I am NEVER giving anything away again.

[Ohjakestopbeingatwat]

I’ve had it now with giving things away. I think I am just a twat magnet.

I put the children’s old wooden play market/kitchen thing up on Facebook, for free.

I put up photos and was very honest that it needs two new screws/wood glue as they have come loose and can’t be tightened, some of the paintwork is chipped, but if someone wants it, it would make a great up cycle project. If no one wanted it, it would go to the tip. But you know, it’s free and I know lots of people like a project.

Someone immediately said she wanted it and sent her husband to collect it a while later.

Then, all hell broke loose. She messaged me saying it was in a terrible state, the paint was chipped, the screws needed replacing - no shit Sherlock. That was the actual description.

She demanded that I come and pick it up. No. She kept on and on until I had to block her.

Half an hour later, her husband turned up again and threw it on my driveway, smashing it. So now, no one can have it to do up and it will have to go to the tip.

This isn’t the first time I’ve had shit like this. I don’t know how I attract these people. So never again. It’s the charity shop, or the tip.

We're trying to sell a realistically-priced washing machine on Facebook marketplace at the moment. Posted it a week ago, and received three "is this still available" messages within the first 24 hours. I successively politely liaised with all three enquirers, agreeing pick-up dates and time to suit each one. One by one they went silent on me and failed to show up, without any apology. I've had two more since who just went silent after a positive response to their enquiry. DH is starting to wonder if there is an ulterior motive in making an availability enquiry - can a potential buyer hack into my laptop once I respond?

Freecycle has a much better community than Facebook. It’s got more people interested in up-cycling and reducing waste. Facebook’s full of free-loaders and CFs.

I know someone who works for a food bank in a church and they decided that everything that was out of date but the staff would have happily still eaten (the best criteria they could think of for usability) should go on a table outside the doors with a note on saying it’s destined for the top but still looks fine. They aren’t including it in food bank items, but basically allowing a polite form of dumpster diving 😁

Thank you…..from a CP Volunteer 🌷🐈‍⬛

It seems the type of exchange place and their users vary from location to location; some FB groups are useful in a specific region and not good elsewhere. I wouldn't discount any place right away without checking for yourself, such as observing how others behave around giveaways and the tone of voice in a group. Then you can decide for yourself. I had ok-ish experiences with our local equivalent of ebay marketplace, but it was a few years ago.

We have an shed next to the recycling place where people can put items they don't want anymore but which are still in a reasonable condition. I got some garden items there.

The idea of a men's shed (or women's shed) where volunteers repair or upcycle items is really nice. Some cities have so-called repair cafes where people can bring their faulty electronic items and volunteers try to help. The volunteers are often retirees who worked in related jobs, electronics, mechanics and the likes.

Perhaps it's time to take these good ideas from the forums into real life.

If you want an exchange shed near the local tip, make a suggestion to the local administration or whoever is in charge of that area. It helps if you find some other residents who support your idea. List the benefits to the council, so they see it will save money (less space used at the tip, for example, fulfilling their environmental goals or whatever).

Same with the upcycling places. Perhaps there is an initiative who works in a related field, see if it is possible to expand towards this and find a suitable location. Maybe there are subsidies for environmental or community projects. As others have mentioned, some people really like such a task, just for fun, making something work again; I have acquaintances like this, too.

It would be sad if these ideas stay as wishful thinking only, because they are helpful in many ways: less stuff is wasted, people get things for free or little money, people get to do a creative task.

The presence of staff at the tip and at upcycling meetings can also help against useless destruction.

😂

I use Facebook a lot and have only had one or two experiences that weren’t really positive and even those were ok. Mostly the interactions have been fun and friendly. I mostly give things away for free and even if I sell things it’s not for much.

I have a great street WhatsApp that works well too.

Me too.

I would report them for fly tipping... they took ownership of the item, could have showed up said 'oh sorry thats not what I expected its no good for us' and left without it but if they took it they accepted it and it became theirs and the onus is now on them to dispose of it.

Me too. I have a beautiful antique piano that I got from freecycle. The lovely couple giving it away were downsizing. I offered to make a donation to charity as they were so kind. They asked me to donate to Amnesty which I was happy to do. The piano is a bit damaged but both my DC have had lessons on it and it looks lovely in my living room. ❤️

I always offer stuff on freecycle and hardly ever have any problems. E.g. I twice collected big items that were not as described so I relisted but saying clearly what was wrong e.g. washing machine but sealer ring is very mouldy. I ask the person replying to suggest a collection time. I was surprised with the washing machine and a rusty freezer but both were collected quickly. Maybe it depends on where you live.

Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but our local church has a monthly tabletop sale where you can bring smaller things. Plus a supply of men wanting nothing more than a cuppa and something to mend! Perhaps have a look for that?

Our local tip has a shop where you can pick up all sorts for very little money.

Our local cat rescue is always grateful for old towels and blankets.

In the process of moving house and given a load of stuff away on FB market place. All for free.

99% of people to be honest have been grateful.

1% (let's claim her Sheila) collected a child's play slide.

I have had non stop messages about it being dirty (all said in the description and photos)

Last message was ... wait for this..ASKING FOR COMPENSATION FOR HAVING TO CLEAN IT.

It was fucking free Sheila. Fuck off Sheila.

This is why I do vinted or recycle. I cant be arsed. Too stressful!

I was giving away a chest of drawers. Took a photo, great condition. A woman got in touch to ask for them and as I couldn’t deliver, she paid a man with a van £20 to pick them up without her seeing them. He came on time, all good.

After she got them, she sent me a message saying I’d sent drawers instead of the wardrobe. I explained that she’d asked for the drawers. She claimed not, despite the fact that the chat was named what I’d called the drawers on the description and it had the photo of the drawers as the icon. She said she wanted the wardrobe and I explained that I didn’t have a wardrobe up, only ever the drawers. She started saying she was now £20 down and still didn’t have what she wanted. I told her to make sure she looked properly at future listings and blocked her.

Jesus, people are so entitled these days.

Why don't you donate your stuff to charity instead of posting for free?

When we moved last year we got rid of loads of stuff. People were a pain. I put stuff out front with a sign saying help yourself. Went to grab a drink and found someone wandering round in our garage, saying he'd quite like x,y and z. Which wasn't on offer. People needing exact measurements, saying they'd take everything and then not turning up. People parking outside in the car and then texting me to asking me to bring out a fridge, or a big unit. Get off your lazy arse! I posted on our local FB group that all the camping equipment was going out the front. Loads of rude people asking if we also had this and that, and cross people because someone got there before them because they saw the post first.

We don't want people coming to the house as you don't know who you might get, and we've heard lots of stories similar to yours. We found a lovely charity shop, or if not good enough, it's the tip.

That's a separate issue.

Careful no-one takes the table.

Saw some advice recently — might even have been on here — that if you sell it for a just a couple of quid, you don’t get the same level of bat-shittery. Have yet to try it myself though…

We moved to Sweden and our local dump has a designated room. Household - books, crockery, ornaments vases, toys on one side. Bigger things on the other side like furniture items, sports equipment etc. Items are there for a week or thrown in the giant skips opposite.

Beginning of summer during our big clear out we left a some outgrown scooters and bikes and a toy pram (all a little worn or chipped or rusty) in the room. When we returned in the afternoon with some glasses and paintings, only bike left. I was happy the items had taken.

It wouldn't be the end of the world. It is a 30 years old plastic garden table!