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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Freecycle has turned into a nasty greedfest?

99 replies

stickybeaker · 03/04/2009 19:12

I used Freecycle 2 years ago when pregnant with DD. I got some great stuff for which I was REALLY grateful. I was polite, collected on time etc. I also responded to other peoples (reasonable) requests and offered stuff I no longer needed.

Cut to now... I went back on there (signed up to start receiving emails again), as I'd really like a sofabed but can't justify buying one. Anyway, I am horrified at peoples 'needs'. Every day someone asks for a car, there's been requests for flat screen TVs, tumbledryers/washing machines/dishwashers/ X-boxes & pets (which I REALLY don't understand). There are also always posts re-offering stuff due to non-collectors (who are these people?) Is this a nationwide thing or just the South East??? It's horrible. People don't even give good reasons for their unreasonable requests, and they aren't polite about it.

I'm going to stop looking because it's doing my head in. Deep breath....

OP posts:
littlelamb · 03/04/2009 19:15

YANBU
I gave 3 things away this week and some of the replies I got were unbelievable, and obviously some people get the stuff to sell on- I find it hard to believe the number of people who replied wanting all 3 things. I had people who replied with just 'I'll take this- call me on....' No please, nothing.
I chose the people I thought were politest, but even then did not get a quick email to say thank you afterwards.
I think in future, I'd rather just give to charity.

FAQinglovely · 03/04/2009 19:17

what's wrong with asking for tumble driers or washing machines (or fridges or freezers?) I've seen these advertised as offered many times on the several years I've been using it.

Original poster
stickybeaker · 03/04/2009 19:19

That reminds me - the last thing I offered unfortunately went to the only person who responded. She said 'I'll take it off your hands' - it's just rude.

Oh and something else that someone came to collect whilst I was out - she said she didn't want to come to the door as she could hear the dog barking (WTF was he going to do??? beat down the door and savage her?)

OP posts:
QuantitativeMeasure · 03/04/2009 19:19

We take all our stuff to a furniture project in a really deprived area of BHam ( it was on the SEcret Millionaire).

I wouldnt put it on Freecycle after reading vrious stories about the vultures on there.

MANATEEequineOHARA · 03/04/2009 19:20

This is why I left Freecycle, it was driving me mad! Not only was it full of greed, but also people arguing over greed/point of freecycle, porn on hard drives, that kind of thing! Madness!

I did get my fridge on Freecycle from a very kind man who dropped it around, and some geography journals which is cool cos I am doing a geography degree! I got rid of some tiles, a car bed and possibly more but I cannot remember! It has its uses but it just started to really annoy me!

Original poster
stickybeaker · 03/04/2009 19:21

It's the WAY that people ask for stuff FAQ. I think that they are reasonable requests sometimes, but there have been ones recently about people buying their first home and having 'nothing' and being 'desperate'. Surely these are essentials that should be budgeted for?

OP posts:
kazbeth · 03/04/2009 19:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
stickybeaker · 03/04/2009 19:22

oh people argued on freecycle? Tell me more...

OP posts:
PrammyMammy · 03/04/2009 19:24

Oo i offered my old fridge on freecycle, i got lots of replies asking how many shelves it had and if it was still bright white lol. It went to a lovely couple starting a new home. Before they collected it though i was starting to think maybe it wasn't good enough and i should just skip it because it wasn't white or new enough.

Original poster
stickybeaker · 03/04/2009 19:24

Kaz - 2 years ago ours did seem small and friendly. It's obvioulsy got huge and therein lies the problem?

OP posts:
Original poster
stickybeaker · 03/04/2009 19:25

The stupidest thing I offered was a mobile phone. Never again.

OP posts:
herladyship · 03/04/2009 19:27

the only posts that get me are the regular..

'we just got a rabbit for our son, and now desperately need a hutch for him to live in'

maybe in future get the pet accomodation BEFORE the pet??

herladyship · 03/04/2009 19:28

lol, i presume they mean the pet, NOT their son!

GreenPeas · 03/04/2009 19:28

I'm with you stickybeaker. I used to be prepared to put up with an inbox full of 'grabby' responses but it became so hard to filter out the 'genuine' requests that I gave up. Fortunately we have a very active local community forum that I now use to offload small stuff and larger items of furniture (doesn't happen very often!) get offered to charity.

FAQinglovely · 03/04/2009 19:29

Prammy - but you know some people that genuinely do need the stuff often wait until somethinng "good" enough comes up.

My DH is desperate for furniture - no kidding in his (very large) lounge diner he has

a piano (mine - but now don't have the heart to freecycle it as he's using it to put photos of the DS's on)
a tiny square single sofa bed - which he's using as an arm chair
a computer desk and chair

ermm - and that's it - no washing machine, spent nearly 3 weeks sleeping on the floor until a bed in reasonable condition came up

He's also got an ancient sofa bed (which is worse than sleeping on the floor!) - when he had the DS's to stay last weekend DS1 slept on the single sofa bed (so he was sitting on the floor in the evening once they were in bed), DS3 slept in the travel cot, and DS2 on the big sofa bed.

Original poster
stickybeaker · 03/04/2009 19:31

oh yes about the pet thing...

There was one last week about someone wanting a hamster as their son's had just died that evening and wanted to replace it as the children were sad.

Now IMHO - it's important to feel grief, know that creatures aren't replacable, and FFS hamsters are about £3.

OP posts:
Original poster
stickybeaker · 03/04/2009 19:34

From what I've seen, 99 out of 100 washing machines that are offered are broken in some way which is why they're being replaced. I presume most people who have something decent stick it on ebay.

OP posts:
FAQinglovely · 03/04/2009 19:36

nope - had fully working ones on our local one (and it' only a smallish group), just missed out on a couple of them while looking for DH.

PrammyMammy · 03/04/2009 19:38

faq, if i didn't have a fridge, i wouldn't mind what colour it was tbh, but that's just me i guess.

Eve4Walle · 03/04/2009 19:44

YANBU. This really winds me up too.

People in my local group (also in the South) ask for all sorts - laptops, cars, washing machines etc. Now I know that some people have a genuine need but these requests really get my goat because I think if you really need something, you should save for it like I had to! It also annoys me when people ask for things to be delivered to them - I'd never be so cheeky. People are generally rude I find.

I don't go on Freecycle much these days, but I have given quite a bit away this week, including a table and my steriliser, and didn't get any sort of thanks for either.

Queenoftheharpies · 03/04/2009 19:45

I've never encountered any problem with ludicrous requests on freecycle. But my area is pretty bohemian and there are lot of green types who take it very seriously.

I think the board I'm on is heavily moderated to make sure requests are reasonable - I can't see a request for an X-box being allowed. AFAIK there's also a ban on pets being offered.

I've given away broken stuff on the understanding that it was broken - computer components for example that can be taken apart and used by electronics buffs.

Maybe you should volunteer as a moderator?

FAQinglovely · 03/04/2009 19:47

" because I think if you really need something, you should save for it like I had to! It also annoys me when people ask for things to be delivered to them -"

ok so how would you suggest that someone who has a grand total of £60.50 a week to pay for absolutely everything (except council tax), is supposed to save up for a washing machine, or sofa, or a table and chairs???

And if they have no car are they supposed to carry the washing machine down the road???

Eve4Walle · 03/04/2009 19:52

I've lived on that money a week. Been there, done it. I had no washing machine or tumble drier when DD was born, and used the launderette which was a 20 minute bus ride away. So I do know how it is.

FAQinglovely · 03/04/2009 19:52

when DD was born? So you had child benefit and possibly CTC?? How did you pay for your housing?

Eve4Walle · 03/04/2009 19:54

I didn't pay for my housing. I was in receipt of full housing benefit.

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