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Gobsmacking stories of WASTE

21 replies

JoolsToo · 24/05/2007 18:31

OK all this talk of separating and recycling everything including the ubiquitous kitchen sink reminded me of the ultimate in wastefulness (well maybe not ultimate but pretty shocking nonetheless).

Dear friends moved house recently(for the umpteenth time but that's another story) and yet again had to prune their furniture as the next house is smaller again.

Anyway, lovely cream sofa with two lots of covers, one cream (obviously) and one navy blue. Would the Sally Army have it? NO
why? because it's loose covers!

So they tipped it. It's criminal I tell you criminal. OK so there maybe some H&S legislation that prevents them taking it but what is the difference of loose covers in your own house and it being shipped to some deserving cause's house? Someone would have been chuffed to mintballs with that sofa.

OP posts:
DaddyCool · 24/05/2007 18:34

haven't seen you for ages Jools.

yeah, i hate this. DW and I have a car boot every year or two. That way it goes to someone who wants it and you get a few pennies for it as well.

also, we like standing at our stall taking the piss out of all freaky folk.

RubberDuck · 24/05/2007 18:35

We had a similar problem with trying to get someone to take our old bed. Because the mattress wasn't pristine (and it wasn't filthy - just normal wear and tear of an old bed) they wouldn't take the rest of it (but surely the divan bit at least would have been suitable?!!)

southeastastra · 24/05/2007 18:36

blimey they could have freecycled it or ebayed it

iota · 24/05/2007 18:37

I was going to suggest Freecycle SEA

JoolsToo · 24/05/2007 18:37

DC - I was Nadine

Bloody hell though car boots the customers drive a hard bargain do they not?!

ducky - i find it infuriating we're told not to waste yet perfectly acceptable furniture is sniffed at whereas you know there are people out there who'd snatch yourhand off if they knew about it.

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 24/05/2007 18:38

well for one they have no PC and two it was too late, they were moving the next week.

But why wouldn't the charity take it?????????

It's a piss poor excuse if you ask me.

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misdee · 24/05/2007 18:39

before freecycle we had two good sofas which we were getting rid off. the charity shop wouldnt take one as it had the smallest tear on the back of it. was repairable. i asked if i repaired it would they take it 'no'.

it ended up in my kitchen for months being bounced on by the kids and ended up being tipped as well.

so for now, freecycle is the way to go with unwanted furniture. i have gotton rid of two tables and chairs, pc table, bed, prams, pans, kitchen equipment etc etc. its been marvellous. i also picked up a nifty pair of skates for me lol.

DaddyCool · 24/05/2007 18:40

oh tell me about it. some old fart offered 5p for a 10p bowl. dw told her she'd rather give it away than sell it to her for 5p

nanninurse · 24/05/2007 18:40

It would have gone like a shot on feecycle...

Califrau · 24/05/2007 18:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 24/05/2007 18:41

Are you sure it was because of the loose covers and not because those fire tag thingies were missing?

misdee · 24/05/2007 18:43

califrau i got the girls dolls house like that, old gent was putting it by his fence with for sale written on it as i was passing.

I also left a pc chair and some shelves and they went walkies, saved me dealing with them!

NoodleStroodle · 24/05/2007 18:44

We've left quite alot at the front of our house with FREE written on it and it nearly always goes. If not freecycle.

SoupDragon · 24/05/2007 18:47

I've never thought of leaving stuff out on the drive with "free" on it.

tubismybub · 24/05/2007 18:47

Whenever my brother clears out his kids playroom everything just goes straight to the tip he doesn't take anything to charity shops or ask around if people might want it.

Personally I think he's totally thoughtless as more than once he's thrown away stuff that would be great as a hand me down to DS and I would have been happy to give some money for stuff (particularly the never been used pushchair that went to the tip grrr!)

Hate waste

southeastastra · 24/05/2007 18:49

last year they were gutting out the house next door and throwing loads into a skip. one man asked if he could have it and spent the day walking back and forward collecting a fridge, cups, pans and a great big roll of carpet.

JoolsToo · 24/05/2007 18:51

they definitely said it was because it was 'loose covers'

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SoupDragon · 24/05/2007 18:54

How bizarre.

j20baby · 29/05/2007 21:00

a charity shop wouldn't take a sofa i had because it didn't have a fire label on it, i put it in my fromnt garden and it got nicked that night

cathcart · 29/05/2007 21:06

i had a piano that i literally couldn't give away - i asked schools, community centre, church hall, residential and emi homes and advertised in local paper etc. looked like we were going to have to dump it as we just did not have the room, until i heard of a guy who was building a village school in africa, he was made up and organised for it to be sent over!

macmama73 · 29/05/2007 21:16

My parents got rid of their complete kitchen by putting it in the garden with FREE on it. Only took about 3 hours before the last item was gone.

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