On Monday the 15th I included my thought about a woman buyer who really turns the screws on sellers (particularly the aged or stallholders on their own) demanding that items for sale are reduced far below the asking prices, I asked for opinions about her tactics. At the Car Boot Sale at Newquay on Tuesday during the sale I was approached by several of our regulars whom I have known and respected for many years. I was totally unaware that this lady and her husband had caused so much discontent and controlled fury during our Car Boots at all locations over a very long period of time. My own experience with the couple is that I warned the husband if he tried to bend our rules again I would bar them both after I caught him going through the cattle pens to ‘buy early’ creating a disadvantage to the genuine dealers and buyers who were standing waiting and queuing for the sale to officially start. Over recent times I have had people say ‘you should do something about those two’ but I have ignored the complaints assuming they could be just ‘sour grapes’ It has got to be said that the complainants are not our top dealers who do show respect to all concerned at our sales but Mr & Mrs Joe public who sell on rare occasions and support us in all weathers and at all locations, they are our lifeline!

Today at Newquay I was approached by 6 other persons who identified the offenders as undesirable to the aims of FAIR PLAY to all sellers and buyers. Below are some extracts from conversations texts and emails I have received which leave me with no alternative than to bar this couple (with immediate effect) from all of the Car Boot Sales operated by CARBOOTSCORNWALL! I am disappointed to have to take this action but the behaviour reported does not justify allowing these complaints to continue, I apologise to any of our customers who have been distressed or inconvenienced by this couple’s tactics! There have never been so many complaints of any nature since we started boot sales in 24 years.

I have left out all identification of those who have emailed texted or complained to me in person however below is a realistic response from our customers who have demanded action;

Name: Jayne
Email: jayne*******@yahoo.com
Subject: Re; Dealer Behaving Badly
Message: I can only presume who the female dealer you refer to is a tall (also known as Stick insect) blonde woman who works as a teacher??? If so please name, shame and bar….her bad behaviour is legendry, the number of times I have politely stood by whilst she holds on to a lovely bargain, deliberating about the price when I would gladly pay the asking price, her favourite tactic is to find a fault in the object to get a further discount. The number of times she has swooped on a virgin boot seller and grabbing armfuls of clothes knocking down the seller on the prices as they are for her daughter……her daughters wardrobe must be huge!!! Rant over but your boot sales would be a happier place without her…..perhaps a petition Jane?

Email; “Geoff, as for name and shame or ban, you are already aware of the extent of people’s feelings and I have heard many examples of what can only be described as bullying tactics towards sellers to reduce prices and yes you are right, it is not pleasant at all for the poor seller on the receiving end…”

Email; “Well I’m not at all surprised by the complaints about B. Julie & Simon Beach they are both driven with greed, and yes he cares not who he knocks out of the way…! Our friend ***** has asked me to stay with her whenever she is looking at jewellery as he had previously reached over her shoulder and snatched an item out of her hand! ***stard!
We all want to get the star bargains but I have never seen such mean greedy individuals…”

Text message; “I went home absolutely furious by being pushed out of the way by a man who grabbed what I was considering to buy, the man was a complete stranger to me”

Complaint in person; “I think you should do all 3 Geoff name and shame and bar them both they are a disgrace to car boot sales always pushing in and acting like they are desperate for a bargain, they both have bloody good jobs and joint incomes so why should they treat sellers with such disrespect”?

Complaint in person; Mary from Camborne told me “I have to be careful because I am disabled but he barged in pushing me out of his way in his desperation to get to a table, this is always happening but none of us say anything but it does spoil it for a lot of people and it takes the fun away if you have people pushing you around and did you know they both act in the same way at Jumble Sales and other car boots”?

Complaint in person: Mr & Mrs White from Truro complained about “their unfriendly and pushy attitude always trying to knock sellers down on their prices, we know that’s what dealers expect but when you get old couples trying to downsize by selling their things and this greedy couple almost pleading poverty with them to drop their asking price to nothing then they should be stopped”

Extract of an email;
At the end of the day we are all trying to survive in this tough economic environment, I come to your boot sales either to sell, buy stuff for my home, my horses or dogs and yes buy stuff to hopefully sell on at a profit but however hard up I was I would never behave like this couple…..He has no scruples running and grabbing, many of the sellers at your sales are very hard up and selling stuff to buy food and to see the cruel way they are bullied is appalling….they are a so called Professional Couple who are just plain greedy.

Geoff Camden Wiles
www.carbootscornwall.co.uk To write to me direct;