to have posted this on freecycle?

[QueenOfFlamingEverything]

I have offered some stuff on freecycle over the weekend as we are moving soon and need to clear out. It included DD's old all-terrain pushchair and a few large toys.

Anyway lots of people replied, and despite my explaining in the original 'offer' posts that I use the 'fair offer policy' (ie waiting 24 hours to give those without a home computer time to respond), one woman emailed me five times with increasing arseyness wanting something and demandong a reply with my contact number, and another woman three times. All within hours of the post going up.

All things are now off to new homes so I put up this 'taken' post - "These have all now found new homes. Can I just say again that I use the 'fair offer policy' as set out in the rules and etiquette file - so it will always be at least 24 hours before items are given
away, in order to give everyone a chance to respond. Anyone who sends multiple
emails within this time asking for a decision will just be ignored."

Anyway now the arsey woman has emailed me again and I don't want to read it!

I like the ones who ov. have an autoreply on any freecycle emails that get sent to them.
I posted a few items in one email and said to let me know which item they were interested in, I got a reply which said 'I am interested in your item, when can I collect?' I was like 'which item??' and didn't bother replying

lol, silly cow. There are some complete plonkers on fc. Don't bother emailing her, just make absolutely certain that you NEVER give her anything................ actually I might be tempted to email her back saying that she's been very rude and that she shouldn't bother replying to any of your offers in the future because she won't be getting anything!

Blimey. Shouty shouty tastic.

I would agree that sending the email directly to the moderators would be the adult way to behave.

Although SKBs response is very tempting

Since SGB's response will go over her head I would email her back explaining that it is you as the donor who decides how and to whom you dispose of items, explaining that as in real life, those who are rude generally don't get. I would copy the mods in.

I have to say this is why I eventually gave up with freecycle: whenever I posted anything I would get a couple of lovely emails and twice as many rude, grabbing emails demanding to know additional details and whether I could deliver as it really wasn't convenient for them to pick up a moses basket as they had a baby (disregrading the fact that since I was getting rid of one I probably did too!) .

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn

Well, I forwarded it to the moderators who replied to say they will be asking her for 'further details' so they can try to resolve the matter

How does freecycle work then? It sounds from messages above that it goes to whoever is most 'deserving'? Doesn't that lead to people making up sob stories or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

I assumed it would be first come first served, not that I've ever used it.

They recommend you use the fair offer policy just so that everyone gets a chance to reply. Some people only get a daily email whereas some people get each individual offer sent to their inboxes, and not everyone has a home computer, or sits in fromt of it 24/7 watching for items they want.

I am not so much bothered about 'deserving' as polite! The sob stories are against our local rules anyway, though people still send them.

Ah that makes sense, thank you.

Her sentence doesn't make sense.

There is a school of thought along the lines of, it doesn't matter who the thing goes to so long as it isnt in landfill.

But I do think that its unfair if things always go to the people who are sat watching the screen all day and reply fastest, especially if all they say is 'hi have you got this still plz send me contact no'. Manners are also free!

Fab - I think she means 'always' not 'ALL WAS'. Does that make more sense?

What a nutter. People like this are why I no longer bother with freecycle.

I ignore any replies that;

1. say "I'll have it, when can I collect?"
2. Badger me when I've stated I'll take 2 days to pick someone at random due to fair offerpolicy
3. Use txt

Unless they are the only reply of course.

Queen - yes, that sounds better. If her daughter is on freecycle all day she should know how it works.

If her daughter is on Freecycle "all day" then she is probably using it to supplement her income.

I choose people based largely on immediate need. I've given away a load of baby stuff and I've tended to give it to the people that actually have one rather than the ones who are pregnant.

I have to say I always wondered what FOP was I use freecycle a bit and have mostly used a 'first come first serve' thing, unless the people are rude, when getting rid of things but might start doing the FOP thing instead.

I have found it much easier donating to the charity shop of yur choice. Often they will come and pick larger items up if you are struggling. And you are not dealing with loads of people.

Blimey. My posts on freecycle now specify "Polite responses only please; please let me know why you want this item and please note that I operate a Fair Offer Policy. I will not respond to any messages which just say "can I have it?"" And I still tend to get 3 or 4 each time that just say "phone me on xxx, when can i collect"

Definitely forward to the mods, though, as this woman sounds like a bit of a 'mare.

I'm quite active on my local freecycle and give and get loads. I usually offer to people who have given me stuff in the past or alternatively to any random person who types a polite request (no sob story required). I always wonder if the people who write "I'll have this plz" and nothing else, ever get offers.

I always do a search to see if the person is a regular - ie has offered stuff themselves or has posted to thank someone. I tend to give priority to people like that, unless I just want rid of something desperately.

The local moderator has just replied to tell me they have given her a first warning (local group has a two strikes and out policy) and explained to her a) the fair offer policy, b) that people are quite within their rights to donate to anyone they choose.