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

[NotAWhaleOmeletteInSight]

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.

It's infuriating because it completely misses and actually inverts the point of Freecycle. It's supposed to be an anti-waste initiative to discourage rampant consumerism. Demonstrating that goods might be second hand and a bit worn but still perfectly serviceable so we don't need to get the latest, shiniest, newest version while filling up dumps with usable items.

When it's just seen as 'free stuff, gimme', especially 'free stuff, gimme, on my terms and to my specifications', it HAS become rampant consumerism. Arguably worse, if you aren't prepared to pay for anything but still think you're entitled to everything.

Well said, Sheba!

YANBU. I put a double mattress on Gumtree for free, it was about 18 months old, pretty much as new, memory foam topped, and even included a link in the description to the same mattress for sale from Dreams for about £300, so people could check out the specs.

Couple responded immediately, asked if they could take it, turned up within the hour, I opened the door and passed them the mattress, offering to help load it into the car. The woman poked it a few times and scrutinised the label before sneering 'it's not proper memory foam, I don't want it' before leaving without thanks or apology.

I was made to feel like I'D wasted THEIR time, when all the information was there for them - and it was fucking FREE.

And it was 'proper' memory foam, it just wasn't completely memory foam.

I can get the need everything for a flat bit to a certain extent. It was the must deliver and complete lack of please or thank you that got me.

Loki, who were the PM's from? Buyer A or other twats who Buyer A knows?

Well, that's partly a relief. I thought you were going to say lots of idiots saw the post and took Buyer A's side, which would be insane.

My Freecycle chancer is our admin so I've no recourse at all.

He placed a wanted for a particular kind of music; I answered as I was having a clear-out and mentioned that I could also lend him some extras to copy.

Despite weekly, then monthly reminders, he never returned the loans.

Last year he responded to an Offer I placed. I said Yes of course ... and you can bring back my discs when you come.

Silence.

Wanker.

I only lent them because (1) he's the admin so I thought he should get special treatment and (2) I was emotionally vulnerable at the time because miscarrying.

Wanker.

I am need following items for FREE.

1. LCD TV ( prefer to be 1 to 2 years old)

2. DVD Player

3. Music System

4. Laptop ( can be old)

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)

Please PM me if you have these things to give for FREE.

The Poang cushion is gone! The second person who wanted it picked it up when she said she would, and she messaged me when she was on her way, AND she said thank you. I'm still lying on the kitchen floor in a state of shock.

She's a mumsnetter lurker..?

Hehe, maybe. This wasn't the person who didn't turn up yesterday and inspired my original rage, this was the reserve.