CAR boot sales are a great place to bag a bargain, whether you’re looking for cheap designer clothes or antique furniture.
You could come away with some highly sought-after items – but there are some tricks to making things easier.
The Sun spoke to Spencer Murphy, a household specialist at JustHire, for his top tips for finding the best deals.
If you’re keen to give it a go, check with local car boot sales operating in your area by searching online or on social media.
It can take a full morning to rummage through everything, so make sure you set enough time aside.
But it can be a fun way to shop for less.
Here’s everything you need to know before you dive in.
Knowledge is power
Spencer said its likely that most of the sellers are car boot sales are looking to declutter their homes and make extra cash at the same time.
This means there’s a good chance you could just end up with someone else’s unwanted junk.
So to make sure this doesn’t happen, be sure to do your research.
Spencer said: “Before you purchase the likes of an ornament or artwork etc, look for special markings that may indicate who it’s by and the period it came from.
“This will give a great indication of its true value.”
You could do a quick Google on your phone to find out more about the item, the brand or origin and the price other people are selling it at.
Just remember, the price will vary depending on its condition.
Google Lens is also useful – you just need to take a photo of the item and lets Lens do the work in searching for its details and worth.
We recently tried the free app to spot bargains in the charity shop and found items worth more than £300.
Not everything is a bargain
“A common car boot mistake is when a person likes the price of an item, so they buy it,” Spencer said.
“Later down the line, they realise they saw it as a bargain so bought it, but never liked or used the product.”
He added that a good rule of thumb is to think of five times you’ll use the product – if you can’t, don’t buy it.
It also always pays to compare prices because you could find an item cheaper elsewhere.
Spencer said: “Check the likes of eBay before you purchase, to ensure the product is a cheaper option.”
Don’t be afraid to haggle
Haggling is all part of the fun at car boot sales – don’t assume the seller is offering you the best price straight away.
Some people are shy about negotiating a better deal, but it’s a good way to get money off.
Plus, if you’re polite, you shouldn’t worry about offending anyone.
Spencer added that it’s important not to give up too.
He said: “If the seller says no and its your final price, revisit the stall at the end of the day.
“They may wish to rethink their ‘no’ as they do not wish to take it home.”
Go with a friend
If you’re a bit of a shopaholic, it could be a good idea to go along to a sale with a friend, “aka, someone to reign you in,” Spencer said.
“Its easy to get carried away at a car boot sale,” he added.
“Many people see the prices and buy multiple items.
“Going with a friend will make you rethink your buying choices as not only are they likely to give their opinion on if they like it but indicate if you have bought enough already.”
Meanwhile, we reveal the five items you should always buy at a car boot sale and four to avoid.
Plus, reporter Rosie Taylor tried nine tricks to make money and car boot sales.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
