To think I should give up?

[Limpshade]

I'm having a clearout at home as we've recently downsized and my second DC is also growing out of her small baby things. I've recycled 90% of the clothes, shoes and books I'm getting rid of so I'm only donating the "best" stuff. I'm not interested in making any money from the baby items - bouncer, toys, unused bits and pieces, etc - so I've advertised them all on a local Facebook group for new parents wanting second-hand stuff for free.

The amount of bollocks I've had to put up with this week from some of these parents is astounding. Despite me clearly stating exactly where each one is to be collected from, in the case of one item I've had five different people all saying they want it and then getting affronted when I say where they've got to come to. One actually wrote, "Seeing as you are supposed to be helping me it's really off that you won't deliver it". One item was smaller than the rest and the mum said she couldn't get to me so I did offer to post it, to be met with "OK but I'm not paying for you to send it. You should pay for that OK."

I honestly didn't expect to be thanked (I'm getting this stuff, albeit nice stuff, out of my house too so it's mutually beneficial) but I didn't expect to be shat on about it by total strangers. Now I'm thinking it would just be easier to throw everything in a bin liner and send it to landfill.

OK I am being VU about that, I know. Some ideas please, wise Mumsnetters!

You will always get some people who are grateful, but other who want the free stuff to sell on eBay. Giving to a charity shop is the best option

Facebook selling sites are the spiritual home of the CF!

I gave up on them a long time ago. I would give your stuff to a refuge instead :)

I absolutely hate.... no, detest.... no, LOATHE Facebook marketplace. I gave up trying to sell stuff there years ago.

If I allow myself to think about this too much I get quite angry.

From being messed around with “can I pick it up next Thursday hun?” Thursday arrives and nobody picks up “sorry hun, my son is constipated, can I pick it up next Thursday” (true story).

To sob stories about why someone can’t afford the £2 I’m charging for an immaculate JoJo snowsuit, so I agree to give for free as I’m a sucker, and then they have the cheek to ask if I could please drop it to their house. Which, like an idiot, I do. Only to discover that they live in a much nicer house than me with a flash Mercedes in the driveway.

These are the 2 stories I remember but after being messed around countless times I decided to never sell/give away on there again.

eBay isn’t without its CF’s but you generally get a better price and I always demand payment prior to it being picked up. In fact, I usually insist on sending stuff provided it’s a reasonable size/weight as I cannot bear having to interact with buyers face to face.

My own view is when pushed one way, push back harder in the opposite direction! For me that would mean putting it on a sale sight and asking for a fee. You can donate the money to you favourite charity if you really do not want it.

Anyone expecting to not bother collecting just say I think someone else wants it and they can collect so bye.

Sometimes, when people are getting things for free they can not value the item, or, in this case turn into a right cheeky fucker!

The other option, as people say, is your local charity shop, who will most likely be delighted.

If you are giving away stuff for free you may as well donate to charity shops and do not bother with the nightmare of FB.

I have sold a couple things on FB and have good experiences, did have one awful experience when I bought a phone...