The people you meet at carboots, are any of these on your list?

Posted by Angelwings17@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 87 comments

I've been doing car boots for a while now and have made a list of the kinds of people I've encountered, are any of these on your list?

Scary early birds

- people who pay more to get in early when it's still dark (5am) and scare sellers by searching your boxes before you put them out. One made me jump the first time I did a car boot.

The 10p people -

those who offer you 10p for everything, then get offended when you say no.

The mess ups -

those who make a complete mess of your items and never buy.

The jellygold hunters

- Do you have any jelly cats/gold? People looking for treasures for very little. (I often wonder, who in their right mind would sell jellycats at a car boot)

The nickers

- people who steal from you.

The freebies

-those who ask, is anything free?

The racoon bandits

- people who work in groups of three or four, look through all your items and don't buy. People know that you can't watch all of them so an item or two gets stolen. They will then walk past you with the item in their bag in full view.

The stalkers -

those who target lone sellers and pester you when you won't accept a price for an item, will mess up your items, open boxes and get in the way of other people wanting to look at your items and normally shout "I take for 10p, yes?" Just hoping that you say yes. But will normally leave you alone if they see someone join you.

The sob stories -

Those who say that their mum/sister/brother, etc have cancer/is in a coma etc and really loved an item you have, for example snoopy from peanuts and they only have a small amount of money on them.

I may mention that not every carboot is like this, I have made friends with sellers and buyers, car boots are still very fun.

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Professional-Fox1542@reddit

The first car boot I ever did I sold something and they put it on their own stall for a higher price 🙃

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breaded_skateboard@reddit

Did they end up selling it?

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Professional-Fox1542@reddit

I don’t know as their stall was away from mine, it was only when I went for a wonder that I spotted it.

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Gnosys00110@reddit

you forgot the wolf fleece

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Bride-of-wire@reddit

I live by the sea in Somerset, and we have an indoor/outdoor market that sells an enormous amount of them to tourists (usually Brummies - holiday campers and caravanners). I’ve never seen them for sale anywhere else, so we might be wolf central.

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Suddendeath777@reddit

I'm from Cornwall and the Wolf Fleece is alive and well there.

I've never seen a shop sell them. I assume the Wolf Fleece finds you when the time is right.

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Bride-of-wire@reddit

They buy ‘em in Somerset, on the way down to you. Happy cake day!

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reclueso@reddit

Par market is the epicentre of Wolf Fleece distribution

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mauriceminor1964@reddit

I wrote a play and one actress was sure her character wore a wolf fleece! She was 100% correct. It told you so much about the character before she even spoke!

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Gnosys00110@reddit

let me guess… they had 3 dogs, a walking stick and/or mobility scooter, smell vaguely of boiled cabbage and had free roaming rabbits at home?

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mauriceminor1964@reddit

Not far off. They had a tartan shopping walker and were obsessed with Daniel O'Donnell.

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Angelwings17@reddit (OP)

What's that one if you don't mind me asking?

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jungleddd@reddit

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Difficult_Bad1064@reddit

Is that a common enough top for it to become a stereotype?

I've not noticed it. It's quite a nice design but I can imagine it being popular with manifestation people.

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Bunister@reddit

There's whole groups on FB dedicated to Wolf Fleece spotting.

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pbzeppelin1977@reddit

Not quite the same but there's also Three Wolf Moon. They're a special subculture crossover sorta person.

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WotanMjolnir@reddit

I just glanced at this comment and I’m already pregnant from two wolves, and the third one is sniffing around my back door. Plus I’m a man.

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cgknight1@reddit

Very common - when people ask locally if I want to go to a carboot I always reply "I don't need a fleece with a wolf on the back".

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User-blink-@reddit

And walking into Specsavers...

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Clear_Mode_4199@reddit

Bizarre

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Lunaspoona@reddit

The wolf fleece appreciation society!

If you have Facebook stick it in the search and you'll know instantly

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Bunister@reddit

There will also be a Polish girl dressed in Gold/Leopard print, looking like she's in a 1980s pop video.

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Zealousideal_View47@reddit

I desperately want a wolf fleece. Is a car boot sale the best place to look? I know people make fun of them but I think they’re so cute! And they always look so comfy

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Gnosys00110@reddit

Check out your local market

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coldthorne@reddit

Known as a 'Coalville coat' in Leicester.

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360Saturn@reddit

I remember a team on the Apprentice picking that for a laugh on the shopping channel challenge and it being by far the highest selling item out of everything

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RevenantSith@reddit

What’s that

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bmwkag1407@reddit

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xd2Y8VdkZ68

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Alternative-Bad-3752@reddit

I have one but nobody can know.

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ChelseaMourning@reddit

The car zombies are the worst. I just park up, get out, lock the doors and don’t open them until they’ve moved on to the next car. Stock answer to every “have you got” question is a firm “NO”.

And yes the 5p, 10p people. “How much?”, “£1”……………………..”10p?”…….”no, £1”…………………”5p”. Would you listen to yourself? You’re quibbling over less than £1 for something you don’t need anyway. If you offer me 50p then it’s probably a yes. WTF am I gonna do with 5p? I won’t even make back my entry fee.

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shortercrust@reddit

I’ve had worse versions of the 10p people. They put the 10p on the table and walk away with the item like it’s a done deal.

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Sad_Cardiologist5388@reddit

I think theres a variation where an item is say £1 and you won't take any less and they only hand over like 50p anyway as a form of haggling

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Kinx__x@reddit

I volunteer in a charity shop and I have that happen all of the time. I'll ask if it's cash or card and they'll say cash and then put a random amount in my hand lol.

I have a couple who regularly come in and they always say they have no money. Last time, I rang up over £7 worth of items and they offered me £1. She showed me her empty purse but I think she was hoping I'd forgot all about her other purse that's crammed full of money 😂.

They always laugh when she pulls the second purse out of her bag.

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Patient_Method_5713@reddit

I work in a charity shop and all of these folks are familiar to me.

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Curious_Peter@reddit

use to run a charity shop.
Can confirm, they are everywhere!

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Angelwings17@reddit (OP)

I've had those too, people who think you should bow in their presence and think that they can get away with anything. In these cases, I get the item back and throw it in the car, they normally leave muttering to themselves.

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cdh79@reddit

"How much for all the Terry Pratchett books?"

"The sign says £40"

Scrats around in purse. Husband elbows her "he said £40, not £14". Exceedingly sour look, "will you take £14?".

"😁I'd rather burn them😁"

Cheap bastards.

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pixeltash@reddit

Doing a boot sale years ago and had a few of my Pratchett doubles (books I'd ended up with more than one of) all in a box with various other books, priced at 50p each or 3 for £1.

Buyer browsing the books... Asks out of nowhere if the Pratchetts are signed. wtf? Yes I'm selling all my signed Pratchetts for 50p. Is what I wanted to say, but didn't.

I will be bloody buried with my signed copy of Small Gods, that I misspelt my own name to STP, twice! This incident is burned into my cringe memories and has completely wiped out the nice chat we had had previously (it was a very very small talk and signing, only about 30 people).

As a buyer, there's the seller who when asked the price of anything, will take it out of your hands and look it over as if they are valuing the holy grail, before giving you an inflated price for a broken toy. Not sure what to name them, maybe the optimist?

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DeepPanWingman@reddit

I went to a very small signing with STP and when I got to the front I forgot how to talk, so I got a quizzical look and no dedication. As someone who can normally talk to anyone this is a core cringe memory.

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pixeltash@reddit

Oh I feel you on this one

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durhamdale@reddit

You should be flayed for selling them!

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Jill4ChrisRed@reddit

£40 is cheap too!

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Odd_Championship7286@reddit

You missed a group of people that me and my dad fit in to: the ones that are only really there for the burger van and/or sausage bacon butty van

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Bunister@reddit

I'm only here for the hot donuts

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Ill-Appointment6494@reddit

My people.

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Chubby-Chubster@reddit

They also missed the person in the disability scooter with the kid sat in between their legs.

We also look out for the “Unwashed bum” people. This are people who definitely haven’t showered and still have the frizz at the back of their hair.

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CthulhusEvilTwin@reddit

Which hair???

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spearmint_wino@reddit

I will pay a premium not to know the origin of this meat as long as there are fried onions on it.

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rectal_warrior@reddit

It's the smell that sells it, not the nutritional/hygiene value.

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peppermint_aero@reddit

The queues in front of burger vans outside nightclubs confirms this. Sizzling onions.

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CosyingHammer@reddit

To combat scurvy in 1502, the British Navy packed burgers into salt casks, prolonging their nutritional value for many months.

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DameKumquat@reddit

That was me - I used to take my MIL to car boots because she loved them. Despite using two sticks or a walking frame and struggling to walk anywhere, I could release her into a car boot and not see her for dust!

Kid in buggy and I would have coffee and a bap and wait for a couple hours, until she came back laden with crap for free or 10p per item...

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ljr69@reddit

I’ve found my brethren!

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Evening-Web-3038@reddit

A member of the Professional Browsing Association in the wild!

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JonnotheMackem@reddit

That’s me!

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plasticmanifold@reddit

I’m there to walk around and say things like “my mum had that toaster” but never buy anything

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ohsaycanyourock@reddit

The early birds! I did a car boot with my dad once when I was maybe 16, and we arrived at 7am and people were crowding the car. One asked me how much we'd sell an old barbecue for and I was just thinking a) it's the crack of dawn and I'm half asleep, b) I'm a teenager, I don't know what things cost and c) get a life 😆

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constructuscorp@reddit

My uncle is a 10p person. I can't give too much away, but there is a VERY specific discontinued item that crops up a lot at carboots, and is very lucrative because it has a niche use for a popular hobby group. You can find lots and lots of it after some hunting, and most people wouldn't give it a second look.

He makes vague and misleading conversation about why he wants the scraps of it, then digs about in his pockets and says he only has 5 pence or whatever. Because nobody knows what it's used for, he always gets away with it because they seem worthless. He then resells each piece for a minimum of £30. Bonkers.

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Minky_Dave_the_Giant@reddit

Just say what the item is, for fuck's sake.

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Thi13een@reddit

Exactly. Fucking hell. Are you worried we “ruin”’your uncles mysterious 10p business? Christ.

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constructuscorp@reddit

Are you insane? I clearly don't know enough about it to say what it is, and it's so hyper specific that his name would be easily findable if I mentioned more. I don't want to dox myself.

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Thi13een@reddit

🤣 I think you’re making it up tbh mate

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Thi13een@reddit

Are you insane? You’re talking about items worth 10p to most people and also make reference to them being part of an incredibly popular hobby. Therefore the chances of your uncle being the only person aware of this is minimal and likewise the chances of you being doxed are also minimal.

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Gullflyinghigh@reddit

But then it wouldn't be able to pass as an even vaguely real story, as we'd all know it was bollocks then

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space_absurdity@reddit

Appendix? No idea what that's used for.

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EmperorsChamberMaid_@reddit

Quidricone Gold?

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LiliWenFach@reddit

Here's mine:

Mrs 'It's designer!'

Wants £40 for a second-hand handbag and £90 for a dress because it came from a fancy boutique. Remembers, and tells you, precisely how much the item cost her originally. Leaves you wondering why she's selling it for 90% of its RRP at a CAR BOOT SALE.

And to put a positive spin on things:

Mr 'Everything Must Go' and 'Ms Decluttering '

I love these guys. Parents or grandparents overwhelmed by their kids' toys and all the clothes they have outgrown overnight, who just want to empty the car. You might only find one ot two of these a year, but when you strike it lucky you can clothe your child for a tenner. I've overpaid these families because I felt as though they were charging too little for three bags-for-life full of clothing. Good for a friendly chat and usually accompanied by one surly pre-teen playing Switch in the car and one self-appointed five-year-old accountant who takes your money and hands over the change.

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Angelwings17@reddit (OP)

Yeah, I've met other sellers who sold next to mine, all top end clothing and shoes then asked me why no one was buying.

I have also had an encounter with an early bird who asked if my phone was for sale, I told him no and he walked off muttering to himself.

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SuperNashwan@reddit

I can't do them anymore. When I was a kid I enjoyed them because it wasn't about making money, it was about getting rid of stuff we didn't need any more. My wife was horrified when I sold a thermos for 50p to a really funny Scot in a wheelchair, but that was how I was brought up - We didn't want it and he did.

As a seller, when I last pulled up we got mobbed by 3 or 4 guys asking if we had phones or PlayStations. The first one was asking before I had put my handbrake on. I understand their business model - Get hold of the stuff they understand and profit from before everyone else, but it felt stressful having people peek on my boot while I was trying to set a table up. Never again.

As a buyer, apart from the occasional cheap junk find, sellers seem to be there now to make a full days wages with the way they price their tat, or that many sellers are clearly shop owners selling their merchandise at the same price as their brick and mortar shop.

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

The few I attended in the 80s were enough.
Pop-up Mos Eisleys.

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luckeratron@reddit

Everyone is so skint right now that so many people are looking to buy to resell. It's really taken the fun out of car boots for me as people scurry around checking their phones for eaby prices. The idiots don't even look at the sold price.

We did joke we should make a listing on eBay for each item we are selling for £100's to try and trick them.

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luckeratron@reddit

You forgot the discorgs with their record bags riffling through your records whilst also checking every record on their phone as they have no idea what they are doing. I hate those guys.

There where three of them fighting over a box of records once and right next to them where two Beatles reel to reel boxes which I got for a pound each.

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pixeltash@reddit

The boot rustlers are the worst.

The old estate car I had when we would do boot sales, had faulty boot shocks, so I'd get a box out holding the boot up with my shoulder, the boot rustlers would dip into my boot with all my still packed boxes in it, so I would step away and the boot without my support would hit them on the head. I'd turn round and ask why they were in my boot? The other vultures waiting on the other side of my wallpaper table would always back me against the boot rustlers now with a headache.

Once the "any jewelry?" "Any china* mob had moved on, I would get the bit of wood I used as a boot prop and put it in place so I could unload unhindered.

Oddly enough the boot rustlers would only try that on me once.

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Angelwings17@reddit (OP)

I really hate the rustlers and the vultures, especially when it's early morning, it's still dark and you're trying to unpack with one hand while holding a torch with the other. While these people are asking, while searching though your boxes "Got any Pokémon cards? Any jellycats? Gold? China?

Sure, I have a full box of them that I'm trying to put out. They would stop, waiting for this treasure box then finally realise that I was being sarcastic.

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sihasihasi@reddit

When I do a car-boot sale now, I just park up and go for a wander for 10 mins until the wave of rustlers has passed.

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gunbo3000@reddit

My wife makes me laugh with the 10p hagglers, she hates them. She was selling a pair of trousers once that she said were £1, and this woman asked if she'd take 50p.

She just goes "Jesus if you're that desperate for a pair of trousers that you're haggling over a pound just take them"

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jamesdownwell@reddit

So it worked then.

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DameKumquat@reddit

"gotanygoldanysilveranytomanytools" guys. Allegedly an overlap between them and the thieves, but they want metal or jewellery for cheap, or power tools.

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Angelwings17@reddit (OP)

Yeah, I've also had these people. The funny thing is that anyone with any common sense wouldn't sell gold, silver, jellycats or power tools, but people always ask. Oh and I nearly forgot the Pokémon card hunters.

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BungadinRidesAgain@reddit

This thread has reminded why I hate boot fairs. Bunch of peanut-picking knackers!

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EmperorsChamberMaid_@reddit

Honestly, I've given up selling for this reason. Far too much stress and anxiety. On eBay if goes

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Nameisnotmine@reddit

The lost art student trying to flog their creations but not willing to set realistic prices. No one at a car boot is paying £50 for an abstract painting

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Austin83powers@reddit

The parents who drag their kids along and continually say no to everything - 'what do you want that for, we have enough crap at home as it is'.

Cupcake sellers - yeah, not risking that one thanks.

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