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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

86 replies

bibbitybobbitybunny · 18/04/2012 20:42

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?

OP posts:
EightiesChick · 19/04/2012 10:25

Flibbertywidget Argh at 'gimme your addy...now!' #stalker

Sorry I don't have a curtain pole Smile

The people I like most are those who reply politely, perhaps with info about what they want them item for (though not essential) and offer to come and collect, give some idea of when (i.e. 'I can come today after 6pm or any time tomorrow') and then let me say which is most convenient. So the more closely anyone asking for stuff matches that model, the more likely they are to get stuff from me.

HeartsJandJ · 19/04/2012 10:30

A poster on mine seriously posts every single week for "size 14-16 clothes"

It is quite a small group and she has quite an unusual username and there is someone else with the same format username who constantly requests "size 12 clothes".

They must be the same person, right?

flibbertywidget · 19/04/2012 10:37

eightieschick - LOL - yes they were soon dispatched to the delete bin.

Bugger about the curtain pole. I have just put up my first wanted on freecycle. Will see where it gets me. I am willing to travel Smile

mmmerangue · 19/04/2012 10:41

Don't have a problem with wanted posts, but it should be:

"Looking for a wardrobe, to fit space X by Y, any condition, don't mind fixing a door back on, painting it to match my other furniture, etc etc."

There is a woman on our local sale facebook page who keeps posting asking for a 'cheap' ikea dresser, this make, this many drawers, this colour... costs about £700 new! Strange that noone has replied to her for weeks, eh? She and your Freecycler are indeed taking the actual piss as you put it ;)

yessirnosir · 19/04/2012 10:42

I once offered a load of candles and gave them to someone who wanted them for her daughter's small and low budget wedding. When she collected them she invited me to the wedding and was quite persistent when I politely declined. I wonder what her daughter would have said should I have turned up?

HipHopOpotomus · 19/04/2012 10:44

why are you reading these requests if they bother you?

marshmallowpies · 19/04/2012 10:48

I always tend to offer items to the first person who responds, if they confirm they are able to collect promptly - I had one person recently who was very keen to take some stuff but then dithered about collection, it turned out he lived miles away and was moving to my area 'soon'. People who think I am prepared to hang on to stuff indefinitely until they are ready to collect get short shrift from me, I'm afraid.

The funniest sob story I had recently was when I was giving away a DAB radio as mentioned previously and other items, including a set of scales (the sort you weigh yourself on, not the cooking sort). Someone emailed and said they'd like all the items but especially the scales because 'we're getting married next year and need to go on a diet'.

I replied saying 'sorry, the DAB was taken by the first person who responded, but you're welcome to come and collect the scales'. Their reply 'Oh, it's a bit far to come just for a set of scales'. I felt like answering 'So much for the pre-wedding diet, then?...not quite so urgent now you aren't getting a free radio into the bargain'. But I didn't.

MargueritaaPracatan · 19/04/2012 11:01

One reads them and comments on the amazing 'wants' hiphop as a sign of the times. People are greedy, grabby and out to get anything they can for themselves sometimes. And filtering out the bizarre requests isn't an option really when you're scanning the list.

Squirrelz · 19/04/2012 11:03

My partner tried to give away a piano on freecycle, but after numerous people saying they'll turn up and failing to do so, she ended up giving it away via a facebook posting!

We've had far more hassle with stuff given away by freecycle than with stuff sold via ebay. I guess have more respect when they're paying for something...

Having said that, the guy that collected my sofa bed was really nice, and my partner has managed to get a load of Lego via a "wanted" for her school, despite me saying "don't be daft, no-one gives away Lego..." Shock

DowagersHump · 19/04/2012 11:17

Because it's entertaining HipHop!

MilkNoSugar - I'm amazed! Where I used to live, people used to chain up their bugaboos because there was a spate of them being nicked

I've had two replies to my posts offering potty training equipment. One of them called me Hun a lot but I might have to overlook that :o

Ratbagcatbag · 19/04/2012 12:25

I once offered a load of second hand bras Hmm but in my defence, I had spent around £100 plus in la senza in the Jan Sales, and then by April decided I defo wasn't wearing the correct size and went to Bravissimo, I was only 2 back sizes and 4 cups sizes out. so I spent more money on some lovely stuff and had a bag of 9! decent bras that would never fit me.

I offered and was completely honest about them, freshly washed, but had been worn (under duress obviously with the wrong sizings), I had the most replies ever to this posting about 20 people wanted them Shock

I split them into twos and three and gave them to the people who were nicest and remembered please and thank-you, I replied to all of them and explained why I was splitting it up, and they were all fab with it, I remember one lady being so greatful as had lost lots of weight and nothing fitted her, she still had a few stone to go so didn't want to spend more money on something that would only fit her a short while - she regifted them in four months time!

It is amazing what people will have everyone thought I was crazy offering them in the first place.

missmartha · 19/04/2012 12:32

My favourite ever request was from a woman who wanted a wooden herring to stand in her pond as her little daughter was very fond of birds.

It still makes me laugh uncontrollably.

LittleMissFlustered · 19/04/2012 13:13

One of my friends runs the local freecycle. With her blessing I once posted the following:

Wanted: Moon-on-a-stick

Moon must be full, I don't want a crescent or half-moon!

MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain · 19/04/2012 13:28

One we had was one posting for 'a much loved children's book I used to own, but I have been unable to find a copy anywhere, and would love to own a copy again if anyone has one gathering dust' (love that FC phrase!). I googled - because I'm nice like that - found one on Amazon: it was a rare book, worth about £1,000. I did reply to the poster giving them the link, but for some reason they didn't thank me or anything Grin.

LittleMissFlustered · 19/04/2012 13:55

I like your style MyCar :o

tenby22 · 19/04/2012 14:17

Brilliant mycar Not quite the same but I remember someone trying to sell a Wii fit for more than the list price on another site. (Sorry "netmums".) Felt like replying saying there are loads in stock now at x at correct price.

Vajazzler · 19/04/2012 14:21

MyCarHasBrokenDownAgain eww! Fancy planting flowers in your old leg!

Mandy2003 · 19/04/2012 14:24

You never know what you might receive until you ask! On our Freegle the same person asked for a laptop for about a year. When he did find one offered and collected it he posted his thanks and thanked everyone for putting up with his adverts Smile

Sadly, a couple of weeks later he was posting for a laptop again - the reason was given - the original one went under a bus Shock

Tryharder · 19/04/2012 14:28

My local freecycle kicked off recently because it was discovered that a particularly persistent member who had been getting lots of stuff on the basis of a sob story was actually selling them on. Then there was a hoo-ha about lack of manners etc.

The only problem with that is that everyone is now ultra polite in a completely smarmy way so your inbox is clogged up with dozens of "thanks to Mary for the lovely net curtains, you are so kind etc etc" - type message.

Tryharder · 19/04/2012 14:30

Mandy, yeah right, it went straight onto eBay more like.

RuleBritannia · 19/04/2012 14:31

I had a good quality working, under counter, freezer for sale. I advertised but no one wanted to buy it

I looked at Freecycle and saw all the 'Wants' and thought no they are not having my freezer. The shop where I bought a replacement new freezer would take it away but it would go to the tip. It was too good to be thrown away so I rang around charities and the fifth one accepts working white domestic appliances and came to collect it (at no sost, of course). If you have anything like that to dispose of, contact the British Heart Foundation.

Nux · 19/04/2012 14:42

Agree with British Heart Foundation, a great place for still functioning electricals and furniture, they collect it and you know it's going for a good cause, plus is sold at an affordable price. If you do gift aid then they write to you to tell you how much they made for your stuff :-) They sold an unwanted Ikea table of ours for £20 and I was really happy

AmberLeaf · 19/04/2012 16:03

The only problem with that is that everyone is now ultra polite in a completely smarmy way so your inbox is clogged up with dozens of "thanks to Mary for the lovely net curtains, you are so kind etc etc" - type message

I now get the 'daily digest' I think its called, 1 email with up to 25 messages in so you dont get loads constantly.

hifi · 19/04/2012 16:27

i put items outside my gate ,always gone by the end of the day and a lot less hassle.

Lueji · 19/04/2012 16:29

Maybe they needed to match a pair or bed and just gave it a go.

Why should it be annoying?