to wonder if people on Freecycle are selling the goods on?

[tornadoalley]

I bought some Cloud 9 straighteners, so decided to put my Babyliss Ceramic straighteners (perfect condition) on the village freecycle page. I live in quite a well off village and our Freecycle has some lovely things. I was messaged within 5 minutes and the person was so pleased the straighteners were free. 5 minutes she messaged again asking if i had the original box and instructions. They're straighteners. the side switch has 3 settings and you plug it in. why would you need instructions?

She's collecting them tomorrow and I just wondered if I'm a miserable suspicious bitch? AIBU and she just wants the box to store them in?

The hair straighteners might be a nice self esteem boost, for someone with very little.
And Charity shops aren’t always that cheap, when you’re skint.
I would like the stuff I give away for free to go to someone with genuine need, not people that have found a nice way to make extra cash. The ones that are Doing that are probably on multiple sites and making a nice profit, not just some hard up pensioner, single parent etc...trying to get by.

Fuss

The homely retired old gent who tinkered with watches in his shed was a be in his 40s raking in over £200 a month from all the watches and parts given to him on our local free cycle.

When I posted my evidence of this so people could decide for themselves whether to gift to this man I was banned from the group. I did rejoin under a new name and I don't think he was given much after my post though.“

What’s wrong with a retiree supplementing their possibly low income?

I really, really hate the deserving poor aspect of Freecycle. People having to resort to effectively begging messages to justify their worthiness. It’s almost Victorian.

The original idea was to prevent landfill. Job done.

I gave up freecycling because of this - any unwanted electricals just go in the bin with all the other rubbish. Bigger things need to be broken up of course, but I've got rid of a TV, dehumidifier, deep fat fryer and other things in this way.

squirrelsbizaar

“I would like the stuff I give away for free to go to someone with genuine need, not people that have found a nice way to make extra cash.”

Even if that extra cash is putting food on the table? There are many ways of helping people “in need”. Giving them a means to raise cash is one of them. If I’d been made redundant and couldn’t pay the bills, £10 would be of a lot more use than hair straighteners.

Again, the original intention was to limit landfill.

@contrmary

I gave up freecycling because of this - any unwanted electricals just go in the bin with all the other rubbish. Bigger things need to be broken up of course, but I've got rid of a TV, dehumidifier, deep fat fryer and other things in this way.

And they will sit in landfill for 1000 years whilst someone who could have used them will buy a new item. Even taking them to the tip is better as they are broken down and the components reused.

Sounds like a very selfish attitude to take.

We have one lady here that takes everything. No exaggeration. I blocked her lol

But at least they won’t go to unworthy people, polnm

We emptied my parents house over a period of 6 months or so. Freecycle was great & we got rid of almost everything without having to pay to take the stuff away or send it to landfill. We did think people would sell things on (50 year old bed base anyone?) but we're just glad to be shot of the stuff. However (pauses carefully), again & again we would be contacted by "Sophie", "Laura", "Susan" etc, who when they turned up would be a middle aged man with a van who did not come from somewhere that would usually use such names. The same people appeared over the space of several months so I presume they spend their time doing this. At least they are making a living.

I don’t get the impression that the people doing it are just scraping by for their next meal.
They are organised, efficient and likely on multiple sites judging by the encounters I’ve had with them. Perhaps those skills would be better utilised through paid employment.
I am aware that you can hardly means test people, but surely these types can be filtered out by their activity on the sites by the moderators. IMO the sites are there to pass things onto people that need them, not as a source of additional income, or employment for some.

@LouiseNW

What’s wrong with a retiree supplementing their possibly low income?

Absolutely nothing. Except as I have said this was a man in his early 40's.

Nothing at all wrong with keeping stuff out of landfill and personally I don't care if items I give away are sold on, however, if a person feels the need to lie to obtain goods that might suggest that the person themselves feels they are doing something dishonest, no?

@Cookerhood

We emptied my parents house over a period of 6 months or so. Freecycle was great & we got rid of almost everything without having to pay to take the stuff away or send it to landfill. We did think people would sell things on (50 year old bed base anyone?) but we're just glad to be shot of the stuff. However (pauses carefully), again & again we would be contacted by "Sophie", "Laura", "Susan" etc, who when they turned up would be a middle aged man with a van who did not come from somewhere that would usually use such names. The same people appeared over the space of several months so I presume they spend their time doing this. At least they are making a living.

There are professional house clearance people who will clear houses for a fee, but they also sell the stuff at car boot sales and street markets. But they are honest about the fact that this is how they make their living. I have no problem with that. It's the liars I take issue with.

No. They’ve probably just worked out that unless they give a sob story, they won’t be able to access parts.
I don’t care what recipients do with what I don’t want any more as long as it doesn’t end up in a bin bag. If they are industrious enough to put in the time and effort to make a living from other people’s cast offs, good for them.
Seriously, if anyone begrudges that, just take it to the recycling centre or a charity shop.

OP, bear in mind that even if you sell the items, they could still be sold on again at a profit.

LouiseNW

I do begrudge these 'industrious types' - your words, preventing people that might need the stuff from accessing it. They are fully aware that the majority of people giving stuff away are doing it in the hope it goes to a someone that might need it.
That's why they are using false names and sob stories, its scummy deceptive behaviour that shouldn't be congratulated.

I've used Freecycle to get rid of some things if I CBA to sell them. If someone else is prepared to then do the legwork and sell it on, I couldn't give a shiny shit.

Surely the point of free cycle is to have things removed from your home at no cost to you without creating more landfill?

Once it's left your home you have achieved your objective.

Even if she had paid you a fiver for them she could still be selling them on for a tenner.

If you wanted to feel good about 'helping people' then take it to someone/somewhere yourself.

I agree with you op. I like some stuff to go to people that need it. Not because I'm lady bountiful. But because I've struggled and I've gone without to get stuff for my children and I've been a victim of domestic abuse. So I would prefer to help people who are in my own situation first.
I have given to the local woman's refuge. But ours have said they don't have storage facilities so don't take stuff unless they have someone there that needs it.

I have tried to give to the women's refuge but it is impossible to contact them unless you are donating cash.

People round here will leave things on the pavement. Once saw 2 sets of golf clubs with a note on to take them. People opposite put stuff out often. There was an old BBQ once, which originated at the top of the road, it was always in a different place when I saw it, was there ages.

The problem is that it has encouraged theft from gardens now, so things left for Freecyclers to collect are being pinched by men in white vans that go around taking kids toys and buggies from doorsteps.

These people have cars and could take stuff to charity shops, no need to leave it on the street.

People round here will leave things on the pavement

Just before lockdown someone in my street left out a plastic kids play sand/water table. It was knackered completely. Whether they hoped the tat man would take it I don’t know, but he didn’t and neither did anyone else.
As of yesterday it’s still there in the middle of the pavement. Quite what they think will happen to it I don’t know.

We have a box in our church where people can put things for the local women’s shelter. One of the members of the congregation knows the location (retired medical professional) and she regularly drops things off.

It's not a charity donation, it's to stop people chucking stuff. Don't feel like putting things on FC is some good deed.

Also it's not a 'gift', it's her saving you the hassle of throwing it

@SarahBellam They're not past their best, they're nearly new and cost £40.

Yes, I think the lightening speed of the response is someone looking to resell.
@squirrelsbizaar IMO the sites are there to pass things onto people that need them, not as a source of additional income, or employment for some.

My instinct is also to think it would be people who are selling on as a small business, rather than someone who is desperate to make a small amount of money and on a tiny income. They are usually too busy just trying to get by than to sit around waiting for freecycle posts.
Its not between binning something, and giving it away to be sold on, its between selling myself, or giving it away to someone in need. I wouldn't throw good things away, but they would clutter up my house forever.

Anyway. Latest in the saga is, she messaged me asking if I could meet her in the local supermarket at 5.30 to give her the straighteners. Then gave me deadlines to let her know if I would be doing this.

Ultimately, they are my property and I should be the one to say what happens to them when they leave my possession. I think I'll ask the moderator what the page's policy is.

@tornadoalley

Ultimately, they are my property and I should be the one to say what happens to them when they leave my possession. I think I'll ask the moderator what the page's policy is.

Er... no.

When you give them away they’re no longer your property so you have zero say over what happens to them.