Here is a little article about the difference between the two: READ THIS IF YOU LIKE But just below is taken from the article to essentially sum up very easily the difference:
A tag sale involves, basically, a person hired by the fiduciary who will “price” each item with a tag, indicating that the item is available for sale at that price. Too, most tag sale attendees assume that there is room to negotiate, so a fair share of items marked with a price sell for less.
At an estate sale you do not wheel and deal. I have never been to a tag sale, and since I never dicker, it is for the better. Also, I trust that a dealer at a mall or a show puts an honest price on his/her wares, and therefore, just as in a department store like Macy's, I do not ask to get something for less. I know that flea markets have traditionally been set up with dickering in mind. I suppose were I trained at attending tag sales, I'd get pretty used to asking for discounts.
I do look forward to the last day of many estate sales, because usually everything under a certain amount, say $100.00 or $50.00 is all half priced, and at some estate sales in my area everything is half priced.
I love old things. I love the treasure hunt, trite though it sounds, and so, I will attend tag sales when they are set up that way wherever, or I will continue to love my weekend jaunts to the estate sales.
Garage and yard sales are another story.
