Jumble Sales

[silliemillie]

Myself and a friend were taking about the bargains we used to find at Jumbles when I thought to myself I never see them these days. It's all Boot Sales around here (which I also love) but it would be nice to go to a good old jumble.

Do you still have them where you live?

[Buenchico]

I can see why 'indoor boot sales or 'table top sales' might largely have replaced jumble sales:

A jumble sale requires the organisers to spend weeks persuading people to give donations, which they've then got to find space to store them in. Then they've got to sort them and price them. on the day of the sale they'll need quite a few volunteers to man the stalls. Once the sale is over they'll be left with loads of stuff that they've either got to store until a future sale or find a way of disposing of.

A table top sale requires nothing more than putting up a few notices and taking bookings over the phone. (i.e. one person can do it on their own). On the day of the sale it's possible for just one person to put up the tables and to take the money from sellers (as well as from potential buyers if an admission fee is charged). At the end of the sale sellers will take all of their unsold stuff home with them.

So a jumble sale involves quite a large number of people to work hard over quite a long period (and for people to donate surplus goods, rather than to have the chance of making some cash from them), whereas a table-top sale can be arranged and run by just one person with only a small amount of effort. ( I recognise that most such events actually have a small team running them, often to help with catering, etc but it's still far easier to organise and run a table top sale than a jumble sale).

However we do still have a few jumble sales around here. Cats Protection run then occasionally in Stowmarket and other organisations sometimes host them in church or community halls in local villages.

[naomi24]

To a buyer what's the difference between a jumble sale and a boot sale?

[Mamyalynne]

I think the difference largely is that Jumble sales were always local - Church or School Hall and tended to be early evening or weekend afternoons.

Boot sales as well as being outdoors are often a drive away, sometimes in a muddy field and start just after dawn.

I used to love a good Jumble sale.

[MallyJ]

I think they are much the same..... in posher areas they are sometimes called Vintage / Antique sales...... and often they are selling things that I can remember being used or worn (and to be truthful still do!!) Am I now vinatge...or a bit second hand?

[Buenchico]

>>> To a buyer what's the difference between a jumble sale and a boot sale?

Probably not a lot but the simplistic pricing structure used at many jumble sales can increase the chances of finding a real bargain. For example "All blouses £3 each" can mean that, for exactly the same price, a potential buyer can find a well-worn top from Primark alongside an 'as new' blouse from Givenchy. People selling at boot sales (where the majority of sellers are often traders nowadays anyway) tend to know the value of the things that they're offering for sale.

[naomi24]

Thanks for the explanations all.

[Buenchico]

MallyJ:

You're probably 'vintage' but, just like with Cheddar cheese, that's even better than 'mature' ;-)

[Jackdaw33]

I remember jumble sales at the church hall years ago. You were talking coppers then. One notorious family clothed themselves entirely from what they bought there.

[silliemillie]

I do like Boot Sales but Jumbles were more fun.

[Buenchico]

You should come and visit us then, Millie. Our local car boot sale is held twice per week almost all year round. Only the Christmas period and January are excluded. It still goes ahead, often with a surprisingly large number of people there, in a snow blizzard or torrential downpour!
http://ipscene.co.uk/directory/needham-lake-car-boot/

[kvalidir]

I love jumblies, much better than carboots, but not many around.

[1ozzy]

Apologies for going "off topic".

Good to see you're posting again Kvalidir.

Missed your input.

[silliemillie]

Awww thanks Chris but that's a bit far for me, looks good tho.