IN GENERAL I do not find car boots to be a rip-off (Consumer Matters and comment, August 23). Sometimes things are overpriced but are still generally cheaper than many shops, often half the price.
I personally have never seen bootleg alcohol and cigarettes sold from the back of a hatchback as reported. Car boots offer a good service to the public by recycling goods that second-hand dealers may not want, toys, baby clothes, a vast selection of used and unused household goods and clothes.
The people selling have to pack and unpack all their wares, are subject to the outdoor weather, have to store items and in general may be earning less than £2 an hour overall. The police either in uniform or not can attend any car boot and watch for stolen goods.
The benefits of car boots to the public is shown by the people attending. The public know they are buying in a field with generally no guarantees and not at M&S.
With regards to safety, faulty goods should be recalled by the manufacturer and refunds to the public given no matter where they were purchased. Keep regulation and costs to a minimum is the best approach in this case.
Colin Clarke,
The Crescent,
Stamford Bridge.
Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, August 28, 2001
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