Let’s be honest – a lot of people overthink pricing at car boot sales, and they end up getting it completely wrong. I’ve lost count of how many sellers I’ve seen sat there all morning with decent stuff on their table, wondering why nobody’s buying. They’ll blame it on “tight buyers” or “people not wanting to pay fair prices,” but really? They’ve just priced themselves out of the game.
Selling at a car boot sale isn’t like selling online or in a shop. Get your pricing wrong and you’ll go home with a car full of clutter and an empty wallet. Get it right, and you’ll actually shift stuff and enjoy your day.
First Impressions Matter More Than You Think
Here’s the reality: the first price you give when someone picks up an item is everything. There are no second chances. If someone asks, “How much?” and you say “£15”, they’ve already made their mind up.
I saw someone try to sell a perfectly fine table lamp last weekend. A buyer asked the price, the seller said “£15,” and the buyer just put it down and walked away. No haggling, no further conversation, nothing. That lamp stayed there all morning. It probably went back in the car at the end too.
At a car boot, people expect low prices. If it sounds like a high street number, their interest disappears. Try to remember, you’re not just selling the item, you’re selling the feeling of getting a bargain.
A good rule of thumb: Start around 60–70% of what you’d actually be happy to accept. So, if you’d take £5, start at £8. It gives you room to come down and makes the buyer feel like they’ve won. That lamp? “£8” would’ve sold it. “£15” killed it.
Why Price Stickers Can Backfire
Stickers seem smart, right? Saves you repeating prices. But if you’re not careful, they can quietly ruin your sales.
When someone sees a price written down, they often treat it as final. If your sticker says “£12,” most people won’t even haggle, especially if it feels too high.
I’ve watched buyers walk past entire stalls without saying a word, just because the prices looked too steep on paper. They assume you’re not open to offers.
If you do use stickers, keep them low, they should reflect what you’re genuinely happy to accept, not what you’re hoping to get, or better still, only use them on the bigger items where you’re not up for much haggling.
Some of the best sellers I’ve met either skip stickers altogether or use them sparingly and strategically.
Stop Comparing Everything to eBay
Here’s the awkward bit: nobody at a car boot sale cares what something goes for on eBay.
I’ve heard it a dozen times: “It’s £25 on eBay!” as someone offers a fiver. But most car boot buyers, especially resellers, already know what it’s worth online, probably better than you do.
They’re not paying eBay prices because they’re not getting eBay perks. No delivery, no returns, no protection, no guarantees. It’s a different world.
Also, that “£25 eBay price”? After fees, postage, and effort, the seller’s lucky to make £18. That £5 offer at the car boot? Suddenly sounds fairer, doesn’t it?
And let’s be clear – resellers aren’t the enemy. If your prices are sensible, they’ll buy fast and in bulk. Don’t price them out just because you don’t like the idea of someone else making a profit.
Car Boot Buying Can Be Emotionally Driven
Not everyone turns up with spreadsheets calculating value to resell. They buy on instinct, and if something feels like a bargain, they’re in.
That’s why someone will cheerfully pay £3 for a mug they don’t need, but hesitate at £15 for a coat they do. The mug feels like a win. The coat feels expensive, especially when nostalgia is at play.
If an item looks and feels like a great deal, it’ll sell, even if its real-world value isn’t that high.
How to Handle Negotiation (Without Getting Defensive)
When someone makes you an offer, it’s not an insult. It means they’re interested & they’re just playing the game.
Instead of shutting it down, try:
- “I was hoping for a bit more, could you do £X?”
It keeps things friendly, shows you’re open to a deal, and still moves things toward your target price.
And sometimes? Just say yes. If someone offers £2 for something you wanted £5 for, weigh it up. Do you want £2 now, or the same item still in your garage next week?
Don’t Take It All Home
Whatever doesn’t sell, you’re lugging back to the car. And then what? It goes back in the loft? Or to the charity shop? Or worse, down the dump.
Your goal isn’t to squeeze every penny from every item. It’s to declutter, make a bit of money, and enjoy the day. Selling something for £2 is better than taking it home for nothing.
I’ve seen sellers reject a £60 offer for a pile of stuff they’d priced at £100, only to pack up unsold. That’s not a win. That’s missed opportunity.
Some of the quickest sales I’ve seen came from the very end, when sellers decided to price everything super low before leaving, all in a last ditch effort to sell everything, and guess what, it worked!
What Smart Sellers Do Differently
The most successful car boot sellers aren’t trying to get rich off one item. They sell volume over margin. Twenty items at £2 is often better than five items at £8.
If you’re emotionally attached to the value of something, don’t bring it. List it on eBay or Facebook Marketplace instead. Save the car boot for stuff you genuinely want to shift.
Think of it like this: you’re not running a shop. You’re running a clearance table.
The Bottom Line
Good pricing at a car boot sale means being realistic, flexible, and buyer-minded. You’re not trying to hit retail prices, you’re trying to move stuff and make a bit of money while doing it.
So price things at what you’d genuinely be happy to accept. Be open to offers. Aim to go home with fewer items and a few extra notes in your pocket, not with a stubborn pride about what things “should” be worth.
The truth? Most of your stuff probably isn’t worth what you think, but that’s okay. You’re not there to retire off your old DVDs. You’re there to clear space, have some chats, and maybe treat yourself to a decent lunch on the way home.
Price accordingly, and you’ll have a much better time.
