What's a Bootsale?
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It is what it says, a sale from the boot of your car, in America it would be referred to as a garage sale. All sort of things are sold at bootsales, from brick a brac, to electronics, clothes (some people even sell or advertise larger objects - these are often just printed on a sheet of paper and left on the table for people to see and enquire further) When you do a bootsale there is a fee to have a pitch / stall. This can vary from around £8 for school bootsales, to up to around £15 for bigger ones. The location of these are usually a school carpark/playground, an empty field, anywhere were the local council has spare land a bootsale can be sprouted up normally.

Some people frown upon bootsales, however buying something from a bootsale is the sale as off Ebay, genuine people who simply are getting rid of items they no longer need. Sometimes you look at the price and think



As a Seller
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When I was younger I'd hop along with mum & dad whilst they did a car boot sale, I'd sit in the boot and my job would be to mind the money tin (then help count change). Some places and some people do it differently, but with us, we are very regimented if we do a car bootsale. We pack the car the night before, making sure to pack the table last on top, so that it's ready to come out first in the morning. A flask is made for the morning, some snacks pack and off we set out at 4am. Yes you heard me right, the reason being is that for the layout of our particular bootsale we like to be specific spot (this resulting in having to leave early to get first in the queue.) Once you get your pitch, it can sometimes be a bad dash to get all your stuff unloaded, some are better organized than other and allow you enough time, but before you know it you have people peeping through your window, and at some points physically taking stuff out of your boat for you!



As a buyer
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Some buyers are more dedicated at this than others, as I said some people are out buying the same time the sellers get there at open doors. Personally we normally hang fire between 8 & 9am. Obviously the earlier you go, sometimes the better stuff is there, but then again, if you leave it later on, and it's been a very 'slack' morning then sellers may be more flexible on pricing. Now early doors on a Sunday is not a pretty sight, let alone when it's cold & damp; this just needs to be embraced with a big coat on, hair slicked back and you UGG's or Wellies thrown on.


Personal Experience
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Personally I think a Bootsale is brill, a little bit of a buzz when you think you've found a bargain amongst the mist. You may come away with rubbish, or some good stuff; the great thing is that theres no specific category of stuff, there's just everything - an electric mix of items all mixed together, trying to be displayed in some form of pattern. Most of the time I personally look for bargains which can be sold on, other times you find that something you've been looking for for ages, or better still you find something you can up-make into something. Either way I enjoy both doing them and going to them.