Ever Been to a "Car Boot Sale?"

Ever wonder if your friends and family in other countries buy and sell stuff at tag sales like we Americans do? Tag sales are a big deal in England, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Canada, but they have different terminology.

In the UK, you’ll find jumble sales as well as White Elephant sales. You will also see car boot sales (boot is the Brit version of trunk) where neighbors gather at a spot and set up stalls out of car trunks. Car boot sales are often but not exclusively held in the grounds of schools and other community buildings, or in grassed fields or car parks. Usually they take place on a weekend, usually Sundays. Sellers will typically pay a nominal fee for their pitch, and arrive with their goods in the boot of their car, hence the name.

Haggling is common at car boot sales. Guarantees are rarely sought or given at car boot sales and electrical items can rarely be tested at the sale site. Although tracing a seller can be difficult, in the UK they are still obliged to abide by the Trade Descriptions Act. It is not unknown for stolen goods or pirated videos and DVDs to be sold at car boot sales, although it is uncommon.