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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think many people who use Freecycle to get things do not know how to communicate?

20 replies

OrlandoWoolf · 07/01/2014 10:30

"I'd like to have your item"
Email back - "Yes, that's fine. When can you come round?"
A few days later "Free, Tuesday, Where do you live?"
"Tuesday's fine. This is my address. In in the evening"

Did I get a reply? No. Is she coming? No idea.

How hard is it to say - "See you then" Or "That's good" or to simply acknowledge that you will come round.

OP posts:
CadleCrap · 07/01/2014 10:34

At least they didn't use text speak.

oldgrandmama · 07/01/2014 10:42

I feel your pain, OrlandoWoolf. How about the emails that come back when you've posted an offer, saying 'I want it'. Or 'Give it to me'. Or 'I will collect tonight'? Or the people who just click 'reply' , with NO message at all?!

I offered two huge canvas carrier bags full of books recently, specifying they were all either novels or biographies. Someone emailed back asking me to list all the titles. Same with bags of DVDs I offered, all films. A few weeks ago I offered some bags of odds and ends of yarn, ideal for knitting or crocheting small toys, gloves, scarves etc. Probably several hundred different yarns in the bags. A woman emailed me asking me to list all the colours.

On the other hand, I've made some wonderful friends through Freecycle, which more than makes up for the rude people.

Original poster
OrlandoWoolf · 07/01/2014 10:46

I just don't understand the inability to communicate. I have no idea if she is coming round tonight.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 07/01/2014 10:47

Freecycles nuts.. you get some right ones.

I put on a breadmaker once I'd spotted in a charity shop. It was unused with a book and I just never got round to using it.

I got one email filled with attitude because they had put a wanted for a breadmaker and why hadn't I just replied to that.

I didn't give it to them.

The best ones are the sob story's.. Some people get quite inventive Grin

littleredsquirrel · 07/01/2014 10:49

The sob stories are quite amazing. Better than the X factor ones!

Original poster
OrlandoWoolf · 07/01/2014 20:39

Person never turned up.

OP posts:
CrohnicallySick · 07/01/2014 20:45

Gumtree's just as bad, but with money involved. I don't give out my address till we have a day and approx time sorted, to avoid people turning up at 9pm and waking the baby (or me!)

I listed a fairly expensive item on there at the weekend and got replies such as "I'll give you (£40 less than asking price) and collect in the morning"

No, you won't.

Ifcatshadthumbs · 07/01/2014 20:52

Oh yes I love it when you put something up for sale for say £20 and someone responds with "£10? Can collect today"

I tend to respond with "£20 and you can collect tomorrow". Why would being able to collect same day make it worth halving the price?

Bumply · 07/01/2014 21:25

I had a no show fir an item I was selling on gumtree.
We'd arranged a time and I'd given my address.
When I sent a text asking if he was still interested as I'd had other enquiries I got a "who's this" response. Claimed his child had been in hospital, which may or may not have been true.
The damn thing is still taking up space in my hallway.

deste · 07/01/2014 22:02

We had one the other day asking for seating etc for the new summer house that they had just bought. If you can afford to buy a summer house you can afford to furnish it. And don't flaunt your wealth on freecycle.

ComposHat · 07/01/2014 22:53

Veering off thread somewhat I find 'no timewasters' at rhe bottom of car ads really rude.

The unspoken message is that 'if you take a look at my car and don't buy it on the spot, even if when you get there it is an optimistically described skip on wheels, I shall deem that you are wasting my time.

I usually steer clear , not least because if the seller has treated the car like he has treated a potential buyer, it will be a a shitheep

CrohnicallySick · 08/01/2014 06:59

Bumply- I don't give a second chance. Knowing that many people buying off gumtree etc don't bother turning up/suddenly fail to respond to messages when you're trying to sort out the time, I have reserves lined up. They are told 'I have someone collecting at x, if they don't want it or don't turn up I'll let you know.' And then I contact usually within an hour or so of the arranged time if I didn't hear anything from the supposed buyer.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 08/01/2014 07:14

Best one we had was when we gave away a piano. Specified time, insisted on a crew of at least two to move it.

First idiot: "Ten minutes wil it go in Saxo?".

Second idiot: "Can you deliver and tune it?"

Third idiot, first one to turn up "Fuck man, I thought it was electronic. Why didn't you say?" "We did. Learn to read".

Fourth idiot: "Is it a Bechstein?" Thinks "Jesus" Aloud " No, Bechsteins aren't found in the Fens".

Finally, after it was removed and the taken notice went up, we got a mouthful of abuse because someone's pfb was distraught because Mummy had been skiing and missed it.

IneedAsockamnesty · 08/01/2014 07:33

The whole thing just winds me up and gives me the rage

MummyPig24 · 08/01/2014 07:36

I've recently joined my local free cycle on fb and some of the posts are hilarious. And very weird.

So many people asking for "everything for a baby". I understand baby stuff can be expensive but it seems a bit grabby to ask for everything.

Chester draws has cropped up.

MrsSippie · 08/01/2014 07:39

I get steamed up at people who 'desperately need' a tumble dryer/dishwasher. No you don't - I have never had either and still exist quite normally.

AnneElliott · 08/01/2014 07:46

Oh yes the joys of freecycle. I think it's a great idea but some of the people! One man told me my postcode was wrong on the e-mail ( it wasn't). Then he said it must have recently changed ( it hasn't). Then he suggested it was because house was a new build ( very obviously a 1930s house as are the rest of the street) because his sat nav can't be wrong!

AnneElliott · 08/01/2014 07:46

Oh yes the joys of freecycle. I think it's a great idea but some of the people! One man told me my postcode was wrong on the e-mail ( it wasn't). Then he said it must have recently changed ( it hasn't). Then he suggested it was because house was a new build ( very obviously a 1930s house as are the rest of the street) because his sat nav can't be wrong!

HoratiaDrelincourt · 08/01/2014 07:57

These are hilarious!

When I list I explicitly say that manners matter. I don't need grovelling, but some acknowledgement that you're doing them a favour is nice.

In the OP's case I think "Since I haven't heard from you I'm assuming this is no longer of interest and it's now going to someone else" would be in order.

TitsalinaBumSquash · 08/01/2014 08:09

I stopped using Freecycle after people were royally taking the piss, we had;

WANTED - New Nintendo DS, with games, not pink! preferably in box Hmm

Wanted - running car, my son passed his test and can't afford one. Mot and tax preferable.

Then the lady that put a post saying she had found out she was expecting a baby any day, total shock, she had no stuff so she was after a pushchair, she wanted a Phil and Teds.

I messages her to say if it was an emergency I had a push chair, not designer brand but it was clean, good condition etc... I got a huge long message of abuse asking if I was a 'retard' and was I stupid, could I not read, she specially said P&T Angry

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