Freecycle: is it usual for people to no show for agreed collection time?

[Aridane]

So I thought I would put some stuff on Freecycle rather than it going to landfill.

And a no show for this evening between 6pm - 9pm. No cancellation either.

Is this usual for Freecyle?

Had been thinking of having a declutter and putting some stuff on Freecycle rather than landfill- but was wondering how many time wasters there will be

Pretty common to have time wasters on any kind of thing like this tbh.

It’s full of time wasters and cheeky fuckers galore.

Donate the stuff to charity instead if you can.

Very usual.
It's time waster central sadly.

Yep. I've found someone who collects for charity in my local area and now I get them to collect it all. Failing that charity shops, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, local preschools etc for toys. There's a lot of options between a no show on Freecycle and landfill.

Yes, also people who say yes please then when you offer them the item don't reply. I gave up on it a long time ago.

Years ago I used it all the time, but it really went downhill.

Entirely normal.

I gave up and started donating to / buying from charity shops instead.

Unfortunately - yes a lot of the time. I always ask for a telephone number they can be contacted on to be considered for the item. Freecycle when I know i can't take item immediately to the charity shop. I'm now more able to recognise the genuine replies. I'm glad I've been able to help some folks but it is a lot of hassle when people don't come.

OK - thanks.

I'll adjust my expectations accordingly.

Some things I have on offer aren't suitable for charity shops- eg rugs - and I thought it would be a nice thing to pass to someone else.

My tips are:

Choose people who say something a bit more individual than "yes please" eg "it would be just the thing for my grandson's room, I live locally and can pick up on Tuesday".

When I do offer something say if I don't hear back from you by X time (48 hours or so) them I will offer it to someone else.

When agreeing pickup say that if you don't pick up that day or rearrange then it will be offered to someone else.

Oh and keep a note of the names of
timewasters.

I decided to get rid of a lot of decent furniture and signed up for free cycle. Not only did I get no show but when I questioned why the person hadn't turned up I got abuse.
British Heart Foundation collected it all.

Yes it's normal unfortunately.

If any of the items are suitable to be left outside in all weathers, just leave them outside and some passers by will take them. We've done this a couple of times and the items were gone within hours. You might have to find a charity to pick up the rug though.

The mods on my local Freecycle forum ask to be notified about time-wasters and no-shows.

Rugs are very much wanted by the charity shops near me, especially the 'home' type ones that takes furniture.

OK - pretty much after starting thread, person texted to apologise for lateness, explained the domestic crisis, and asked if he could still pick up.

So good there.

However, another item where I had put a 'must collect Sunday', a nice sounding woman asked if she could collect Monday and promised not to let me dow n if she could pick up Monday.

She has now emailed to see she cannot pick up and to apologise for inconvenience.

At least she let me know though.