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Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

It seems to me it is past it's sell by date.
It is a social occasion now.
The bits were not on the field as in previous years - perhaps the net now has it !

Location: The Centre of the Universe

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

I had a small stall again this year just to pass on the parts I have purchased and not used for my build.

I would say after talking to and listening to people that the web has the edge now!

Ebay seems to have most answers these days.

I can confirm that over the past couple of years Tony has been the source for my most difficult bits and his advice only costs the time you give back.

I suppose as new blood washes into seven ownership or builds then things will improve.

The European scene seems very positive though,

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Nick Turley

It is a social occasion now.



IMO, for the majority of stallholders there, Beaulieu probably is a social occasion/weekend away rather than a money making opportunity.

Those tiny stalls are just under £140 each at September Beaulieu; add on fuel to get there and back, possibly van hire too, and most people selling secondhand parts won't be selling anywhere near enough stuff to turn a profit.

Nick Turley
The bits were not on the field as in previous years - perhaps the net now has it !


I'm sure that's right, the thing that I find is a bit weird though is that most people expect to pay a tiny fraction of the ebay going rate for a part that they can inspect in detail and have physically in their hand rather than a couple of (often unclear) photos on a website. Not surprising that sellers with a financial, rather than fun focus sell their parts on the net.

Location: N W Kent

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

As with Tony, our takings were down on previous years. But coming to Beaulieu is not primarily about selling, as it would be far more profitable for us to stay at home and not spend a week or two preparing for it and clearing away afterwards. But we enjoy the buzz of the event, meeting customers from all over the world, talking to other stall holders, etc. As Nick says, it's mostly a social event, albeit one that involves a lot of hard work!

David

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

I had never been before, and it was an essential life experience, I suppose, made better by accompanying someone who had been before - thankyou. But it did also make me appreciate the more relaxed feel of the Annual Rally (at the same location), where it is Seven dedicated, everybody is there on the single day, and there is time to ponder.

I hate to admit that of the £100 worth of bits I needed, I only managed to spend 10 quid! (and that means I didn't spot anything extra that I desired, and had to have.. with the additional 200 quid I had with me)

The generic rubber strip that I nearly bought at a non-Austin 7 stall (and put back because of the queue - it needing cutting) I did end up buying on ebay for half the price on Monday.

I can see organisers want to make their extra 2 quid for the personal programme, but not having a central location (near the food stall clusters perhaps) where you could find essential information and look things up was a bit cheap. Not having obvious stall numbering on junctions was unforgiveable. They are charging money for the basic entry, but withholding part of the experience.

Tony's point on whether he should list all secondhand stuff on his website prior is interesting. I don't know the answer!
But he is one of the few with secondhand stock that HAS embraced the web and ebay, and it enlivens things. Buying off the web is easy when you have a photo, a very basic descriptions, the ability to feedback, but most importantly trusted sellers. (as an aside, I found that buying a 2 year old car unseen and having it delivered from 300 miles away was an amazing experience as the dealer wanted to make sure all ambiguities were covered)

I suggest new owners - younger than I - coming in to Sevens will eventually set the agenda, if they enter the hobby in the first place! But that's another discussion.

And of course Beaulieu Autojumble is about far more than Sevens.

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

some very valid points.

i think ebay has it hands down over the shows nowadays. although i have noticed this year many prices and sales in the 7 parts have dropped on ebay. mainly due to people in the south stripping so many cars, they killed there own market.

i think 99% of stall holders do beaulieu for the social aspect as much as the business side. but as stuart suggest at some point you have to ask at what point is £135 a stall to much money to be sociable. (we could all meet up at the pub for free you know).

thats why i suggest the curtacy tent. so the social side could come forward more.

im not complaining about overall takings, adding pre orders and sales on the day together, we done well as a business.

the input is how things are changing and how we can change with them.

i cant help but think its a little sad that we get less of our friends from the uk turn out. but i do understand they have the same problems as stall holders with the price of traveling and entry fees.

tracy pointed out in the holding field friday morning how many forign stall holder there were!

tony

Location: huncote on the pig

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

I didn't go this year but I did the previous two. Without the travelling cost and entrance etc. punters have to be reasonably fit and patient just to get in and out of the place. The queue on the road started about five miles from Beaulieu!
As to the parts on offer (not just Austin 7 stuff), I couldn't seem to find anything I needed or wanted and if I did spot something I was tempted by, on closer inspection it was either in broken/poor condition or overpriced or both. New parts can be bought from our cherished suppliers much more easily on line or over the 'phone.
As has been already mentioned it is more of a social occasion but I think more so for the stallholders than the public. I found by 3pm that a few stallholders had socialised a little too much, several were fast asleep and one family team were as they say, "no longer thirsty" so much so that they could not register my interest, not Austin 7 people I might add.
It's all great fun but if you want bits for your car, get them on line.

Location: Stretham, Ely

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

As a private seller last year I took a Passat estate full and sold nearly all of it at prices people wanted to pay ( within reason ) and came home with just over £1500 after costs,this year I only took one item to sell and sold it for £60 on Friday afternoon, we had two pitches between three of us and with fuel from Pembrokeshire, food and the stalls worked out at £120 each, so the three days has cost me £60 in cash to attend. That £60 was more than offset by the one purchase of two rear mudguards,said to have been made by Rod Yates for £30 each, we all came away happy with the weekend and we have booked the two stalls again for next year.
I would like to thank all our cherished traders for their time, effort and expense of attending the show, as we all know you could have stayed at home and just traded online, It was nice to see you all again.

And in one particular case I hope you managed to convince the Mrs that you were actually working and not just there for the camping and the beer!

Location: Pembrokeshire.

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

I have never been to Beaulieu mainly because it's so far away, 270 miles. I would love to go but the only route is motorway unless you want to spend 8 hours on A & B roads. I had planned to go next year come what may but now I'm in two minds. It really has to be incorporated into a long weekend's holiday to make all that driving worthwhile (and I know I'd probably spend too much money as well).
Perhaps I should buy that camper van after all!

For the moment I'll stick to the internet etc. as I've found the cherished suppliers to be very helpful in general and efficient in particular.

Location: Ripon

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

These postings have reminded me that the discussion some time ago about financing Austinsevenfriends.com ended with a call for invoices to be sent to Cherished Suppliers,and others who wished to contribute.
I have never received any communication on this matter and would like to pay.
Has anyone else progressed this situation.

Location: Bristol

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Hi all I was there as usual, I fly down from Glasgow for under £100 return and tickets are around £25 for event. I stay with friends so double bonus seeing them. I got almost all my items but mainly spent time chatting to Tony, Jamie, David, John B and many other long term Austin friends. I came for first time in 1981 and have been there for most of last 10 years.

I love it.

Charlie.

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

I haven't been to the Beaulieu autojumble for about three years, not for any other reason than I've been working, otherwise I would have gone, even if I didn't need anything...but I usually end up buying loads of stuff anyway!

I have to say I also use ebay as well, you occasionally come across an item in better nick than the one you have and as long as you don't have a silly sod willing to pay twice the going rate, you often get the item for a reasonable price...but you don't get the banter!

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Ebay used to have a 'Looking for' section available to a possible buyer.
If someone had a part you needed they could then list it and know at least somebody was looking for that item and may probably bid on it.
That option was withdrawn a while back now.

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Lance Sheldrick
The queue on the road started about five miles from Beaulieu!


You will have to get up earlier Lance! Yes, we are fortunate in that we are only 60 miles away but it is worth getting there really early as the Sept event is very busy. We got there before 8 am, parked on the front row, and after waiting for the main gate to open at 8.30, we wait in the cafe and pore over the exbibitor list over a leisurely breakfast.

Beaulieu is an opportunity to meet and chat with all our cherished suppliers and others that we bump in to on the way round. Long may it continue. Plus you never know what you may find. I came across an immaculate early coil crankcase at a very reasonable price.

Hitherto I have only been allowed to visit on one day. It is impossible to take it all in so I am trying to convince SWMBO to do two days next year!

Tony's beer tent would be an added attraction of course!

Location: Farnham

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

I have been "doing" Beaulieu since the 80's as a stall holder & as a customer.
As I have just acquired a pair of Sevens (& have yet to see them!) my visit this year was really a "sighting shot" to see who was who & what bits were around. I have no real idea yet what may be needed, so tried (but failed) to keep my wallet closed! All the A7 stalls I visited were unfailingly helpful & very knowledgeable. I will be on a learning curve as I haven't owned a Seven since about 1958, the joys of coupled or uncoupled brakes are to come...I do recall neither worked very well!
What I did feel about Beaulieu this year was that the "jobsworth" staff had been really indoctrinated " You can't come in the main entrance with an exhibitor armband, you will have to take a 25 minute walk to the Exhibitor entrance" - and this NOT before opening time, but when the place was fully open! I risked arrest & marched firmly through another part of the main entrance!
The stalls were good though in my opinion.
I look forward to the Seven meeting at Beaulieu next year...should only take about 4or 5 hours each way!

Location: Stratford upon Avon

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

All parts needed to get your brakes to work properly are available from the Cherished Suppliers.

Location: Bristol

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Am I correct in thinking that there was a photograph of Mr. Dunford senior in the 50th anniversary programme?

Location: Deepest darkest Kent

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Robert Foreman
Am I correct in thinking that there was a photograph of Mr. Dunford senior in the 50th anniversary programme?


A passing resemblance!

 photo 490D0DFE-A227-48EC-95E0-E4D0677000DC_zps2y1i8iti.jpg

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

With Ian McJannet and Dave Blessley who have also survived.So far.

Location: Bristol

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

always good to see barry pook at beaulieu.

known for pooks books in leicestershire. seen carying an austin 7 axle here.

can never look him straight in the eye when trying to buy a sign or something though.

he has a knack of being able to quote a price right at your limit.

i managed to get two very rear calormeter type water gauges from him at brightwells last year at a good price by looking at my boots wilst i asked how much

tony

Location: huncote on the pig

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

I'm afraid that I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mr Pook Tony.
You must introduce me sometime.

Location: Bristol

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

My son ,daughter, her partner and my self attended this year.
We can only come every second year due to cost ( £300 for boat, £600 for hotels,£100 for Show tickets..) and that we all have to use a week annual leave.
My son came with enough money to buy a car...Prices and range shocked him.
I got all I was hoping to get.
We got VERY wet. we drove from Liverpool and back to Heysham ...spent hours in traffic jams..and had a ball.
My son, daughter and her partner are all in there late twenties...and are petrol heads (we live on Isle of Man)
They have all said that we must go again next year....
Hope this helps...

Tony K

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Ian Dunford
I'm afraid that I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mr Pook Tony.
You must introduce me sometime.


hi ian, i cant say we are bar buddies. i know him from his stall, not only at beaulieu. he usually stalls at HVA amongst others.

i was told he is trying to sell the shop but i dont know if thats true.

if you ever get up this way, you know you are more than welcome to stop over. we`ll take a couple of cars out and see if the shop is still there. and i`ll intraduce you.

how does that sound.

tony

Location: huncote on the pig

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Well Tony it sounds wonderful and I'm certain that Barry Pook is a most interesting person whose company I would love to experience one day.
But the monster with the beard carrying the semi-girling axle in the photois in fact me.
Admittedly a long time ago.

Location: Bristol

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Thank the proverbial for that. I was so sure it was you Ian, the prospect of some-one else looking like a twin was most disturbing!! (And Jen's thoughts may be better not recorded?). Cheers, Bill

Location: Euroa, Australia

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Then IAN, the beaulieu magazine has misstook your fame for Barry's.

I did wonder why Barry had aged so well

The offer still stands.

Tony.

Location: HUNCOTE on the pig

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Has the programme actually listed this as being Barry?

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Hi all, RE Beaulieu thanks to Tony I managed to buy some very hard to find
parts for our RK Saloon at this years Auto Jumble. Pat and I treat Beaulieu, as a social week end away, as for ordering parts from our "cherished suppliers" it would be cheaper for me to sit at home and order over the phone, and pay postage, if you factor in things like fuel costs £90, entrance cost, camping etc. but it is always nice to catch up with Tony, Tracy, and Stuart, etc to talk A7 and more importantly foot ball, and where we will end up at the end of the season. So please boyo's please keep on coming. S&P

Location: Sunny Gower

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Thanks all for your thoughts and feedback on beaulieu.

I've spent a fear bit of time over the last couple of weeks looking at what can be done about pre orders.

I wanted to sort a number of items to the same condition, so an item could be garranteed for it collection. Well it's all got to be sorted out anyway.

The only problem is, things are as I tell people. Good quality items are not so easy to get anymore.

Take 26va carbs. I have around 50 of them in various conditions. But when it came down to it I only have 6 with working choke return springs.

I have found 5 dj4 carbs so far in what I would call good complete restorable condition. With very little wear, and a good gear on them, most have NO OILER.

I found the same oiler problem with the DK4 carb.

I'll sort out the rest of the stock over the winter and see if it's worth offering items for jumble collection.

But it's looking like I might as well join others selling it all across the net, and accept the show could slowly die off.

Again thanks to those who joined in with input.

Tony.

Location: HUNCOTE on the pig

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

I appreciate your comments/view Tony but I suspect you get a fair bit of business from people who like to put a face to a name. I've bought quite a bit over the last couple of years and certainly I like to speak directly to the supplier at some point, and face to face is best.

I'm sure that you would lose internet business if Austin folk didn't have a chance to meet you, even if business at the show doesn't bring in the money; later online sales might suffer without the personal appearance or chance to make a judgment about a person or company.

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

hi nicholas,

i can see what you are saying. and yes what you say is true .

i dont see myself giving up on september beaulieu for the next 10 years. but things do change.

i am trying to look at it as a business point of view, and if i can change things to help customers and myself as a business i will.

thats why im looking at what i can do for pre orders. as people suggest as they get older they dont cover the full event, mainly the areas they now were they can usually get what they want.

im giving up alot of the new parts i make, as its obvious people are happy useing the larger suppliers. its more sorting what i can do with secondhand parts and the more exotic new bits i make.

tony



Location: huncote on the pig

Re: Beaulieu Autojumble 2016.

Tony
Thanks all for your thoughts and feedback on beaulieu.
I have found 5 dj4 distrs so far in what I would call good complete restorable condition. With very little wear, and a good gear on them, most have NO OILER.

Tony.


I know a bloke who sells the oilers at £6 ea.

Ian Mc.

Location: Shropshire