There’s an organized “tailgate market” for fresh local produce in my town (Asheville NC) every Saturday. It’s the same idea, but if I walked around it calling it a “car boot sale” I would get funny looks.
The most honest sale I ever saw was advertised as a GROJ SALE. People assumed it was an abbreviation for “Garage Sale”, but it actually stood for Get Rid Of Junk Sale.
That’s so good it should be trademarked.
I agree. Totally different feel.
Southern California (United States of America) weighing in and culling terms from various responses above:
Garage Sale: Private citizens sell their (usually) used stuff, often right out of their garage or collected as resale-able while cleaning out the garage – or attic or basement or shed or whatever. Considered synonymous with Yard sales, which typically take place in the front yard, rather than the back yard, since the front is more visible to viewers from the street. Estate or Moving sales may have the same content and take place either in the garage, yard, or within the dwelling. They may also be managed by companies which specializes in such affairs and takes a percentage of the till.
Block Sale: A bunch of people selling blocks of coordinating multiple garage sales for the same date, typically amongst multiple homes along a section of a street rather than throughout every house on a particular residential block (as the name would strictly imply). Neighborhood sales are similarly coordinated amongst several households throughout a neighborhood. These events are not typically managed by professional coordinators.
Farmers’ Market: The modern equivalent of the ancient village market, wherein purveyors of surplus fruits, vegetables, and other garden products congregate to sell their wares. Livestock products and byproducts (meat, cheese, honey, milk, etc.) and prepared foods are also common at these events. Corporate America has taken an interest in these formerly impromptu events, to the point that major companies that sell food, drink, flowers, or even packaging materials are present in various booths and there are also businesses and associations which specialize in the scheduling and managing of stalls, entertainment, and even security for the vendors and visitors.
Swap Meet: Organized mayhem equivalent of the Farmers Market and multiple Garage Sales occurring in the same place and time. As with Farmers’ Markets, what is often perceived as a grass-roots effort to comingle amateur buyers and sellers has become a multi-million dollar industry with major vendors and coordinating professionals along-side real amateurs trying to hock their left-overs. East of the Rocky Mountains, the term Flea Market is the more prevalent synonym, though it is still extremely rare for visitors to be looking to buy fleas.
—G!
Well we been livin’ together
It’s been three years, two hours, twenty minutes
Maybe four hundred beers
She says "You can’t shop for love
When you’re shoppin’ at Sears
*
Love for Sale,
Hey
Love for Sale
. --Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi)
. Love for Sale
. New Jersey
Love for sale,
Appetising young love for sale.
Love that’s fresh and still unspoiled,
Love that’s only slightly soiled,
Love for sale.
Who will buy?
Who would like to sample my supply?
Who’s prepared to pay the price,
For a trip to paradise?
Love for sale
. --Ella FitzGerald
. Love for Sale