Went to boat jumble at Rayleigh today....oh dear!

[NealB]

A complete waste of the £8 entrance fee (2 adults).

We went along, armed with shopping list and cash, and bought............. absolutely nothing.

Very few stalls.

Took less than half an hour to saunter round, and that included stopping for a chat to a mate.

The days of boat jumbles are surely numbered?

 

[Champagne Murphy]

Last Suffolk one at Trinity Park near Ipswich was quite brisk. Under cover too

 

[NealB]

Last Suffolk one at Trinity Park near Ipswich was quite brisk. Under cover too

I went down to Beaulieu this year: first time for quite a while.

It was definitely only a shade of what it was twenty years ago. If my memory isn't playing tricks, back then, Beaulieu went on and on, field after field, and there were coaches bringing in visitors from across the UK.

This year....just two fields, and I don't recall seeing any coaches at all.

Younger sailing friends don't seem to understand the idea: and just buy new stuff online, and second hand on ebay or Gumtree.

 

[Keith 66]

I also went to the South Essex jumble today. Likewise i thought it was a rip off, just a scattering of stalls round the edge & an empty field in the middle.
Talking to a couple of stall holders it was very poorly advertised. Lots of overpriced tat at the same price as chandlers.
Only good deal i saw was a decent combi trailer for a 14footer it went for a £100 & i just missed it!
I cant see it surviving unless the organisers get their act together.

 

[tugger]

Younger sailing friends don't seem to understand the idea: and just buy new stuff online, and second hand on ebay or Gumtree.

Surly you're not surprised though, why pay £8 to meander round a field on the off chance of finding a perceived bargain with no guarantee that it will actually work when you can browse online for free or even go to the local chandlery and get advice thrown in to the deal too?

That's not even taking into consideration the cost of having a stall in the first place. Heaven forbid anyone apportion blame at greedy landowners though

 

[NealB]

Surly you're not surprised though, why pay £8 to meander round a field on the off chance of finding a perceived bargain with no guarantee that it will actually work when you can browse online for free or even go to the local chandlery and get advice thrown in to the deal too?

That's not even taking into consideration the cost of having a stall in the first place. Heaven forbid anyone apportion blame at greedy landowners though

Not surprised at all.

But boat jumbles used to be fun, tactile, sociable, places to rummage around in loads of old boaty stuff, to meet up with faces old and new, and to hone your haggling skills.

Good exercise, too, lugging the purchases across muddy fields to the car.

Online might be more efficient, but it's impersonal and clinical.

 

[Poignard]

Online might be more efficient, but it's impersonal and clinical.

And you can't enjoy burgers and chips away from the missus's prying eyes.

 

[pvb]

Online might be more efficient, but it's impersonal and clinical.

And the stuff you're buying probably hasn't been nicked, either.