There’s nothing I like more than not being hungover on a Sunday. Unfortunately this doesn’t happen all too often. So when I’m not, I wake up as early as I can muster, throw on my fake fur coat over some shabby clothes and head down to my local car boot fair, a walk away at Herne Bay market.
There’s something invigorating about being up early in the crisp air when you’re not obliged to do so. There’s a noticeable difference between being out at 8 am when its not for your morning commute, with no makeup on and with no effort put in to what you’re wearing. Quite liberating really. That is probably the number one rule when it comes to shopping at boot fairs- no makeup and fashionable dressing to the wind. Make prejudice work in your favour... More often than not, goods on sale will not be priced up, letting the seller come up with a price on the spot, putting on your Sunday best is not going to do you any favours. In other words- dress poor. As well as this, stop into a newsagent’s on your way there and buy yourself the paper with a £10 note, you’re going to need change if you’re going to play the “ahhh i’ve only got 1.50” “ok go on then, love” game.
I like to take a roomy canvas bag along to carry my new finds in as more sellers might have forgotten to bring old carrier bags with them or have run out. If you’re specifically on the look out for dainty cups and saucers, (or deer ornaments) it’s always a good idea to bring along something to wrap breakable goods in (see i told you you should have bought that newspaper!).
Once you’re there, take a deep breath and start tackling the rows from left to right, up and down. It’s quite fascinating seeing everyone’s unwanted stuff laid bare in front of you, it’s like people watching to the max. Looking through people’s old music is always insightful, (“Didn’t take you for a hair metal fan, sir”), and there are many bargains to be had for vinyl lovers like myself from older sellers streamlining their collections to save up for a holiday in the sun. Boot fairs are also gold mines for super cheap CDs. I love a good compilation myself, and NOW 38 for 50p is a great way of adding a bit of Chambawamba and Hanson to your iPod playlist before dropping it off to a charity shop. Even more so than charity shops, boot fairs are amazing for jewellery finds as more valuable stuff is less likely to be donated.
Try not to look too excited when you spot something you want, maybe pick something up then put it back and keep an eye on it before meekly enquiring how much they want for it rather than exclaiming to your friend that “Ohmigod that’s an original Vladimir Tretchikoff “Green Lady” painting waaa!”.
When it comes to clothes, don’t be shy to get on your knees and have a look through boxes on the floor, sellers might have put the stuff they see as most desirable out front but the stuff more to your taste might be hidden away at the bottom of the pile.
Check for stains and holes in any clothing items, as contrary to charity shops, where they’re meant to chuck away any damaged items to be sold in bulk to the rag trade, anything goes at boot fairs. And unless you’re planning to cut that men’s Orlando t-shirt into a vest, you might not really want it if it’s got stains under the armpits- gross.
Also, try to avoid the age old nouveau- thrifter mistake of buying something just because it looks 80s. If it was awful then, it’s still awful now. Think of it like a velour tracksuit a la Coleen Rooney, awful then, will sure as fuck still be awful in 15 years time.
The only exception goes for 90s gear. Anything goes, buy away.
Be tactful when trying to get a good deal on something. It might not look that precious to you but remember the seller has bought this stuff with their own money many years ago. It’s majorly annoying when it’s the other way round and some idiot’s trying to offer you a pound for a pair of jeans (“these are Miss Sixty! I LOVED them”)...Go ahead and test your bartering skills if you think an item is overpriced, but I’d rather lose 50p on something i like than lose all dignity. But on the other hand, these people want to get rid of their stuff and go out for a slap up roast afterwards, so asking for a discount when buying a few items together isn’t going to hurt. They don’t want to take anything home with them.
On that point I might add that although turning up early is a great way to get all the good stuff before it all goes, turning up a bit later on the cusp of lunchtime is a surefire way to grab yourself some bargains off the sleep deprived sellers just wanting to leave (“Everything 10p!” or even better “Free! Take what you want you scavengers”). My boot fair bestie likes to start off at one site then drive to another in a neighbouring town when she’s done, arriving a bit later and getting the best of both worlds. Great idea.
Remember it’s always ok to make a few mistakes. It’s easy to get caught up in a moment of madness when everything’s so cheap. There was a time when i lived back in Malta and went to a car boot sale in my then hometown of Vittoriosa, (P.S it’s the best one on the island) and by the time I left I was the proud owner of 2 white pleather armchairs with orange cushions. Meeting the sellers the next week when they came to drop them off as planned was the equivalent of bumping into the person you met at a rave and vowed to keep in contact with, oops.
So just learn from your mistakes, donate the faux pas to charity and do the world a favour.
xxx
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