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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To tell this freecycler that if he cannot collect at at time that suits me then I will give item to someone else

25 replies

b584 · 26/05/2011 19:01

Hi I put an offered add on freecycle on Tuesday morning, within 10 minutes of it being approved I had over 10 replies, By the afternoon it had reached almost 30 so I thought that the fairest thing to do was to wait untill the evening so other people who wern't sitting on their computers could reply and then number them and get one of the kids to choose a ramdom number.

I did this and my dd chose number 1, ok fair enough, In his reply he stated that he could collect at any time so I sent him an email saying that he could have the item's and gave him 2 time slots for yesterday and today,

Yesterday was between 9am and 3pm and today was between 12.30 pm and 3pm,

He replied saying he could only collect in the evening and if that wasn't convienient then I should leave the item's outside in the bin or something similar

I am not prepared to do this and evenings are not convienient for me,

Would it be very unreasonable of me to tell him that if he cannot collect at a time that suits me then I will offer to someone else, By the end of the first day I had over 30 emails requesting these item's, I didn't particulary want to go with the first reply but thats how it turned out, I asked my daughter to pick a number and she chose number one as she was born on the first and see's that as her lucky number, so I went with that but just feel he is messing me around as in his original email he said he could collect anytime.

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 26/05/2011 19:03

Why can't you leave the items for him as requested?

SoupDragon · 26/05/2011 19:04

[shrug] I always leave stuff outside in the recycling box for freecyclers. Far more convenient for all concerned.

squeakytoy · 26/05/2011 19:04

Yes, you are being unreasonable.. people do have to work.

SuePurblybilt · 26/05/2011 19:05

Not at all U, that's how it works. Say sorry, I've offered it elsewhere and pick another number.

lemmein · 26/05/2011 19:06

I would leave it out for him (if it wouldn't get ruined in this weather). He probably works office hours - or ask him if there is anybody else who can collect on his behalf.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 26/05/2011 19:06

YABU. Those times would be tricky for lots of people. If you could only arrange collection times when most people would be at work you should have said so in your original offer post.

upahill · 26/05/2011 19:07

Squeakytoy but the way I read it it is the fella that is moving the goal posts.
Originally he said any time now it is only evenings.
Therefore b584 is not being unreasonable at telling him to do one after giving him two options.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 26/05/2011 19:08

YANBU - that's the point of freecycle, you get to choose your way. He doesn't need to know why you won't leave it outside/in the bin, that's up to you. I wouldn't either - neighbours would complain if stuff was left outside, there's not much space on the pavement anyway.

Original poster

b584 · 26/05/2011 19:08

I do not want to leave them ouside as our bins a regualry overturned by the kids in our area,

If it was just a worthless item then I wouldn't be so bothered but these are 8 psp games so I would rather hand them over to the person ive promised them to.

OP posts:

NoseyNooNoo · 26/05/2011 19:08

If he said he can do anytime he should come when you say. Offer it to someone else and give them 24 hrs to collect.

Original poster

b584 · 26/05/2011 19:09

He said in his original email that he could collect at anytime though

OP posts:

MrsSnow · 26/05/2011 19:11

YANBU at all.

scurryfunge · 26/05/2011 19:12

If it is totally impossible for you to hand the items over to him then offer them to someone else.

Sylvaniasandwich · 26/05/2011 19:14

YABU - because 'anytime' to a lot of people means 'anytime outside of working house'. But it is your stuff, so just offer it to someone else.

upahill · 26/05/2011 19:17

Sylvaniasandwich 'because 'anytime' to a lot of people means 'anytime outside of working house' Really?

I thought most people would say I'm at work between 8 and 6 but apart from then or I'm off on Thursday morning.

Working hours means so many things to so many people.

LadyOfTheCuntryManor · 26/05/2011 19:17

He can't collect when it suits you, tell him so and then offer it to someone else. It's a nice thing to do, you're not tied up in a legal contract.

SuePurblybilt · 26/05/2011 19:17

I'd say 'anytime' was fairly clear

I'd be giving up and giving them to charity. I love the concept of Freecycle but it does often seem to bring out the worst in people, including people who say anything in their original email to get the item, then mess about over collection/ask for delivery.
Honestly I think it works best when it's used for things that would otherwise be going to landfill, other stuff just appears to attract greediness or messers.

Jaspants · 26/05/2011 19:22

YANBU - he didn't say in his original mail that he had time restrictions, he said he could collect anytime. Offer it to someone else.

Original poster

b584 · 26/05/2011 19:33

I think I will offer them to someone else,

I did read 'anytime' as 'at any time' so I will email him to let him know

OP posts:

squeakytoy · 26/05/2011 19:35

Are you at home now?

Original poster

b584 · 26/05/2011 19:42

No I am not at home now. Why?

OP posts:

LadyOfTheCuntryManor · 26/05/2011 19:44

We wanted to burgle you.

Original poster

b584 · 26/05/2011 19:47

Lol good luck with that, the only thing I have worth pinching is my laptop and I have that with me now.

OP posts:

wowwowwubbzywubbzywubbzywowwow · 26/05/2011 19:50

YANBU. I offered a nearly brand new Mamas and Papas highchair a while ago. Our house is tiny and I was sick of tripping over it so I offered it to the first to reply because they said they would collect it that evening but I had about 50 requests for it in total. The guy didn't show and when I contacted him to see if he still wanted it he said he now wouldn't be able to collect it for a fortnight!
When you are being given something for free you collect it at the givers convenience and if you can't collect at a convenient time you accept that it will be offered to someone else imo. And you don't ask them to deliver it to your door. There are some right cheeky feckers on Freecycle.

YellowDinosaur · 26/05/2011 19:54

Yep I'm with wow.

He said he could collect at anytime, he can't infact colelct at a time to suit you, tough luck he loses out.

It is precisely because of people like this that I ahve given up with freecycle and I now take all stuff that is in good nick but I can't be bothered to sell on ebay to the loca womens refuge. Yes it is a 40 min round trip but I'd rather spend my time taking it to people who will really need it than wait in for a load of entitled time wasters.

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