Everything for free!

[GordonsAliveAndEatsPies]

I am probably going to get a pasting for this, but why does everyone expect everything for "free".

Went onto a local group earlier and someone wants to be gifted a cage for a guinea pig because they "can't afford one". Considering it's a pretty basic equipment for an animal and shows a lack of consideration about any ongoing costs, do people ever think, I might not be able to do something, so I might have to make other arrangements? ie: not get the animal in the first place, or find it another home if it's an addition.

I know people are struggling and as I say, I am sure i will be told it's people's right to do what they want... but where does it stop?

I was in 2 minds about posting today looking for a toaster. I’ve already collected another item today offered on a neighbourhood WharsApp group😁.
There is a valid, good key worker related reason why I need these items, but even if there wasn’t, surely it makes sense to ask, just in case anyone is having a clear out.
In the interests of fairness, I should say that I always offer ( for free) anything surplus to my own requirements before going to the dump/ charity shop, so swings and roundabouts I guess.
We need a culture of recycling, reusing and passing on.

I don’t give things away for free anymore as it does seem to attract the sell on-ers

If I don’t want money for it, I’ll ask for some sweets for the dc. Even if it’s just a 30p packet.

Funnily enough, it does stop those who want to sell them on for wanting to get them.

I have listed a few things for sale in the past on social media marketplaces. The amount of people that message privately saying "can i have it free?" is unreal. I had one woman give me a sob story about how she had a lot of rats and would like the outdoor rabbit run I was selling, for free. I declined and she called me a selfish b*tch.

or on the occasions ive given things away free ive had "but you'll have to bring it over". ummm no . I even had someone on ebay recently message me saying the notice one of my £70 buyitnow items hadnt sold for over a month so could they have it free. they kindly offered to pay the postage [shocked]. People are cheeky AF.

I think people are missing the point of this thread. There's nothing wrong with people getting rid of things and offering them for free but I think some people are taking the mick and trying to abuse people's goodwill. FB community groups shouldn't be a place to go begging when you can actually make an effort to search for things on the conventional buyer/seller websites. People have been asking for laptops for their kids schooling but won't go through conventional means as they have to return them. Equally they're asking for things "because shops are not open" but should just admit they don't want to pay for things. People should go to the relevant sites or groups for the exchanging of goods and not prey on others.

Yes, check out this thread - everything for free!!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4143674-about-friends-buying-goods-during-covid

I get your point and to an extent ynbu it depends on the situation like the people fully intent on having a specific item and delivered i mean its not to bad if its a pair of curtains but a free American fridge freezer rakes the biscuit to me.

My big annoyance is when you offer something worth £200 for £150 and they offer £35...cash waiting as if they are doing you the biggest favour ever we tried to sell my old car was easily worth £1000 wantes £750 (already had my newer car and needed it gone) and you get offers of £300 it really grates me because knocking £50 off is understandable but when they want to knock you down stupid amounts its insulting we were lucky to not be in the situation where we didnt need the money right now but others arent and praying on peoples situations is just immoral imo!

YABU. Landfills across this country are full of non biodegradable shit. If someone is wanting to get rid of a guinea pig cage and another person needs one, surely it’s better for the cage to be given away rather than chucked?

I get your point about not having animals you can’t afford, but that’s a separate issue to the sensible practice of reusing stuff other people don’t want anymore.

Yanbu.

Since charity shops closed some friends and I set up a WhatsApp group to give away things to each other we would have otherwise donated. We all added a few people to the group. You post a picture and if anyone wants it you say yes please.

It only took a day or so for a one or two people to start asking if anyone has x, y or z available. I’m amazed that those people don’t see how rude it is. Some people see good nature and always want more.

I left the WhatsApp group.

I'm part of a lovely local free group, a lot of things do the rounds on there as well so it continues to be passed around.

I don't see any harm in people asking on free sites - I might have something that I no longer want or need but have not got around to putting on or even thinking about it.

It does demand on the group though, some do seem to attract the real cheeky ones.

As a result of reading this thread I looked up the local Freecycle site.
There was a wanted post for something that has been hanging around for months waiting for me to take it to the charity shop.
The charity shop would have sold it for at most £3, probably less.

It was collected yesterday by someone who needed it for her school.

I agree with you. You see it all the time. The worst ones are where they want people to deliver free as well.

There's a young woman on my local site who is constantly asking for stuff. First it was that she had just moved in and needed basically everything, but had no money or transport, so everything had to be delivered. Huge, rambling sob story. She'd prefer silver 'white goods' but would consider other options. Oh, and she'd also prefer the person delivering the washing machine to be able to plumb it in for her too. She wanted a grey theme for her living room, so please only people giving away (and delivering) grey corner sofas, armchairs, rugs, lamps and lampshades need comment. Then she had nothing for her little boy, who was so very cold. She prefers 'decent' brands. Now she's had another baby boy and another plea for basically everything as she had sold all her older boy's stuff. Again, only decent brands please. She was given a pram/travel system last time (by a friend of mine) which is no longer useful so she wants to be given a double buggy and in the same sentence she says how she's selling the other travel system she was given 'for a bargain price to help out another mum who might need it' (about £150 less than what it cost my friend about six years ago).All of this again needs to be delivered as she can't drive at the moment and her boyfriend apparently can't bear to leave them in order to go to collect these items as he only has two weeks to spend with their little family before going back to work.

@Besiegedbykillersquirrels

There's a young woman on my local site who is constantly asking for stuff. First it was that she had just moved in and needed basically everything, but had no money or transport, so everything had to be delivered. Huge, rambling sob story. She'd prefer silver 'white goods' but would consider other options. Oh, and she'd also prefer the person delivering the washing machine to be able to plumb it in for her too. She wanted a grey theme for her living room, so please only people giving away (and delivering) grey corner sofas, armchairs, rugs, lamps and lampshades need comment. Then she had nothing for her little boy, who was so very cold. She prefers 'decent' brands. Now she's had another baby boy and another plea for basically everything as she had sold all her older boy's stuff. Again, only decent brands please. She was given a pram/travel system last time (by a friend of mine) which is no longer useful so she wants to be given a double buggy and in the same sentence she says how she's selling the other travel system she was given 'for a bargain price to help out another mum who might need it' (about £150 less than what it cost my friend about six years ago).All of this again needs to be delivered as she can't drive at the moment and her boyfriend apparently can't bear to leave them in order to go to collect these items as he only has two weeks to spend with their little family before going back to work.

How has no one told her to go to hell yet, ESPECIAL after that pram sale!

@SchrodingersImmigrant - I really don't know. I keep hoping a local gobshite will tell her exactly that but it hasn't happened yet. If it weren't for my job I'd be tempted to say something myself, she absolutely infuriates me and I don't even know her! She's just got absolutely no shame whatsoever. I remember moving into my first flat and literally nothing matched. I was so grateful to my parents' friends and people who gave me a sofa, dining table, etc, I couldn't believe my luck!

Add me😂 I will be your local gobshite😂 Disgraceful with that pram

@SchrodingersImmigrant - 🤣🤣🤣