'Up for grabs' but then asked for cash

[FireworkFran]

Someone I vaguely know has listed an item on a local group as 'up for grabs, on its last legs be quick'. I would be able to use the item, so PMed them to arrange to collect it. All good. However they've asked me to drop cash through their letterbox, if I feel like it, or just take it if now. I was expecting it to be free but now feel awkward just taking it. AIBU or are they?

We wouldn't otherwise be going to buy this, and the price they've asked for is only a little less that it would cost if I'd bought it new (rather than collecting something which is 'on its last legs').

I'd be a complete coward and say that I've just discovered that my existing [insert name of item] works after all, so I won't be needing it.

I am completely averse to any kind of confrontation, though.

Hi XXX

I've just realised that I misunderstood - I thought i was saving the XXX from landfill! We're going to hold out for a new one as it seems that would only be £X more.

Sorry if that wasted some of your time.
Best
OP

@AlexisIsMySpiritAnimal

It was described as "on its last legs" and listed with no price. YWDNBU to assume it was free.

YABU to go around collecting other people's crap to "save them a job" of binning it. Are you a hoarder or just too nice for your own good? Neither good.

LOL it is something for the garden. Ours could do with some improvement and we've not got much else to do currently so thought we might as well give it a go! Not sure that collecting something perishable in order to use it constitutes hoarding but thanks for your thoughts.

@Dreeple what on earth are you talking about ???!!
(Talk some sense for fffs sake !
😬😡
People like you irritate the Crap out of people . !

I think @SlightlyJaded has a good reply.

'on its last last legs' ?

If it's a donkey I wouldn't' bother, better to get a brand new one from DonkeyLand when they reopen in December or wait until the January sales.

Yes if they wanted payment they should have listed the price.

I asked where I could find a certain item nearby on our local Facebook page recently. Someone I don't know but who lives nearby commented saying "I've got one you can have". I messaged her and said great but I will pay. I expected she might say no but I was prepared to pay (not expensive anyway and I was prepared to buy). I would have felt cheeky not even offering to pay but the people round here often post about things that are free to a good home but it's usually inexpensive items or old things or fruit and veg.

So in your case I probably would have asked "how much do you want for this?" and see what they say.

Just message her saying “sorry but I won’t be needing this now, dh has just ordered a new one online for the same price”, simple.

I think they're counting on your embarrassment to squeeze some money out of you so don't feel embarrassed at all. They are definitely CF'ers.

I wouldn't apologise if I were you, just say you've changed your mind without explanation.

@Dreeple

It's "that'll teach you"

Lol don't understand what you meen either though

I would expect 'up for grabs' to mean free! But I suppose this shows it's not always the case.

I wouldn't think it had anything to do with being available to collect; never heard that before.

I'd just say where you come from 'up for grabs' means 'free' and you didn't understand, and you're sorry you wasted their time. After all, they ought to know the phrase is confusing, too.

Very good suggestions upthread on how to handle it (misunderstanding, no thanks). YANBU though, I would also have assumed that "up for grabs/on its last legs" meant free. I have just handed out some old bits of uniform for free to other parents at school on the very same terms.

I'd say... oh sorry I got this wrong and thought you were trying to get rid of the item.. I'm on a very tight budget at the moment as furloughed (or whatever) so am not able to donate any money unfortunately.. but i understand that you would like money for it so I'll leave it for someone else thanks x

Anybody else now thinking about a garden item that is perishable and can also be on its last legs?

I have nothing so far but my brain is wrung out...

So it's "on its last legs" and they want to charge slightly less than for a new item? - they're dreaming! If they wanted money for it they should have said so at the time of listing. I would simply say no thanks, I no longer require it.

Up for grabs with no price = free. What a chancer.

I'd assume the same as you. The whole "give us 90% of brand new price or just take it if you don't want to" thing is weird. I'd be worried that they'll go all passive aggressive if you don't pay.

I'd message them to back out as other posters suggest.

I would also have assumed "up for grabs" meant free...
They should have made clear how much they wanted for it eg. "up for grabs for only 20 quid".
They sound cheeky though. On its last legs? Yet they still want 90% of the price of a new one. Then they sort of make out it's free but then it suddenly isn't when the OP wants to collect it.
Tell them to jog on (or use one of the more eloquent ways of putting it suggested upthread)

Just message her saying “sorry but I won’t be needing this now, dh has just ordered a new one online for the same price”

This ^^

Yep agree, I would've read that as a freebie 'for grabs'. I'd definitely say you've decided to buy new seeing as it's only £xx more people piss around with buying and selling on Facebook all the time, at least you'll be doing the decent thing and telling them!!

Please don't pay out of embarrassment!

[quote Duemarch2021]@Dreeple

It's "that'll teach you"

Lol don't understand what you meen either though[/quote]
"That'll learn ya" is usually a deliberate way of writing it actually, it's a common saying and meant to be said like that. I take it to mean (in this case) buyer beware/there's no such thing as a free lunch etc so the OP won't be so quick to take up on a similar offer in future or not least without checking price.

I just want to know what it is now.

Just say the item is no longer needed and hope they find a good home for it.

Don’t bollox on about the price of the new item etc. It just makes things worse.

And I suppose what a pp says will learn ya is:

People are sneaky chancers
And it’s no wonder we all have to have our guards up sky high all the time.