oldharry
Well-Known Member
Boat Jumble or retailers Boat Fair?
Attended the West Sussex Jumble today- a total shambles in its new field as parking was entirely inadequate, no marshalls, no space, and freeeeezing cold! What a contrast to its former Goodwood race course venue, much under cover, with ample well organised parking.
Having supported many such events over the years, I found myself seriously wondering whether they can legitmately be called jumbles any more: Only a handful of stalls were selling genuine jumble - i.e. second hand gear being sold on to everyones benefit. The vast majority of the stalls were dealers selling new gear at near and in some cases ABOVE retail price!
In my mind this no longer qualifies for the title 'Jumble sale', which by definition is one mans rubbish becoming another mans treasure. Trade Sale or Trade Fair - like the Computer Fairs, would be a much more accurate description, and we would all know where we stand.
Arguably it was so cold because there were little or no 'hot' goods for sale - and that cant be too bad a thing!, except neither were there many of the real 'bargains' (hot or otherwise!) that were the hallmark of these events in the early days.
So what really is a 'Boat Jumble' these days. And where has all the second hand gear that used to be on offer, gone? Ebay maybe?
Attended the West Sussex Jumble today- a total shambles in its new field as parking was entirely inadequate, no marshalls, no space, and freeeeezing cold! What a contrast to its former Goodwood race course venue, much under cover, with ample well organised parking.
Having supported many such events over the years, I found myself seriously wondering whether they can legitmately be called jumbles any more: Only a handful of stalls were selling genuine jumble - i.e. second hand gear being sold on to everyones benefit. The vast majority of the stalls were dealers selling new gear at near and in some cases ABOVE retail price!
In my mind this no longer qualifies for the title 'Jumble sale', which by definition is one mans rubbish becoming another mans treasure. Trade Sale or Trade Fair - like the Computer Fairs, would be a much more accurate description, and we would all know where we stand.
Arguably it was so cold because there were little or no 'hot' goods for sale - and that cant be too bad a thing!, except neither were there many of the real 'bargains' (hot or otherwise!) that were the hallmark of these events in the early days.
So what really is a 'Boat Jumble' these days. And where has all the second hand gear that used to be on offer, gone? Ebay maybe?