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Original poster

When you give something away for free, FOR FREE on Facebook, and they don't turn up and then ask if you can deliver. Quite lighthearted, although ragey too

114 replies

NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight · 17/12/2015 12:22

It's a cushion for an Ikea Poang chair. Nothing very exciting, but it seemed a shame for dh to take it to the tip when he went last weekend. So I offered it for free on the local Facebook. Straightaway, a woman said she wanted it. She could pick up today, which is my day off. She wasn't sure what time but it would definitely be morning after 10.30 and she'd let me know.

I just messaged her to ask what time to expect her. Quite a lot to do today what with it being my last free day off before Christmas and having a toddler with an extensive social schedule.

'Oh s*' she replies, 'I forgot. Can you deliver it to me? I'm in x location'.

Ffs! Grrr! No I bloody can't. It's the week before Christmas and x location is a good 10 miles away on the other side of town. Plus I'm giving it away for free. Dh was going to take it to the tip last weekend but instead it's been sitting in my hallway ever since.

Tell me your Facebook giving away stuff for free outrages. I need to know if I'm being a little bit irrational (8 months pregnant so hormones are doing funny things), or if my rage is justified.

And breathe.

OP posts:
cuntycowfacemonkey · 17/12/2015 16:31

"cash waiting" annoys the fuck out of me, don't know why.

ShebaShimmyShake · 17/12/2015 16:34

I don't mind people asking about the odd item but something about people asking to be gifted EVERYTHING for a new flat and so on annoys me. I'm probably being unreasonable, if people have it to give and don't mind then obviously it's none of my business. (Different if they then start complaining about colours or demanding delivery etc.) We all love a freebie but there's just something about an assumption that you'll get everything without paying that I find irritating.

Archer26 · 17/12/2015 16:37

I advertised a glass tv table on a few selling sites for free and got three messages quite quickly asking for it.

Arranged with the first woman for her collect it next day. Didn't turn up and never replied to messages (though i could see she had read them Angry)

Fine. Contacted 2nd person, really happy it was now available again, said she'd come at weekend. Never turned up or messaged me. Angry

So. Contacted third chap. Made it clear I'd been let down so would only commit to a time if he was definite he wanted it. He was adamant he'd collect it next week after work, gave me a time etc etc. Did he turn up? Did he heck!Angry

So sod you all because you're missing out on a quality probably tat as we were given it for free and I never liked it item of furniture. It's just languishing in the spare room now.

Archer26 · 17/12/2015 16:38

Oh my fave post this week was 'wanted: cheap Michael kors watch. Must be able to deliver'.

I wonder if she got any takers? Hmm

IamCarcass · 17/12/2015 16:50

Gas it led to a long conversation , the result of which the seller still failed to see why a nice car was irrelevant.

Not a freebie but almost ... Someone from the coast was looking for a house swap in London. She wanted the same no of bedrooms as she already had. Someone offered her a ground floor flat with garden which I thought was a great deal considering but no, she only wanted a house (I'm a Londoner I think they are the same thing). Couldn't quite believe that one. Thouugh I was already judgey as she said not in X borough and then listed 5 areas she was interested in, which were all in the aforementioned X borough.

freespiritsbadattitude · 17/12/2015 16:53

I love your story, moggle! That's what Freecycle is really for.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 17/12/2015 17:06

We all love a freebie but there's just something about an assumption that you'll get everything without paying that I find irritating

Quite Hmm

Someone wondered upthread about where these folk get their sense of entitlement from ... I realise it's only one thing, but I wonder if the apparent success of crowdfunding has anything to do with encouraging them?

SistersOfPercy · 17/12/2015 17:12

I was banned from my local Freecycle (such a rebel!)

There were wanted Ads several times a week from an elderly retired gent who was tinkering with watches in his spare time and he wanted any to keep his brain active. As far as I know his touching story gained him quite a few watches. He lived in a very very small village locally.

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled on a watch seller on ebay from the same village using the same eBay avatar of their dog. Imagine my surprise when I roughly added up his sales to hundreds a week. People were giving him watches, he was selling them straight on, more often than not they hadn't been fixed.

I posted a wanted myself, a 'Wanted, the truth about watch tinkerers'. People were just a bit angry that the old watch they thought they were donating to an old man were being systematically flogged on by a dealer. Despite the fact the group said all reselling must be declared it was me that was banned for pointing it out Grin

His business isn't doing so well now.

Flumplet · 17/12/2015 17:35

What is the matter with people?!! The sense of entitlement drives me absolutely bonkers!!

carrielou2007 · 17/12/2015 17:48

I'd bought a few Paw Patrol toys that are sold out everywhere and not the one dc 2 really wanted also sold out so put on local FB group. New in JL packaging with invoice saying 'anyone want these for what I paid or I can return them' pass in a bit of goodwill, a parent can get a toy they know is wanted etc all I've had all day 'will you take a tenner and will you deliver'!!! I could put them in eBay and make a quick buck but thought it would help someone out instead! After being bombarded with messages told a friend at school who nearly snapped my hand off for them and she's just picked them up Smile

Behooven · 17/12/2015 17:59

I don't have Facebook or Freecycle, some of these are Shock

I must admit to being a curmudgeon, if I saw a 'Need Everything' begging post I would send a link to Argos or something.

PiperChapstick · 17/12/2015 18:01

PrgPig type "photo editor free" into App Store and download the first one that comes up

PegsPigs · 17/12/2015 18:50

thanks Piper

LoisEinhorn · 17/12/2015 18:58

We offered a perfectly working car on freecycle and got asked what colour it was Hmm

PegsPigs · 17/12/2015 18:59

Christmas cheek!

When you give something away for free, FOR FREE on Facebook, and they don't turn up and then ask if you can deliver. Quite lighthearted, although ragey too
SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 17/12/2015 19:01

That's nice moggle. I think that's why people are prepared to be kind and give things away that could be sold etc., because they imagine that there might be someone out there who actually needs them and will really appreciate them Smile.

PiperChapstick · 17/12/2015 19:24

Pahahahaha Pegs Grin because people always buy 2 trees by accident!

sodonewithit · 17/12/2015 19:29

Next time I have to get rid of anything it's going to charity.

Tried to give away a tv stand in perfect condition that cost me a fortune. Wasted more than one evening waiting for someone to collect it. All no shows. Thankfully my MIL took it. I just didnt want to carry the ridiculously heavy thing down 3 floors to the dump.

Also just sold a desk this week. A cheap price for an expensive desk. Ages spent emailing buyers back and forth, sorting times for pick up, and again no show. Why do people do this? Not only are you wasting my time but your time. Have people seriously nothing better to do than mess folk around.

ShebaShimmyShake · 17/12/2015 19:35

It's the 'to deliver' that pisses me off. You don't get to dictate your convenience when you're not paying for it!

JapaneseSlipper · 17/12/2015 19:35

I don't do the "giving stuff away for free" thing because people don't take it seriously. I'd rather either take it to the charity shop, or if it's too big (don't have a car) I will put it on ebay for a really low price. Someone always buys it, and they always show up to collect it. Much easier. (Also, sometimes random things that I thought were worth nothing end up going for way more than I expected - bonus)

Binkybix · 17/12/2015 19:37

because people always buy 2 trees by accident!

I'm ashamed to say that I did exactly that!!

ShebaShimmyShake · 17/12/2015 19:39

The purpose of Freecycle is to keep good stuff out of landfills; it's an anti-waste initiative and the principle is grand. But there are too many people who think it's a consumer service where you are entitled to things for free, or a charity endeavour where the person with the biggest sob story wins.

Why do the sob stories piss me off so much?

JapaneseSlipper · 17/12/2015 19:40

twinkletoedelephant what a lovely story xx

freespiritsbadattitude · 17/12/2015 19:49

Re: the sob stories, my last Freecycle banned any kind of reason as to why you wanted the item. I think they all should otherwise it just gets ridiculous.

ShebaShimmyShake · 17/12/2015 19:51

My current Freecycle group has 'no sob stories' as part of the rules but it's constantly ignored and the admins don't say anything. It seems petty to bring it to their attention but it's annoying.