Using Freecycle to dispose of broken appliances?

[garghland]

Would you use freecycle to get rid of appliances that are broken? Often you have to pay £50 or so to get rid of an old washing machine. But if you put it on Freecycle, surely someone will come and grab it?

I ask this, because I have collected two tumble dryers that have been advertised with no word that they were broken. First one almost set fire because the heating element had malfunctioned. Second one, the vent fan was completely broken.

I'd ask if there is anything wrong with it OP, if they say no, then ask if you can see it working, if they refuse, then you have your answer and should walk away.

However, I think that's a really rotten thing to do! Supposedly doing someone a favour by giving them something for free, only for them to find out later that it's broken, and they now have the responsibility for getting rid of it. It's not at all in the spirit of Freecycle. Have you reported it to the administrators, if not, then I would.

Gosh, somehow I have double posted this thread. Sorry

Some people probably want broken appliances for parts. Poor form not to advertise them as broken and then price accordingly though.

If its advertised as broken or could be used for parts or repair thats fine, if not then it needs reporting to their admin

Do you have a local scrap metal person? Ours are always advertising on Facebook groups. They take tumble dryers for free. Fridges and freezers you have to pay for but washing machines, tumble dryers etc.... all free.

I use freecycle for things which are not up to a standard where they could be sold, but are still useful. For example, I had an old dining table. Few paint marks on it and coffee rings. I do not have time to get these out or re-surface- someone would and alternatively you could simply stick a table cloth over it. Would be great for someone starting out with limited cash. Need to clear on what the faults are though. From experience its a bit hit and miss. I tried to get rid of a trampoline similarly and got the right run around from some people.

Yes not Freecycle specifically but I have advertised old appliances as free for collection. A dishwasher that I knew for certain was broken and suspected heating element. Made this very clear in my advert. Was collected by a man who was teaching his grandson about the inner workings of these things.

Advertised a washing machine as no idea if it worked or not and had been sitting in the shed for 3 years. Someone came for it.

Much better that than take to the tip. But I am very very clear in my advert.

It's clearly not on to not mention that something is broken when advertising on Freecycle or anywhere else like this. Was there no clue in the advert or person's demeanour when you collected?

But CF are everywhere, so I suppose this is just another thing to be aware of.

As others have said, scrap merchants are usually happy to collect broken appliances (except fridges) for free so there's no need to trick people like this.

When our dishwasher broke, we moved it outside to make room for the new one and it disappeared of it's own accord in under 3 hours and we live right at the back of an estate where the only passing traffic is only really the people who live on our crescent.

DP was going to take it to the tip (they go into metals recycling from there anyway) so it saved him a job.