Olio/freecycle- ok or rude?

[DSD9472]

If I give away something free on these sites, I'll often leave the item at the front door and let them know. Colleague thinks that's rude, and I should meet/greet the person, because I might be the only one they see all day! What do you do or prefer when collecting?

I wait for them to knock or I go and open the door when I see them come up the drive.

It wouldn’t bother me if I picked up off the doorstep though.

It would be more rude of a stranger who is getting something as a gift to demand your time. Nothing wrong with pick ups.

It's not your responsibility to be a social contact for them. Why on earth would they not have seen anyone all day?

Your colleague is bonkers. Either way is fine, but giver gets to choose imo.

I do both, but prefer doorstep pickups as more convenient for me as either a giver or taker!

I always leave my Olio stuff on the doorstep for them to pick up - I'm usually too busy sorting things and monitoring messages to stand chatting!

Thanks everyone.
@inkblackheart Some people are widowed, live alone, WFH alone, single etc so its not unreasonable that some people won't see or speak to another person all day! I agree though, that if I'm giving away something for free, then I'm not their therapist.

Well yes of course but does that mean you have to stop and talk to every person in the street you might see who is alone in case you're their only social contact that day.

Its a really weird and rather patronising approach.

I leave stuff at the front, no need to see them.

Let them pick up the items at your front door but stick a note on the item with your friend's address on saying if they fancy a chat to call in.

Has your colleague considered that the person picking up the item might be in a hurry, have social anxiety or just prefers not to meet the person who is giving them free stuff? Just as likely, if not more.

Your colleague is daft. 🙃

😄

There's a man who collects food for Olio living near me. He leaves the food on his doorstep for pickup, bagged up with the various recipients' names on.

I always leave stuff on my front porch for Freecycle collections. That way I don't have to wait in and they don't have to turn up at a specific time. Plus, if they have some issue that means they can't come when expected it doesn't matter. Far more convenient for everyone.

I nearly always leave stuff on the porch (with agreement) as it lets me be far more flexible about collection times than if I absolutely had to see them face to face. So that works for the person collecting too.