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Original poster

To wonder if this is the most greedy Freecycle post ever

150 replies

Coconuthusk · 12/03/2018 11:31

I went on to offer an item today. Saw the following post (minus the text speak/spelling errors):

Wanted: TV (so far so good)
Must be in excellent condition (OK). I only want a decent make eg Samsung (Hmmm). Must have 4 sockets (not sure what this means) and be 42" minimum although bigger would be better (isn't it always). I want black but would accept silver (very generous I'm sure). Send pictures and your telephone number for consideration and I will contact you if I will take it. I need it by the weekend so if I can't have it by then don't email me (wow!). I can collect but would prefer delivery (as if anyone would even respond to this!).

OP posts:
KatharinaRosalie · 12/03/2018 14:51

I saved this from some years ago:

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.

SluttyButty · 12/03/2018 15:05

We’ve got one like that on our local free fb page. He seems to be kitting out his entire house and never says please at the end Confused

People have commented about his wants and needs and lack of manners, yet he still persists and because he doesn’t drive he wants everything delivered 🙄

LakieLady · 12/03/2018 15:39

I once gave away a decent TV for free and saw it advertised for £50 the next day!!! It sold as well!!!

Someone local to me supplements his income by getting white goods for free from freegle/freecycle and then selling them on Gumtree etc. CF.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 12/03/2018 16:07

Our Freegle regularly has requests for games platforms, and the depths of CF-ery can be measured by the number of games they require.

alibubbles · 12/03/2018 16:15

I also got ostracised when I posted, I will only give to polite requests and some git replied, who do you think you are - the Queen mum!

picklemepopcorn · 12/03/2018 16:18

Ah, it's not real, it's a spy code.

Falconhoof1 · 12/03/2018 16:22

I offered 2 breast pumps for free, one manual and one electric. Women comes to get one of them and I ask which one she wanted. She just picked both up and left without so much as a thank you. I should have stopped her but I was in shock!

Drivemecrazy1974 · 12/03/2018 16:27

I've never had a problem with a person selling on something they've got from me on Freecycle. The way I look at it is if they're desperate for the money and it's more useful to them than the item, fair play. I'd like to think I helped them...

Atthebottomofthesea · 12/03/2018 17:21

drive I'm a bit on the fence about selling on. It is no longer my item so up to them really but I have been giving some things away recently that I have stated that they are being given away to be used.

Most of the pages I am on have a big thing about selling on and hunt people down and then 'name and shame' it gets a bit tiresome. They also have a big thing about having to be in desperate need in order to get something, quite happy to take things from those more fortunate though.

MyKingdomForBrie · 12/03/2018 18:40

Just been on my local group and all the requests seem reasonable and polite, very disappointed! Grin

Peartree17 · 12/03/2018 18:55

Well, I suppose it's the 'cycle' bit of Freecycle that I feel is not being honoured if people are taking things to sell on. When it started, it seemed to be more about a mutually-supportive community that was trying to 'change the world, one gift at a time' (a slogan I remember!) and reduce consumerism and waste. So I hand on something I no longer need or use, that person does the same. People would come to your house to collect, you'd have a bit of a chat, maybe they'd even bring a token something to thank you for the item, and there was a pleasantness about it all. So, yes, rationally I get that once I"ve handed over the item, it's no longer mine and the recipient is absolutely free and entitled to do what they wish with it; but emotionally, I don't feel that selling on is in the spirit of reciprocity that underpinned Freecycle 15 years ago! I know, I sound like an old hippy...

frasier · 12/03/2018 19:09

So entitled!

My SIL once rang up when DH was away with work and asked for a laptop. I was a bit taken aback. I thought maybe DH had said something and hadn't mentioned it so I said speak to DH when he was back.

He had no idea what she was talking about.

Turns out SIL had split up from her boyfriend and when he left he had taken her laptop and so MIL had suggested that she ask her to buy her a new one because we were "the rich relatives".

Shock
Flantastico · 12/03/2018 19:10

Here is a screenshot of my absolute favourite 'wanted' request Grin

To wonder if this is the most greedy Freecycle post ever
CatchingBabies · 12/03/2018 19:17

Mine once had a request for a working jet ski, I just hope it was a joke.

Lucyccfc · 12/03/2018 19:25

I advertised my blinds from my conservatory on a free FB site. Good condition, but did need a clean.

Anyway, offered to the first, ver polite person who asked. 2 minutes later another girl asked for them and I apologised and said they had been taken. Next minute, her mother posts a tirade of abuse to me about me being a money-grabbing bitch, a selfish cow who only cares about herself! I was flabbergasted.

I politely explained that the other lady asked first and I was giving them away for free. I received another load of abuse. My last post before I blocked her was basically telling her to f@@k off and sort her attitude out.

Onesmallstepforaman · 12/03/2018 19:31

I've taken stuff to the community furniture store here. They were pleased to get it, and they sell it on to those that want it at a reasonable price.

UsedtobeFeckless · 12/03/2018 19:46

To be fair it's not ALL cheeky fuckery - work got rid of a load of huge house plants that l rescued and then - not having a huge house to put them in - stuck on Freecycle. The lady who picked them up came back next day with a veg box from her allotment and some very nice marmalade!

I did get lots of "lll have it" posts, though - l only considered the ones with actual punctuation! Grin

ginghamstarfish · 12/03/2018 19:53

I don't bother with putting anything on Freecycle. Too many greedy bastards and I wonder how much of the stuff they get is then sold on. Charity shops are far better.

thecatsarecrazy · 12/03/2018 20:04

I really hate the posts on facebook where they ask for everything to kit out a house free or cheap. Fair enough people might have a spare kettle or a microwave that's seen better days they are happy to get rid of. Its when they start being fussy over colour of sofa or size of t.v and want pictures. I was giving away hamster bedding and food once as the little bugger had died and they wanted pictures.

dotdotdotmustdash · 12/03/2018 20:11

We responded to an ad for a free full-size guitar that wasn't used as it was far too big for his children.

Obviously, when we went to collect it we took along our old half-size guitar as it was far too small for our children!

thecatsarecrazy · 12/03/2018 20:18

A woman on our local " Don't just bin it " page was always asking for stuff for her "disabled" partner. She would be on there every other week asking for stuff from a sun umbrella to getting people to come and tidy up the land near where they live so he can sit outside. Free heaters for her house as he was cold, she set up a just giving page because she wanted to get him a hot tub. The list goes on. The final straw was one christmas she asked people if they could donate food so she could invite the needy round for a christmas dinner. Christmas day comes and she posts pictures of her and her old man but no guests.. people found out about it and she was full of excuses. She posts pictures of her front room on f.b saying how lucky they are to have such a lovely home that cost them very little. Yes because she got it for nowt off people.

HisBetterHalf · 12/03/2018 20:55

Oooo I want one too 😀

KakunaRattata · 12/03/2018 22:29

I got sick of ours due to time wasters. There was a fabulous email only group round here for swaps, the amount of things that got swapped for plants, food, drink, jobs etc on there was lovely but that changed when it got taken over and people were selling stuff on it instead. I rarely bother giving to anyone but charity shops now due to bad manners and waiting in for people who don't show. Diana I did give away a bathroom suite on there though!

paranoidpammywhammy2 · 12/03/2018 23:21

I have used freecycle and been pleased with it.

I did get a bit annoyed on behalf of my in-laws old washing machine - that I'd listed and they'd be able to deliver if close by and on a certain day.

The people who wanted it tried to get the in-laws to drop it off, fit it and take a load of their rubbish, along with their broken washing machine to the local dump!

pawpatrolearworm · 12/03/2018 23:47

and thought it was for people generously donating their old items

While people often like to think they are being kind and generous, in reality the vast majority are just trying to get rid of their old junk without the bother of taking it somewhere to dispose of it.

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