Secrets to Scoring Antiques at Car Boot Sales: Tips to Find Hidden Treasures for Pennies
Ever wonder how to find priceless antiques for just a few dollars? Stick around, and I’ll reveal my secrets! Just this last month, I discovered many amazing items: a foot-tall solid silver vase from Iran for 50p, now up for £695, a Moorcroft pottery lamp for £18, now up for £395, and Waterford glasses for £10, now up for £295. These kinds of finds are quite common for me, often getting items for less than a fiver with a retail price far in excess of £100.
I am going to share my tips and secrets throughout this article to help you find treasures like these.
Volume is Key: The More You Visit, The More You Find
My first tip is this: there is no such thing as luck. What counts is volume. If you go to more car boot sales and see more stalls, you won’t need luck – the items will be there.
About Me
A little about me: I have worked in and around car boot sales for between 25 to 30 years. I buy and sell antiques and collectibles and resell them on antiquesarena.com. I have learned over decades the best practices in finding the very best items for pennies, so why not see if any of my tips can help you?
Research and Focus
I am not an expert; I am a general dealer. But one of the things I did was focus on the things that sell for the most money. For example, I used to spend time searching sold items on eBay, focusing on what sold for the highest price. This includes everything from a Clitchy paperweight to Chinese porcelain to a silver vase. There is only so much you can learn, so why not focus on the things that will bring you a real profit if you find them?
Spotting Quality
There are a few things this does: it means you can identify items of value, but because you are learning about quality items, quality stands out to you. Even if you don’t know what something is, you can spot quality. So if you see something of quality, buy it and research it later. Each week, I come home with one or two items that I have to research, and that’s after two and a half decades. But look at it this way:
If you consider each stall has a hundred items, each car boot sale has a hundred-plus stalls, and I attend 3 to 4 car boot sales a week over a season. This means you are assessing and evaluating 40,000 items a week, even if it’s just a simple glance to dismiss the items. So when something stands out and says, “I am different,” then take the risk and buy it. If you’re seeing 40,000 items a week, and in my case, I’ve been to countless car boot sales, then it must be something.
Strategic Shopping at Car Boot Sales
Be Watchful of Your Merchandise
If you’re interested in something, make sure you have the item in hand. Many times other dealers are ruthless and will snatch the item from in front of you unless you have a hold of it. Always keep an eye on your purchases as some people might try to rummage through your cart after you’ve bought items.
Don’t Rush
When you go to a car boot sale, don’t mistake being early and at the front of the queue for being in the backs of cars or standing as part of a crowd around a stall. This will only get you frustration. The best tip I can give you is this: when there is a crowd around a stall, move away and go back around from the beginning. The jewelry and valuables are often the last items to be put out, so circling back can be beneficial.
Ignore the Naysayers
Don’t listen to the stall holders. When I am going through jewelry boxes looking for gold, silver, and coins, I probably hear five times a day, “There is no gold in there.” Ignore them and look anyway. If you find gold, it will be cheap as they don’t expect it to be there. Plus, you may find vintage costume jewelry or coins that the stall holder may not value.
Thorough Searching
If you see boxes of silver plate, tea sets, or cutlery on the floor, get down in the box and search every piece, including looking for foreign hallmarks. Two amazing finds I had over the last year consist of a rare Jewish sterling silver ladle that I bought for £2 and a set of solid silver sugar tongs bought for a few pounds.
Stay Longer
I’ve recently realized the benefits of sticking around at the boot sale. I used to do one or two looks and then shoot off! Now I stay longer and often find more valuable items as the day progresses.
Don’t Get Caught Up in the Boot Sale Money Mindset
One of my viewers pointed out that it’s easy to start thinking that £5 is a lot of money when you’re at a car boot sale. However, if you saw the same item at an auction for that price, you’d probably grab it without hesitation. Many resellers focus too much on saving just 50p, which can be counterproductive. It’s important to focus on the potential profit margins rather than getting hung up on small price differences.
Look Everywhere
A viewer shared a great tip about looking everywhere, even in places you might not think to check. They found valuable brooches in a mixed box at a charity shop and high-value clothing on a £1 rack. This highlights the importance of thorough searching and keeping an eye out for hidden gems in unexpected places.
Knowledge and Timing
Knowledge and timing are the two most important parts of finding good merchandise. Obviously, getting to the goods before others is important. However, knowledge really helps you when you’re not the first at the table. It helps you pick out the gems others left behind because they simply didn’t know the items had value.
Don’t Be Afraid of Size
One viewer shared an insightful case study where they purchased a massive barometer and a voltage meter for £40 at a car boot sale. Despite the size, they expect to get over £2,400 for them eventually. Many people walked past these items, likely due to their size or the perceived hassle of transporting them. If you can manage shipping, large items can be incredibly profitable.
Consider Long Tail Items
A viewer pointed out the importance of considering long tail items. If the profit margin is significant, it doesn’t matter if it takes years to find the right buyer. They suggest keeping only 10-20% of your stock as long-tail items and focusing on short-term sellers unless the margins are incredible. I also believe that if the profit is large enough, it’s worth waiting to find the right home for an item.
Going Late Can Be Advantageous
Going to the bootsale late can be hugely advantageous. Since I go with knowledge I often find valuable items even at the end of the sale.
Understanding Car Boot Sales in North America
A car boot sale is similar to a flea market where people sell items from their tables or the trunk (boot) of their cars. In North America, it might be referred to as a flea market or swap meet, but the concept is the same – finding bargains and hidden treasures.
Rare Finds
While paintings are rare at car boot sales, they can occasionally be found. Recently, at a flea market, I picked up some good pieces because I was the first at the table. Being early can make a big difference.
Explore my full collection and see any of the stock featured in my films at antiquesarena.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and check all my links at linktr.ee/antiquesarena. If you want to become a reseller like me, check out my books at antiquesarena.com/books/. Support my channel by donating here: PayPal.
Join me on this exciting journey of antique treasure hunting and unlock the secrets to finding valuable antiques for pennies!
