I thinking its a brilliant idea in some respects but I have lost count of the amount of times I have offered things, arranged a time for collection and had people not show up. They don't bother giving you an explanation. It's so RUDE!! AIBU to think that if you are giving stuff away for FREE you would expect people to be a bit less crap about the whole thing. Grrhhhh.
splashyy
Thu 10-Feb-11 13:09:16
Have a 
Sounds like you need it!
Next time don't arrange with a single person, say you will be leaving it outside at x time and its first come, first served. Or give your address and say whoever gets there first can have it.
Yes its rude, but no need to get so stressed 
Thanks! Pregnant at the mo so I'll save that for friday night.
Probably just the hormones making me itchy tbh (plus we moved it to the hall way ready for collection and i keep banging myself on it!) You are right I should just chill about it. But I really don't like giving out my address to all and sundry which is why I try and organise it individually.
If i just left it outside the rag and bone man would prob take it quicker than all this fannying about!.
FindingStuffToChuckOut
Thu 10-Feb-11 13:19:52
I've given up on it really - it just became a stressful experience & I'm sure half the stuff I gave away on it went to dealers - which I don't necessarily mind (as long as I'm rid of the stuff) but they put themselves through elaborate hoops & lies so as not to appear to be dealers. I hate that feeling of having been manipuated.
I did leave a cot outside for first comers (on Freecycle) but think it went to 2nd hand dealers. So it's charity shops, friends, ebay or clothes recycling bins for me now.
There is hardly anything given away on my one. It's just people wanting stuff... and boy they want a lot!! Some of them are clearly dealers just wanting loads of stuff and that drives me mental! We've pretty much given up on it now too.
Petsville
Thu 10-Feb-11 14:44:37
YANBU. I've given up on it for this very reason: it drove me bananas. Plus where we live you only have to leave something outside for about half an hour and it walks...
I take it back. I posted on my city group instead of just the local area and someone collected it within 2 hours (and he lived round the corner). I am happy again. I'll just not bother with the local one next time.
Awhiteelephantintheroom
Sat 12-Feb-11 00:44:48
YANBU
Whenever I have a clearout at home, I offer it all as a joblot on Freecycle suitable for a Car Booter or stall holder, and have always had people collecting with no problems. I had another clearout a few weeks ago and twice the people collecting the items didn't turn up. I re-posted, only to get a demanding reply from someone demanding that I "detail each and every item on the list" to see if it would be worth their time coming to get it all.
I ended up giving it all to a local charity shop and will be doing again in future.
LoopyLoopsPoopaScoop
Sat 12-Feb-11 00:49:05
I got snotty with some "wanters" last week.
One asked me if I still had an item 12 times on chat, along with 2 emails. My reply was "I'm afraid it has gone already. Harassing me won't bring it back"
Another said "I want the * and the *". I replied "Unfortunately both items have been promised elsewhere, incidentally to people who said please and thank you."
YANBU, it can be a pin in the arsey, but very worthwhile, and I have received a fair few useful bits and bobs (and a piano!) and met some lovely people.
LoopyLoopsPoopaScoop
Sat 12-Feb-11 00:49:38
pin in the arsey = pain in the arse. Bed time, methinks!
ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak
Sat 12-Feb-11 01:25:47
I love our Freecycle - I think we are really lucky and have one of the good ones
There's the odd strange request or offer and some no shows - but on the whole everyone seems pretty happy and it's very busy!
I hd two no shows for a really nice table & chairs. First person arranged a time but didn't show. After pleading emails from the second family about how they desperately wanted a table for Christmas for their kids to eat at, I made plans with them. One hour before they were supposed to turn up, I got a text saying they didn't need it anymore.
I felt very messed about & pissed off.
Ended up getting a local furniture charity to pick it up & I'll do that next time too. Sorry Freecycle.