to think a lot of people take the piss on freecycle?

[elvenbread]

I've put quite a lot of stuff on over the last few days. One no show and no reply to emails. Another asked me for the titles of all the books I'm offering. I was quite clear it was two large bag full and it was a mix of genres and authors. It's around 40 books. Does she want me to sit and type them all out. Sod that. Last time I put stuff on people were even worse
No thanks etc. Aibu to think just because it's free you shouldn't take the piss.

[CatKisser]

Yup - it's a massive bugbear of mine.

However, yesterday a woman restored my faith in Freecyclers by dropping off a beautiful pair of curtains after I unexpectedly couldn't get to hers. I let her know in good time and said feel free to re-offer them, but she came 4 miles out of her way and dropped them off and was LOVELY.

[elvenbread]

That's lovely Cat.

[Bambambini]

I had one women badger me for pictures of the children's clothes I had to give away - I'm giving them away free, I can't be arsed taking pics and downloading them and all that faff.

Also had some good condition children's plastic furniture etc - folk would take them if I dropped them off for them. I don't mind if it's sort of local and not way out of my way.

Did actually drop off some stuff for one guy and he was dour and didn't even say thanks.

[elvenbread]

Grrrr Bam. That's annoying.

[basgetti]

There is a current ad on my local freecycle page from someone who wants a fridge freezer in really good condition and you have to deliver it to her aswell. Don't all rush at once!

[HelloLA]

YANBU. Lots of nice people, and a few total pisstakers. Someone recently posted on ours: WANTED, BUGABOO BEE.

Fuck off! At least say 'wanted, a lightweight pushchair that will fit in a narrow hall' or something. Don't specify the bloody (expensive) brand.

[henrysmate]

Me: "Here's a free thing, it still works and it's clean, please take it, I need the space"
The Internet: "Must be as new, from non smoking home, be recently electrically tested, you must deliver between the hours of 10 and 12 noon and I'd like it photographed from every angle."
Me: "Charity shop it is then."

[KillmeNow]

I stopped using freecycle after they put me back on moderated posts for no reason so the stuff I wanted gone was still with me a week later.Normally I posted an offer in the morning, got replies during the afternoon and the things were gone the same evening or next morning.

I also have had no thanks for dropping stuff off for them -and its quite usual when they pick up from my house.Just stand there waiting to be handed the goods and off they go without a backwards glance.

Im taking my stuff to the tip next time.

[SistersOfPercy]

I got chucked out of our local one for pointing out that the 'retired old gent who tinkers with watches for a hobby' was actually turning over hundreds a month on eBay selling the things. Rules stated if you were reselling you should make it clear, this guy just went for the heart strings and painted a picture of a little old man pottering in his shed.

When mods refused to inform the group I did it myself with a 'Wanted: Some honesty in this group!' message. I was banned Sadly he remains, still flogging his watches though I think most members are now aware of what he does.

Everything goes to the charity shop now, just cant be bothered with the "I'll ave it hun" and "CALL ME" type messages. Bigger stuff I put on eBay with £1 Buy It Now, usually gone within the hour.

[Nomama]

I used to love Freecycle and Freegle. I had a thing about returning something made from whatever I was given - a shopping bag delivered to the woman who gave me a load of material, a jar of jam to the woman who gave me a box of just the right size jars and bottles.

Both of this ladies were lovely. But some of the people coming out to mine to collect were just vile. I was always really clear that whilst the house was close to town you really needed clear instructions to get there and that mobile phone signal was absolutely zero. I got tired of being shouted at by people who were sure their sat nav would get them there and then got pissy cos they couldn't phone for help!

And as for the woman who took one look at the lawnmower and screeched "It's dirty, I'm not having that" and drove off, I am sorry to say I fell about laughing - she had to drive back passed us to get out, we waved cheerily, still laughing.

In the new house I put things out on the step, free to a good home! If it's still there on bin day, in it goes!

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

I posted about loads of baby stuff high chairs, cot, pram,clothes loads of stuff all in very good condition loads BNWT even the cot mattress was unused and still in packaging.what was not unused looked brand new

I headed the add with 'cant be bothered to put on eBay.

I was bombarded with requests for photos and stuff like that.

So now I just take it to a charity shop.

[MuddlingAlongMum]

YANBU. I put a load if stuff on lately and got messed around with no shows and non-responders.
I put a load of nice newborn baby clothes on and the person who had them was not only not particularly grateful, she clearly wasn't pregnant either so I suspect she was only looking to get them to try to sell them on, which is kind of not in spirit of it, in my opinion. I regretted handing them over to be honest.
That said, some people who've collected items from me have been lovely so I guess that restores a little bit of faith!

[Cooroo]

My beloved piano went to a really nice woman with a little girl. Telly with red sparkles went to grateful student. But some people are weird!

[GreenMouse]

YANBU, tried to unsuccessfully give away a fully working fridge freezer (I bought a bigger one), have now put it on Ebay in an auction for 99p, it's got one bid so job done!

I like the tip of putting on Ebay with a £1 buy it now price, will do that next time :)

[Tamisara]

I've just had the weirdest experience with a facebook group.

Arranged collection, arrived, no answer, so went somewhere else for a few minutes.

Went back, car on drive, front door wide open (with handbag within touching distance.

Knocked and waited for 15 minutes, then went. No signs of life within the house.

Very strange, leaving front door open like that

[lauriebear]

My freecycle has gone down hill.. It used to be great, everyone friendly and accomodating ... Now we hardly ever receive any posts or emails at all, and a few weeks back (extremely suspicious here) a freecycler messaged the whole group asking why she had received a response before her item email had been passed on to the group. I think someone has taken over and is fiddling it so they get/take everything themselves! That would explain the fact we never get any emails of offered stuff. Wish I could complain or set up a new one as who ever it is has ruined a really lovely community.

[Superworm]

I saw a few requests for a 'STOKE pushchair - second addition preferred' ..

I've had some great things form free cycle. I got all DS's clothes from a lovely lady. She literally have me 200+ items, most of which I kept.

Photo requesters I always bypass as there's always some else that happy to take it with less fuss.

[LividofLondon]

I've used Freecycle and Freegle loads of times to get rid of stuff and have only had good experiences. But then I don't take any prisoners; I ignore anyone who doesn't address me by name, wants minute details of what I'm offering (and I've never offered anything that warrants this) or asks me to deliver it. Basically ignoring the cheeky feckers.

"And as for the woman who took one look at the lawnmower and screeched "It's dirty, I'm not having that" and drove off, I am sorry to say I fell about laughing - she had to drive back passed us to get out, we waved cheerily, still laughing"

A dirty lawnmower! Good grief Nomama, have you no shame?! [clutches pearls]

[Titsalinabumsquash]

I can't be bothered with Freecycle anymore.

Firs time I joined a woman posted saying she'd found out she was pregnant and due soon, it had been a complete shock and she was skint after her OH walked out in her and her other young child. She was asking for a list of items one of which was a Phil and Teds double buggy in a certain colour, she repeated how desperate she was.


I messages her to say that I was sorry to hear of her problems and that although I didn't have the pushchair in the brand she wanted I did have a double pushchair suitable for a toddler and a newborn that was nearly new and barely used that I could drop off to her on my travels.


I got a message back full of abuse, calling me all the names under the sun and demanding to know if it was fucking stupid?! She'd requested that brand because that's what she wanted not some cheap shit etc etc and how dare I assume she would be seen with a "shitty black pushchair" when she'd asked for purple.


Second attempt was when I refused to give something to someone, they'd been the first to reply which they decided meant it was automatically theirs, I had offered it to the person that was polite and friendly not the woman that had simply replied with "mine! Drop it off at x address at x time"

[StrangeGlue]

I've only had good experiences with giving and occasionally receiving but ours, I think, must have had a massive clamp down on rudeness and grabby-ness as the guidelines are pretty clear than 'mine!' Is rude and shouldn't be accepted.

Hilarious posts wanting iPads and iPhones though... Cause they have no resale value!!

[milkpudding]

I got lots of my baby items on freecycle, and am now starting to give them away again. Some lovely stuff in great condition, and yes I did say thank you!

So far no bad experiences.... But I was surprised how often a giver said I was the second choice as the first had been a no show.

Baby items literally went within a minute or two, people must be sitting by their computer replying "yes, mine" without even reading the description!

A few times I got there only to realise the item was not what I expected, I did still take it and then re offer it as often giver was moving house and wanted it gone, but a hassle. So I can understand why people may ask for photos/ further info. Obviously up to giver if they would rather choose someone else though.

[OhTheDrama]

No I would never use freecycle or freegle again. It was a brilliant concept when it all began but now it has been spoilt by sheer greed and entitled behaviour. I am sick of people asking for photographs, exact condition, what brand, wanting you to deliver and not turning up.