WIBU to teach this 'Freecycler' a lesson?

[spatchcock]

There is a person in my area who responds to every single 'offer' item saying 'Hello, I would like this item. When can I pick up the items?'

Every. Time. Surely no one can need everything that's going? This has been going on for a few months.

Yesterday I posted five items (ranging from baby equipment to beer brewing barrels - but all quite decent stuff). This person again asked for every item.

Out of curiosity, I emailed this person from another (unnamed if you like) email account, with no subject heading, saying 'Yes, it's still available. When would you like to come round?' They immediately replied saying they are available all day and asked for my address. They did not check to see what the item was.

We have a enormous computer monitor that we no longer need. It works intermittently but no longer has a power cable. We haven't put it on Freecycle because it's quite frankly a piece of junk and we were going to recycle it.

WIBU to give this monitor to the Freecycle chancer? Or should I come clean and confess to him/her that the items are no longer available?

if he didnt say what the item was in the email response just ask when he arrive what item it was? Wait for the look of bewilderment on his face.

I freecycle most of our stuff that we no longer use/need, personally I would never reply to such basic request, you are in control of who you let your items go to.......would just ignore and move on.

I don't give anything to impolite responses - "I'll take the lot" type replies tend to go straight in my deleted items.
You should report him to the moderators. We've just had a message about rude freecyclers sying they will be banned if they carry on - it's not worth it and not why people do freecycle!

Well the guy came by just now - I did what LilQueenie suggested and our conversation went like this:

'Hi, I'm from Freecycle.'
'Oh hi - what have you come to pick up?'
'Er ... sorry?'
'I'm giving away a few things today, what are you here to collect?'
'Um [confused and worried look], I was due to come at 4pm, my name's X.'
'Oh, X, no problem.'

At which point my DP staggers into view with the enormous monitor (not kidding - this thing is simply gigantic).

'It's pretty big - and it doesn't have a power cable anymore. But it works ok most of the time.'

Guy looked pissed off, but reluctantly took the monitor after giving me a hard stare. He didn't say thank you, but I thanked him profusely, telling him he had saved me a trip to the dump.

Oops, that was my alias! I am also spatchcock.

OP can you give him something horrible? A dirty nappy? A bag of dog poo? Some rotten fish or something?

Or would freecycle be a bit upset about that?

Brilliant.

I've never got anything from Freecycle, but have given lots of stuff away when I was moving house, I think most people who collected stuff were genuine.

What puts me off our local Freecycle is all the Wanted posts. There are more Wanted than Offered and some of them for ridiculously cheeky requests, e.g. for the latest games consoles and lots of games. I think this is partly a local thing though, the previous areas I was in weren't nearly as bad.

That is quite funny, though I would be a bit worried that he would just dump it somewhere...

On balance, I do quite like freecyle. I have got rid of things which I am puzzled that anyone would go out of their way for, plus some really nice stuff.

I was a bit that the freecycler who picked up our not-very-old, good quality (Sofa Workshop) sofa and chair never sent a thank-you email, but we wanted it gone so it was a good day for everyone.

I though the point of Freecycle was to get rid of stuff you don't want, thus diverting it from landfill or the Energy Recovery Facility incinerator, without the carbon-munching trip to and the deposition at the tax-payer funded loacl recycling centre?

Does it really matter who takes possession of your used objects as long as they are going to re-use the item or get it re-used? If the new owners are running a little business, it's only along the same lines as the old rag and bone men. Steptoe and Son enter the cyber age. Cor blimey!

I've never got around to freecycling. DH and I have a lot to get rid of but we are trying to sell what we can first.

My friend once put up an offer of all her babyclothes and other baby paraphernalia. Girl asks for the lot, big story about how she is having her first baby and has no money. When are you due, my friend asks. Due date given is over 9 months away

i put stuff on freecycle and yep these same people ask for everything as some others have said there car booters but this is not allowed is it its supposed to be to save things from landfill so i just say its gone i dont give to the first person who contacts i let a few answer first but i also give priority to charities if they ask and give their charity number. but i never reply or answer the ones who say when can i pick it up and not id like to ask if you will consider me because. its just more polite isnt it

I agree that people should be polite and not taking the piss.

That's very funny!

But I've only had good experiences with Freecycle, including the woman who insisted on bringing me some plants as a thank you for some stuff that was gathering dust in a cupboard. But we do filter on politeness in replies!

well done op

I was a mod on freecycle but quit due to a fair amount of freecycle group 'owners' using kind donations to make a income from,obviously if you are a group owner you get all emails-the crafty fuckers were taking all the sell-able items and flogging on ebay.

One elderly lady was getting rid of her 4 year old caravan and one group owner swooped in and sold it for £8k.

I'm glad I have nothing more to do with 'grabcycle'.

and well done you OP!

God, I've given away all sorts of shit on freecycle, ranging from a box of mismatched glasses to a habitat dining table and chairs and I honestly could not give a shit what happens to it as long as I don't have to move it anywhere myself and it doesn't end up in landfill. Isn't that the point of freecycle?