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What is a tag sale?

Also called: tag day, garage sale · Used in Northeastern United States, especially New England

A tag sale is New England's word for a garage or yard sale. It comes from the practice of attaching a numbered paper price tag to each item, so a household clearing out for a move is running 'tag days' rather than a garage sale.

What it actually means in practice

If you search 'garage sales near me' in Connecticut or Massachusetts you may find fewer results than searching 'tag sales' — the same events are listed under the local word. Towns also hold 'tag day' weekends that work like community sales.

Charity tag sales are common in New England church basements and school halls, which makes them structurally the same as a British jumble sale or a church rummage sale.

Garage saleA garage sale is a household selling its own used belongings directly to walk-up buyers, usually from a driveway or garage, for a day or a weekend. Items are priced by the seller, cash is normal, and there is no shop, staff or warranty involved.Community saleA community sale is many households in one street, subdivision or neighbourhood selling on the same agreed weekend, sometimes promoted with a single map or flyer. Dozens of sales sit within walking distance, which makes it the most efficient way to cover ground.Rummage saleA rummage sale is run by a group — a church, school, club or charity — rather than a single household. Donated goods are pooled and sold, usually in a hall over one or two days, and the proceeds go to the organisation rather than to any individual seller.Jumble saleA jumble sale is a charity sale of donated goods, traditionally run by a church, school or scout group in a parish hall, with proceeds going to the organisation. It is the British equivalent of a church rummage sale, and the same scramble-at-the-bargain-stall format.

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Every tag sale posted nearby is on one map, sorted by distance, with dates, hours and photos. Hosting one yourself? Posting is free and takes about two minutes.

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