Car boot sale

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Car boot sale at Apsley

Car boot sales are a mainly British form of market in which private individuals come together to sell household and garden goods.

The term refers to the selling of items from a car's boot (U.K.) (or trunk in the U.S.). Although a small proportion of sellers are professional traders selling new goods or seconds, the goods on sale are often used but no longer wanted personal possessions. Car boot sales are a way of focussing a large group of people in one place to recycle still useful but unwanted domestic items that previously would have been thrown away. Car boot sales generally take place within the summer months, however a growing trend of indoor boot sales and all year hard-standing outdoor boot sales are now appearing in some parts of the UK. Car boot sales are also very popular in parts of Australia, and have a growing presence in Europe.

Locations

A car boot sale gets its name from the way goods are sold out of the back of a car.

Car boot sales are often held in the grounds of schools and other community buildings, or in grassed fields or car parks. Usually they take place on weekend mornings, usually Sundays. Sellers will typically pay a nominal fee for their pitch, and arrive with their goods in the boot of their car, hence the name. Usually the items are then unpacked onto folding trestle tables, a blanket or tarpaulin, or simply the ground. Entry to the general public is usually free, although sometimes a small admission charge is made. Advertised opening times are often not strictly adhered to, and in many cases the nature of the venue itself makes it impossible to prevent keen bargain hunters from wandering in as soon as the first stallholders arrive.

Goods

The sales are used to sell unwanted household goods, as well as plants and some new goods, which are sometimes the focus of professional sellers. Haggling is common at car boot sales.

Guarantees are rarely given at car boot sales and electrical items can rarely be tested at the sale site. although tracing a seller can be difficult, in the UK they are still obliged to abide by the Trade Descriptions Act.

It is not unknown for stolen goods or pirated videos and DVDs to be sold at car boot sales.

See also

• Garage sale
• Flea market
• Jumble sale
• Bazaar
• Charity sale
• Give-away shop
• The Freecycle Network

References

External links

• Pitch perfect at a car boot sale, The Guardian, 1 June 2009