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Original poster

Can I have x for free?

133 replies

PlinkiePlonk · 08/05/2020 10:50

I understand that times are tough, and it’s up to the individual who responds to have said yes. However, is it just me or are people getting more extravagant in what they might reasonable expect someone to gift ‘for free!’

I have just spotted in a group that someone is wondering if anyone can ‘gift’ them 100 block paving slabs for their drive. Maybe it’s just me but that seems like a lot to feel you can just commandeer.

What is the most expensive thing you have seen people try and blag that has made you think: ‘really?!’ Or is it just me being grumpy.

OP posts:
Itwontrainallthetime · 08/05/2020 13:15

I will give anyone anything for free especially if it isn't needed anymore or someone is genuinely in need. It irks me when people appear to be desperate and are picky and refuse the offer of items which they apparently do desperalty need. I am wise to those people now. I doubt that they would help anyone if need be.

There is someone that always posts on a facebook almost every week asking for some item for their house for free and it has to be exactly what she is wanting or she refuses. Think these are just chancers that try to get something for nothing. Its annoying when there are people out there that genuinly are on the bones of there arse and need help but never ask. Those are the people I would help in a heartbeat.
You get to know who is needing it and who is just wanting something they don't really need.
Another thing that is annoying is when people post for eg cupboard for free or , if not picked up today it's going to the tip. I get it's for free but big items like this people need a van or a a way to pick up the item . If the person who is giving it away is taking it to the tip they need to get it there so surely to help someone out they could drop it off for the person so they could make use of it.
Or when people are selling something and say if its not gone by today it's going to the tip. As a way to make someone buy it even though they won't be bothered by the money if there chucking it out anyways.

howsicklyarsekissy · 08/05/2020 13:17

It's the lack of manners I hate, asking for things with no please or thank you, it's so rude & entitled.

Thisismytimetoshine · 08/05/2020 13:19

it has to be exactly what she is wanting or she refuses
Personally, I think anyone observed doing this should be banned from the site.

Chocolate1984 · 08/05/2020 13:28

We have away around 120 slabs for free. The previous owner had them in the garden and they were free to anyone that lifted them.

Lairymary · 08/05/2020 13:28

We had someone ask on the local community group if someone could lend him £20 as times were tough and he had to feed his cat. Two days later he posted on the local buy and sell if anyone was flogging a ps4 Hmm

VerticalHorizon · 08/05/2020 13:39

A PS4 for the cat. Have a heart!

Woobeedoo · 08/05/2020 13:50

There was someone on a local FB swap group who every week was asking for things (never giving) - TV's, beds, sofas etc. I think in the end people got fed up as one day they asked "I need a fridge freezer, one of those big American ones that has the ice and water on the front. Where can I get one?". Several people replied "try Argos".

mondaypolomint · 08/05/2020 13:51

My mum used to run a furniture exchange - people gave her furniture they didn't want and she gave it to people in need - it had grown out of her desire to help people who were really poor and the council gave her a garage to store it all in. She asked for voluntary donations to charity if people could afford it.

She stopped when she realised some people were taking advantage by selling stuff on then coming back for more to sell. Others were very picky and some expected my mum and dad in their 70s with no car to deliver it.

I agree there is a lot of desperately poor people out there and it's sad that some people come along and take advantage

Thecurtainsofdestiny · 08/05/2020 13:57

I had a party with lots of food.

One guest came, enjoyed the food and told me that she was hosting someone from overseas. She was paid for this, but suggested that it would be good if she could take food from my buffet so that she wouldn't have to cook for her own guest.

Eh, no, my guests are still eating and we're nowhere near the end of the party!

MartySouth · 08/05/2020 13:58

I've posted about this on another thread. Even more annoying than asking for really specific expensive things for free is not bothering to answer or collect when someone offers.

CatteStreet · 08/05/2020 13:59

'Gift has a verb form though'

Yes (albeit usually used in the past tense as an adjective), but it's not really an alternative word for 'give' in this sense (or hasn't been, until very recently when it seems to have proliferated).

BearSoFair · 08/05/2020 14:01

SIL has been giving away some of late BIL's dvd collection as she can't get them to a charity shop during lockdown. She puts some on the front wall of a morning and people can take what they like. Last week she had a note through the letter box asking if she had any more Jim Carrey films going spare! Surely you'd just be happy you'd got 2 for nothing and wait to see if they put anymore out, not ask...

CarolefeckinBaskin · 08/05/2020 14:08

Someone asked me to send them a video of me putting the wellies on
You're aware that there's a market/kink for this yes? :) :) urgh! :)

CharityDingle · 08/05/2020 14:08

It's the lack of manners I hate, asking for things with no please or thank you, it's so rude & entitled.

Same here. There's a few of those on a page I'm on. 'Next'. 'I'll take it'... Hmm

Also some must sit with the page permanently open. They are on looking for everything and anything that is offered for free. Oh, so long as it is in mint condition, of course.

jenthelibrarian · 08/05/2020 14:10

@howsicklyarsekissy
"It's the lack of manners I hate, asking for things with no please or thank you, it's so rude & entitled."

Couldn't agree more! I find myself muttering 'I want doesn't get' in very grumpy tones....

Our cat stopped eating the fish flavours out of variety packs of cat food so I listed them locally, asking for a donation to a local charity. There was £12-15 worth.
A woman showed up and sort of studied them for several minutes, said she'd take them and then dropped £1.50 into my hand.
If she'd said it was for a pet rescue, or similar of course I'd happily have given them away.

CrystalTipped · 08/05/2020 14:10

Even Harry & Meghan practise it (albeit mansions not paving slabs)

Well done for valiantly shoehorning in a Harry and Meghan complaint, but I think you'll find their current home wasn't gifted to them, it still belongs to the owner...

CrystalTipped · 08/05/2020 14:11

Our cat stopped eating the fish flavours out of variety packs of cat food so I listed them locally, asking for a donation to a local charity. There was £12-15 worth.

For future reference if your cat gets fussy again, most vets have drop boxes for food donations.

MitziK · 08/05/2020 14:15

@firstmentat It would be funny if it were. Because she did do things like that as well.

fuckinghellthisshit · 08/05/2020 14:17

I had a market stall on the 'flea market' to sell all my old baby stuff and people were unbelievable! Trying to steal, making nasty comments, damaging things etc. After about 2 hours of this shit a very young woman with a baby is a sling spent about 20 mins looking at the wooden highchair and then walked away and made a call and came back and offered us £25 (it was £30) and said that was all she had but could she send us the rest next week. She even offered to let us keep her watch as a safeguard. We took one look at her tatty old sling, her worn thru coat and very old shoes and gave her the lot, all the clothes, all the toys, all the furniture. We even delivered it and gave her a lift home - where we could see just how little she had. She was over joyed and cried with gratitude. I see her around from time to time with her now 12 year old and she always says hello and asks how my DC are. It just isn't worth trying to sell or give things away - in my experience the needy are often too decent and proud to ask and the cheeky fuckers are an over bearing nightmare.

Annanotelsa · 08/05/2020 14:23

I gave away a bag of barely used maternity clothes on Facebook Marketplace the other day. The first response was ‘I’ll have em. Can you deliver’. She didn’t get them. I don’t expect to be knighted for my services to charity but a bloody please or thank you wouldn’t have gone amiss!

MrsMoastyToasty · 08/05/2020 14:25

The ones that really get me going are the ones that say.
"Need a new phone/sofa/car. Show us wot u got".

A please or a thank you might not go amiss.

SciFiWoman · 08/05/2020 14:29

I worked with a girl who kept asking to “pop round and go through your wardrobe, you must have stuff you don’t need!” Errrrr.... nope!
I couldn’t get past her bloody cheek so kept away from her.
After she left, I found out she had systematically ‘made friends’ with various other girls and scrounged stuff off them... only to eBay it and brag on FB about the money she’d made!!😮
One ladies DH was particularly upset as this pushy madam had got his wife to part with stuff she’d since regretted letting go....
Brass neck of some people!!

Thisismytimetoshine · 08/05/2020 14:31

That's hilarious, Annanotelsa. "Can you deliver?" 😂 😂😂
I'll bet the poor cow is outraged they weren't immediately chauffeured round, tied up with a big red bow.

Justaboy · 08/05/2020 14:32

Well some years ago we were selling off a very nice childerns bed as it was no longer needed a very good quality one too, not chipboard.. A very polite young foregin couple turned up they were so delighted to find one thay liked they offered more then we were asking.

My then wife said to not bother paying as they appricated it so much and were very happy with what they found she said just take it have it as a present to your child whereupon the woman broke down in tears!

The became very good friends after that my lady was aked if she'd be a godmother to their new born!!

Thisismytimetoshine · 08/05/2020 14:34

I worked with a girl who kept asking to “pop round and go through your wardrobe, you must have stuff you don’t need!” Errrrr.... nope!
😂😂😂. This thread is an education. What happens to people to make them behave like this?!