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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be pissed off at Freecycle

43 replies

lolalament · 26/04/2017 22:07

I'm moving house, so trying to give away things I can't take with me. These are good things - amongst others I've got a washing machine, fridge, hoover, chairs etc

So far, I've had one person say they'll come tomorrow and then turn up this afternoon. That's a bit awkward as I was out, but they agreed to wait till I was back.
One person agreed a time then didn't turn up.
One person agreed a convenient time then changed their mind and said they'd come next week - even though I said in the advert that things had to go by Sunday.
One person has straight away asked if they can collect next week.

And many replies don't use capital letters, or even say please or thank you!

OP posts:

mummabubs · 27/04/2017 08:03

This is why I no longer use Gumtree. (Not freecycle I appreciate!) I was selling a brand new pair of GHD straighteners... had people offer one price and arrange a time to collect, them said unless I accepted a lower price they wouldn't come... at least six people who arranged a time to come and collect them (so I waited in each time) and then never turned up. - Three of these (three!!) then messaged days later to say they had a relative suddenly admitted to hospital just before they were due to come over

In the end I gave up after 12+ supposed sales of the GHDs and put them on eBay. Turns out I got more money than anyone had offered me on gumtree and the person paid immediately! I also completely get what you mean re: no capital letters or gratitudes, it really grates on me!!!

EssentialHummus · 27/04/2017 08:04

I found this out on my road recently, was absolutely chuffed.

EssentialHummus · 27/04/2017 08:05

Whoops!

Twinkletowedelephant · 27/04/2017 08:11

I have up when i found the things i gave away to a family in desperate need .....On the car boot stall 4 down from me

ShotsFired · 27/04/2017 08:13

I often give stuff away on a FB group (gave up with FC) and make a big point of telling people to let me know what day works for them, as I can just leave stuff out in a sheltered spot I have on the morning. I genuinely don't mind what day they want.

I would estimate that I have to follow up about 85% of all collections when they don't turn up; and they have always "forgotten". If you want the fucking thing, why wouldn't you remember, esp give you picked the date to pick it up!?

pansydePotter · 27/04/2017 08:16

I too had bad experiences with freecycle but just recently I have put about 10 different things on FreelyWheelie. Now you would think it was the same community but I have had so many uplifting experiences on this site. People turning up when they say they will and being grateful. Maybe try that if it operates in your area.

TawnyPippit · 27/04/2017 08:30

We may just have been lucky, but just as a counter balance we have never had any bad experiences on Freecycle. We've probably Freecycled 40-50 things over the last few years. I suspect some things were taken to be sold on but as I CBA'd to do it myself, I've got no problems with people who did that.

A couple of people have been a bit flaky about turning up but never anything majorly disruptive. We tend to say collection within this window and if they don't turn up say there is one more chance and then we will go tot he next on the list (even if there isn't a list!). One person queried several times if there was a part missing from a car seat, but we were quite firm on the fact that there wasn't and that was it.

On the flip side we have had loads of really good experiences - people with really interesting reasons for wanting things. Our old IKEA bookcase went to someone who was the chief statistician for some sporting event - can't remember if it was Premier League or a major cricket event, who filled up loads of identical notebooks very quickly and needed somewhere to store them! Someone had a sister coming over from South Africa to stay for 4 months with a baby and a toddler and was trying to get some basics together so her sister didn't have to bring them - she then re-freecycled them 6 months later. We gave an outdoor toy to a playgroup (one of those little tykes cars), and got chatting with them about what they needed and subsequently gave them lots of outgrown toys of the DCs.

Also had a couple of really nice emails, including one which was so thoughtful and grateful (for some old baby stuff) I can still remember it. Someone once gave us a pot of homemade jam and a slightly dodgy looking youth who came to take away a v old amp of DHs gave us a bar of Green & Black's chocolate! All of those made us feel really good about the service.

This is in London, mixed area,.

CountMagnus · 27/04/2017 09:17

When I first used Freecycle about 12 years ago people gave you a token thank you, like some flowers from the garden or a pack of biscuits. Now it's all "can u delivr" and "car wanted, must have MOT and good tyres".

I switched to our local Freegle group, screen out the abrupt demands and people who always ask for everything and go with the polite requests - they are much more reliable about turning up.

Kokusai · 27/04/2017 09:23

I've given away loads on free cycle, in the 'old days' it used to be great. I've given away a working iMac, skis, matching 2 and 3 seater sofa amoungst other things.

But people just got so fucking shit! Losing about coming so you wait in and they don't turn up. Sending begging emails despite an explicit request not to (I only want to know when you will collect it) and the interface is terrible as well.

EssentialHummus · 27/04/2017 09:34

I'd really like Freecycle to start adding metrics for turning up and number of items collected, visible to all.

BarbaraofSeville · 27/04/2017 10:02

I've seen it said on here that if you want to give things away, selling it collection only for 99p buy it now on ebay often attracts more co-operative, reliable collectors than Freecycle.

It's up to you whether you bother to ask for the 99 p and I would suggest explaining what you are doing (wanting to give away but aren't on Freecycle) so people know that it's not a con, or too good to be true etc.

theshitcollector · 27/04/2017 10:17

I think perhaps it depends where you are- I've used Freecycle to get rid of quite a few bulky items that I thought I would otherwise have had to pay to get rid. Most of the time people have turned up when they said they would and been really pleasant and grateful. I do always ask for a phone number to call to make collection arrangements and don't offer to anyone who doesn't leave one- so I suspect that rules out some of the time wasters.

I have had a few loony requests (can I deliver to somewhere 10 miles away, do I have it in a different colour etc ). My personal favourite was the person who asked if the fridge (advertised as old and a bit scratched but in full working order) was new. They got quite shirty when I said not and said they would not want to use a fridge that had had someone else's food in, apparently that would be gross.

The thing that irritates me the most though is the people who clearly want to sell the stuff on but make up stories about why they need it. It rather gives the game away when they turn up to collect in a white van with a selection of similar items in the back already.

SistersOfPercy · 27/04/2017 10:38

I gave up with Freecycle and the FB Free groups. It's 90% wanted followed by the odd genuine add and 30 comments of 'me pls' or 'send address'.

By far the easiest I found is to list on eBay, £1 BIN to cover your fees. You find people are browsing eBay with intent to buy rather than what they can bag for free.

fluffywuffydoda · 27/04/2017 10:42

Put the items outside your house with a sign saying "free", that might just shift them.

Annoying though when people mess you about, hope you manage to get rid of it all before Sunday.

Gobbolinocat · 27/04/2017 10:48

Sorry you had this experience op, I do think when we give things away we can be slightly poe faced about it....but also the people collecting are doing you a favour in return....ie you dont have to clear the items yourself.

I have been using FC for a good ten years now as giver and taker and thankfully only had a few dodgy experiences. As a taker I have been given incredible stuff - toys, clothes, loads of furniture that has saved us so much money. However some stuff has been in such bad condition that we have had to take it straight to the tip!

As a giver its been enormously helpful to have people come and take large items from us - eg pine wardrobe..when we can get on with other stuff to do. Most stuff thats small I leave outside now as well so I dont have to wait in.

It really is a too way street. I get annoyed at people who want large items taken but dislike you asking for dimensions when you may even have to hire a vehicle, check space etc.

Again when you have a lot of stuff to give away it can be practicle to let the person who is there at the door take it ( if no one has asked for it and said they will collect!) As a taker people have often said " would you like x y and z"./

I guess my point is - its a two way street and the more you use it the more you get a feel for those who are serious about collecting.

Gobbolinocat · 27/04/2017 10:50

I also do not care if people want to go on and sell the stuff. A few items that are treasured I do mind, as I could sell myself - but mostly once you give something away you give it away. I cant imagine people who do sell stuff are enormously wealthy!

EineKleine · 27/04/2017 11:19

I agree with SistersofPercy, I get on much better listing on ebay for a nominal amount. People generally turn up when they say they will and are pleased to get a bargain.

arkestra · 27/04/2017 19:31

I used to have loads of flakiness off Freecycle responders.

My advice is to ask, in your message, for when people might be able to pick up.

Then simply ignore anyone who doesn't mention availability in their reply.

Saying they don't know is fine - what you want to eliminate is the people who aren't serious enough about taking your item to read your message.

Simply doing that has drastically improved my take-up rate.

I first saw this posted as advice on my local Freecycle list. I'm not sure why it makes such a huge difference. Possibly a lot of people fancy the vague idea of something free but never have any real intention of picking things up - and whether they bother to read your post is a good way to distinguish this?

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