Preloved
ClassifiedsForumsReviewsMembersThe Joy of Second Hand

RSS RSS

The web is killing off the 30 year old Car Boot sale

Posted 1 October 2009 by Preloved

Visits to traditional car boot sales have fallen by 65% in the last 3 years, as more Brits have taken to using the internet to sell clutter and find bargains, according to a survey carried out by Preloved.

The world's first car boot sale was held in Kent 29 years ago this month, in 1980. For years, car boot sales have been a great way of selling clutter in an organised way, whilst also giving Brits the chance to find a bargain.

However, for the past three years, attendance of car boot sales has been in steady decline, with the advent of second hand websites that enable you to buy and sell from the comfort of your home.

A study Preloved of 3,108 members of the public has found that more and more Brits are turning away from the open air car boot to selling online.

17% of the respondents said they attended a car boot sales 3 years ago, whereas just 6% said they'd been to one so far this year. 5% said they'd sold at a car boot sale in the last 3 years, compared to 21% who said they'd sold online in the same timeframe.

When asked "Would you prefer to sell online or at a car boot sale?" 92% of the public said they'd prefer to sell online. Even older participants, who may have been expected to be more pro-offline answered that selling online was their preferred method - 82% of 50+ respondents said they'd rather sell unwanted items on the internet.

Founder of Preloved, Ian Buzer believes there are a number of reasons car boot attendance is down,

"The increase in popularity of second hand websites such as eBay and Preloved show yet another way the internet has revolutionised the way we live our lives.

"Not only does the web offer a better alternative to standing out in the cold all day by giving you the opportunity to leave your listing and come back to responses later, sites such as ours allow you to list your items for free, instead of paying a pitching fee. This has probably marked the beginning of the end of the car boot which is unfortunate given that for 25 years or so, car boot sales have defined the fun, bartering nature of Britons.

"Preloved is hoping to inject some of the fun back into the process of buying and selling online by bringing together buyers and sellers in a local area. In doing so we aim to provide a safer, friendlier experience than sites like eBay and we have received a number of emails from members saying they found not only a bargain but also a new friend."

Permalink | Related Subjects: Second Hand



Preloved Recommended by Moneymagpie in the Daily Express

Posted 25 September 2009 by Preloved

Preloved is delighted to have been recommended by the Daily Express in their recession busting Moneymagpie column. Moneymagpie highlighted our 'no listing fees, no selling fees, no catches' approach to online selling and our system for prioritising local adverts, helping you find things for sale close to where you live. If you are looking for more tips on how to be a clever consumer and how to make the most of your money then why not visit the Moneymagpie web site at http://www.moneymagpie.com/. The site also... [more]

Permalink | Related Subjects: Preloved


Clean Up Your Act

Posted 16 September 2009 by Preloved

If you have to perform a shoulder barge to close wardrobe doors, or you daren't venture into the garage for fear of causing an avalanche of old toys, dusty furniture, books and boxes, it's time to take a deep breath and declutter. For many of us, however, decluttering is easier said than done. And across the UK thousands of people jealously hang on to every last possession until their homes are filled to bursting point. Ironically, many of these items are stuffed into cupboards or lurk in the shadows in attics and... [more]

Permalink | Related Subjects: Hints and Tips


Preloved Gains Top 3 Ranking

Posted 9 September 2009 by Ian

Loading... Preloved has risen to the number 3 spot in a recent ranking of the UK's most popular classified web sites. Results have just been released by Hitwise, a service that measures the most popular web sites across the globe. In it, Preloved was ranked 3rd among all UK "Shopping and Classifieds - Classifieds" sites, based on the number of visits between January and June... [more]

Permalink | Related Subjects: Preloved


Choosing Your New Pet

Posted 2 September 2009 by Preloved

If you're offering a home to a new pet you can look forward to a long and rewarding friendship with a loving new companion. However, don't forget that they will look to you for love, care and attention every day for many years to come. We've put together our top tips to help you choose the right pet and to make sure it goes on to live a long and happy life.   Choose a pet to fit your lifestyle Most important is to make sure your... [more]

Permalink | Related Subjects: Buying Advice, Pets


Results 1 to 5 of 28.

« Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  Next »

Not a member yet?

Why not join the fun for free! Members can sell their stuff completely free of charge, have searches prioritised for their local area, and lots more.

Join for free | Member Log In
The Haggler

Become an Expert Second Hander

Would you like to know how to snatch up the best bargains on Preloved? How to ensure the items you sell fetch the best possible price?

Then why not sign up to "The Haggler", our occasional email newsletter telling you everything you wanted to know about second hand, but were too afraid to ask.

It lets you in on all the hints and tips that we have picked up behind the scenes here at Preloved, and is completely free of charge.

Sign up now...
Are you a fan of Preloved?

If so, why not help us spread the Joy of Second Hand by joining us on Facebook. [more...]

Affiliate Program

Do you own a UK web site?

If so, you can enhance your site and earn money at the same time simply by showing our latest classified listings on your site.

Find out more...