Beaulieu autojumble

[Tony Betts]

Hello All

As I live only 18 miles from Beaulieu (Lucky Boy), I usually go to both the spring and the main autojumble.  Took the Pearl down yesterday in the sunshine.  I'm not really looking for anything in particular, it's just a nice day out to soak up the atmosphere and have a chat.  Bought a few bits and bobs, so the saving on postage just about covered the twelve quid day ticket.

One thing that is noticable is the often "ambitious" pricing, I'm suspicious that 95% of this stuff will be taken back home to be tried next time.  I can't help wondering if there would actually be more profit to be made if things were priced to sell.  Enamel signs are a case in point, who is going to spend hundreds on a not particularly tasty sign that looks like it has been a target at Bisley for the last 30 years ?

When I do a quick scan of a stand, they mostly seem to fall into one of four categories:

New / New Surplus / Repro / Market Stall items
Glass cabinets with 12 items that the seller has had so long they have been polished to death
Completely rusty tat which is shovelled out and shovelled back
Interesting (That includes yours Tony B !)

Hi john,

It's a little sad you dont get it.

Although yes some of what you say is true. It not a bad thing.

It just sad you dont get it

On my part, I had a cracking weekend. In many ways record breaking for a spring beaulieu.Even though I came home early last night.

And yes I took home 80 to 85% of what I took, ( work out how much what I take on the stall is worth )

If I work on percentages, the worst selling stuff on my stall was the NEW austin 7 spares. And that's why other new parts sellers dont attend anymore. BUT IF I DONT TAKE NEW SPARES. the austin seven people that do attend dont get the chance AT ALL. to get what they went for. It's one of those use it or loose it thing.

The best sellers were actually the boxes of 24 contact sets. NON AUSTIN 7 ITEM. I rescued them from heading for a skip. There are 1,000s of them in nice display boxes. And they cost me next to nothing. So they were being sold stoopidly cheap.

I sold alot of the rear and expensive austin 7 parts, but let's face it it's expensive for a reason. I CANT REPLACE IT. And YOU DONT COME AND SELL ME THESE REAR ITEM AS CHEAP AS YOU EXPECT me to sell them to you for.

The other side of beaulieu, and other events. For many of the stall holders. Is the same reason you went there for. A day out to soak up the atmosphere. And enjoy yourself. I have friends who stand a stall, what they sell in the main is not so special. They are not bothered what they sell or what they make. They enjoy the weekend, meet friends. Have a drink in the evening.

It is sad you dont get it, and find so much negative in it. But there you go, some people enjoy extract joy from the negative. 

Tony.