Five top tips to bag bargains and spot treasure at a car boot sale
A CAR boot sale is the perfect place to bag a bargain.
You can pick up an item you love for next to nothing or find treasure to sell on for a profit.
But you can also waste your cash on a worthless dud.
Here’s how to sort the gems from the junk.
SAVE AND SELL: Boot sale pro Ellie Macsymons, from , is a dab hand at finding bargains.
She said: “It’s best to walk into a car boot not just thinking about the now, but also about what could be worth the money in the future.”
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Research platforms such as eBay and Depop where you can sell things when you’ve enjoyed them and see what prices you can expect.
GAME ON: Video games sell well on online marketplaces, with the best fetching up to £100.
Ellie said: “If there’s a game that’s not available in retail stores and hard to secure online, grab it at the lowest price possible.
“A nostalgia fan will buy it eventually once you resell it.”
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Good-quality, unmodified collectable action figures and memorabilia, such as Star Wars treasures, are also a good bet.
LABELS TO LOVE: Designer items can net a pretty profit on resale.
Ellie said: “Jackets and bags could be worth hundreds or potentially thousands especially if they still have the tags on.”
A simple pair of jeans could be a wise buy. Grab a pair for yourself for peanuts or resell a label such as Levi’s.
PAINT JOB: Boot sales are brilliant for picking up furniture such as chairs and coffee tables.
Ellie said: “Buy them as cheaply as possible with a plan in mind.
“They can fetch lots of money when resold if they have a fresh coat of paint.”
STEER CLEAR: Some car boot buys can lead you down a dead end.
Ellie says it is best to avoid second-hand sofas, which may be stained or broken.
Headphones are another no-no as they often turn out to need a pricey repair.
Beware of perfumes being sold at car boot sales, as they may be fakes.
Also avoid mystery bags — known as lucky dips — as they are more often than not just full of junk.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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