To never attempt to sell anything online ever again?!

[MessyHouse91]

Just trying to sell a perfectly functional washer dryer. I was hoping it'd save me a trip to the tip and I might get £40 for it.

I've had someone ask me to take the listing down only to decide 3 days later they don't have the money.
I had someone coming to pick it up on Saturday, let me know late afternoon they would come on Sunday, then not turn up on Sunday! (and then ask if they could come next Saturday!)
I had at least 4 people ask if they could have it cheaper than listed and could I deliver (no, the whole point was that I wouldn't have to lug it into the car)
Someone asked if they could have it for half of what I wanted, I said yes but only if it's gone today, who proceeded to have a go at me because it's unreasonable to ask for it gone today as she only drives a 5 seater.
Someone called because they were interested but insisted I guarantee it for 3 months (no, I'm not Currys).
Someone called and they were horrified that I tried to sell it but a buyer isn't able to try it out first (I explained that it is integrated and it was taken out last week and I wasn't prepared to replumb the bloody thing back in)

Meanwhile the bloody thing has been sat in my kitchen for a week!

As I being unreasonable and grabby? (It works great, it's a 2 in 1 and I advertised for £50 but will negotiate). Do people just get weird as soon as they're buying something? And, as a side note, does anyone know of any charities that will come and pick it up - id rather know someone in need has it that let it go for a tenner.

Although as I was explaining this to my friend she told me about a friend who was selling a washer, had someone come to try it out, then went to get the money out of his car but just drove away with his clean washing at least I've not encountered him!

I've given up selling stuff now, it all just goes to charity/tip, it's too much stress dealing with people like you describe.
See if a local charity will collect it, bhf will collect. We've got a local church based one which supplies furniture to families in need, maybe see if you've got one similar.

It depends how much you need the money but I can’t be arsed with this nonsense. I just give things away on Freegle where (in my area at least) people are pretty reasonable and I feel the stuff is going to a good home

People can be quite flakey. large white goods are often more hassle then it's worth to sell. You could always leave it out for the rag and bone man to collect?

Best,
M.JD

When I was clearing out my mum's house some years ago, British Heart Foundation took electric donations and picked up free of charge.

I found the best way of getting rid of stuff is to stick it on eBay with a £1 BIN
Seemed to wheedle out the chancers.

DH had one the other day offer him £50 for his £200 Barbour coat. Told them they had bought the belt for that

Last time I had some things to get rid of I advertised them for free (as selling is a pain as you say). The old couple that came to collect them were extremely rude and blunt, and I didn't get a thank you despite willingly lifting and putting said heavy (furniture) items into their car. Absolute rude twats You literally can't win either way!

I gave up selling or giving things away on Freecycle because of rude piss-takers. It's time-consuming, frustrating and makes me hate people generally.

I always arrange collection from BHF for electricals.

Yep selling online is a pain. I wrote on my listing "no offers" as I was already selling it cheaper than lots of other people (collection only as i can't post so thought it's best to list it abit cheaper) yet people still make offers, some even half the price! Also had someone collect something not to long ago and called me saying they were at the shop next to my house literally 5 minutes away but was lost. I gave them good instructions. They arrived an hour and a half later. Another wanted me to hold something for them for 3 weeks as that's when they got paid, um no!

I have to agree and I more or less only sell on eBay now. That way they are committed to the sale (although there is the occasional idiot in there too). It's so hard getting rid of stuff especially when the rubbish collections /tip opening times are getting reduced all over the country. And the charities are picky too!!

I once had a woman mess me around for days over picking up some bits I had put on Freegle, she eventually turned up at around 10.30 at night and her husband had a go at ME because he had driven half way around the M25 to pick up my bits of "tat".

On the other end of the scale though, a couple with a new born baby came to collect my (pristine) BF rocking chair and stool. I just wanted it out of the way and they virtually wept with joy at my feet. I could have sold it for £££ but wanted to avoid the kind of ridiculous situations described previously.

In my area no one turns up even to collect free packs of unopened nappies, formula, new tagged clothing. They say they want it but never turn up.

Larger items are really hard to shift if they don't fit in people's cars. I was quoted by at least 4 'man with a van' type companies in excess of £150 to collect a used Ikea shelving unit from the road behind me .

@venys the guy who didn't turn up last weekend was the ebay winner! When I looked at opening an unpaid item case it looks like they'll side with him as he's said he'll collect next weekend. I don't want to lose another weekend to him saying he'll turn up and messaging me 15 minutes before he was due to arrive!

@isaulte I'd be happy to give it away but a situation like what you described it what puts me off listing on Freegle or similar. I'd much rather someone who really needs it has it but you can't always guarantee that!

Omfg people are the worst. Do you have a local community furniture project (for young people leaving care, homeless people etc)?
We have the same with our local fb 'for sale or free' group, folk don't turn up half the time and can be more trouble than they're worth.

I mean this sort of thing: www.google.co.uk/search?q=council+referral+for+furniture+shop&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&ei=sZ-JWdf5KsPO8geMh4HADQ

@insurmuntable thank you that was exactly the sort of thing I was looking for!

I second the British heart foundation! They came to collect our sofa, after being let down by 5 different people on freecycle.

Someone actually text me to say she was on the way and then just never turned up and wouldn't reply to texts or answer the phone.

Baffling that people act so rude and ungrateful when you're actually giving stuff away

A few years ago when I was really on my knees I tried to sell a garnet and diamond ring and a pale blue sapphire and diamond ring that had belonged to family members but that i never wore.

i had someone offer to buy them, then e-mail me with a sob story about how they had recently discovered they had a child, who was about to turn 18 but they (the purchaser) worked on the oil rigs and needed me to send the rings to their child in good faith to reach them by their birthday and the purchaser would then give me cash for them in a few months time as they did not have a UK-based bank account.

When I said I did not feel comfortable with that I was met with such a range of abuse and threats that I went to the police.

That's why I will never do online selling again.

(belonged to family members through whom I had inherited I should clarify).

White goods we leave outside and they magically disappear after a few days. (local traveller family trawl neighbour with a van and take these things).

Otherwise I would call the council, they offer a collection service for a small fee. Saves a run to the tip.

YANBU to be annoyed at being messed about by these twits. I understand why you don't want to put it on Freecycle as there is a load of chancers on there.. Some charities do take electrical goods and pick them up. You could try these if you have no further luck selling.

YANBU. I've had a woman mess me about for 2 months over my electric cooker. She begged me not to put it on gumtree or FB. Then when she was due to pick it up she told me she was short of money, so could she come next month. I said yes (purely because she was the friend of a friend). Next month, she still was a bit broke and could she wait another month. I said yes. Never heard from her again. It went on Gumtree yesterday.

@Minky such a shame for it to go to the tip though when somebody might be glad to have it!

Definitely good idea calling BHF though! If no luck today I'll call first thing.

Here are a few charities that collect:

www.bhf.org.uk/shop/donating-goods
www.emmaus.org.uk/shop/donate_goods
www.lighthousefurniture.org/collections.html

This could be my post!

We've just moved and brought our old washer to sell. We moved on the 21st and I stupidly let it go to the first person and said she could pick it up slightly later. Three weeks and three missed dates later she asked if I had a partner to help 'her fella' but wouldn't give an exact day met alone time as he was still 'in kip. Lol'.

I blocked her and relisted it. Local chap asked for it and then just before delivery asked me to drop by a fiver as he needed it for fuel money. People take the piss!!!