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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off that people messing me around with my offer of a free fridge

63 replies

Imaybeoldbutstillrandy · 24/07/2025 21:38

I'm giving away a fridge via Freecycle. It's 18 months old, good clean condition. No mould in the seals I keep a very clean & tidy house. It's smallish with an icebox, ideal for a couple starting out or as a drinks fridge. It was a temporary buy until I got my kitchen refurbished & I've replaced it with a fridge/freezer. Now I need to get rid.

I've had 3 people interested, 2 saying that they will collect today - one this morning at 08:00, at 11:00 - after a no show, I sent a message saying that they had until 13:00 otherwise I would offer to the other people interested. I then sent a message to both other's who were interested saying No1 had let me down & the first of them who could collect it gets it as is in the middle of my kitchen & in the way. I get a message from no3 asking if I can keep ir until Tuesday as he's 40 minutes away from me. No response from no2.

I'm thinking how difficult it is to give a perfectly good clean serviceable fridge away? My next stop is to a charity who will be very grateful for it.

AIBU to be rather pissed off?

OP posts:
Original poster
Imaybeoldbutstillrandy · 25/07/2025 18:53

I've put my fridge onto Gumtree at £20.00 buyer collects. If it's not gone by the end of next week I'm going to contact a charity & they can have it.

Previously I've had a charity clear my parent's house. They charged me (I think) about £320, but I was just happy to get the stuff that my brother & me didn't want to be gone. I was also happy that the charity had lots of serviceable stuff (including white goods) that they could sell.

OP posts:
PandoraSocks · 25/07/2025 18:50

Imaybeoldbutstillrandy · 25/07/2025 18:48

Many years ago a friend of mine's husband changed their drive from concrete to brick paving which involved digging up the old one resulting in a load of concrete etc that needed to be got rid of. She put an ad in the local paper saying 'Hardcore buyer collects. She got a phone call from someone who was interested & asked how many carrier bags he would need. After some discussion it turned out he thought she was getting rid of Hard Core porn. 😂

🤣🤣🤣

Original poster
Imaybeoldbutstillrandy · 25/07/2025 18:48

Many years ago a friend of mine's husband changed their drive from concrete to brick paving which involved digging up the old one resulting in a load of concrete etc that needed to be got rid of. She put an ad in the local paper saying 'Hardcore buyer collects. She got a phone call from someone who was interested & asked how many carrier bags he would need. After some discussion it turned out he thought she was getting rid of Hard Core porn. 😂

OP posts:
CherryRipe1 · 25/07/2025 18:45

I was recently looking for a small fridge with icebox and just got one on eBay as an interim one whilst our fridge freezer is being repaired. I watched/saved the ones I was interested in and they were all sold. Don't give it away to time wasters, list it on eBay or FB at a reasonable price but be prepared to take offers, pick up only and it will go for about £30-50. I gave away a fridge freezer on Nextdoor and got loads of ghosters and no shows until a nice lady took it.

Original poster
Imaybeoldbutstillrandy · 25/07/2025 18:40

notevencharging · 25/07/2025 18:01

I was giving away a free table once, I had a woman message me asking how much I wanted for it, I said nothing it’s free. She said “oh I won’t have it thanks” 🤷🏼‍♀️

WTF? 😂

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 25/07/2025 18:39

Ugh! I had a large double door American fridge. Posted it at the newagents (as you did back in the day), with measurements and saying it was LARGE. Like you had a few calls and no shows, but every time someone called I said ‘please check the measurements this is a large fridge and may not fit through some doors’. And of course, some came took one look and said ‘wow that’s too big it will never fit’.
Wasn’t there a post on FB with a pic of a red fridge for free and they kept on getting people showing up saying they didn’t know it was going to be red?
I also had some wooden pallets on my drive once. Guy knocks asks if he can have it. I say fine but take it away ASAP. Next day different guy asks if he can have them. I said you know whomever takes them away first gets it I’m not holding an auction or storing them indefinitely. Neither took them a random showed up with a pick up and I said help yourself!

sapphicy · 25/07/2025 18:34

To echo what others have said, people don’t feel any obligation when it’s free, but they will haul ass if it’s cheap and they think they’re getting a bargain, try listing it cheap and see what happens. You can always decline the money when they arrive

Sharptonguedwoman · 25/07/2025 18:29

MandyMotherOfBrian · 24/07/2025 21:42

You’re not being unreasonable to be annoyed but you’re being unreasonable to have gone about it in this way. Learn your lesson. If it’s genuinely free, next time (if there is one) say it’s outside and first come first served, no reservations. If you’re selling on FB, same applies, first one who turns up with the cash, gets it, no reservations.

I think this is correct. I had terrible trouble on Marketplace selling a bike, lots of interest then ghosting. The man who bought it said when he sells stuff it’s first come first served. First one to arrive gets the fridge/bike/whatever.

awkwardasfuck · 25/07/2025 18:27

Missikat13 · 25/07/2025 18:11

Oh my gosh... If you haven't seen this absolutely brilliant comedy singing sketch by Lou Wall talking about her trying to give away a bed for free on Facebook marketplace you must watch it! One of the funniest things I've ever seen and echoes everything people here are saying 😂

Edited

10/10!

Moii · 25/07/2025 18:23

I put a lot on FB marketplace and Gumtree for free but never hold stuff as people don't turn up. First to arrive gets it.

Missikat13 · 25/07/2025 18:11

Oh my gosh... If you haven't seen this absolutely brilliant comedy singing sketch by Lou Wall talking about her trying to give away a bed for free on Facebook marketplace you must watch it! One of the funniest things I've ever seen and echoes everything people here are saying 😂

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/8HXFurHCkP8?si=9JGN36vvI7k8OFCJ

awkwardasfuck · 25/07/2025 18:05

notevencharging · 25/07/2025 18:01

I was giving away a free table once, I had a woman message me asking how much I wanted for it, I said nothing it’s free. She said “oh I won’t have it thanks” 🤷🏼‍♀️

They live amongst us!!!!

Londonrach1 · 25/07/2025 18:05

Sell it for £5. Honestly it will be collected.

JMSA · 25/07/2025 18:05

morbidcuriosity · 24/07/2025 22:04

Oh god, i plan on giving away a fridge freezer next week, you just reminded me on the crazy behaviour of some people with free stuff.. Think I may just take it to the tip, save me some sanity..

No, no, no! Don’t put it in landfill. At least try to give it away first 😊
You can come back and slate me if it all goes to shit!!

JMSA · 25/07/2025 18:03

Infuriatingly rude.

notevencharging · 25/07/2025 18:01

I was giving away a free table once, I had a woman message me asking how much I wanted for it, I said nothing it’s free. She said “oh I won’t have it thanks” 🤷🏼‍♀️

MyHonestFaves · 25/07/2025 18:00

No, you're not being unreasonable. It’s frustrating when you’re trying to do something kind and people waste your time. Sounds like you were clear and fair with everyone. A charity might be the better option, they’ll probably be more reliable and actually appreciate it.

BedisBliss · 25/07/2025 17:59

AbzMoz · 24/07/2025 21:41

Strangely you might find if you list it for a tenner you’re more likely to get people who actually come and commit to fetching it…

This is spot on. I often list things at a nominal price then say 'no cost' when they pick up.

HangingOver · 24/07/2025 22:46

I've given away lots of quite expensive dogs food and treats after using a tiny amount and then realising they don't agree with my dog. All I stipulate on the ad is must collect and every single one has multiple people asking me to drop it to them.

ohnotthisagain2025 · 24/07/2025 22:37

Unfortunately, this is standard. If giving something away you say "First come first served, it will be "here" for collection between "time and time" no discussion entered into" and stick to that.

SusanChurchouse · 24/07/2025 22:32

Agree with others about a nominal charge filtering out time wasters. I’ve bent over backwards to deliver TVs, vacuum cleaners and other household items to people still get mucked around. One repeat offender on the local Facebook page seems to be first to claim loads of stuff that I doubt she needs and I suspect she’s either a hoarder who can’t resist a freebie, or she sells it on.

Original poster
Imaybeoldbutstillrandy · 24/07/2025 22:25

awkwardasfuck · 24/07/2025 22:16

Pur it outside with a sign saying £50

It will be gone in an hour

I can't do that as I live on a gated estate for old people - I'd get a letter from the management reminding me that I can't do that. The list of stuff we can't do & should do is endless. But we residents work together to subvert some of their rules. 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Imaybeoldbutstillrandy · 24/07/2025 22:20

awkwardasfuck · 24/07/2025 22:16

Pur it outside with a sign saying £50

It will be gone in an hour

Thank you for your responses. I think I'll put it on Gumtree for a fiver ONO. Better than it going into landfill. Going to bed now as I'm an old person who needs to go to work tomorrow.
xx

OP posts:
Stichintime · 24/07/2025 22:20

Try Olio. It's a waste reduction site, where you can rate the recipient and they can rate you. That seems to cut down on time wasters.

Squishymallows · 24/07/2025 22:19

List it for £5-10 and it will work I promise