or business trader as they may not be the bargain/bargains you thought they were.

Car boots have become even more popular following the success of the various television programmes like the Antiques Road Show, Bargain Hunt, Dickinson’s Real Deal and Cash in the Attic etc. where items purchased from car boot sales have been identified as being of high value in comparison to what they were actually purchased for.

The majority of car boots commence quite early and if you are looking to make a killing or obtain a bargain, you will need to be up and raring to go to be on site prior to the officially announced opening time and buy as items hit the display tables. Remember, however, be patient give the sellers time to display their items.

To achieve purchasing success you will certainly have to be something of an expert or certainly have knowledge of the type of items you are interested in buying. In making such a statement it is also fair to say that numerous items have been purchased simply on the basis that they were cheap and look good, only for their true value to be identified later by some other knowledgeable person.

Car boots are very similar to the far more expensive business of the sale, lease, rent or hire of a car or cars. Always remember, like booting, its a buyers market, don't jump in until you have negotiated to obtain the best deal to suit you and not the dealer. For an even better car deal and as long as you know about cars or have a car mechanic who can advise, also consider car auctions.

To be a successful car booter you need to follow certain ground rules, some of which are identified below:-

1. Remember that you may not find bargains on your first visit, unless you are extremely lucky, so you must be prepared to keep hunting around the car boots and be patient.
2. Always be prepared to get up early. Remember the worm and the early bird.
3. Dress for the occasion; remember fields can become very muddy.
4. Remember where you park your transport or later you may be searching for a long time to find it.
5. Decide what you are looking for, don’t be distracted by anyone else.
6. Take with you easily accessible small change and keep bank notes safe. Crowds bring pick pockets and they are more than ready and able to make a killing.
7. Walk around the tables and stalls methodically or you miss that important item.
8. Don’t be afraid to barter.
9. Have a careful look at anything you intend to purchase as you won’t be able to take it back.
10. Don’t leave purchases with sellers, you won’t know them from Adam and they could leave early.
11. If your intention is to sell on via e-bay make sure they are not prohibited items. Check the e-bay rules before you venture out.
12. Make sure that items purchased for resale can be resold with sufficient profit; otherwise you will be the looser. This is where price haggling may help.
13. If you see what you consider to be an expensive item/items being offered for sale at a low cost, beware as they may have been borrowed!!!
14. Don’t forget to take a rucksack, carrier bags or trolley to get your purchases home.
15. Don’t take animals with you if it is your intention to leave them in your transport. Also remember that children are prone to wander, they can easily get lost.

Activ Birmingham wishes you well in your search and hope that you are successful. All the very best.

For those attending car boots as sellers, we offer the following advice.

1. Make sure you have a pasting table or two and appropriate covering if it decides to rain.
2. Check for the value of any items you are looking to sell. Research eBay or similar.
3. Arrange to be accompanied by a friend or go into it together.
4. If you intend to sell clothes, shoes, containers, boxes etc., check that pockets and boxes and containers empty.
5. Make sure you have a money box and plenty of loose change/coins.
6. Don’t take young children as they will soon lose interest and cause you problems when you should be selling.
7. Consider a banner to draw attention to your stall, make it amusing.
8. Get everything ready in advance.
9. Keep as far distance as you are allowed from other sellers.
10. Choose a dry spot for your set up.
11. Arrive in plenty of time to set yourself/selves up.
12. Display everything on tables if you can. Otherwise put any junk items on a sheet on the floor.
13. Don’t get drawn into selling while you are still setting up. Ask them to wait, they will is something interesting has caught their eye.
14. Lock your up once your sale items are removed.
15. Keep your money tin out of sight or you may lose it in all the selling activities.
16. Use rails to display clothes and put the best at the front of the rail and set it looking towards the buyers.
17. Make sure your best items, such as fine jewellery, watches, etc are clearly visible on your tables.
18. Don’t price items, its time consuming and off putting to potential customers, just give a reasonable price when asked be prepared to haggle, you’ll enjoy it.
19. Display similar items together.
20. When you are setting up look at your stall from the customer’s side, are you happy with what you see?
21. Don’t sell illegal items.
22. Don’t sell knives or self harming items to underage children.

Have some fun, encourage your customers, get the banter going.