to think a lot of people take the piss on freecycle?

[elvenbread]

I've put quite a lot of stuff on over the last few days. One no show and no reply to emails. Another asked me for the titles of all the books I'm offering. I was quite clear it was two large bag full and it was a mix of genres and authors. It's around 40 books. Does she want me to sit and type them all out. Sod that. Last time I put stuff on people were even worse
No thanks etc. Aibu to think just because it's free you shouldn't take the piss.

Mine (not Freecycle, but a message board where people would also buy/sell/give away) had the following request:

I am need following items for FREE.

1. LCD TV (1 to 2 years old)
2. DVD Player
3. Music System
4. Laptop
5. Sofa
6. Wardrobe
7. Cycle
8. Matress
9. Household items
10. Working Table
11. Lamps
12. Washing Machine
13. Microwave Oven, Coffe maker, Mixer
14. Air Cooler ( Its very hot in my Appartment)

She also went thought all "for sale" adds and posted if she could get whatever was on sale for free.

I have also been put right off it but rude people. I have had some great experiences but the bad now outweighs the good.

The last thing I offered on Freecycle was a brand new without tags M&S snowsuit. It was an unwanted gift (well by the time we received it DS was 2 clothes sizes bigger so no use). I described it in great detail, down to the colours, patterning, style of snowsuit, that it had a hood and detachable gloves etc.
I got 3 people reply with "I'll take it!" nothing else, just that. I then got one saying he would take it, but only if he liked the photos I must send him by text (at my expense) by a certain time, and only if I would deliver it to him (very far from my home - I didn't have car so would have been 2 bus journeys for me) by a certain time the next day! He got a "Sorry item has gone to someone with manners." He replied with "I was doing you a favour! B*h!" Erm no you really were not - what you wanted was more hassle than Ebay! (I didn't reply just noted the name to avoid offering him anything in the future).
Finally I got one nice message, so I gave it to her. Manners matter.
I don't go on there much anymore.

The last time I offered anything I had some unworn nursing bras to get rid of. I'd bought the wrong size pack and never got around to returning it. I gave a time when they needed to be collected and an indication of our location and instructions not to contact me unless could collect then. I woman got in contact saying they were her size, she would be very grateful. Ok I said, see you at allocated time. Oh no, she said, I live on the other side of the borough. Could you please post to me and I will then send you the money for postage. I told her very clearly that this was not what I expected given my clear instructions and if I could be bothered to parcel it up and take to to the post office I'd sell the damn things on ebay.

Now I give to charity shops, use a local Facebook group (the lack of anonymity I thinks enforces standards more) or bin.

I've made some great friends through our local Freecycle. Including an organisation that provides art materials, knitting yarns, other handicraft stuff for woman who are in prison. A local church, several dedicated knitters, two lovely guys who took some unwanted photographic equipment, some ladies who raise funds for a children's charity. I'm still in touch with all of them

But of course, a few horrors. The woman who marched in, spotted the large bag of great condition clothes I'd offered, snarled 'Is that it?', snatched the bag up and marched out! People who reply to offers with just 'I want it' or even worse, don't actually say anything at all, just click 'Send'. And the no-responders - grrr. I had a great 'starter set' of microscopic slides, fixer, all the bits and pieces a student would need (bought them when I got an antique brass microscope and had ideas of impressing grandkids with the wonders of science !) I had THREE people eager to take it, I responded to each in turn, saying where I lived and to contact me for arranging pickup ... and never heard another thing from any of them.

I've given up offering books on Freecycle, because I know they're usually bought by EBayers. I now lug them off to the Oxfam book shop.

I use Facebook freecycle group and have recently given away cot bed mattress and a load boys clothes after a sort out, was shocked with the clothes of you still got the clothes and I'll have the clothes I replied saying yes I still have but normally it's polite to say please then got don't bother then replies.

People get narky when you can't be in at exactly 10am on a week day -sorry I work!!

Eventually both items went to different people who were truely grateful which is the idea.

I did get a child bike seat today which I collected as agreed and said thanks and have messaged her again to say thank you.I am due baby 2 in Nov so have been clearing out loads (spare room full junk) and admit sent husband to charity shop locally with boot full as couldn't face freecycle

I have used Freecycle a lot due to a major house refit and have had plenty of good experiences and grateful recipients. In fact i have two Freecyclers coming tomorrow to pick up.

BUT i do ignore the emails that aren't polite and those which request photographs/delivery.

There are Wanted ads on my local board at the moment for a fridge/frezer, washing machine, a upright piano and a mobility scooter!

I gave away a lot of stuff, and it was mostly positive. Although there was one guy who responded to every post who wanted everything. I think this type of Freecycler might resell stuff.

When I moved to Singapore I thought I might be able to pick up a few things in the same way I had given away stuff. It seems that people here don't like giving away things unless it's for a 'needy' family. The other things is that most of what is given away is the most useless, broken and generally rubbish crap what I don't think anyone in their right mind would actually want it. I gave up on the group pretty quickly.

Our Freecycle is ok - I've had mainly positive experiences, but its often so busy that posts get lost. I have just used gumtree and got rid of two things I had listed on Freecycle without success - both items got 10 emails within 5 minutes of listing, and both have gone this afternoon to lovely people who have driven miles to pick them up!!

as a younger mum of 15 i will rely heavily on others i admit it, so when i checked out classifieds and freecycle i thought id find stuff of use.
heres what i found "WANTED 30" TV MUST BE LCD CAN PICK UP WITHIN 1 MILE OF postcode"
"WANTED, MAMAS AND PAPAS COT MUST BE NEW MUST HAVE A NEW MATTRESS DELIVERY ONLY".. I mean, are these people for f--king real? id be grateful for a few vests and a pack of cheap bibs and these people are literally begging for expensive items they dont need. have they no shame?

i stopped giving things away on those groups when one day a few months ago i was advertising all my sons outgrown baby clothes all in like brand new condtion i didnt out pics up as had so much so said big bags fall so a woman simply says can i have pictures you know in case their crap i told her where to go.....

thats awful... no offence intended here and sorry i sound nasty or anything but if youre offered a big bag of baby clothes just have a look through it when you get home with it, IF anything is stained, dirty or broken just bin it and keep the decent stuff, no need to offend people!!

Oh I have mixed experiences of freecycle - some lovely people and some absolute chancers
I usually offer to deliver as I am a bit off the beaten track but often go to more densely populated areas ...
One I offered some glasses (pint mugs - bought in error for a business...) and said I'd deliver. The address was in a block of flats - rang the intercom and was told to come up - I carried the box with DD (about 1) in a sling up 4 flights of stairs...still had to wait outside the flat door and the healthy looking 20ish yo bloke who took them off me just said 'cheers'...
Another I was offering a play pen in need of new padding - someone asked for it for their first grandchild...a grandson - she gave a whole spiel (which actually I wasn't interested in) I delivered it to her -she obviously wasn't impressed with the condition . 6 months later I offered some Jazz & tap shoes suitable for a 6-7yo - someone asked for them for her granddaughter...it was only as I was dropping them off (in a shed outside - or I would have said something!) I realised it was the same woman ...
And the playpen would have gone in the skip...which pissed me off - with a bit of tape it would have done someone a turn but didn't have a resale value ...