Freecycle - argh!

[struggling100]

I have three items of furniture that I no longer have room for, so I put them on Freecycle. I got an immediate deluge of emails from people saying that they wanted them. I picked three, arranged a time for them to collect - and NONE of them have shown up! I have been waiting in all day.

I wouldn't mind if they changed their mind - I could then offer the item to someone else. It's the fact that none of them have even bothered to call or email to let me know!! I am feeling grumpy today, so maybe I am being uptight... but it just feels a wee bit rude. AIBU?

Also, what do I do now - how long do I wait before offering them to other people?

[MamaMary]

The no. 1 rule of Freecycle is never to wait in - tell them to come in the evening or when you would be at home anyway. Tell them they need to bring a friend to help lift it (if you can't do it).

And just keep re-offering if people don't turn up to collect.

[CandidaDoyle]

I once advertised a pair of curtains on freecycle, 3 different people wanted me to drive them to their houses (distances of up to 50 miles round trip ). I've not been back on their since

[SlimJiminy]

Definitely give a time when you're likely to be in anyway - evenings or whatever - and say on the notice that you'll re-advertise immediately if they fail to collect as agreed. I wouldn't give up just yet - perhaps you could be a bit more assertive with the way you word the advert - something along the lines with "we really want to see these go to a good home, but we have to let them go by [date] so if you can't come and collect, we'll offer them to someone who can..." - that type of thing.

[struggling100]

Thanks for the tips guys!

I think I'm probably just being old fashioned thinking it's rude not to let people know whether you're coming!

[MamaMary]

No, you're right - it IS rude.

Was just advising on how to approach Freecycle next time. I've had loads of good stuff off it and have also given a lot away.

Mind you, since the recession the pickings have got a lot poorer.

[Flossyfloof]

There seems to be a new group attached to our local one - trashnothing. The people requesting things from this group never ever ever say please and often don't write a message, just things like Wanted - brown leather suite, 3+2+1 will collect locally.
Cheeky fuckers.

[BackforGood]

You are right, it is rude, but it happens sometimes (not often, IME), so, as other say, then only ever arrange for people to come when you would be in anyway.
Also, if people don't show up, report them to the Moderators - if they get a few complaints then the person gets banned.

[DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn]

It is rude and, IIRC, my local group sends people a warning if you complain about no shows.

I leave things outside so I don't have to be bothered by people :) NOt always practical with large stuff though.

[Jolleigh]

You're not being old fashioned. It IS rude.

Try not to do the waiting in thing again. Always arrange for them to collect when you're already home and it's convenient for you.

Readvertise immediately. I have only ever had 1 no-show. The lady got in touch the next day asking if she could come that night instead. No apology or any mention of the fact she should have been there the night before. A lot of interest was shown in the item (it was a 6 month old fridge - my partner had just moved in) so it really was her loss that she couldn't stick to what was agreed and I was rather curt with her when telling her it had been offered elsewhere after her no-show.

[sebsmummy1]

Oh the joys of freecycle. I could waste hours on here writing about my adventures on my local site. Say the word free and every bastard crawls out the woodwork but when you actually want them to collect the item they so desperately needed for Tiny Tim, does anyone appear? Nope.

Emails go unanswered until you arrange with someone else to pick the item up and of course first git has a sixth sense for it and suddenly you have two people turning up at your door.

Don't even get me started on the greedy fuckers who stipulate what make and model of car they hope someone has got laying about or whether anyone has a nursery full of unwanted baby items they could claim, and yep, could you also drop off?

Gobsmacking some of it.

[smudgedgraffiti]

Yes definitely do not wait in. I have learnt this the hard way.

Last time I gave away some furniture on freecycle I left it outside (covered) and said if you want it I'll send you my address. Gave my address to around 8 people and said first come first served.

I still had people asking me to deliver it (!), or asking me to save it for them so they could come later

[GhostsInSnow]

I gave up on mine after to many no shows, to many emails saying 'I'll 'av' it call me' with varying degrees of rudeness and a local bloke who was posting wanted ads then reselling as a lot on eBay (mods did nothing but I was put on to moderation for posting it to the whole group in annoyance).

These days I find whacking it on eBay, £1 buy it now to cover fees, collection only and it goes within the hour. Got rid of several things that way recently.

[struggling100]

That's a good tip on Ebay - I might give that a try!

I understand that some people (often those most in need) have chaotic lives, and are not very good at being organised. I should be more understanding of that. I think it's just that whenever someone has given me something for free that I have needed, I have been so profoundly grateful, sometimes to the point of tears. The idea that I might just not show up would never even occur to me. But then I send 'thank you' letters to people I've bought things from on ebay, which is possibly overkill. :)

[ocelot41]

I advertise on the noticeboard of a local uni (not privileged bit of London). HOARDES of takers for old bookshelves, and bless em, they all brought mates to physically carry the items away themselves. V polite and grateful too. Ah, the youth of today....they're often lovely! Alternatively, you could try some charities - they will pick up for you, as long as you don't mind your items being sold in their shops.

[Bogeyface]

I had a washing machine that was knackered, and then a few months later a tumble dryer. It would have cost more than they were worth to fix them.

I put them on ebay as spares/repair, £1 start bid collection only. Got £26 for the dryer and £35 for the washer and they were collected on time!

I rarely put anything on Freegle these days, if you dont get the "I'll have it, deliver it to me at X on Y" (errr no!) then you get no shows!