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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect people collecting items offered on Freecycle not to take the p*ss?

55 replies

alicet · 03/09/2007 11:19

OK so I have been having a BIG clearout this weekend in preparation for lo's arrival in a few weeks. Have offered up literally LOADS of stuff on Freecycle. Now I know this is mutually beneficial - I get to get rid of loads of stuff I no longer want without having to make a trip to the dump / charity shop and they get something for free. However AIBU to expect people to be polite and courteous about this and thank me for the items they receive?

Most people were lovely but I had the following...

Couple arrive 30 mins late. no apology, no thankyou for the items, just 'it took us ages to find it!'. Well thats why I gave a list of directions including my phone number love - why didn't you call and don't you think you should say thankyou?

Man repetitively mails me presuming items I have posted as taken are for him even though I have not told him anything of the sort. Then when I do offer him something he doesn't respond!

And there are more but this post is already too long. Am I expecting too much??? OK so I am tired, hormonal and therefore cranky so I am probably making a bit too much out of this but it does annoy me!

OP posts:
Hulababy · 03/09/2007 20:53

I haven't used it for ages as last time the 2 sets of people who said they'd show up never bothered and never responded to emails afterwards.

BettySpaghetti · 03/09/2007 20:55

YANBU.

I put something on freecycle the other day. A woman emailed and (bluntly and presumptuously, IMO) said "Yes please, can I have an address for pick up".

Has she been to pick it up -hell no! Has she emailed to let me know why -hell no!

Original poster
alicet · 03/09/2007 21:57

Well glad its not just me!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
alicet · 03/09/2007 22:02

I hate the people who when they respond already presume the item is theirs. To be honest that makes me give it to someone else anyway unless noone else replies and I'm desperate to get rid of it!!!!

And have to say that I have been shocked by the wanteds some people ask for. there was one girl who siad she was 'desperate for a microwave to heat up my baby's food, and mine has just broken' - OK so far - then she stated that she wanted it to be chrome!!! Umm - if you're desperate you should take it in any bloomin colour! I also once responded to a wanted post with an item and she didn't even have the courtesy to reply saying thanks but no thanks.

OK so I am going to stop ranting now - I need to go to bed without a ticking head tonight!

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 03/09/2007 22:06

I had a no-show the other week so I reported them to the organiser and they were Struck Off To be fair, the organiser had just sent an email asking for no-shows to be reported and I was p-ed off enough to do it...

weeonion · 03/09/2007 22:07

i actually love freeshare. i post up things to offer regularly and tbh - i have never been let down. i have been brought flowers, cards and even a gift for our LO. i make a point of bringing a thank you card and doing a followup thanks email.

the ludicrous wanted posts make me laugh tho' - notice there is not too many recived posts to follow them!!

BettySpaghetti · 03/09/2007 22:09

The best Wanted ad I've seen recently was for a video recorder for the womans little boy as " he has a video in his bedroom but keeps putting things in it and has broken two already".

WTF has he got a video in his bedroom anyway! If hes not old enough to realise he shouldn't put things in a video machine he certainly is too young to have one in his room.

Theclosetpagan · 03/09/2007 22:10

Our group mod starts blocking wanted ads if they seem too cheeky.

We have given loads of stuff away and so far people have been really nice. One couple who took our cot which they desperately needed bought me some chocolates when they came to collect.

Another time when our lawnmower died and we were broke I posted a "Wanted" ad and had 4 offers in 24 hours - and yes I did say "Thank you but we've been offered one now" to everyone who sent e-mails offering.

theamazingshrinkingmummy · 03/09/2007 22:11

Ours has a 'you can only post a wanted ad once a month per registered user' which helps a bit. But people are still taking the piss.

There is a lot of not bothering to arrange pickup after you've agreed to give someone something and you chase them up and they just either ignore you or say 'oh I changed my mind'. At this point I post a REOFFERED DUE TO XXX (dipwad's name goes here)'S TIMEWASTING SHINNANIGANS advert.

Mind you I have managed to freecycle some absolute shite over the years including manky cat pee'd carpet (apparently it's good weed matting), a table leg (someone who was going to a party as a pirate) and a stuffed parrot (strangely not to the same person).

daisydreams · 03/09/2007 22:18

I've backed off from FC because of variable responses. One woman took a washing machine 'for her daughter' but must have forgotten to give her it cos when I went to FC my nana's old WM she asked again. For her daughter . I then offered it to a man who came alone to collect and thank goodness dh and my uncle were there as he instructed them to lift it into the back of his 05 Astra telling them to watch the car ! Had to restrain uncle! Why reply if you cant collect or lift. Had the same with kiddies garden toys, woman responded, when i offered to her she couldn't tell me when she could collect. And some of the mediators are a bit jobsworth..... I'll shut up now. YANBU!!!

callmeovercautious · 03/09/2007 22:18

I have just joined and have offered several nice things so I posted a wanted today and have been offered my request already! I also responded to an offer and collected that today too.

I am a polite person and thank those that give me things and I expect the same from others. Unfortunately not everyone is the same

BettySpaghetti · 03/09/2007 22:27

Despite the negative stories I've posted there are a lot of positives too.

I posted a wanted ad recently for something (camping stove) and a lovely woman emailed me to say that we were welcome to borrow hers anytime we liked if we weren't succesful.

She was a woman who had responded to one of our offers in the past so maybe this was part of it?

theamazingshrinkingmummy · 04/09/2007 15:27

Ooh freecycle is fab! Today I posted this:

Subject - Offered: Horrible manky old carpet

It's HIDEOUS! It's been on a wall and has some liner stuck to it, but
would make excellent weed matting for an allotment. I guess it's
about ten feet long and ranges from between eight and ten feet tall
(in an apex - roof - shape).
Is so unattractive even weeds and snails will avoid it! Also some
slightly less grim but also only suitable for weedblocking because it
has tears in it, grey carpet, probably 3ft by 9 foot overall. Has to
go in next couple of days because it's making the driveway look like
someone was sick on it.
_.,.__

SIX PEOPLE WANT IT

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 04/09/2007 15:51

theamazingshrinkingmummy !!!

i love freecycle, had a few let downs but not everyone is nice sigh have helped my neighbor get rid of a buzzing tv (quite nice but needed soemthing doing to it), we've got rid of loads of baby stuff including moses baskets etc etc!

i would like to think its all gone to good homes but i bet some went to car boots! but ho hum such is life!!

did reply to an offer of a freezer, and its been an absolute lifesaver, we were on time and much appriciative of the giver!!!

Aero · 04/09/2007 16:28

I love FC - well, the idea of it anyway. I've used it to offer loads of unwanted stuff and most folk have been grateful. Only one person so far who didn't bother to show up.

I've also posted a few wanted emails. Today I've had a lovely response from a very kind person who is replacing her son's bed and has offered me his pine bed frame. We already have a mattress, but no frame and things are a bit tight atm to buy a new one for ds2 who's fast outgrowing his cot-bed.

We've also been lucky enough to receive a few things which others offered which have really helped us out. A bed for ds1 and a small sofa for our 'middle' room. These items will do us a turn and when we can afford new (if ever), then we'll pass them on to another needy freecycler

I wish FC had been around when our old bed frame went to the tip. I felt bad about that, but at the time there was no-one we knew who needed one!

Our wanted posts have now been limited too which is good as they do annoy you when the same people post wanted emails for items on a daily basis. Someone even posted the other day looking for free carpentry services!!!

flightattendant · 04/09/2007 16:47

TASM I am sitting here killing myself over your carpet ad!
Brilliant!

I had a bloke in a posh car and suit turn up for a breadmaker once. I just thought 'Buy your own'...

Then a woman chatted with me for ages on the phone, she wanted a mattress and we arranged a time. I waited in, rang her, someone answered, she was in the bath...she rang back a while later saying she was still trying to arrange transport, didn't seem at all concerned about wasting my time...and still wanted it! I told her I was sorry but thought she didn't as she hadn't turned up, and had offered it to someone nice instead

theamazingshrinkingmummy · 04/09/2007 17:12

Ooh FA - I like the 'offered it to someone nice instead' idea - might try that.

Funnily enough I gave away a breadmaker and lo and behold my ex-midwife turned up for it - so now she's got a bun in the oven too

AramintaVanHamstring · 04/09/2007 17:27

We have a fascinating 'Wanted' ad on our list at the moment.

A man has posted looking for a 'Gay Boy' for his daughter. If a Gay Boy isn't available then a Nintendo DS will do instead.

whomovedmychocolate · 04/09/2007 17:31

ROFL - I'm so tempted to ask where so I can go email him some gay boy pics

NineUnlikelyTales · 04/09/2007 17:32

PMSL

TequilaMockinBird · 04/09/2007 17:48

alicet - think I collected some freecycle things from you this weekend and although I'm pretty sure I did say thank you at the time, I'm going to say it again now ....

THANK YOU

They were beautiful by the way and actually suit me very well - will be perfect for the races

Original poster
alicet · 05/09/2007 19:32

You certainly did Tequila - you were lovely and thanked me and were one of the many people who were very appreciative! Hope you enjoy the hats!

Like I said earlier most people are great and I will continue to use it as most of the time its a fantastic idea. Just a few useless people who spoil it really.... Anyway rant over!

OP posts:
vole3 · 06/09/2007 09:43

YANBU.
I always take chocs or a bottle as a thank you.
Everyone I've given stuff to has at least said thanks - although some come across as more genuine IYKWIM

hatwoman · 06/09/2007 09:50

flight attendant - don;t be too harsh on the bloke isn a suit - well off people need to recycle/limit their consumption too!

hatwoman · 06/09/2007 09:54

Betty - interesting that someone offered to lend you one. I have often thought that some things - precisely like a camping stove - that are only used occasionally are things that could be shared. perhaps freecycle should extend into a lending/borrowing/pooling site too?

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