Some of the necky scroungers on freecycle are really starting to hack me off.......

[yorkshirepudding]

Message withdrawn

There were a lot of begging ones in the last area I was in till the mods put a stop to it and forbade people from adding in details of their personal financial situation on wanted ads.

BS that Taxi one takes the biscuit!

I was miffed once because I was giving away a table, stated it didn't come to bits, gave dimensions said would need big car etc.

Man wanted it, waited until it was convenient for him (not for me as had to get shot before decorators started) He arrived in a small/med hatchback and tried to put it through the sunroof when I (fairy obviously) wouldn't go in the back.

I drive a big old tank, so I got the neighbour to sit the DCs emptied all the car seats/buggies our and lay all the seats down and delivered it for him - I could not be arsed to go through all the posting it again just to get some other idiot without the correct transport!

Wish I'd thought of the 'pretending it was big for a laugh' bit

It's a bit like inviting jackdaws to rifle your jewellery box though isn't it. We were clearing out a garage and I listed 52 things one weekend.

Obviously quite a few people got in touch. One guy wanted everything, I told him to feck off - he was obv a trader, some young couples who were starting off turned up, gave them a heap of stuff, then people turned up who hadn't got in touch said 'oh we knew where you were because you often offer stuff and we thought we'd come and see what you had left'

As it was the end of the weekend I said: fine take whatever is left. They duly picked up everything in the garage - including the shelves into their big white van and trolleyed off.

Wasn't till they'd gone that I realised they had conveniently collected three bin bags full of rubbish that was due to go in the bins . Had no clue who they were so couldn't warn them....shame!

Oh and hilarious one, I advertised a coffee maker - said I have never used it, don't even know if it works so if anyone wants to give it a go they are welcome. Chap turned up, a year later emails to say 'there is a bit missing - do you have it'

Oh my god that is funny - a year!!

Have you tried efreeko? It's a website where people advertise stuff and you just pay the postage?

efreeko sounds good.

i've got some good stuff to offer, but i can't be bothered with freecyle.

give it a go - I have got a couple of things from there - a CD and a jumper for my LO and I was really pleased! The people seem to be genuine as they are not there to make cash.

I think it should only be allowed to post 'offered' ads, that way nobody could take the piss too much. You'd still get the usual people asking/demanding in reply, but at least the message list wouldn't be full of begging and stupid requests.

but you need people to take the offered's. it also reminds people of what they have. i have just given away a rabbit hutch in response to a wanted.
i agree some people take the piss

whoever asked about givimng a bottle of wine- a gift is fine. it's against the rules to say you will as payment for csomething but to just give is ok

I gave away a pram (quinny zapp-slightly worse for wear) and some nappies and a few other bits to a family and they were lovely and bought me a plant to say thankyou. That was lovely, I didn't really expect anything, It was just nice to get a thankyou and a pleasant conversation.

On the other hand I gave away a highchair to someone and they were so rude, practically grabbed it off me. Didn't say thankyou or so much as smile-very fustrating.

Sometimes though it's handy when a trader type wants something - I had a largish item I wanted rid of. I had got it from freecycle myself but it wasn't really what I needed plus it didn't seem to be exactly working properly. I wouldn't have wanted to lumber a genuine freecycler with it just in case but the people who took it definitely seemed to be the trader type so had no qualms on off-loading it on them!

i agree about wanted ads sometimes being useful- i've got a ton of baby stuff, but don't want to list it yet as a pregnant friend is going to "pick through" as payment for babysitting for me (luckily, we're broke lol), but i've replied to a couple of wanted ads for baby stuff saying if they drop me an email so i can contact them, i'll let them know when she's got her bits so they can come and have a look. Also, a lady was asking for size 8 clothes- knew i had a pair of trousers i bought years ago that i never got round to taking up (i'm short!), so let her know- however, she never turned up today, so quite annoyed!! But although I've never listed stuff, I went to collect a (very faded and old) cozy coupe car for my daughter today- very very pleased!! And yet I'm sure some people would have gone to collect it and changed their minds because of the condition!