CF when giving stuff away for free!

[bingbangbing]

AIBU to think people are even ruder when you're giving stuff away?

I have a large piece of antique furniture. No use for it anymore but it would be a shame to send it to the tip. Not worth anything really either.

I've had two people not bother turning up and two think it would go in the back of their car. The second seemed to think I was going to help her in a futile attempt to stuff it in her tiny car. Got quite arsey when I wouldn't.

These are the ones I let near my house- another sent me "why haven't you replied - can see you're online. Can I come now?"

Really?

I put stuff on a local FB group and people seem really nice. I think it's not a very big area really so people tend to know one another as friends of friends, which stops much of the fuckwittery.

That said, I do tend to say what sort of car it will go in, for larger items.

I usually ask what vehicle they have ... if they actually answer the question that's a good starting point! Had very few no shows over the years as I've always engaged them in email conversation first. Cheekiest people are on Facebook. They assume first come first served. Not here! I'll choose the person who has transport/can collect at my convenience etc. There's one person locally who bids for everything, I'm sure she has a stall somewhere! Though in all honesty if I'm getting rid of something I don't care if people sell on.

I'm in the UK and our local tip has a section you can put stuff and they have a little shop on site called re-use where they sell these items and the money goes to charity! It's great idea!

Tell a lie, only 10% of the sales goes to charity, the rest goes to the running of the county's recycling centres (of which our one is actually pretty brilliant, so fair play!).

Our local city has an Oxfam that you can drive thru & people remove stuff from your boot. It helpful for the OP but pretty cool!

@bingbangbing Oh yeah YANBU at all.

People who seek out/take freebies are more likely (though not in EVERY case) to be cheeky fuckers in other departments too. Probably cadge money and various items off people, and never return it, (and act arsey when they're asked!)

They probably also beg lifts off people and never offer petrol money, and expect people to go 5-10 miles out of their way to pick them up/drop them off.

They probably also palm their kids off onto people, and never pick them up when they're meant to.

Yep, this same type is very likely to be the cheeky fucker's on facebook marketplace!

Ooooops, superfluous apostrophe on 'cheeky fuckers' !!!

We have a local Freecycle site that I've had lots of success with in both directions. There have been a few funny incidents however -

One woman came to take a jogging buggy. It was a very expensive model, in pretty good shape. I was very clear on the ad that this was specifically for running and a big item. When she arrived she had a box of chocs to say thank you. She then decided she would come back later in the car. So more waiting in for me! I sat down with a cup of tea and opened the chocs. She messaged later on to say she had changed her mind as she wanted a lightweight for going around the shops. However she had decided I could keep the chocolates. Lucky...

Another lady I've noticed jumps on every single thing on the page. She either doesn't show up or has a giant warehouse. One person posted a request for a large flat screen TV for a local charity. A few offers came back - this lady (not involved with the charity) replied individually "Ill take this". The cheek! She did get one of them as the charity only wanted one and got plenty of offers. A week later this lady was posting asking for another TV as this one was broken. She got an offer which she replied "no thanks, that's the same size as this and I am looking for something bigger"

oh the joys of Facebook selling! I got scammed good and proper not so long ago. I put a piece of furniture up for free, which was decent quality and as I was keen to try and help someone either starting out on their own, or with financial problems, tried to weed out the people that I thought would deserve it. Lady messaged me, and told me the story of how they are a family with six children, struggling for furniture, having only just relocated to the area etc etc.... So I decided to let her have it. She turns up with a huge van (I really should have sussed her out by this stage) and took it away. Next day, I see my item being advertised with a hefty price tag attached to it. Turns out she is a professional buyer and seller!

Most charities will only take things in an “immediately saleable “ condition. You would have to find one who is collecting to pass the item to a family in need rather than who wants to sell it.

Our local Sally Army doesn't put conditions on pick ups they just ask what it is, how big, how much stuff etc. I have given them loads of stuff in last couple of months as gave up on selling pages. All stuff in very good condition or new yet no takers for even lowest prices. Waste of time, people want things for nothing.

I find free cycle attracts the cf's.
Id just moved into a new place that had a washing machine and tumble dryer already, I didn't want them so put on free cycle collection only and had loads of messages asking would I deliver - no I only have a mini. The best reply was someone offering to take them if I paid for a courier to deliver to him! Cheeky or what!

Talking of tip finds though, when I was getting rid of old carpet at our tip someone had left a vintage 1950s record player which I popped in my boot (checked with staff first.) It worked and sold it for £90 on ebay. 😉

I sold two beds on eBay a couple of years ago. A woman turned up and then tried to bargain with me after I had turned several other people away. She then expected me to carry it all out and help her tie it onto her car, moaned when it wouldn't fit and was generally rude.
I gave a BBQ away last year and someone said they'd pick it up but came round when I was out (I had left it on the drive), decided it wouldn't fit in the car and drove off without letting me know they didn't want it. Some people are so rude.

I have also left stuff on the street when moving house and it's been gone within an hour.

People are twats. I bidded on and won on a desk which was described as flat pack. I arrived at their address to be confronted with a massive constructed desk. In my small car.

The sellers generously offered to cancel the sale

They didn't even offer money for the wasted petrol. Twats.

The type of people who don't turn up, are rude or demanding are probably the sort who make a GP appointment, don't turn up and don't ring to cancel. Things that are "free" aren't valued by some.

@Highonpotandused

Was there not a photo of the desk on ebay? (That you say was advertised as flat-pack.)

Tried that, wanted me to wait in all day on a week day.

Which shop? BHF have twice come to us on a Saturday morning. It might depend where you live though I suppose.

@TigerOnATrain - yes, there was a picture of the desk, but as they had a couple for sale, I thought that they were selling the flat pack one.

Next time I will be super thorough.

@Highonpotandused

Oh I see.

How annoying eh?

British heart Foundation give you a 3 hr slot and the driver will call you to let you know what time he will be coming. Maybe give them a try?

Sofas and beds are nightmares, it seems that anyone looking for a free or second hand one, is not going to hire a van to move it and are generally quite flaky.

Smaller items seem to be fine.

We put our old caravan on e-bay for 99p. Were very clear that there was a small amount of damp in the front, and that it was very old) but was otherwise in good order (all the electrics work etc)

Had umpteen bids. (Top one £200) Accepted one for £100 as he could take it the next day.

We'd previously tried to give it away and had no takers. You could try that.

people are so cheeky - always, whenever I advertise something as free on facebook there's at least one who wants me to deliver... errr no. I don't even bother replying now and just block them

I had this a few weeks ago, listed a sideboard as I had bought a new one, it wasn’t in perfect condition but usable for someone possibly moving into their first home or short of cash. Listed it for free on condition it was collected that day and 2 people would come collect it. The amount of people asking me if I could hold onto it for a week, if I could deliver and asking for more pictures and measurements. In the end I broke it up and took it to the tip.