Ive Done La Trocha Car Boot Sale - what to expect

Ok, so I was going to do the Car Boot Sale at Benahavis on Sunday....I woke up and it was raining. I was up at 6.30am, my daughter and husband were still fast asleep. On the Saturday afternoon I had packed up my car to the top in the hope of finally doing a car boot sale. This was the closest I have got and its sodding raining. Husband being his normal realistic self kept saying...Jo, its going to rain...we cannot do this in the rain...but me being me...I didnt listen :)

I got a bee in my bonet and once the dog got up everyone was up we decided we´d go to Coin as it was undercover.

We left a little late infact alot later than we should have about 745am. Its quite alot further than I realised and probably spent 20euros in fuel.

We took 2 cars as I couldnt fit anyone else in mine. Got to Coin La Trocha Car Boot. Enter the car park just before the petrol station. Queue up until someone tells you where to go. We got there late so had one of the worst pitches at the end...our own fault. So you take your car in, empty it out and then have to go and park it....SO YOU CANNOT DO THIS ON YOUR OWN!!!

As soon as you park you are hounded by loads of Moroccan men, going in your boxes, car all over. How much they say - you say 10€uros they say 1€! But you have so many around you its rather intimidating. You havent even got your stuff ready yet. Then they all ask quietly "Tienes Moviles" "Tienes Moviles"....All day long all they want is Mobiles - Anyone know why?

So they try neg you down and even when you have settled a price - watch out....when some of them come to give you the money, they dont give you all of it. So then you stand there quibblilng over a few euros whilst one of their friends is probably taking something from your stall.

In just a few minutes of opening the guy to our left had a crash helmet knicked and they people to our right got 30€uros stolen from their pocket. Its rather seedy if Im honest....but then the fun started.

Finally set up, most of the good things had gone pretty early, and at cheap prices as I was a little unorganised and it was hectic as I was on my own, then also keeping a close eye on my daughter ...but I got rid of it. Mind Alan Sugar wouldnt be impressed as anyone can sell anything at a loss!

If you have electrical things get them out first and they will sell...but its up to you if you hold a high price...you may not get a chance to sell again. We had a pile of plates and bowls....at the begning someone offered 3€uros for the whole lot...i said no and had to bring them back home.

English People were far the easiest to deal with and I ended up throwing a few extra things in their bags. Quite a few Dutch people too which were great to deal with. There was one Spanish woman who had a habit of just taking things of my table and putting them straight into her trolley then offering me what she thought and then lying about what she took...think her and her husband were a bit of a double act - him keep asking me questions and keeping me off the scent whilst I see her hand sneeking up on the table then down in her trolley.

So here are a few very important tips.

1) YOU CANNOT DO THIS ALONE AS YOU NEED TO GO AND PARK YOUR CAR AFTERWARDS ONCE YOU HAVE SET UP.

2) TAKE A BODY BAG OR BUM BAG AND KEEP EVERYTHING TIGHT TO YOU AT ALL TIMES.

3) DONT HAVE MONEY IN YOUR POCKETS.

4) DONT TAKE ANYTHING UNECESSARY - IPODS, NINTENDOS, WALLETS WITH CREDIT CARDS IN - YOU JUST NEED 20€UROS FOR YOUR PITCH, SOME CHANGE AND A BIT EXTRA FOR TEA / COFFEE.

5) THE BIG THINGS YOU HAVE PRICE UP FIRST AND PUT A PRICE ON AND MAKE IT CLEAR.

6) BE AWARE AT ALL TIMES...WHILST SOMEONE IS QUIBBLING OVER 50CENTS THEY ARE PROBABLY WITH SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS TAKING A FEW BITS.

7) EXPECT OTHER TRADERS FROM BETTER SITES TO COME OVER NEG YOU DOWN AND THEN RESELL THE ITEMS ON THEIR STALL.

8) HAVE FUN BUT TRUST NOONE!

I absolutely love car boot sales, I always have done, my husband says Im a complete sales woman. I was out there the other side of the stall selling for 4 hours solid. I knew more or less all the things I had, took loads of baby clothes and whenever someone came with a kid I asked what size and knew exactly what I had for them. Im in my element doing this.

So much so Ive found a whole load more rubbish and going to do another one.

20€uros per pitch, 5euros back at the end if your pitch is clean. Toilets are in the garage or upstairs in the shopping centre by the cinema.

Take change and plastic bags.