CF when giving stuff away for free!

[bingbangbing]

AIBU to think people are even ruder when you're giving stuff away?

I have a large piece of antique furniture. No use for it anymore but it would be a shame to send it to the tip. Not worth anything really either.

I've had two people not bother turning up and two think it would go in the back of their car. The second seemed to think I was going to help her in a futile attempt to stuff it in her tiny car. Got quite arsey when I wouldn't.

These are the ones I let near my house- another sent me "why haven't you replied - can see you're online. Can I come now?"

Really?

[Isleepinahedgefund]

Donate it to a charity - they'll come and collect it no problem.

[EssentialHummus]

Yup. I tend to leave stuff on the pavement with a note (and maybe a FB post on the local group). It goes within a day.

[Walkerbean16]

Put it on for a tenner, someone will think they are getting a bargain and rush to collect it!

[bingbangbing]

I had it on £15, no takers

I've blocked all the CF's now. Was a bit satisfying

[theoriginalmadambee]

I've had this too. Taker expecting me to pander to her pick up times (changing all the time) making comments to suggest she was doing me a favor . I canceled, the one finally picking up the item, came when promised and was generally nice.

Had this more than once, so has two family members. If free you apparently are more likely to attract the rude.

[arethereanyleftatall]

Yanbu. It beggars belief. Or
'Can you let me know every dimension and take photos from every angle'
No. No, I won't.
'Will you deliver it.'
No. No, I won't.

[bingbangbing]

I've given up now. Going to tip

[MissDew]

Yep, I agree.

I've Freecycled some things and the people were generally ok.

I got played/scammed once I believe by a CF who wanted me to deliver. It wasn't that far away and it got rid of the things so, all good.

I think someone who came to collect thought she had got one over on me because a china dish I was giving away might have been worth a fiver. Okey dokey.

A couple of people got shirty because I had three people wanting the same thing. Completely forgot who I had replied to and people got snotty with me. No matter, a guy came to collect and was really pleased to get the items which made me happy.

OTOH, I wanted to buy a second hand rug. The seller said I could have it for nothing but didn't give me her address. I would have offered her the twenty quid asking price for it but I didn't hear from her. No matter - got one in the Argos sale !

[Iwantacookie]

It's such a shame I think people who dont turn up etc should have 3 strikes and banned from the group.
It's so annoying.

[MissDew]

I've given up now. Going to tip

Could you give a furniture collecting charity shop a quick call ? At least ask when they could come to collect it ? (It would save you time, petrol and aggro.)

[theoriginalmadambee]

I'm not uk, here at some tips, we have a container where you can place items too good to throw away. It's a great idea and very much used by both givers and takers . (and you don't hold on to stuff as easily when you know it is being recycled).

[bingbangbing]

Tried that, wanted me to wait in all day on a week day.

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

Do you have a driveway?

If so, leave it out overnight with a large sticker on bearing quite a high price ... there's every chance it will be "removed" during the night

[VanGoghsDog]

I always check their Facebook profiles and previous posts in the group for any sign of fuckwittery, if there is any sign at all I just don't respond to them.

I've given stuff away in the village and everyone has been kind and grateful, including one woman sending me a photo of my old chest of drawers in her daughter's bedroom, where it matched the bed really well.

[Hoppinggreen]

Most charities will only take things in an “immediately saleable “ condition. You would have to find one who is collecting to pass the item to a family in need rather than who wants to sell it.
I’ve had no luck so far and DH is threatening to break up and dispose of quite a few bits of slightly worn but perfectly usable bits of furniture in our garage

[Flashinggreen]

I had this, British heart foundation wouldn’t take chest of drawers as were painted, after about 3 no shows I eventually had a taker

[Jambo1]

Whilst attempting to declutter I listed some good quality, quite expensive, baby items for free as I didn't have the time to try and sell them.
The first message I received was:

"If you can deliver them to me in (12 miles away) between 3 and 4 next Tuesday I will have them"

[disappear]

Emmaus is a charity that have picked up our unwanted furniture. Are they active in your area, OP?

[HuggedTrees]

I’ve always left stuff on the street with a sign “free to a good home” and then underneath write the date and will take to skip after 24hours so people know you’re not fly tipping. Always goes.

We are getting Rid of furniture, offering free so people have to dismantle and transport, if I did that I’d make money from it, the amount of people that despite it being free want me to dismantle it and deliver it for free,,,,,,

[Jaxhog]

I'm not uk, here at some tips, we have a container where you can place items too good to throw away.

What a great idea! Although I can then see people queuing up to nab stuff to sell. But maybe that's ok too.

[LadyLindaT]

I've given up trying to give things away. It's just too much hassle.
"Will it fit in the back of a Vauxhall Corsa?"
I don't know. I don't have a Vauxhall Corsa. I have given you a photo and all the dimensions and measurements, so perhaps you could decide for yourself.
"If I give you my friend's address, can you take it round there for me?"
Errm, no.
Coupled with the fact that it means that these random loons will have my address, I am just not prepared to do it anymore.

[Absolutepowercorrupts]

I got in touch with our local women's refuge, they took the lot. Decent bedding, towels, bath mats, duvets, cutlery, kettle toaster, mugs, glasses.

[Time40]

Giving things away for free does tend to attract CFs. Charging a tiny amount of money tends to keep them away.

Also, what another pp said - put things on the street with a note saying "free" and they usually vanish within a few hours.

[cabingirl]

One of the best things about living in a London was putting something out on the street and it being gone in less than an hour! I miss that.

[CheshireChat]

We've just had this as we were giving away an old sewing machine- said they could have it that day as long as they got to us before 9 pm. Got here at 10:30 without actually confirming they were turning up! and started banging on the door like mad .

The person we actually gave it to was perfectly polite however.