How to Spot a Genuine Roadshow: What to Check Before You Sell
I recently spoke to BBC Radio 4's You & Yours about something I believe is becoming increasingly important as the roadshow industry grows: how consumers can protect themselves when selling valuable belongings.
WeBuyVintage now runs around 250 roadshows every month across England and Wales, and over the last three years we've seen a lot of new businesses enter the market after seeing the growth of the industry.
The quality of operators across the industry can vary, which is why I think consumers should know what to look for.
That's why, during the interview, I made a point that might sound slightly unusual coming from someone who runs roadshows for a living:
Do your research before you sell to anyone. Including us.
If you're thinking about selling jewellery, gold, watches, antiques or collectables at a roadshow, there are some simple checks you can make before you attend.
You should know who you're dealing with, understand how the process works and feel completely comfortable deciding whether or not to sell.
Why researching a roadshow matters
When you take an item to a roadshow, you may have very little idea what it is worth.
Perhaps you've inherited a collection from a relative. Maybe you've had jewellery sitting in a drawer for decades. You might have an old watch, a box of coins or an antique you've never really looked into.
That can make it difficult to know whether an offer represents good value.
This was one of the points raised by Dan Hatfield, the TV antiques and collectibles expert and third-generation pawnbroker, who followed me on the You & Yours programme.
Dan's advice was to shop around before attending a roadshow, suggesting that consumers visit local jewellers, pawnbrokers or antiques businesses to get several comparison prices where possible.
I agree with him.
You don't have to accept the first offer you receive.
If you're unsure what something is worth, getting more than one opinion can give you a much better understanding of the market and help you make an informed decision.
A reputable buyer should have nothing to fear from you comparing their offer with somebody else's.
How to spot a genuine roadshow
There isn't one single test that proves whether a roadshow operator is trustworthy.
Instead, there are several straightforward checks you can make before you attend.
I would think of them as a quick checklist for researching any company you are considering selling to.
1. Find out who you're actually dealing with
Start by researching the company behind the roadshow.
If the business operates as a limited company, you can search for it on the free Companies House register. This allows you to check information including the company's registered details, status, officers and filing history.
Being a limited company doesn't automatically mean that a business is trustworthy – and not every legitimate business will necessarily operate as one – but knowing who you are dealing with is a sensible first step.
You can also check whether a business is VAT registered where relevant.
If you can't find clear information about the company, its identity or how to contact it, that's a reason to pause and do some more research before handing over anything valuable.
2. Check whether the business provides clear information
A genuine business should be willing to tell you who they are and how their service works.
Look at the company's website and ask yourself:
Is there a clear company name?
Can you find contact details?
Does the website explain what the business buys?
Are the locations and events clearly advertised?
Can you find information about the people or experts carrying out valuations?
Is the selling process explained before you attend?
Are you told how and when payment is made?
The more transparent the process is, the easier it is for you to make an informed decision.
For me, transparency is particularly important when we're talking about someone's personal possessions. You shouldn't have to arrive at a venue before finding out how the process works.
3. Look at reviews – but look beyond the star rating too
Online reviews are incredibly useful when researching a business, but don't just look at the headline score.
There are multiple things to consider when reading reviews and I’d encourage you to look at both their star rating and number of reviews received too as a start, but beyond that, read a few recent ones yourself.
Do customers describe their actual experience? Does the business respond to questions or complaints? Are there recurring concerns that appear across multiple reviews?
No business will have a perfect record, and one negative review doesn't necessarily tell you very much.
What matters is looking at the overall picture and considering whether the company appears to engage openly with its customers.
If I'm asking someone to trust us with their belongings, I think it's reasonable that they should be able to see what previous customers have said about their experience.
4. Check whether the roadshow actually returns to the area
One of the points I made during the interview was particularly simple: look at whether a company comes back.
A business that regularly returns to the same towns and communities has an ongoing reputation to protect.
If a roadshow is advertised in your area, look at whether you can find evidence of previous events. Does the company regularly advertise future dates? Does it have an established presence in the area?
At WeBuyVintage, returning to communities is a big part of how we've built the business.
We're running over 250 roadshows every month, and we regularly return to towns and venues across the country. We want people to know who we are and to have the opportunity to come back and see us again.
Our online postcode tool not only allows you to search for your nearest roadshow, but also tells you how many times we have visited that specific town.
5. Check their social media for another layer of insight
While we hold traditional values at WeBuyVintage, the modern world keeps moving, and social media can now be a useful place to research a company before you decide to sell to them.
You don't need to be a social media expert yourself. Instead, look for some simple signs that help you understand the business behind the roadshow.
Do they post regularly? Can you see what their roadshows actually look like? Are the people behind the company visible in their content? Do their experts get in front of the camera and share their professional knowledge? Can you find genuine customer experiences or testimonials?
I'd particularly recommend looking at Facebook and Instagram, where you can often get a useful insight into a company's people, its roadshows and the expertise of its buyers.
Of course, social media should just be one part of your digital research, but it is a great place to discover more about the company and the people behind it.
6. Don't let a limited time window rush your decision
Dan made an important point during the interview: roadshows can sometimes only be in a location for a set amount of hours.
That can create a natural sense of urgency.
But a time-limited event shouldn't mean you feel pressured into selling.
If you're told that an offer is only available for a short time, or that you must decide immediately because the event is nearly over, take a step back.
You're allowed to think about it.
You're allowed to say no.
And you're allowed to take your items elsewhere for another opinion.
Consumer guidance from Citizens Advice also highlights aggressive or misleading selling as an important issue, including situations where people feel pressured into making a decision they didn't want to make.
The same principle should apply when you're selling your belongings:
You should feel completely free to say no and walk out.
That's something I feel strongly about at WeBuyVintage. Our offers are no-obligation, and if someone doesn't want to sell, they can simply take their belongings home.
If they want a little more time to think, that’s fine too. Our team of buyers openly recommend to our visitors to either return later the same day, come back to their next local event, or even book a home visit with one of our trusted specialist buyers when they’re ready.
7. Ask questions about how the offer was reached
If you're offered a price, don't be afraid to ask how the buyer arrived at it.
A professional buyer should be able to explain what they are looking at and why it affects the value.
For jewellery, that could include factors such as precious metal content, weight, gemstones, condition, age, maker or hallmarks.
For antiques and collectables, factors might include rarity, provenance, condition, desirability and the current market.
You don't need to be an expert yourself.
That's one of the reasons you're seeking an expert valuation in the first place.
But you should be given enough information to understand the offer you're being presented with.
And you should never feel embarrassed about asking questions.
An honest buyer should also be transparent if they believe another avenue is a better option for a particular item.
8. Check how you'll be paid
It's also worth understanding the payment process before you agree to sell.
Ask whether payment is made immediately, how it is made and whether you receive a record of the transaction.
At WeBuyVintage, accepted offers are paid for by bank transfer, with payment set up in front of you and made on the very same day.
This creates a clear record of the transaction and avoids the need for customers to carry significant amounts of physical cash away from a roadshow.
The important point isn't simply the payment method.
It's that you understand when you'll be paid, how you'll be paid and what record you'll receive before you agree to anything.
Remember, no single tick box proves that a buyer is trustworthy. Look at the whole picture.
Should you get more than one valuation?
If you're unsure what your items are worth, yes – shopping around can be sensible.
This was one of Dan Hatfield's key recommendations during the You & Yours interview.
He suggested visiting three or four local businesses before attending a roadshow, where possible, to give yourself some comparison prices.
That's particularly useful for unusual, valuable or specialist items where you may have little idea of their market value.
You don't necessarily need to spend days travelling around different businesses either.
You could start by researching a local specialist or obtaining one or two professional opinions.
Then, if you attend a roadshow, you'll have more information with which to assess the offer you're given.
And remember: an offer is not an obligation to sell.
If you're not happy with the price, you can simply decline.
I actually think this is one of the most important points to take away from the radio discussion.
If our price doesn’t feel fair, I'd rather that’s communicated before you sell to us, not afterwards.
We have nothing to fear from customers shopping around.
What should a reputable roadshow look like?
Ultimately, a good roadshow should make the process straightforward.
You should know who you're dealing with, understand what is happening to your items, be given an explanation of the valuation and have the freedom to decide whether you want to sell.
That's the standard I believe the industry should uphold.
At WeBuyVintage, our experts assess items face-to-face. They will take the time to explain the history, condition and value of the items in front of them, without any confusing jargon. They will then provide you with a free no-obligation offer, and leave the decision to sell entirely down to the customer, with absolutely no pressure.
That's particularly important when we're talking about sentimental items and family belongings.
A pocket watch might have belonged to your grandfather. A piece of jewellery might have been passed through several generations. An antique might have been sitting in the family home for decades.
Selling something like that isn't always just a financial decision.
You should have the time and information you need to decide what happens next.
I believe consumers deserve more protection
This is the bigger issue I raised during my conversation with You & Yours.
The roadshow industry has grown considerably, and I've seen a lot of businesses enter the market after seeing the opportunity.
I think consumers deserve more protection and more information when that happens.
Sticking a leaflet through someone's door shouldn't be the only information they have before deciding who to trust with their belongings.
Businesses operating in this space should be prepared to be transparent about who they are, where they operate, how their valuations work and how customers will be paid.
And consumers should be encouraged to ask questions, compare prices and do their own research.
I believe that's good for customers – and good for the industry.
A simple checklist before you sell
Before attending any roadshow, take a few minutes to ask:
✓ Who is the company behind the event?
✓ Can I find clear information about them online?
✓ Can I check their company details where applicable?
✓ Do they have genuine, independent customer reviews?
✓ Do they regularly return to the same towns or venues?
✓ Can I learn more about them from their social media?
✓ Can they explain how they value items?
✓ Will I have time to decide whether I want to sell?
✓ Can I walk away without feeling pressured?
✓ Do I understand how and when I will be paid?
✓ Have I considered getting another valuation or comparison price?
If you're happy with the answers, you can approach the event with much more confidence.
And if you're not happy with an answer, there's nothing wrong with walking away and doing more research.
Looking for a roadshow near you?
At WeBuyVintage, I believe selling your valuables should be straightforward, transparent and face-to-face.
We now run over 250 roadshow events each month across England and Wales, alongside other selling options including home visits and in-store selling appointments at our Leeds store.
Our buyers assess jewellery, gold, watches, antiques, collectables and much more, and every valuation is free and completely no-obligation. If you decide to sell, we arrange same-day payment by bank transfer.
But before you come to us, do your research.
Look at our reviews. Find out more about how we work. Compare our offers with other buyers if you want to.
Then, if you decide we're the right option for you, we'd be delighted to see you.
Discover your local WeBuyVintage selling options and see when we're next in your area here -
Because when you're selling something valuable, you should feel confident in the person you're selling to.
