Car Boot Sales
Stephanie asks:
"Do you or any of your readers know of any half-decent boot sales around the area? I'm looking to sell off some bits and bobs but am slightly wary of naively turning up in a semi-decent car and seen as rich-pickings. Any hints or tips would be gratefully received."
The Phantom has only ever tried car-booting twice - both were spectacular disasters. The first was in the multi-storey car park in Lewisham about ten years ago. It was a big commercial one and I seemed to be the only person not selling knocked-off designer handbags, miracle-wonder-gadgets or dodgy tea towels. It was horrid. I don't even know if it still exists, but if it does, avoid it.
The second time was even worse - in a scrap metal yard just off Brick Lane. It was unspeakably bad - I was a lamb to the slaughter.
My friends tell me the best ones to look out for are the much more genteel table-top sales that churches and schools often hold - far more 'genuine' sellers and less hassle all round. Also the money you pay for the pitch goes to charity. Look out for them in the local paper.
Other people may have more positive impressions, but I for one will never car-boot again. Ebay is ok, though you'll pay for absolutely everything. You can list stuff on Gumtree for nothing, and it's gaining popularity over Ebay which is rapidly becoming a dealers' domain - more like an online mall - great if you're looking for stuff, but not as quirky as it used to be.
And if you need to get rid of things but not actually sell them, charity shops are always happy to have good stuff (Bexley Cottage Hospice will collect furniture, though they can't take electric stuff, I don't think) and Freecycle, though occasionally frustrating when flaky people mis-use it, is a fantastic way of keeping stuff out of landfill.
"Do you or any of your readers know of any half-decent boot sales around the area? I'm looking to sell off some bits and bobs but am slightly wary of naively turning up in a semi-decent car and seen as rich-pickings. Any hints or tips would be gratefully received."
The Phantom has only ever tried car-booting twice - both were spectacular disasters. The first was in the multi-storey car park in Lewisham about ten years ago. It was a big commercial one and I seemed to be the only person not selling knocked-off designer handbags, miracle-wonder-gadgets or dodgy tea towels. It was horrid. I don't even know if it still exists, but if it does, avoid it.
The second time was even worse - in a scrap metal yard just off Brick Lane. It was unspeakably bad - I was a lamb to the slaughter.
My friends tell me the best ones to look out for are the much more genteel table-top sales that churches and schools often hold - far more 'genuine' sellers and less hassle all round. Also the money you pay for the pitch goes to charity. Look out for them in the local paper.
Other people may have more positive impressions, but I for one will never car-boot again. Ebay is ok, though you'll pay for absolutely everything. You can list stuff on Gumtree for nothing, and it's gaining popularity over Ebay which is rapidly becoming a dealers' domain - more like an online mall - great if you're looking for stuff, but not as quirky as it used to be.
And if you need to get rid of things but not actually sell them, charity shops are always happy to have good stuff (Bexley Cottage Hospice will collect furniture, though they can't take electric stuff, I don't think) and Freecycle, though occasionally frustrating when flaky people mis-use it, is a fantastic way of keeping stuff out of landfill.
Labels: Car boot sales, Green Greenwich
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
15:19
10 Comments:
Just to let Phantom fans know the the Bexley Cottage Hospice shop in Greenwich were selling electrical goods the other week.
I'll pop in there and do some asking tomorrow and let you know.
Personally I find the local version of Freecycle most useful - leave it in your front garden and hope its stolen quickly!
Thanks Phantom, good advice as always. My suspicions about doing the Lewisham car boot etc have been confirmed and I'll be looking out for a table top sale instead....shame I never seem to get the Newshopper anymore!
Anything I don't sell I'll definitely give to charity or freecyle, and its really worth knowing which charities take electrical goods.
quite far away but there's an ok car boot in battersea. also i think there's one in the rotherhithe area, in a high school, but whenever i went it wasn't on that week. you might be best to head out on the A2 somewhere. car boots outside of london are just fab. but i've never found any in london that match up to the ones in my hometown cardiff.
there's a church sale right next to lewisham police station. never looked at the stuff they were selling but there's always people around.
How about your own yard sale?
There's a big car boot sale every Sunday at Flamingo Park (which is next to the World of Golf on the Sidcup Road/A20).
Did some checking and the Bexley Cottage Hospice shops in Welling, Belvedere and Eltham all do electrical items
thanks Dave. Maybe they have a special qualified electrician to check them over. Good stuff. I like to think stuff could be sold to help a good cause.
I know there's a carboot sale every saturday near QEH. I asked the hubby and he can't help me out about a more specific location, but it's opposite the cemetary on Ha-Ha Road (incidentally, what a wonderful name for a road).
It seems to be an ameteurish tabletop affair. Hope that's helpful!
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