Five Great Tips for Easter Car Booting
Easter often heralds the beginning of the car boot season – so Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards are issuing their top five car boot tips for buyers and sellers.
1) Most people selling at car boots are private individuals – not traders, so you have fewer consumer rights if you buy from them than you would if you bought the same item in a shop. They are only required to describe their goods correctly, so ‘caveat emptor’ or ‘buyer beware’ very much applies.
2) Many old and damaged products find their way on to car boot sales. Be careful when buying used goods, especially toys and electrical items. Check for damaged wiring, and sharp edges and ask if they come with instructions.
3) Unscrupulous traders may try to sell fake goods at car boot sales. Counterfeit DVD’s are often of poor quality, some may even be blank, and computer software may not work.
4) We advise you don’t buy or sell items like irons, car seats or electrical fires at car boot sales, and if you are selling toys, inspect them to ensure there are no sharp edges or points, or small parts that can be pulled off.
5) If you are buying goods to sell for profit or you sell at car boots on a regular basis, you are very likely to be considered a trader under the law. As such you must give buyers the same consumer rights they have in a shop and comply with business laws.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards Service said:
“Buying and selling at car boot sales is now one of the UK’s favourite pastimes, with thousands of people attend such events each week during the Spring and Summer months.
Car boot sales can be great places to pick up a bargain, but consumers buying second hand goods need to be vigilant if they want to avoid being ripped off, or even hurt!”
For more advice on buying and selling at car boot sales, following the link below. For consumer advice telephone 08454 04 05 06. For business advice telephone 01926 414044.