Carboot

A carboot sale refers to a market in which private individuals or parties come together to sell goods, which may be household, retail, electronic or garden goods. The idea of car boot sales was popularised by Barry Peverett, an organiser, who named them so to ensure enough people turned up at the event out of curiosity. The car boot sales have never looked back since and in fact have become almost a weekend activity through the nation. The carboot sales are a relatively profit-making proposition for the sellers, as they can sell goods which would have been thrown away or remained unused. At the carboot sales the goods are sold at a fraction of their original price, ensuring good deals for the buyers also. The sellers at the carboot sales include both amateurs, as well as seasoned professionals. The buyers and sellers gather in a place like a school ground, car parks, croft or some other community buildings or venues, where the sellers pay some nominal amount to get space for displaying their goods.

The goods sold at carboot sales include old clothes, books, records, CDs, DVDs, game pads, mouse pads, toys, clocks, furniture, crockery, other kitchenware, etc. The thought of buying something unusual or antique or vintage prompts many a buyers to turn up at these events, as who knows when one might just get lucky! There have been stories regarding some goods being purchased at just a few pounds at carboot sales, later fetching fortunes at auctions.