to think this is rude

[OneGreatUmberZebra]

Ok I know there are bigger problems in the world at the moment but,

Is this woman a huge CF?!

There are two facebook groups for our village, a ‘Freecycle’ type group ie
stuff you want rid of, no good for selling but someone could still make use of.
And, a Pet Food Bank.
Both these groups are run by the same woman.

Posts on the freecycle group will go for admin approval,

Generally what happens with the freecycle group is that people will snap things up pretty fast and they will collect them from you. I’ve given quite a few things away on there over the years to very grateful people!

With the Pet Foodbank, she emphasises that she does NOT collect items, you have to get them to her.

The other day, the owner / admin posted on the freecycle group to announce that she would no longer be approving any posts with Pet items to give away. All Pet items need to be going straight to her at the pet food bank (whether its food or other items like collars, leads etc) and she will now be declining any posts with such items.

Is she being a CF? Surely there are other people who may not need food from her, but they would still like other things for their pets?

She’s saying this and still expects you to take the items to her! I’m speechless!?

So, she is unilaterally deciding that pet items cannot be given away for free to other villagers on the Freecycle type FB page and insisting they go direct to her Pet Bank. Well, she can do that but I can see how some people might think she's the Pet stuff mafia! Why not set up another FB page with your own rules that get round this issue?

We had the same situation for a baby bank. The rules of the local freecycle stipulated that only local people could join the group however one of the admins was intercepting all baby items and then distributing them via her own charity across the city.

There are lots of people of v.low incomes in the area who weren’t getting a look in for pushchairs, clothes, cots etc and in the end someone called her out. It wasn’t that her intentions weren’t good, but people wanted their stuff to go locally rather than all of it getting intercepted by a childminder for her own charity. It was super awkward because she wasn’t doing it maliciously, but she was told to stop by the other admins and then understandably she left the group.

Maybe a dog bank is a bit different but it’s a similar principle. It is irritating when you want a bargain and everything gets snapped up by the admins.

Join a different free stuff group in your nearest big town and give the pet food away that way. Or just offer it on your own FB. Or take it to your nearest supermarket that has a donations trolley. Or post something for her approval specifying you are not able to deliver and see what she does. I bet she won't actually want you to bin the food when it could go to some needy pets.

I know where you're coming from, honestly, but it's just a Freecycle group.

I am wary of ‘admin’ on facebook. Our village used to have an open facebook page. Then about three people decided they would be ‘admin’ and monitor posts etc. Who elected them ! ?

Her groups. Her rules.
Set up groups of your own.

Thank you 😊

I think i get it (tho I had to read your post a few times to understand the difference). It’s the fact that you have to take items to her.

as someone without transport this would be a huge issue. Plus it’s weird that she’s kinda making more work for herself.

but honestly to just post it elsewhere on Facebook I do t think it’s that worth getting so worked up about how she spends her time and what rewards she takes for that time. It’s a free market innit

I can see both sides as I'm sure people who use a Pet Food Bank may also struggle to buy other supplies for their animals. Perhaps it would have been received better if she simply encouraged anyone giving away Pet Stuff to consider donating it to the Pet Food Bank. However, she's running the groups and nobody is forced to join. If someone has a donation and no way to deliver it can they not post and ask if anyone could take it for them (there are probably people who make regular trips)?

But those who need stuff for their pets could just get in touch with her. Or have I misunderstood?
I very much doubt she alone is profiting from any of it. And you can’t seriously expect her to go round collecting everyone’s donations, especially on top of all the admin she’ll already be doing.

YABtotallyU.

I don’t see why you or someone else can’t set up a ‘pet stuff for free’ FB page.

I don't know what a CF is

Did she set them up? If so, they’re her pages and she can change the rules to whatever she likes. If you don’t like that rule, then you’re free to set up your own page.

If it’s a community page and she’s just come along as a moderator and decided to change the rules without so much as a by your leave, then fair enough, you have a point.

Is there really so much pet related paraphernalia in one village that it makes a big difference? And if it’s all going to help people in need of it, is it that much of a problem?

Our village has a bench by a wall, where unwanted stuff (usually wrapped in clear polybag), can be left for any1 to take away free. Items vanish in minutes.
Seems to work perfectly.

Cheeky fucker

Cheeky Fucker

I would have thought that was totally obvious, in the way you've replied to other posters. You sound as if you live in the village or know the set up personally. Not that difficult to understand.
Also, up thread you called someone else rude then ask me wtaf am I on about😁

You don’t like it, set up your own group. She can make her own rules.

Don’t worry, it’s a very big coincidence, but I have a feeling I know who this person is 🙄🙄

And the answer still is, set up and run your own group if you don't like her terms.

You may be inundated.

Thanks for that one, I was taking the piss actually 😁

But if someone couldn't get the items to her they would still have the option to list them for free on Facebook marketplace or something and have people come pick them up, right? I'm assuming this is a volunteer service that this woman is providing for her community, so she can set up whatever stipulation she likes. If people don't like it I suppose they could set up a rival group.

If you are refering to me what's my first intial, I will be honest and tell you if you are correct.

no, not you, somebody further up the thread whose name has escaped me!

Someone will have set up that page, they don't just appear on their own. That person will be the de facto Admin. They might have become overwhelmed or bored and asked others to help. I'm in some pretty big FB groups and there are often appeals for people to join the Admin team. In my experience, it's the groups that have one Admin and won't allow others to help that you should be wary of. They can get very weird.

She's neither rude nor cheeky. She can accept or decline whatever items she wants to on her own Facebook group. You know she's not obliged to be whatever you want her to be, yes?