The ‘mini open air supermarket’ is a crowd puller in Miri.
MIRI: ‘Car-boot Sale’, or mini ‘open air supermarket’, is very popular here.
It has been held at the parking lot of Miri Civic Centre on Sundays for the past several years, and serves as a platform for those wishing to sell off unwanted used items at discounted and reasonable prices.
The traders would converge at the parking lot as early as 5.30am on Sundays in order to secure ‘strategic spots’, such as under trees for shade.
Some customers also make it a habit to show up early so as not to miss the best pick for the day.
The most sought-after item is clothes, but on sale is a gamut of items ranging from potted plants and bags to women’s accessories, compact discs (CDs), and antique coins.
Fried food, local delicacies, drinks and titbits are also available, thus helping the scene to take on a carnival-like ambience.
Most of the traders would disperse around noon, but a few often stayed on till evening.
“Profits are reasonable and encouraging at times,” admitted a trader, who declined to be identified.
The Borneo Post went to the carpark yesterday to get an update, and noticed that the crowd was quite sizeable. It rained later in the morning, but most of those present merely whipped out their umbrellas and raincoats and continue with their shopping, while the traders use plastic sheets to cover their wares.
One trader, who was in a hurry to call it a day when rain poured at about 8am, said she came at about 6.30am yesterday.
“I managed to make about RM200 from the sale of clothes and bags today!” she smiled.