To change my mind about giving free

[StarDolphins]

I know I’m morally going to hell for this.

I’ve made a huge mistake advertising my sofa for free. My new sofa is arriving tomorrow & I panicked because i thought no one would have it as it’s got a broken cushion & cat scratches.

I gave it to this first person that asked even though he had no manners & he’s collecting tomorrow.

I’ve since had 47 messages,one very nice & polite offering £200. I don’t need the money but it’s a great sofa really & I would donate the money to a charity that I know is struggling.

Am I bring unreasonable to give it to the nice woman offering to pay? I know I probably am & I will get flamed!

Tbh I'd be more inclined to sack him off if you actually did need the money, but I'm not sure I see wanting that woman's £200 so you can give it to charity as a particularly positive thing. It's not like you're taking that money from a big corporation and putting it somewhere better, you'd be taking it from an individual that could probably do with keeping it but needs a sofa. If she had a lot of money to spare she probably wouldn't be getting a £200 one from Facebook.

I get the wishing you'd given it to someone that wasn't rude thing, but I'd just leave things as they are as you're in too deep, I'm sure the nice people will find a different sofa.

I'd let him have it then.

Well this is all hypothetical at the moment. You might get a no show. Have you given him a time by which to collect? Message and see if he can come before midday, because you have others interested and will keep it til then.

If he doesn't collect by 1pm, then contact the £200 lady.

The £200 lady could also be a no show, so be prepared. It's very unlikely anyone would pay that for a sofa with damage.

I had some furniture to give away last year and it was an interesting experience. Some people turn up promptly and are really grateful. Some keep making promises to turn up and never do.

At the end, it's just a relief to have things gone to people who will use them and not to have to spend a whole day roasting in a queue at the tip in a hired van.

Honestly, if someone turns up to collect the old one for free, the day before your new one arrives, you are quids in.

Honestly, I'd get rid of it.

I did this with a.tv. I then realised that the rude person I'd agreed to give it to for free, would most likely sell it.
So I said I'd dropped it.
I would just say ooh sorry, my account really wants it, family, you know?

And then either sell it ELSEWHERE or give it away to someone you deem deserving!

My aunt, not account

The man doesn’t have to have nice manners just as you didn’t have to give it for free. Just let him take it and be glad it’s gone quickly and easily

I don't think you should give it to the rude man at all. You panicked and he has your address, but what will he do? Turn up and deamand a sofa? Just tell him the sofa is going to a family member in need and sorry for the trouble. If he contacted you through facebook can you see his contact list? If so, it's not like doing business through gumtree so i would be less worried about that but totally resent giving it to a rude man over a friend or polite mum.

I would message him tomorrow saying the new sofa is damaged /sent the wrong colour and you have had to refuse it or today saying the company is unable to fulfil your order for some reason. I also have a policy of not selling to rude people who don't even say please. I would then give it to the person who really needs a free sofa.

Personally I’d give to the single mum, £200 is probably one of those who’ll disappear when you call her bluff. Tell the guy unfortunately it’s no longer available (unless he has booked transport)

You know nothing about the man’s circumstances whether he is more or less worthy or what he will do with the sofa. You obviously didn’t think he was too rude when you made the agreement so let him have it.

I recently sold a sofa on fb marketplace it was a huge old thing and sold it cheap to get rid off. the person messaging me was very short and abrut in his messages so was thinking same as you. however when he turned up he was a lovely polite man. English wasn't his 1st language and he didn't have much English either. he was delighted as juts bought he 1st home and couldn't afford much furniture etc. so i wouldn't judge by your 1st interactions. you siad you would give it to him he was 1st let it go

Nobody offers to pay £200 for an item offered free, op, seriously...

The "courier will give you the money" crowd do...

Well apparently the op knows her sons so couldn't possibly be dodgy 😏

I thought YBU giving it to the woman who could pay - I’d much rather give it to someone who couldn’t afford it (if I could afford to do that).

There’s literally no way in hell I’d be giving a FREE sofa to someone who can’t say please and thank you. Ungrateful little sod.

i think so, I’ve put a rattan chair in this morn for a tenner, then put sold as I had loads of messages & then got a message off someone saying ‘I would love it & I will even pay more’ cut throat on FB selling these days!

the guy has messaged saying still on for tomorrow so I said yes it is but will have to be a time only when I have my new sofa & he said thank you so at least that’s something.

kicking myself a didn’t sell it but it’s my own fault. I’ve learnt my lesson!

I know:( sold a few things today after clearing garage & only gave it to the polite ones.

Exactly! Less flapping next time! I do make silly decisions sometimes, I really do!

'I'm so sorry but my husband - who works in construction - has decided he needs the sofa for work now. So I'll have to cancel the sale. Really sorry again.'

Less likely to get a brick through the window if he thinks your burly husband has given the command 😂

Wait and see if rude man actually picks it up. If he doesn't.....

What is it with mumsnetters and obsession with pretending there is a "burly men" in house.

Chances of getting brick through the window are about as much as someone believing that message or deducing that "construction" equals "burly men"

He's said "thanks" , he might be ok IRL ?

Lesson learned , get rid of your sofa .

And.....

random 'and' there for no reason