CARBOOT

Carboot 

CARBOOT

Torksey car boot sale is it a victim of its own success I’ll give you the facts and you can decide for yourself. 

My last visit was in 2013 on a Januarys cold winter afternoon.

Having had a walk around I decided I would revisit again in summer so that’s exactly what I did in June 2013.

I arrived at approximately 10:30 AM where I was allocated space and set up ready for trading as car boots go, the space allocated was ample.

The pitch charges are £12 to enter earlier and set up ready for the afternoon. Trading starts at approximately 1 o’clock the crowds that gathered at the main gate were allowed to enter it was like a mad rush in the Christmas sales! Trading was brisk and continued to about 1:30 when I heard a fellow trader shout “that’s it”. I thought I must be hearing things! I asked a trader nearby what time it usually finishes - and was told that was it for today.  Disappointed I decided that I would try again on Saturday. As maybe Wednesday was a one-off. I would revisit at the weekend and give Torksy a second chance.

Saturday morning came round I was up early ready for a new challenge.

I set off and arrived at the car boot at approximately 10:30am. Again I was allocated a generous space with the anticipation of a good days trading. Things went well just like on Wednesday.

As soon as the clock showed 1:30 -  it was almost as if someone had blown the whistle and said: “Game Over!”

I thought I’d ask a regular trader of their opinion on what the problem was to them. Most seem to be in agreement - It had become a victim of its own success. Really paying the early £12 admission fee was not an advantage. A better option was to pay a fee of £7 and get in 15mins before the start.

To me the only winners really were car boot organizers.

Torksey car boot has great potential – if they cold sort the problem with the visitors leaving early, maybe by allowing the public in sooner – it could be a great place on Wednesdays/Saturdays. They already have the facilities in place – such as toilets, food, drink stands, etc. – and are currently adding a new toilet block at the moment.