To think giving away things for free just isn't worth it?

I post items on Facebook marketplace or local free Facebook groups.
I used to ask for a small amount of money but always got people wanting me to deliver or querying the price.
Now I post for free and get lots of interest. The only problem is getting so many messages and I keep having to tell them, firstly that I will get back to them if the first person does not turn up, then that it has gone. They are always fairly local.

Charity shops are very fussy about furniture they take and mostly do not take electricals. I do not have a car and it is expensive to get waste disposal people.
Giving stuff to people who want it is much the best option.

I just post stuff on the village Facebook group and stick it outside on our front lawn, whoever wants it can come get it. 90% of stuff is gone within a couple of hours and if it doesn't go I'll just recycle it.

I gave away an Ikea armchair in perfect condition last year and yes, it was a hassle. I had dozens of messages just saying 'is this still available', including several from people who weren't even in the UK, let alone anywhere near where I'd stated the item location. I also had a message from someone immediately asking if they could collect it the same day - I replied and said yes, let me know roughly what time and I'll give you my address, and then I heard nothing back from them. I had a bloke say he could collect it today, then asked if it could actually be in a week's time, then asked me if it would fit in a hatchback, then asked me a dozen other questions until I just got sick of replying. I also had numerous people say 'British Heart Foundation would take this' even though I'd already asked BHF and they couldn't because the fire safety label wasn't legible, something I'd explained on the listing. I also had someone ask if I could deliver it to them. I said sorry, no, collection only, and they replied 'but I'm a single mum' as if that made a difference.

However - I'm pleased to say that it did end up getting collected by a really lovely lady who was helping an elderly relative with zero budget move into supported accommodation and she was absolutely delighted with it and sent me a follow-up message a couple of days later to say her relative with thrilled with her new chair, so I was really pleased with the eventual outcome. But my god, it was a hassle before that!

Tried to give a 2yo washing machine away to charity. The site would only accept it if we paid for a courier to deliver it.

Had the same problem OP when I decluttered my dad’s house. Had a woman repeatedly beg me to deliver a chair to her house (10 miles away) and someone else get annoyed because I wasn’t prepared to take a day off work so they could come by during the day (instead of a weekend or early evening). Several no shows too.

Charity shops are often not able to take furniture or larger items too. It’s mostly easiest to go to the tip.

We just donate straight to our in-laws' church these days, if it's suitable. I can't be arsed giving stuff away as I've had the same experiences as OP when I've done it before.

I’d just like it if people turned up. I’ve not actually had any issues with truly unreasonable people who want delivery etc. But so many times I’ve put things on for free, someone has requested it and they’ve either ignored my messages about collecting or made a time and not shown up! And often the people “in line” for an item do the same!

Hard agree. I just chuck it all at the tip. Feels wasteful but I haven't got the energy to deal with Facebook marketplace.

Whilst on the subject, who the fuck lists a second hand bike without the frame size? Answer: pretty much every moron on there. Was hoping to buy one for DS but have given up.

I put stuff on for fiver and then gave them discount of fiver when they picked up. It weeded out the crazies. I read that advice somewhere and it worked!

YANBU.

I put things on our village facebook site only. "Available to a good home, buyer collects." After two weeks if no takers, it goes to the charity shop or in the bin.

It saves a lot of hassle.

You can sometimes put things in your front garden with a note saying free and it will go. Only if you have a frontage though, not on the public path

I wouldn't want randoms turning up at my house at all times. Why don't you take the lot to a charity shop or give it to a local organisation that has jumble sales? As for the medicine - take it to a pharmacy and let them deal with it. It's a bit dodgy trying to give away prescription meds.

My area has a fab reuse and recycle group which is run by a dedicated team of moderators. If you no show on a collection they kick you off the group. It's fab. I've donated and received lots of great items. I think the mods spend a lot of time on it though. But otherwise, yeah, people are idiots

Snap! I hate it

I find freecycle really good - good luck

Completely agree! I tried it last year with a printer. It was just endless time wasters and stupid questions.

Urgh our local Freegle is pretty good as I think if you don’t behave appropriately you get banned!