Crazies on auction sites/freecycle...

sandy71

Another thing I do is narrow it down to people I might give it to then check on the site to see what they have offered. It's amazing how many people have only posted wants but never given:mad:

pitkin2020

I don't know why it takes so long for people to decide who gets an item you advertised. I always give it to the first person to reply who is polite. How can you judge who deserves something you are offering over someone else, you don't know them, you don't know anything about them.

As for freecycle some people really have high expectations, some of the asks lately have been a laptop with windows 7, a car with MOT and TAX, a newish leather 3 piece suite and loads of other outlandish stuff.

soolin

Out of interest I just logged into my Freegle (or whatever they changed it to), whilst most in my areas are offer there are at least 3 people asking for working laptops.

I'm going to put up a load of books again, they weren't taken last time I tried.

flea72

pitkin2020 wrote: »

I don't know why it takes so long for people to decide who gets an item you advertised. I always give it to the first person to reply who is polite. How can you judge who deserves something you are offering over someone else, you don't know them, you don't know anything about them

some people have their mail set up to send a reply to every post (or ones with keywords), so by giving to the first person to reply, you may not actually be giving to somone who needs the item, but more likely someone who will be selling the item on

i know sellers are supposed to let people know their intentions, but the reality is, they dont

i think most people though, do check a persons history on the group, to see what they offer - personally i would prefer it, if people also made it public in their 'taken' posts, which member collected the item

However, if you dont care who has the item, as you just want rid, asap, then its your choice to give to the first person to reply

F

soolin

When I freecycled 2 sofas last year they went to a dealer pretending to be someone in need. However my only other offers were from people asking if i could drop them off (no) or whether a three piece high backed leather reclining suite would fit in a volvo (no). So a man in a van was welcome as otherwise I would have faced saying someone to take them away.

thepedestrian

Typical example of Freeglle in our area

"Wanted - Working laptop pref dual core but whatever and a 19 or prefer 22 inch monitor ( must be TFT or dont bother ) any one got a 50 inch or bigger working plasma screen they no longer need wii or iphone ( working and at least 3rd gen )

also can you deliver as Im too tired and worn out to even wipe my own @rse"

Strapped

I give to the first person to reply. Anything else is - for me - just too patronising.

frivolous_fay

Strapped wrote: »

I give to the first person to reply. Anything else is - for me - just too patronising.

What if the first person sounds greedy, or insists you phone them to make arrangements, or wants you to deliver, or they're a serial 'Wanted' poster?

I give it 24 hours.... or close. Otherwise, you invariably end up giving it to someone and then getting a message from someone who sounds like they need it more.

Strapped

frivolous_fay wrote: »

What if the first person sounds greedy, or insists you phone them to make arrangements, or wants you to deliver, or they're a serial 'Wanted' poster?

I give it 24 hours.... or close. Otherwise, you invariably end up giving it to someone and then getting a message from someone who sounds like they need it more.

I don't care, tbh, if people want stuff to resell. I don't like the idea of judging "who is the most worthy" and putting people in a position where they feel they have to beg. For me, Freecycle is about recycling stuff. I agree not everyone feels the same, and some feel more comfortable with the "charity" aspect.

wigglebeena

I had someone tell (!) me to post a (large, heavy) item... without offering to pay a penny to costs too. This was before I'd even offered them it...