# Garage Sale Signage - Heavy Sigh **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 20, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901 "2005-08-20T18:30:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/1 "2005-08-20T18:30:31Z")
You want me to come to your house and buy your old shit? Okay, I’ll come have a look at it. You put the sign up on the main drag - good job. That’s where I drive, looking for signs just like yours. I drive in the direction the arrow on the sign was pointing; so far, so good. Oh oh, an intersection - do I go straight, or do I turn here? You know, not everyone knows where you live. Some of us need a little more help than a single sign with an arrow on the main drag. And the prospect of rummaging through your over-priced garbage isn’t enticing enough to make me drive around your whole neighbourhood looking for where you live. Buncha putzes. (Not you, reading this - the buncha putzes all over my neighbourhood this morning. Although I _will_ include you in the buncha putzes if you don’t put proper signage up for _your_ garage sale.) Oh yeah, and take them down when the sale is over, too. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/2 "2005-08-20T18:35:29Z")
Mpsims --\> ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/3 "2005-08-20T18:51:45Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Mpsims → I think I found that far funnier than I probably should have… ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/4 "2005-08-20T19:00:36Z")
Last time I had a garage sale, I must have put up 20 signs. Every corner leading to my house was covered with signs with arrows. I had every possible direction someone might come covered. I can’t fathom why someone would do anything else. I bet they were wondering why no one showed up at their sale. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/5 "2005-08-20T19:02:18Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Mpsims → TodAY OnLEY!!! ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/6 "2005-08-20T19:13:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > TodAY OnLEY!!! No that’s “TodAy”""“ONleY”"" The quotation marks are for emphasis! ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/7 "2005-08-20T19:21:15Z")
> [@Electronic Chaos](#): > > No that’s > > “TodAy”""“ONleY”"" > > The quotation marks are for emphasis! Or is it “TodAy”""“ON[SIZE=1]leY”""[/size]\<—last letters reduced as room on sign runs out ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/8 "2005-08-20T19:28:23Z")
Yep. I don’t care what’s at your garage sale until I get there, so don’t bother squeezing it onto the sign. The name of the street is a nice touch if it’s parallel to the one I’m on, but otherwise, I’m looking for… SALE ===\> ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/9 "2005-08-20T20:36:21Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > Mpsims → Would you mind using a bigger marker to draw the sign, please? My eyes aren’t as young as they once were. And make it a bit larger, too, so I don’t miss the turn. **Mpsims →** ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/10 "2005-08-21T01:30:48Z")
When I am Queen of the World, I will pass a law… If you leave up Yard Sale signs after the sale is over, people can come to your house and buy your personal belongings for pennies on the dollar. Flat screen TV? $50. Sofa? $5. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/11 "2005-08-21T04:53:57Z")
That sounds completely fair, **Lily**. Can you do something about bad drivers and telemarketers while you’re at it? ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/12 "2005-08-21T05:44:50Z")
You know, I’ve always thought, that in the case the OP describes, that it’s because the garage sale host has either decided he’s done for the day, and so has taken the neighborhood signs down. And was too lazy and inconsiderate to take the main strip sign down. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/13 "2005-08-21T10:45:46Z")
> [@IrreverentTone](#): > > Would you mind using a bigger marker to draw the sign, please? My eyes aren’t as young as they once were. And make it a bit larger, too, so I don’t miss the turn. > > **Mpsims →** And, please, please don’t use light colored markers. They are nearly impossible to read and most people will actually be _driving_ as they squint at your sign, trying to figure out where the hell your sale is. Why not make a sign, then stand back an appropriate distance to see if it is actually readable by motorists? Not too difficult, right? I saw one bunch of yard sale signs recently that were likely designed by some young person in the family. Nothing wrong with that per se, but they were written in that “bubble” writing that is popular among young girls especially, and in pink and orange magic marker. I wanted to go to the yard sale just to complain about the dangerous-when-driving signage. But of course, I never did figure out where the hell it was. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/14 "2005-08-21T13:15:21Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Oh yeah, and take them down when the sale is over, too. If I had a car and a lot of time, I would take down all the months-old “GARAGE SALE TODAY!” signs from alllll over the neighborhood and dump tham at the front doors of the addresses. You nailed it up? Y_ou take it down_. (Also too tired to start a thread on how much I hate the word “signage.” I have to turn off my computerage and do laundrage.) ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/15 "2005-08-21T13:49:01Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > If I had a car and a lot of time, I would take down all the months-old “GARAGE SALE TODAY!” signs from alllll over the neighborhood and dump tham at the front doors of the addresses. You nailed it up? Y_ou take it down_. > > (Also too tired to start a thread on how much I hate the word “signage.” I have to turn off my computerage and do laundrage.) Holy cow. I’ve been threatening to do just this in my neighborhood. Want to come along? ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/16 "2005-08-21T14:06:18Z")
Last garage sale I had, one of my customers actually said, “Um, nice signs.” 🙂 I’m annoyed at the people that make _different_ signs directing you to their garage sale. How do I know if I’m going to the right place when the first sign is on neon green posterboard, and the next sign is a store-bought one. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/17 "2005-08-21T15:55:06Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > \I’m annoyed at the people that make _different_ signs directing you to their garage sale. How do I know if I’m going to the right place when the first sign is on neon green posterboard, and the next sign is a store-bought one. That’s right! When I’m driving along, trying not to hold up traffic too much, trying to find and read the signs and not run over a shrubbery, it helps a lot if the signs are all neon pink for the same sale. ( **eve** , I used “signage” because I was bitching about the whole process of the signs, not just the signs themselves. The _gestalt_, as it were.) ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/18 "2005-08-21T15:58:28Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > ( **eve** , I used “signage” because I was bitching about the whole process of the signs, not just the signs themselves. The _gestalt_, as it were.) Oh, I know . . . “signage” and “suitings” are just two of my “no particular reasons” pet peeve words. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/19 "2005-08-21T16:04:15Z")
> [@LilyoftheValley](#): > > When I am Queen of the World, I will pass a law… > > If you leave up Yard Sale signs after the sale is over, people can come to your house and buy your personal belongings for pennies on the dollar. Flat screen TV? $50. Sofa? $5. When you are Queen the world will be a much better place. My former home was on a corner in a residential neighborhood. I didn’t mind people putting brightly colored signs on the electrical pole in my front yard. I **did** mind having to take them down myself two weeks later. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901/20 "2005-08-21T17:28:13Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > And, please, please don’t use light colored markers. They are nearly impossible to read and most people will actually be _driving_ as they squint at your sign… Let’s stick with the old tried-and-true thick black Sharpie on white posterboard. I hate the ones written with a thin marker on blue or green posterboard. No one can read them. And yes, as **LilyoftheValley** said, take the damn things down when it’s over. I think a $500 fine per sign left up more than 24 hours after the sale is over is more than fair. I always like: House-hold Good’s Baby Toy’s Book’s Gotta love the extraneous apostrophes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-sale-signage-heavy-sigh/317901.md?page=2)