10 Unspoken Rules for Garage Sales in Arkansas – It’s Time to Speak Up
I love to go "Garage Sailing," I don't do it a lot, but you can find some very interesting bargains sometimes when you get that wild hair to head out on a weekend G-sailing adventure. That being said, there are some unwritten rules of garage sale etiquette that some folks need to think about and put into practice. Below are some that crossed my mind, you may think of more.
#1 It's Garage "Sale" - Not "Sell"
Not really an etiquette thing just a personal pet peeve of mine. If you want to sell something you put it up for sale.
# 2 Get Off My Lawn!
Please use sidewalks and driveways for entrance and departure from a garage sale. Even if the lawn is crap, most people don't want you to walk across it.
#3 No Haggling Over Pennies
Seriously, if something is marked down to 10 cents, don't try to gig them down to a nickel... just makes you look like a complete jackass. Pay the 10 cents or move on.
#4 What Time Is It!
If the sign says "open at 7 AM," don't be showing up at 5:30 while they are setting up and asking if we can just get a peek? No. Do stores let you come in to get a peek before they open? No, they do not.
#5 No Checks, Cash Only Please
The only way I would take a check from anyone at a garages sale is if I knew them personally. They went to all the trouble make a change box, bring your cash. PayPal, CashApp, and Venmo are acceptable if the seller is set up for that and it is immediately verifiable.
#6 Control Your Children!
There is nothing more stressful than watching out-of-control kids touching everything they see and a parent who refuses to keep them under control. If you can't control them, you shouldn't bring them.
#7 The Driveway Is For Loading Only
This is situational obviously but in most cases, you should not park your vehicle in the driveway unless you are about to load up something you just purchased.
#8 No Returns
Buyer's remorse for garage sale items? Sure, it exists... I know, I've had it too. But, no, you can't bring it back and get your monies back. There's no crying in baseball and there are no returns in garage sailing. Suck it up buttercup, if you don't like it as much as you thought you did then guess who's garage sale it's going to be in next time?
#9 No Deliveries
You bought it, you better have a plan on how to get it home that doesn't include asking the homeowner to deliver it. Although come think of it, some might be willing for an extra fee of course.
#10 Take Your Dang Phone Off Speaker!
I'm not sure if this is more pet peeve or garage sale etiquette, but this one drives me a little nuts. There is nothing more rude, in my humble opinion, than people that have loud conversations with someone on their phone over the speaker in public. There I said it, get over it. Please put your phone up to your ear and speak at a normal volume, if you're afraid that's how the Aliens track you (we understand), use an earpiece. But we don't need or want to hear your whole dang conversation. Thank you.
That's my list, add to it, agree, disagree? Let me know.