CF or aibu

[furrybadger]

Busy redoing fencing around the front of my house, have taken old fence down and advertised it free for someone to have as no use to myself, someone messaged asking if it was still available, replied it was and gave address.

No reply from said person since they messaged at 10am this morning so assumed they didn’t want it. Partner has just walked in the house asking if I’d arranged for someone to get the wood as there is some random person that has let them self into our property and is chopping up the old fence.

I’ve looked and it is the same person who said they wanted it, but is it not common courtesy to ask if its okay to collect now ? And then actually knock and let the person know that you are here to collect instead of just letting yourself into someone’s private property and just help yourself

Aibu ?

Possibility that they took your reply with address as confirmation and when they arrived, saw it outside and assumed you weren't home and left it out for them?

Of course they could have knocked though to find out, and replied!

Both cars are on the drive so they would have known we were home, just think it’s a bit cheeky that they’ve let themselves into private property and had no intention of letting me know

You are right but at least you got rid of your old fencing.

Why do you keep saying ‘let them self in’ - do you have ten foot gates at the front?

It's odd but I really wouldn't be able to work myself up about it. It's not like he let himself into your house.

Meh. You wanted it gone, it's gone. I couldn't get too het up about it. At least they turned up. The amount of time wasters I've had from Freecycle/gumtree that ask for something then never show up is ridiculous.

Maybe they didn't want to bother you since you already said they could have it?

I initially put YANBU but on reflection, i’m not sure. When I was offered some moving boxes, they were just left outside of the person’s house so maybe some people just do that. If your person has had this experience in the past then maybe they thought you were like that too. Just saying to put across another viewpoint.

Once I went to collect a slide as arranged and it had been left down a side ally. I knocked tinker then know I was taking it and they said "ok" and we polite, but I could tell they were thinking "why knock, just take it!"

Maybe they just wanted bother you as little as possible

Unless you were storing it indoors and they've actually let themselves into your house and are currently chopping it up in your dining room, then I wouldn't really be bothered. I got rid of something on Freecycle today, and I thought I might be out so left it on the front lawn - they would have seen it when they came to the door. Wouldn't have bothered me if they just took it without word as I'm always pleased when people turn up and I can get rid of something. I know they're getting something for free, but equally they're saving you/me a trip to the tip, so great all round.