Part of yard sale etiquette is never sell underwear

REBA J. McMellon
The Mississippi Press
Sunday, August 13, 2006

Read from the Source

There are two kinds of people in this world; those who enjoy a good yard sale and those who don't; those who have yard sales and those who don't.

Have you ever wondered what separates a good yard sale from a bad one? Emily Post probably doesn't have a chapter on yard sales, but yard sale etiquette does exist. Yard sale etiquette goes both ways.

There are tips for the one having the yard sale and for those who attend. It's just amazing how tacky and thoughtless some people can become. The following are some tips on yard sale etiquette.

If you hang a yard sale sign up, put the date of the sale. Don't just put Friday and Saturday. If you never intend to take the sign back down, put the year on it as well. There's a "Moving Sale" sign hanging that I have passed once a week for at least six months.

It gets me every time. I step on my brakes, my heart rate accelerates and then I remember it's the same old sign.

Never, and I do mean never, sell underwear at a yard sale. Just don't do it. Please don't make me have to spell out all the reasons why that is a bad idea. Suffice it to say it's in bad taste and a dead giveaway that you probably don't have good art or any other hidden treasures worth digging for.

If people see underwear for sale while driving past looking for a parking space, they are likely to just keep driving.

Don't dicker about prices that are already fair and ridiculously low at a yard sale. Just pay the person and be happy with your purchase. I have seen grown adults try to argue little old ladies down on something marked .25 cents. Dadgum it, just pay the quarter and be done with it.

If you see somebody inadvertently lay something down for a minute that they are obviously wanting to purchase, don't snatch it just because you can. Some would say all bets are off at a yard sale, but I say it's not nice manners.

Don't just leave a bunch of junk in your yard week after week in the weather with a sign that says, Yard Sale Today. Cut it off after a weekend or two at the absolute most and then haul it to the dump. It's not polite to pretend your front yard is a booth at the flea market.

If you have little half-used stuff in the bottom of a drawer, either keep them or throw them away. Don't sell them. I've seen containers marked .10 cents with things that looked like somebody dumped the bathroom junk drawer out. Half used lipsticks, containers with an itty bit of lotion left in them, a lone razor -- not a good idea for the buyer or seller.

If a yard sell begins at a certain time and day, don't go knocking on the door two hours early bothering the poor homeowner. What in the world could be that important or valuable? In fact, it could be a sign that you've crossed the line of manners into just plain nutty

In summary, everybody loves a bargain. Most of us love a fun find. But like everything else in life, there's just no excuse for being down right tacky about it.

About the writer: Reba J. McMellon is a freelance writer, columnist and professional mental health consultant. She can be reached at P.O. Box 161 Hurley, MS 39555 or rebaj@mindspring.com.