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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Freecycle again.

23 replies

DuelingFanjo · 21/09/2011 11:35

About 20 minutes ago I posted 2 'offered' messages on freecycle and was given a message saying they would need to be approved before being posted to the site. No more than ten minutes later the same person has emailed me twice asking 'is this still available please'.

I am offering several vases and a bag of women's shoes. The person messaging me is male and I assume must be one of the moderators.

It's pissed me off because they still haven't been posted to the site and if I want to complain the he will get the complaint.

OP posts:
Beamur · 21/09/2011 11:37

Thats a bit cheeky isn't it!
I'd say yes, they are, but I'm going to wait for 24 hours after the items are posted before offering them to someone to give other people a chance to ask for them.

ballstoit · 21/09/2011 11:37

Just say yes, they are, but you'll be gifting them after 24 hours when non-moderators have had a chance to request them too. I think this happens a lot on Freecycle, that's one of the reasons why I've switched to Ebaying instead...I'd rather I made the money myself than the Freecycle moderator did Angry

ballstoit · 21/09/2011 11:38

x-posted Beamur...great minds etc Smile

AliceWyrld · 21/09/2011 11:38

That's appalling. I'd feign confusion and waffle something about there being some technical hitch as I can't see them posted yet, and something about fair use of whatever it's called, where you wait. Did you know that freecycle has a breakaway called freegle, which is less anal IME?

Beamur · 21/09/2011 11:44

I think my local group has separated from Freecycle and is a freegle one - haven't used it for a while though, I only tend to use it for bulky items I can't be bothered to take to our local charity shop.

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 21/09/2011 11:45

I agree. Wait a day, and pick your receiver. I feel sad when people give to the first reply, it doesn't give people who aren't constantly on the computer a chance.

Original poster
DuelingFanjo · 21/09/2011 12:51

he's now messaged me again saying he can collect them within an hour! Angry I have offered the vases to someone else who sounded more in need as she stated a specific reason for wanting them, though she may still be a moderator/administrator as the message still hasn't made it onto the site.

Thanks for the advice _I will do that.

OP posts:
RubyRooRoo · 21/09/2011 23:29

Yes Freegle seems to be more local and works better for me. I sometimes had people who gave sob stories then turn up to collect something they were obviously going to sell. Not nice, but you get used to picking out the real posters after a while. So yes, wait a day and you'll get the pleasure of giving to someone who really needs what you're offering.

splashymcsplash · 21/09/2011 23:38

Could you report him to freecycle management? Not sure if something like this exists but he really does seem to be abusing his position.

TheLadyEvenstar · 22/09/2011 00:26

Yes you can report them to the freecycle management, the same goes for if it has changed to Freegle.

WhoresHairKnickers · 22/09/2011 00:31

That's disgusting! he should be ashamed of himself! Angry

notanumptyalways · 22/09/2011 00:47

That's terrible, I love freecycle but didn't realise the mods did that Shock

pengymum · 22/09/2011 00:52

I would just wait till the post appears on the site and pick one from the replies. No need to reply if you don't want to - after all not everyone has constant access to emails. Some have lives ... Grin

Though maybe the posts appear on mobiles sooner? I know it happens with fb - I can sometimes see different stuff to when I access on computer. Confused

zelda1982 · 22/09/2011 07:15

Maybe they had subscribed to single emails so they get an email everytime ones posted?

AliceWyrld · 22/09/2011 09:27

The freecycle management thing was one of the reasons for the split. The freecycle management is in the States, so totally not local. Freegle is local. I only know what I read in newspaper reports when I was trying to work it out, not some expert.

Catslikehats · 22/09/2011 09:37

Definitely feign ignorance, along the lines of: Oh there must be something wrong with my login/account/computer I don't seem to be able to see the advert on the site, what am I doing wrong?

Horribly passive aggressive but entirely Ok in this sutuation Grin

FlubbaBubba · 22/09/2011 09:56

I wouldn't even do the passive aggressive route; I would just come straight out and say "I'd feel very unethical giving the stuff to one of the moderators before it goes 'live'. Is it even allowed? Also surprised that a man wants a bag of women's shoes?" and see what he says :o

ElizabethDarcy · 22/09/2011 10:12

Good to know! I want to give away a travel cot (too big for charity shop)... and will try freegle before freeycle now. Have never used either.

WhoresHairKnickers · 22/09/2011 12:19

He'll just get another email address to hide the fact that he's asking for stuff and is the mod. I wouldn't let him know I was onto him tbf.

WhoresHairKnickers · 22/09/2011 12:20

You can also give stuff away on your local netmums ^^ site.

CocktailQueen · 22/09/2011 12:22

I recommend freegle too! :)

sc4rl3t · 22/09/2011 13:12

Send a message to the moderator via the site [ it may not always be the same person] but not as a reply to him, asking why your message hasn't appeared yet. Just ignore his requests and FGS don't give your address to him if you feel at all uncomfortable!

Mabelface · 22/09/2011 13:15

I'm a Freegle co-owner and that's NOT on at all. We moderate all posts and wait a while if there's something on offer that we'd like before we ask. Tell the group owner.

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