Freegle, Freecycle, Facebook Marketplace Timewasting IDIOTS

[Nameitychangity]

I honestly don't know why I do this to myself.
Swore I would never use these sites again due to rude, time wasting imbeciles.
But lockdown has meant that charity shops are closed, and in our local area all of the clothes donation banks are shut and taped over too. Our garage is literally bursting at the seams so I thought I would list some of the stuff on the above sites. Among other things I have 4 full black bags of clothes (an embarrassing amount still with tags), 2 black bags of good toys, boxes of ornaments, bedding, vases, photo frames, books, DVDs, unused household appliances, and several things also for sale (not free).
Had lots of replies but arranged with 7 different people times to pick up (before new lockdown). Out of 7 people only TWO fucking turned up. Most of those who didn't were the ones who sent several messages asking for the stuff and seemed very keen.
Why the HELL do these people do this? Is it some kind of fun for them to think that people are waiting in on them coming, bagging stuff up for them only for them not to arrive, and not even have the courtesy to say that they will not be coming? Is the world just full of rude entitled arseholes now?
Not to mention the replies like "mine" or "I'll have it". Or people claiming to be getting their first accomodation after being homeless, being offered all manner of leather sofas, furniture and appliances to get replies back like "can you send some photos" etc!! "needs delivered". It's not a fucking Argos catalogue!
People also asking you to deliver stuff to their house despite you saying you cannot deliver it. Ah okay, actually, I'll just actually BUY you a new item and have it sent to your house!
I'm loathe to throw away perfectly good stuff to landfill but at this point I really think I've had it with these websites.
Sorry for ranting, just pissed off that I had to wait in all day for arseholes who never turned up.
If you are one of "those" people please consider that you are being extremely rude and massively inconveniencing someone, at least have the courtesy to say you will not be coming.
It's obvious they have seen the message asking if they still want the item and even then, they can't be bothered replying.
This time I really mean it! Deleting the pages as we speak and everything going to landfill from now on.

How are you amassing all this stuff in the first place - boxes of ornaments and unused appliances? I've had quite a lot of success on Facebook, but on specific local groups. Are any charities collecting clothing, etc. What about auction houses for the stuff that isn't clothes?

Should people even be coming out to your house for stuff during this lockdown??

Or evem BEFORE this lockdown?

I agree with you. So annoying and rude!

I’ve had better luck offering stuff for a nominal fee like £5-£20 than completely free - it seems to put off the time wasters and people actually turn up.

I only list the odd thing, usually horse related, but I know that once someone hs asked two separate questions about something they are usually a time waster. Not to mention stating very clearly its collection only then getting messages, will you post? No, sorry. 'That's stupid' - charming!

otoh if you make a trip to look at something, a sofa or something, it is awkward because although it is free, you perhaps dont like it.

You have my sympathies. Before lockdown when I sold a few items I got messed around so much. I just don't understand it. When I look at stuff to buy, if I've contacted the person to see if it's available, we settle a date and time for collection, I pick it up at the arranged time, all's fine. Apparently I am in a minority!

an acquaintance got a broken washing machine from freegle, obviously not knowing it was broken. how shitty is that

good idea to charge people, sort the wheat from the chaff.
the charity shops were open op,

Maybe you should buy less stuff??
Please don't send it to landfill fgs. Do you use Facebook marketplace? I've never had an issue getting rid of things on there

I put an Ikea red leather footstool on Gumtree [matches the Poang chairs] for £15. I live in Dorset.
I got a reply from someone in Scotland asking if I would post it!!!

i imagine the people who failed to turn up realised they in turn could not sell what they were getting from you.

have you thought of ebay?

Sort through it all properly and sell it, even if it's just for a small amount. You could always eBay it too.

YABU - just bin it. If you are not able able to take it to the tip to get rid of it in one hit, just top up your bin before it gets collected.

In my area you can get away with putting it in the recycling bin too, just so long as you cover it with a thick layer of genuine recycling on top - the binpersons never look closely enough.

Believe it or not, there genuinely are people who get a kick out of wasting people's time like you are experiencing - Reddit has whole groups dedicated to it!

@contrmary

YABU - just bin it. If you are not able able to take it to the tip to get rid of it in one hit, just top up your bin before it gets collected.

In my area you can get away with putting it in the recycling bin too, just so long as you cover it with a thick layer of genuine recycling on top - the binpersons never look closely enough.

Believe it or not, there genuinely are people who get a kick out of wasting people's time like you are experiencing - Reddit has whole groups dedicated to it!

Are you actually advocating contaminating recycling with rubbish?

When we cleared my late parents house and had stuff that we were happy to give away, we didn't bother with these type of sites at all. We simply stuck everything outside the front door with a sign saying 'help yourself'. Everything went, even my Dad's old gardening shoes, which were supposed to have been put on the 'send to recycling' pile but were accidentally put out as well!

It's the ones on Freecycle asking for very specific items that get me. "Setting up a new flat, need 50' HD Smart TV".If you're that desperate, just ask for a TV and be grateful for what you get..

@contrmary

YABU - just bin it. If you are not able able to take it to the tip to get rid of it in one hit, just top up your bin before it gets collected.

In my area you can get away with putting it in the recycling bin too, just so long as you cover it with a thick layer of genuine recycling on top - the binpersons never look closely enough.

Believe it or not, there genuinely are people who get a kick out of wasting people's time like you are experiencing - Reddit has whole groups dedicated to it!

What a dishonest thing to do

I've heard Depop is good for clothes, I'd put the new with tags ones on there. Other stuff in my area you can recycle worn out clothing in the recycling bin, it's on the list of items. People round here are also putting stuff out on their garden wall on sunny days with "free, please help yourself" signs and it's going.

Oh! I just put a single bed with blue headboard up for free, collection only.

Having wandered through the Mine, I'll have that, and Taken responses, I found one asking if I had the headboard in red!

I am afraid I responded badly to most of them and removed it completely.

A friend has just messaged me and asked if I have burned it yet as she'd like it for her grandson.

Some people are just ridiculous.

And, before anyone asks, it has been outside, under cover, wrapped in plastic for 10 days, absolutely untouched... A no contact pick up was to be arranged.

I put something on for free recently. Had a message asking if I could post it. I said sure, it won’t cost much, I’ll send you my PayPal to send me there postage costs. They said they wanted me to post for free. I said no. They sent back a sad face emoji and blocked me 😂

There was also one recently on a baby and toddler page- ‘I’m skint and desperate for anything for my baby girl please. I need everything, including the big equipment’.

People offered buggies, clothes, high chairs. Everything not pink was met with something along the lines of ‘thanks for the offer, but this isn’t suitable- I need stuff for a baby girl!’

I had some unused boxed chopstick tongs I priced them for a fiver just to get rid of them 11 people let me down ELEVEN I was going to throw them in the bin and a woman said she wanted them I said she could have them for free if she wants just collect the darn things she was shocked so many people let me down

So many people let you down even for free stuff I mean how hard is it? I've got stuff you want stuff make it happen!

@contrmary

YABU - just bin it. If you are not able able to take it to the tip to get rid of it in one hit, just top up your bin before it gets collected.

In my area you can get away with putting it in the recycling bin too, just so long as you cover it with a thick layer of genuine recycling on top - the binpersons never look closely enough.

Believe it or not, there genuinely are people who get a kick out of wasting people's time like you are experiencing - Reddit has whole groups dedicated to it!

and this offering from 'i'm a twat' corner, so bloody selfish.

You get a 6th sense for timewasters after a little while! people that ask lots of questions often when the info has already been given in the description, people who lack basic manners, people who ask you if you will deliver...
Agree that it's often worth pricing low rather than free. And price a little higher with a view to accepting less - people do tend to make offers (although many of them are also in the timewasters category).