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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed that people have not come to collect stuff I put on freecycle?

32 replies

Flier · 08/01/2008 14:04

I've put 3 quite decent baby items on freecycle and had loads of people wanting them. I chose the 2 people I thought should have them, and neither of them have turned up, they have let me down once before and this is now the second time we have arranged for them to pick up, and now they've not turned up again.

aaaargh!

OP posts:
Original poster
Flier · 08/01/2008 14:13

no? yes? is there anyone there?

OP posts:
oliviaelanasmum · 08/01/2008 14:16

No you are not being unreasonable, im a bit hacked off with freecycle, i pu tsome baby stuff on and it was picked upa and then i spotted it in ebay shortly after!!

BettySpaghetti · 08/01/2008 14:18

If they've not contacted you to apologise or explain why they didn't turn up I'd re-offer it and make a point of saying "Item re-offered due to timewasters".

I've had this happen where people supposedly want something but don't turn up. IME its the ones that email you the second you put the Offered message on -its as if they email everyone instantly saying "I want it " and then pick and choose which they'll bother collecting (but thats probably just me being cynical )

stripeymama · 08/01/2008 14:18

Just re-offer it and choose someone else.

It happens quite a lot I think and is very annoying.

stripeymama · 08/01/2008 14:21

Yes there are people who instantly email to ask for everything I offer.

Surely they cannot really need every single thing I happen to be giving away? I just don't give to them, but still they email - and only ever say "Yes please will collect tonight"

mummypig · 08/01/2008 14:23

no you are not being unreasonable, but it happened to me too just before christmas, and I was so pleased with myself because I thought I'd cleared out the study! Only a couple of people actually came round to pick things up, and one of them was my friend... I still like the idea of Freecycle as after all it does stop things from going to the dump, but I suspect lots of people use it to get extra cash from eBay.

Next time I post a message I am going to make sure I choose a second person and offer it to them if the first person doesn't collect within a week. I've seen other people posting messages to this effect before and always thought they were being a bit too strident but I can now understand why.

Oh and the other thing is that I had one person who seemed to reply to all my posts indiscriminately with 'can I have this please' so I've decided not to pick them any time I offer anything. they didn't appear to actually have an 18mth to 2 yr son or 2 to 3 yr son or anything relevant to the items I was offering. Whereas the person who ended up with the duvet protector told me they had an incontinent teenager and I was happy to hand it on to her.

mum2GoogsandGoo · 08/01/2008 14:24

Going off Freecycle in a big way because of time wasting - it is amazing just how people's manners disappear when things are done on a goodwill basis...

Original poster
Flier · 08/01/2008 14:24

thanks. I'd taken so long deciding who should get it, too, didn't just give it to the 1st person to ask, decided based on whether or not I thought it'd go to ebay , or if I thought the people genuinely would use them

OP posts:
Original poster
Flier · 08/01/2008 14:27

I mean, thing do happen, but why can't they just email me (again) and let me know what happened?

I'm actually thinking of selling now anyway, how much do you think I'll get for a prima pappa highchair and a set of 4 bar stools and table?

OP posts:
Original poster
Flier · 08/01/2008 14:27

not to sell on here, btw.

OP posts:
oliviaelanasmum · 08/01/2008 14:28

The prima pappa hairchair you should get at least £20 for, if you were nearer i'd buy it from you

Original poster
Flier · 08/01/2008 14:31

thanks , I'll maybe just put a note up on the local shop.

I'm feeling quite sad and sort of final, getting rid of things like this The cot will be next, this summer, probably

OP posts:
oliviaelanasmum · 08/01/2008 14:34

I debated selling my maternity clothes but i couldn't bear to let them go!

Sushipaws · 08/01/2008 14:34

I hate this, I used to put things up all the time, don't bother now, just donate stuff to the charity shop.

Twiggypiggy · 08/01/2008 14:36

There has been an e-mail gone out on our Freecycle saying that certain members have been named as selling things on for a profit at car boot sales etc. Perhaps these are the ones that ask for everything.

We have had people that say they will come and don't turn up.

Original poster
Flier · 08/01/2008 14:36

hmm, i managed to give my clothes to my friend, i would have hated getting rid "properly"

OP posts:
alibubbles · 09/01/2008 13:02

I have had this happen several times, so now I insist on a phone number and time of intended collection. I say that without this I will not respond to their email. It worked this time quite well.

Original poster
Flier · 09/01/2008 13:06

well, I was given phone numbers, but they also have mine and they should either phone me or email me to re-arrange, I think.

Btw, one of the people did email me back last night and apologised profusely for not coming to collect, and gave a very good reason. The other one still hasn't got back to me though.

OP posts:
meglet · 09/01/2008 13:16

YANBU. Loads of chavs on our freecycle who say they want everything and anything. I just ignore them now. Bit hacked off with it myself TBH.

Our moderator did suggest a name and shame policy but no one has had the balls to do it.

Washersaurus · 09/01/2008 13:28

I have just reoffered some things on freecycle that someone didn't collect. They didn't even contact me after I emailed them asking them if they still wanted them.

Funnily, the same person who didn't collect has just emailed to say "isn't it annoying when people don't collect or contact you?".

I'm not sure whether she is being funny or just really dim

stripeymama · 09/01/2008 13:31

Slight hijack but...

Does anyone know how/if you can add some text to the bottom of every post you make on Freecycle?

Want to add something to mine along the lines of "Please and thank you are also free."

meglet · 09/01/2008 13:36

stripey I think you have put it quite well. i am going to use that in the future!

S101 · 09/01/2008 13:39

I got rid of a couple of things and am pleased with the site.

Saves taking the trip to the dump with them.

I always make sure that they collect the same day/night or day after.

They are pretty good and collect on the time stated and often provide their telephone number if there are problems

Which there hasn't been.

I collected a lot of cardboard boxes today at the agreed time and was really pleased that I found the place on time to.

stripeymama · 09/01/2008 13:43

Just so fed up of the same people sending me the same replies every time.

"Where are you will collect tonight"

"u still got [whatever] when can i collect"

Or one guy who actually sends me a blank email

stinkymalinki · 09/01/2008 14:36

Freecycle is a bit of a joke in our area - DH gets the daily email, as we've given quite a bit of stuff away in the past, and the 'Wanted' category has gone mad of late! Just before christmas, people were asking for nintendo ds consoles, and in the same list the other day, someone was asking for a laptop and a boat!!!

I'm all for giving stuff away, but don't agree with the way it's gone of late, with people asking for really expensive things. By all means ask for something thats been offered, but not ask for something thats not, IYSWIM. DH has threatened to put a spoof request up for a Ferrari and/or a spare small Caribbean island

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