Giving away baby things for free

[LeonoraFlorence]

I’ve listed a few baby things like bouncer/car seat/jumperoo/play mat etc. I’ve offered them for free (all excellent condition) and I’ve had numerous messages from people asking for them (sometimes not in a very polite way!) and also wanting me to deliver!

Honestly, I’m quite annoyed as I think it’s a bit rude. Has anyone else had this? Normally I give things away to friends but littlest DD is the youngest of them at the moment.
I have 6 daughters and a DH who is working today, I certainly don’t have time to go round delivering things!

Not rude as such. Just explain that it's pick up only.

It is very rude. IMO the least you can do if you're getting something for free is pick it up. Even if it takes 3 buses you just do it. Or you get your neighbours aunties granda to pick it up rather than bothering the person that is giving it away.

With 6 x youngsters I certainly would not expect you to be delivering,surely who ever is interested has someone to collect have you thought maybe they fancy you picking them up a take away on the way if you did deliver ? the cheek of some people amazes me at times.

Of course it's rude. You're being kind enough to give it away, and they want delivery. This is why people don't bother.

Put them up for £5 each, collection only, and when someone asked for it, say y3s and that they can have it for free.

Have you put that they’re collection only on the listing? If so, yes, they’re CF.

I would state you can't deliver on your posts to save the hassle.

I give quite a lot of stuff away and if people aren’t polite in how they ask for it then I ignore the message: agree it’s cheeky to ask to deliver too

I always make it clear I don't deliver, but still get cheeky buggers chancing their arm. I suppose they see something they REALLY want, but have no transport to collect it. There are polite ways of asking though.

My friend gave stuff away for free, then saw same stuff after collected being sold with a price. Sometimes better to sell it for a nominal free

Yes, pissed me right off when I gave away a travel system and people demanded delivery.

Sell it for a small amount instead.

The people who probably need these things the most are unlikely to be able to drive, hence requests for delivery. Try and have a little empathy. If you don’t want to deliver then say so in your advert.

Some people will always ask for things not available. Suggest you are clear it is collection only.

This annoys me too. If you’re kind enough to give it away then the least they can do is get off their arse to collect it. Especially annoying when it’s a small item that could easily be carried onto a bus (not having a car isn’t an excuse).

I feel your pain. Olio used to be great and is now full of time wasters and cheeky fuckers too. It's because people don't appreciate things they get for free (I include myself in that).

If it’s on f b marketplace, never offer things for free. Always at least £5. When they arrive you can say it’s free, but not before!

I made the mistake of listing for free and I’d never do it again. So many time wasters and delivery-demanded entitled people came out the woodwork. It also makes it easier for you to list for a small fee as it massively cuts down these time wasters from your messages.

Someone arranged to pick up a free item three times, letting me down each time, and had to be blocked after the sheer amount of abuse I got when they attempted to arrange a fourth time and I told them it was gone!

Absolutely rude. I always put collection only on adverts and still get people asking me to deliver or post. Sorry but no.

I agree with those saying to post it "for sale" with a nominal fee. If you are kind enough to offer something for free then chancers who don't need it enough to collect it will assume you are desperate to be rid of it, and will therefore bring it to them. Even a small charge will put them off.

Also add "for collection" in big letters.

I used to put a lot on marketplace for free and would put in caps “collection only” in the title. In the actual post I would also put “will not deliver, do not ask”

Yet.... still people would request delivery! I just ignored in the end, people chancing their arm.

Also, I often saw stuff then being sold on that I’d given free (CF even using my pics!) so always sell at a nominal amount.

If you still have those items would you mind sending them to me via courier?

I think it's rude of them yes.

I take all of our bits to the charity shops once we're done with them, I couldn't be bothered with having to wait in for people or lots of requests for me to deliver them.

Put pick up only on the advert?

Yes, maybe I should’ve sold them. I did say collection only.
Others are selling similar items for good amounts of money on same pages. Just hoped to pass things on.

I have previously donated items to social work / early years centre, to ensure it goes to someone in need