Freecle / freecycle and balloons on sticks

Crocswearer

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

I gave away our old Cosy Coupe on FreeCycle

I posted it here because of the "wanting to see a smile on my grandson's dear little face" aspect, rather than the actual request, which seemed very reasonable.

dizziblonde

Crocswearer wrote: »

I posted it here because of the "wanting to see a smile on my grandson's dear little face" aspect, rather than the actual request, which seemed very reasonable.

Yep - I've mentioned this one before but before Christmas a couple of years ago there was a request, urgently (on like the 23rd December) for an Nintendo DS with the long sob story about how her parents had bought this little boy, and no one had bought him any games and how he was going to be overjoyed opening his present and then sob that he couldn't play it yadda yadda... it went on for about 3 paragraphs.

On the nappy front - I actually got a huge bag of reusuable ones from freecycle the other day! Someone posted an offered and I asked politely, with punctuation and no text speak - and got lucky (since they cost a ridiculous amount new).

It's the over the top sob stories (the PS2 for premature babies being my most noteable one I've seen - these days after having my own premature baby that guy would get particularly short shrift from me) and the ridiculous requests, and sheer volume of ridiculous requests from the same people that people have the issue with really.

lindos90

I love freecycling, and have given and recieved many items. It does take time to know who the timewasters and traders are.

I put in a request for old teddies the other day, on behalf of our schools summer fair.

One cheeky person said they had a bag full, emailed me a photo of them and asked for £5 (Dont some people understand what the word 'free' in freecycle is?!)

But thankfully I had two very genuine replies from lovely freecyclers with bags of unwanted teddies, one even asked me what else we might need as she is having a clearout and is giving me stuff for the bric a brac stall etc too!

hermum

If freecycle was alive 20 odd years ago my Uncle would have put what appeared to be a ridiculous request on for a pool table on Christmas day. He went to collect his daughters Xmas presents from his Mother in law on Xmas eve after the kids were asleep & some low life made off with the pool table he'd put in the van while going back into the house for the rest of the presents.
He was devastated having to tell his 7 year old daughter that unfortunately her main present had fallen from the sleigh & Santa would have to bring it after Xmas.

KxMx

Without wishing to seem rude, I am sure your Uncle & the 7yo survived the ordeal etc... I could also insert something about all the kids who haven't a hope of ever getting such a big present but I won't. So i'm afraid I still class posts like that as riduculous, just my personal view.

The last few replies have reminded me of an annoying Freegle story. Had a guy come round to collect some VHS, doing me a huge favour so I was pleased, until he strolled in, looked round the living room and asked if I have anything else to give away, rude ****! I don't care that it was for charity I would never have been so rude!!

gitw

this thread has made me laugh but given me food for thought

i've been a freecycler since 2007 and have given many items to new homes, albeit mostly books, clothes and small electrical items - including a food dehydrator!

my ethos is that it keeps it out of the landfill and makes use of something that I no longer need because we are fast becoming a chuck away society so I am not bothered as to why someone wants the item so long as they turn up when they say.

but i've also made a few wanted ads. one for myself was after our house got burgled - i'd just been made redundant, had cancelled my insurance and they took absolutely everything they could carry away - so i started to buy things here and there, pick up stuff people had chucked out in the street and visited charity shops to try and get cheap replacements - i also posted on FC, a long list, with my explanation as to why and commenting that it was a long shot but.... and i was right it was a long shot but i thought it was worth a try as if you don't ask you don't get

i've also placed requests for friends - have actively told them not to go and buy the fridge or buggy so i can ask on fc for them first and save wasting money that none of us have. i also respond to offered ads when I see something a friend would find useful or like the icemaker I replied to today - i just thought oh yeah that would be cool - summer bbqs, friends, drink ice - perfect :0)

having read the thread i 100% agree that some request are most definitely outlandish but some of the postings i felt were quite reasonable and worry now that others on my group are just seeing a sob story when that really was not the case.

how do you know who is genuine because from this thread many of you would not have think i was :0(

JimmyTheWig

gitw wrote: »

but i've also made a few wanted ads. one for myself was after our house got burgled - i'd just been made redundant, had cancelled my insurance and they took absolutely everything they could carry away - so i started to buy things here and there, pick up stuff people had chucked out in the street and visited charity shops to try and get cheap replacements - i also posted on FC, a long list, with my explanation as to why and commenting that it was a long shot but.... and i was right it was a long shot but i thought it was worth a try as if you don't ask you don't get
...
how do you know who is genuine because from this thread many of you would not have think i was :0(

I don't think you can know. Unfortunately those who make up such stories tar everyone with the same brush. It's a bit like the boy who cried wolf - but worse because it's not even the same person who is causing it.

i've also placed requests for friends

When I first read this I thought you'd put on a wanted saying that you needed friends!

hermum

KxMx wrote: »

Without wishing to seem rude, I am sure your Uncle & the 7yo survived the ordeal etc... I could also insert something about all the kids who haven't a hope of ever getting such a big present but I won't. So i'm afraid I still class posts like that as riduculous, just my personal view.

Of course they survived, I expect it was stolen for one of the poor kids you mentioned who couldn't hope to receive such an expensive present without someone stealing from a hard working family.

Mojisola

gitw wrote: »

i've been a freecycler since 2007 and have given many items to new homes, albeit mostly books, clothes and small electrical items - including a food dehydrator!

one for myself was after our house got burgled - i'd just been made redundant, had cancelled my insurance and they took absolutely everything they could carry away - so i started to buy things here and there, pick up stuff people had chucked out in the street and visited charity shops to try and get cheap replacements - i also posted on FC, a long list, with my explanation as to why and commenting that it was a long shot but.... and i was right it was a long shot but i thought it was worth a try as if you don't ask you don't get

I wouldn't have any problem with a Wanted request like that because you would have a history of Offering. I would take you at your word.

I've also responded to large Wanted ads which have been posted by a regular members on behalf of other people who have a need for a lot of things because they had a posting history.

I'm more reluctant if a newcomer appears with a massive list of wants, especially if they're specific about the items.

My parents used to help a local charity who gave out food vouchers to families claiming in need. They made up the parcels according the number of people and age of people in the household. The ones who were truly in need were very grateful for the box of basics - tea, coffee, bread, tins of food, etc. The ones who came with a shopping list of luxury items and complained about being given the basics didn't get any further vouchers.

dizziblonde

People take issue with the ones who post ridiculous wanteds out of the eyeballs - but never offer. Heck some groups have rules that you must have posted offers before putting up wanteds. Over time you tend to learn who your resident chances are and even the same sob-story used for multiple pieces of kit... we've got one who posts fairly frequently "I lost my job this week and X piece of expensive electrical equipment just died on me"... either they're a one woman unemployment and electrical blackspot with an incredible run of bad luck - or they just have hit on a story that works and are using it to ridiculous levels (and sadly - where I am means it's very easy to jump across into the neighbouring freecycle group when you get cottoned on to in that one).