Giving away stuff for free on Facebook.

[Userno63637373737]

I do this quite a lot ^ there’s a dedicated page locally for people wanting to get rid of stuff for free that’s not marketplace, stuff that’s too good for landfill and people no longer need (I donate to charity shops too!). I have found people are incredibly grateful. I have tried selling stuff on marketplace and not had much luck and find people don’t turn up etc. But managed to shift a lot for free and people have collected etc

anyway, a relative is a group member on my local freebie page and every time I posted something they always make a sarky comment saying why are you giving this away for free? Why not sell it etc (like I said, no luck with that!).

sounds silly but it’s really getting me down. Every time they feel they need to comment. I’d understand if I was getting rid of stuff they had bought, but that is not the case!

I can’t seem to block them from seeing the post on a group either!

the same person would rather wait 6 months of an item lying around to sell something for a pound then simply give it away for free and get rid asap.

anyway aibu to tell them to mind their own? It’s the in laws and DP says to ignore but in sick of feeling like I’m being watched 👀

also, same person randomly asked for some of the stuff I’ve posted which is fine but I don’t think they need it as it’s kids stuff and they don’t have any other kids in the family - I am starting to wonder if she’s gonna sell it a boot sale 🫣

Some people are just VERY materialistic and can't see the bigger picture.

We have a local family freecycle Facebook group for predominantly kids/baby stuff. The rule of the group is that things cannot be sold on, and once you've finished with it then pass it on in the group again.

There are SO many people looking that will happily ask for free stuff that will then sell it on after giving a sob story to get it!

I'd look for a different group, or I would perhaps even consider blocking this person, even if they are a relative! There's no law you have to be friends with all your relatives on FB.

I find free stuff tends to attract a lot of greedy people and time wasters who say yes before they even know if they can collect. I've often sold things at a low price then given them for free when the person turns up. One person even brought round a bunch of flowers for me as they were so thrilled with me refusing their money!

Can you not post anonymously?

Or, if you care that much and don't want to block her, make a fake profile with something anonymous like a flower for a profile pic and post as much you like, hassle free.

I give stuff away all the time, I can't be bothered messing around for a few quid. Sometimes I just stick it on the wall and someone takes it. We have a nursery on our road so any old toys will generally go the same day.

I'd rather give it away than wait weeks for someone to come and buy it for a couple of quid.

Just completely blank their messages, they'll soon get bored.

I have a friend who comments on this too. I just ignore. But yes, it is annoying that they can't mind their own business.

I have moved from two large properties into one medium size flat, and I have to get rid of masses of stuff. I just want it gone quickly and don't need the money, so I give it away for free. It has actually been really interesting to meet some of the people who have come to get stuff.

I had similar when I moved house, I sold a bunch of furniture on fb marketplace and every time a relative would see it and leave a comment like ’ooh getting rid of this are we?’ ‘Nobody is paying that!’ It was weirdly annoying and I’m not normally bothered by things like that!!

In the end I didn’t engage and they stopped. If anything it looked a bit embarrassing that they commented on each one and I never replied! I think now you can ‘hide’ marketplace items from friends which is a good feature.

I know you want to tell them to sling their hook but maybe you could try ignoring them and see what happens. And yes, wanting your stuff to sell on is likely!

My mum is like this and it drives me mad, I put my dog's crate on my local FB group for free, this was 2 years ago and she still wangs on about it. It only cost £40 and I had it for 12 bloody years, she thinks I should've got at least £30 for it.

She's still got my dad's bike in garage from when he died 12 years ago, tried to sell it on market place, FB groups but nothing. I suggested giving it to a local bike charity but she won't, and won't drop the price any further so it still sits there. She complains constantly about it taking up space too 🙄

That is annoying! I like to sell stuff but also there is definitely a time and place for giving stuff away.

We are doing some renovation work and needed to clear things quickly. My mom noticed that I was giving stuff for free and actually told me how great it was that I was willing to give it for nothing. My dad asked me why I wasn't selling some things 🙄 I explained I needed to get rid of them ASAP.

Certain things are also just not worth selling. Gave our sofa away for free last week... It was 7 years old, nothing special and people who will want it are likely to need a van to collect. They might have to PAY for a van. The payment for the van makes the item worth basically NOTHING.

This would never happen in my family, we're all too straight forward. Besides if we have anything to give away, we would call eachother or call 1or2 people and it would spread fast! Not so much anymore now that people have died off. Anyway, to the OP if u haven't solved this by now may I ask, are your in-laws particularly religious, it would show them up and drag a few coppers out of their purse too if you just say "but mother, I'm doing the Lords work, your time would be better spent helping me rather than coverting everything i give away, would you like to donate anything yourself, im sorry if im stealing the limelight as i know you and father like to donate heavily!!?!"

1. You can always tell the moderater and they'll ask you what u would like to happen going forward in terms of banning or shadow banning etc. I actually like the fake account option someone suggested on here, but I think for different reasons, I think she'd know it was you giving your stuff away but she won't be able to prove it cos you can be on the group page in both accounts, it would drive them crazy!! Lmao!! However, I suppose the most grown up thing you could do is take her out for high Tea with the little sandwiches n cakes (I heard that The Ritz is the place for that cos the food n tea/champagne is unlimited. But u could just go fortnum&Mason (they do a lively afternoon tea) and have a grown up conversation about all this 🙄😏 but then... after you could take a stroll to the local soup kitchen and give the hungry n homeless their lunch?! 😁