People asking for things for free on freecycle and the like - annoys me - aibu?

[bibbitybobbitybunny]

I have just seen a post on my local forum asking for a particular wardrobe from a particular shop in a particular finish ... and I just want to send them a message saying are you taking the actual piss?

I understand perfectly the need to furnish your home for nothing or next to nothing at all, I have done it myself when I was younger, but surely you have a trawl through what is available, not make actual up-front fucking requests?

He'd probably reply "Only if you have a certain brand of piss to offer"

given that the principles and ethos of freecycle is that one is free to offer and ask for anything at all then why not ......... the odds on anyone having that particular item might be small but if it does make up a matching set then what is the harm in asking ?

although I must admit from the title you wrote I thought you were meaning that people asking for anything annoyed you

This annoys me too. It seems like there are lots of offer on ours but not many offers.

sorry lots of wanteds... not many offers.

Hmmmm, I use freecycle when I'm having a good sort out, and I have to say when I have seen the wanted for working car with MOT, I have thought people are taking the piss, however we needed a router (the one for cutting wood - not the internet version) and they are around £50, I did ask if anyone had one we could borrow as we only need it for one job, a very nice guy responded and said he had a small one but it wasn't up to the big kitchens he fitted and gifted it to us, we were really greatful, but we do offer lots of stuff on there too.

YANBU. I've got rid of quick a few things via freecycle but TBH anything of any selleable value goes on Ebay.

The people asking for working 'unwanted' XBoxs make me laugh though.

*quite

Phew, thought you were talking about me for a minute! I posted today on my local group asking for something (non-specific) for the first time ever. [paranoid emoticon]

As a disclaimer, I have given away loads and loads and loads of lovely stuff over the past few years and just wanted something for an art project that would normally be thrown away.

It does annoy me when I see people asking for stuff. YANBU.

YABU to be annoyed when people request things for free on free cycle if the board/group's rules allow it.

Someone asked on the off chance for an upright piano. Even stated they knew it was a long shot. I gave them mine. Shy bairns get nowt. As long as the poster is polite and says please they might as well ask.

I've also given away baby gates, buggy, baby toys etc as DS is 8 and wasn't planning anymore kids. Now TTC ffs. Might ring them and ask for a lend when they're done. :o

erm.. isn't that the purpose of freecycle? Someone might not want the particular brand of thing anymore and be happy to get rid of it.

I have got rid of loads via freecycle, washing machine went last week, worked perfectly, someone had given me a new one.

However I haven't seen anyone ask for an Xbox yet!

There is one guy on our local free cycle who put up a request for any spare gold bars, diamonds or cash when people got a bit 'grabby', and asked everyone to remember their manners. I think you should at least give something before you ask!

We, didn't explain that well, meant to say he posted an ironic request.

My favourite one was years ago when I used to live (N London) where someone was asking for a Bugaboo :o

Today, someone where I live has asked if anyone has a boat with a cabin kicking around which they don't need/want

It's a bit of a bloody cheek but it does make me laugh

Last week my local freecycle had a wanted: unwanted prosthetic limbs please. Any kind gratefully received!

I've got a fair number of prosthesic arms in various sizes, I'd love to know what he wants them for though.

Off topic @ Vajazz and Dewe How to build the ultimate wife. Step one. Freecycle.

@ Debeez

Dewe - we need more info!

yanbu.

Freecycle was great 5yrs ago then it went downhill due to all the pisstakers. My all time favourite was a mum wanting a new African Grey Parrot as theirs had just died and her kids were upset. To this day I don't know how I didn't send her a sarky response.

I stopped using it ages ago. My blood pressure couldn't take it anymore.

I hear the 'people should offer before asking' thing on the group a lot. I rarely put up offer posts but am more likely to see wanted post and think 'oh I've got that, I don't really need it' and pass it on. No one would 'see' that happening. Does that mean I can post a wanted ad now and again?

People can ask for what they want, maybe the item they ask for has been discontinued? We've got drawers in DS's room from Ikea that they don't make anymore. I'd like a set for this baby so the room matched.

Would it really be that bad to ask on there is anyone has a set they're looking to get rid of?

Vajazzler-thanks, I need prosthetic limbs for a science lesson and now I know a way I might get hold of some! I never even thought of freecycle......obviously someone down your way is teaching the new AQA applied science course next year.

Drives me up the wall - our local one has requests for Wiis, DSs, Caravans (yes, really, and one presumes the next week said grabber would be asking for a car to tow it ). All of which regularly end up in landfill don't you know. Now it's summer we're getting the usual influx of 'I need camping gear' etc

You should try being a moderator on Freecycle.

The endless I want, I want, I want.....but never offer

The range of items never ceases to amaze me...and the fisticuffs....and the rudeness of some people

There's someone on our local Freegle who used to repost every week that he was after a working newish laptop.. every single week for months. I hope he's given up and he didn't actually get one.

There's also a guy who keeps posting for "unwanted working Xbox 360s, PS3s, Wiis, Nintendo DSs, PCs".