Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
morbidcuriosity · 24/07/2025 22:19

@Imaybeoldbutstillrandy oh i didnt know that, ill get googling and see if there is any in my area.. thanks

awkwardasfuck · 24/07/2025 22:16

Pur it outside with a sign saying £50

It will be gone in an hour

RelativelyQuietNow · 24/07/2025 22:15

Ledwood85 · 24/07/2025 21:43

Was going to say exactly this.

I've found with free things, people who are timewasters get involved just because they see "free" and have a fear of missing out. They never really wanted/needed the item, just saw "free" and want to win.

I've found if you put a small price on it, it eradicates these idiots and gets you genuine buyers who follow through.

Strange but true in my experience.

Show quote history

That is also reflected in community classes.

I worked out of the Children’s Centre. Free classes had a much lower ‘turn up rate’ following a booking, than those with a £1 charge.

We charged £1!

Original poster
Imaybeoldbutstillrandy · 24/07/2025 22:13

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..

There are charities who will collect your item & sell them - my favourite charity is Hospicecare, but there will be other's in your area. When my mother died we had Hospicecare come to collect her white goods. Please don't dump them.

OP posts:
Pistachiocake · 24/07/2025 22:13

Looking at the cf stories-can't say I'm surprised, sorry. I've given away/offered stuff at very low prices, and in a lot of cases it's been more hassle than it's worth. I generally give it straight to charity now, as that way I know it's doing good and I don't waste time.
Lots of people actually find that old fashioned ways of advertising, as in those cards on a board in the supermarket actually work better than online. Obvious reasons why that might be, but if your local shop still has a board, might be worth trying.

Nannerlmoz · 24/07/2025 22:12

I had a similar experience with a cot, including several charities turning it down. It ended up going to the tip.

Daphnise · 24/07/2025 22:09

This is almost inevitable when you advertise something- even for free.
People are extremely unreliable, and often don't stick to arrangements. It's just the way people are nowadays.
Just dump the fridge, then it's gone.

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..

Original poster
Imaybeoldbutstillrandy · 24/07/2025 22:01

I just thought, because when I was first married (in 1988), we had nothing. Yes we had a load of fancy glasses (which we rarely use) a Wedgewood dinner service (again rarely used) a TV & a bed (which was much used LOL!)

But we furnished our first house from ads in the local newspapers. A second hand 3 piece suite for £50 for example I'd have been grateful for a free fridge as we didn't have one until a couple of months after we got married my MIL gave us one for our birthdays. a few months later my parents bought us a cooker for our joint Xmas presents.

How times change.

OP posts:
Voxon · 24/07/2025 21:46

YANBU. I stopped giving away free stuff because people do this.

Ledwood85 · 24/07/2025 21:43

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…

Was going to say exactly this.

I've found with free things, people who are timewasters get involved just because they see "free" and have a fear of missing out. They never really wanted/needed the item, just saw "free" and want to win.

I've found if you put a small price on it, it eradicates these idiots and gets you genuine buyers who follow through.

Strange but true in my experience.

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.

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…