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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to sell the item I just got off freecycle?

192 replies

2point4kids · 24/11/2008 13:32

I use freecycle a lot. I offer things I dont need/use any more and I accept things that I would find useful. Probably offer as much as I accept.

Today I collected an item that I asked for as it would be handy for me and I will use it.
I just collected it and its in much better condition than I expected, with extras too.

I am very strapped for cash at the moment (arent we all?) and I am selling off as much of our stuff as will make money on ebay and here to try and make a few extra pennies.

If I dont sell it, I will use it and it will be useful but I dont need it and thats the criteria that I am selling off my own stuff on...so....

AIBU to sell on this freecycle item? Could make me about £30...

OP posts:
asif · 24/11/2008 17:24

YABU

someone could have got your item and actually been grateful for it

put it back on freecycle

morningpaper · 24/11/2008 17:26

Funnily enough, I discoverd recently that a laptop I put on Freecycle was sold IN A PUB IN YEOVIL to my cousin

which is a freaky coincidence

chloemegjess · 24/11/2008 17:45

It is a hard one. I don't think that getting stuff on freecycle to sell is right at all, and it really annoys me that people do it.

BUT if it is just a one off and you didn't really intend to then it isn't THAT bad. Still not completely right but I don't think you are being really awful or anything.

I don't think I could do it. I got a lovely double buggy recently on there. It did cross my mind that I could easily get a good £100 out of it as it was almost new with all the accessories, but I don't have the nerve to do it. Plus I do need the buggy anyway!

I know how you feel though really needing the money. Although I find when you sell stuff in ebay you get a crap price anyway and have the listing fees etc.

loobeylou · 24/11/2008 17:51

I think it's wrong personally bacause whatever the item was you can bet the giver had a queue of other hopeful people, some of whom may be very needy.

When i gave away moses basket, highchair, play mat, baby bath etc, it went to a young teenage mum with no support from her ex BF

in very few freecycle posts the giver says they have a bag of odds and ends that might suit a boot fair-er, but otherwise it is not on.

pointydog · 24/11/2008 17:58

YABU

Saz36 · 24/11/2008 18:10

sorry but I think YAB slightly U. We use freecycle a lot but reading your post makes me think about whether to donate to Freecycle in future. We got a new TV last Xmas and donated our old one. A family came round the day before xmas eve to collect it as theirs had blown up and they couldn't afford to buy a new one and were delighted to get our old TV. Maybe I am being a bit naive but thats what I thought the spirit of Freecycle is all about.

VanillaPumpkin · 24/11/2008 18:13

YABU

Littleladyloulou · 24/11/2008 18:16

Freecycle it back

What goes around comes around

I know it's hard when you are strapped. But you may really, really need something in the future only for it to go to a "needy" case who promptly sells it on. Freecycle should be kept pure of this behaviour otherwise it puts people off and will ultimately ruin it for everyone.

Who's to say whatever you buy with the £30 won't bring you bad luck because it was not earned or gained in an honest way... Not saying it will of course, but I'm superstitious like that....

BriccoliSpoors · 24/11/2008 18:19

YANBU.

Freecycle is not about giving people a warm glow because they donated their old crap to the needy, it's about keeping stuff out of landfill. If the woman wanted to Do Good by giving away the item she could have given it to a charity shop or a local hospice. If she had wanted to make money from it she could have sold it. She gave it to you and now it is yours to do whatever you wish with it. Burn it, sell it, make it into an amusing piece of modern art, whatever you want. It's yours.

You cannot put conditions on things you give away.

BriccoliSpoors · 24/11/2008 18:21

llll - Freecycle cannot possibly be "kept pure" of this sort of thing . How would you ever know?

MadMarg · 24/11/2008 18:24

Well, I think YANBU. If the poster didn't specifically say no e-bayers, and your freecycle doesn't say it's against the rules (some do, some don't) then it wouldn't bother me too much.

How often does someone who 'really need it' actually manage to get anything from freecycle? The freecycle group I was on (a London one so possibly very busy) used to have good things go within 5 minutes. I mean, seriously, how many 'needy' people have a chance to grab things like that? I've always suspected it's people who have email linked to phones, etc, that manage to get these things, not single mums etc.

It was the 'wanted's that used to annoy me more!!!!

shouldbeironing · 24/11/2008 18:26

I think you have to go with your own conscience - you didnt get it with the intention of selling it and it is not an essential item by the sound of it so if you really really need the money I think it is okay - if I had freecycled it and the person was in such need that they had to sell it then I would not mind.

bubblerock · 24/11/2008 18:31

I personally haven't and wouldn't sell anything received from freecycle - and I am always looking for ways to make money but it's just not right. On the other hand, if you think it's okay then bung it on Ebay and make a profit - it's not like you need permission from MN.

morningpaper · 24/11/2008 19:32

BriccoliSpoors - spot on

It's not about THE NEEDY - it's about saving stuff from landfill. That's IT.

Pannacotta · 24/11/2008 19:46

Agree with mp and BS, freecycle isn't a charity cause, its an eco cause, aiming to reduce landfill and no more.
If you can make a bit of money and won't miss it then go ahead and sell it and use the money towards real essentials.
Perhaps next time, better not to ask on MN...

panni · 24/11/2008 19:46

In an ideal world you should put it back on freecycle but this isn't an ideal world, and lets face it, most of us would do the same thing if we were desperate for money.

Anyone who says they wouldn't is lying!

Umlellala · 24/11/2008 19:58

Gawd, I agree with MP and Broccoli, if I put something on freecycle, it's because I want it out of my house and can't be arsed to sell it. If someone else does, good luck to them as long as they collect promptly and say thank you

PinkChick · 24/11/2008 19:59

if you are in a position were you are that strapped for cash at minute i wouldnt blame you for doing it..i bet there are 1000's of people doing/have done it with no concience at all.

morningpaper · 24/11/2008 20:08

well they shouldn't have any conscience

If you picked it up, and then drove it to the tip and dumped it, THEN you would be doing a Bad Thing

Selling it on is absolutely fine

Umlellala · 24/11/2008 20:10

Actually though, asking for something then selling it on seems slightly more dubious than collecting things people advertised. Though still presumably the people didn't want them IMO.

NotanOtter · 24/11/2008 20:10

YABU very unreasonable

freecycle is not profit making - not nice

I like freecycle and people like you give it a bad name

PillockOfTheCommunity · 24/11/2008 20:11

YABVU
use it, or freecycle it on again

sagacious · 24/11/2008 20:16

What Umlellala said

Original poster
2point4kids · 24/11/2008 20:19

I didnt 'ask' for it as such. I just sent an email in response to an offered post asking if I could have it iyswim

OP posts:
Umlellala · 24/11/2008 20:23

Oh, well then, what I (and MP et al) said before - do what you want with it (as long as it's environmentally friendly ). Maybe send some choc to the freecycler who gave it to you (always goes down well here)