Buying silver flatware and other 925

[TommyTwoShots]

Anyone know of any good car boots or markets to pick up 925 flatware and junk silver in the UK? 

[modofantasma]

I'd say boots on the ground and just trawl the ones in your local area? 

[ady]

If there were such a "gold mine" of a market. Would you broadcast it?

[TommyTwoShots]

1 hour ago, modofantasma said:

I'd say boots on the ground and just trawl the ones in your local area? 

Yer, fortunately I live near to some relatively well to do areas. I’m going to go trawling today I think.

47 minutes ago, ady said:

If there were such a "gold mine" of a market. Would you broadcast it?

Depends if I had cash that week 😂

[Bimetallic]

What's a "car boot" in this context? I thought it was the British word for a car trunk, but it seems to mean something else here.

[27carrots]

yeah same

you fill up your boot/trunk with junk and sell it using your car as a market stall

[SidS]

A bit like a yard sale of sorts. 

As 27carrots said people fill up their car boots with items they want to sell. They drive to a designated place (sometimes a supermarket car park, sometimes a farmer's field), pay an entry fee (like rent) and then drive in, find a spot to park, open the boot and start unloading. They usually bring collapsible tables and such to put things out properly for people to see.

Other people who aren't selling will then drive there as well, pay the farmer/organiser to enter the site, park up and go hunting for bargains.

I used to go to quite a few years ago with my grandfather, always loved a car boot sale. Yes there's a lot of tat and junk, but hidden amongst it all there are occasionally things of value being sold by people who don't know what they've got, and often very cheaply too.

 

[HighlandTiger]

On 06/06/2021 at 07:44, TommyTwoShots said:

Anyone know of any good car boots or markets to pick up 925 flatware and junk silver in the UK? 

There are several sellers at Cheddar Boot Fair who sell 925 flatware at spot value. They buy at 80% of spot. They've usually got a few grands worth of stock available

[TommyTwoShots]

54 minutes ago, HighlandTiger said:

There are several sellers at Cheddar Boot Fair who sell 925 flatware at spot value. They buy at 80% of spot. They've usually got a few grands worth of stock available

Thank you very kind of you to give me this tip

[Spark268]

7 hours ago, SidS said:

They drive to a designated place (sometimes a supermarket car park, sometimes a farmer's field), pay an entry fee (like rent) and then drive in, find a spot to park, open the boot and start unloading. They usually bring collapsible tables and such to put things out properly for people to see.

Other people who aren't selling will then drive there as well, pay the farmer/organiser to enter the site, park up and go hunting for bargains.

there's a few distinctively British activities that this description pertains to 🙄

[Bigmarc]

On 06/06/2021 at 12:05, TommyTwoShots said:

Yer, fortunately I live near to some relatively well to do areas. I’m going to go trawling today I think.

Depends if I had cash that week 😂

Hello Tommy. 

Thought I would give the carboot a visit this morning. There was definitely potential. Any tips on how to gauge how much to pay for something without getting the scales out? Also is all flatware sterling? Some bits had no markings, any tips there? 

Cheers

[modofantasma]

23 minutes ago, Bigmarc said:

Hello Tommy. 

Thought I would give the carboot a visit this morning. There was definitely potential. Any tips on how to gauge how much to pay for something without getting the scales out? Also is all flatware sterling? Some bits had no markings, any tips there? 

Cheers

Look for the hall mark if it's 925 it should be sterling or 800 for 80% for eg. Scales out I'd say 

[Jimmock]

I personally don't touch anything without a hallmark that can be read,if for no other reason than it will make it easier to sell in the future.

[TommyTwoShots]

7 hours ago, Bigmarc said:

Hello Tommy. 

Thought I would give the carboot a visit this morning. There was definitely potential. Any tips on how to gauge how much to pay for something without getting the scales out? Also is all flatware sterling? Some bits had no markings, any tips there? 

Cheers

I only buy items I am certain is Sterling. No reason you can’t take your scales! I do.

 

[watchesandwhisky]

take scales but be wary of using eyepieces, it might make you look like you know what your talking about but it also highlights an item might be valuable, best to just try and do it by the naked eye if possible. I will use an eyepiece from time to time but only if they are asking close to the items worth. 

Edited June 13, 2021 by watchesandwhisky