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Freegle/freecycle ingrates
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mumonashoestring
Posts: 217 Forumite
Having been lucky enough to get several useful items from Freecycle and Freegle over the years I try and offer stuff on there wherever possible. Might not be bothering so much in the future though.
Recently I've offered a variety of items and had replies from people saying that they really REEEEALLY want whatever I'm offering and giving a collection time, which comes and goes with no sign of the pig-ignorant sack of monkey droppings who earlier in the day was so very desperate for the item.
If someone offers me something I need (or want) and I say I'll collect it at a certain time, I make damn sure I collect. At the very least if something prevented me from collecting I'd let them know and apologise. Surely that can't be that unusual?
Recently I've offered a variety of items and had replies from people saying that they really REEEEALLY want whatever I'm offering and giving a collection time, which comes and goes with no sign of the pig-ignorant sack of monkey droppings who earlier in the day was so very desperate for the item.
If someone offers me something I need (or want) and I say I'll collect it at a certain time, I make damn sure I collect. At the very least if something prevented me from collecting I'd let them know and apologise. Surely that can't be that unusual?
If you lend someone £20 and never see them again, it was probably £20 well spent...
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Totally agree. I recently offered a 3 piece suite for collection. All I got was a load of emails saying "can you deliver?" Despite the ad saying I couldn't, and one guy asked if he could come for a viewing (I'd provided about 10 photos, and !!!!!!, it was free!)
Eventually I sold it on Gumtree for a tenner, and when the lady collected and went to pay I just told her not to worry.
I've had some lovely people who collect when they say they will, are grateful and polite, and lovely people. Unfortunately, for each one of those there're ten no-shows or rude emails.
Here's a hint to Freecyclers, an email saying "I want dis item" isn't going to get you far. Also, I HATE sob stories. "My dog died so I think it'd improve my quality of life if you give me the item"... I offered a broken laptop for sale (needed the charging port fixed, easy job but the laptop was old anyway, so I decided to just buy a new one and give away the old) and got emails from "I'm a single mom so need the laptop because I can't afford one, but could you get it fixed first as I can't afford that either" to "I need this laptop. Haven't got one as I sold my one. Call me on xxxxxxxx" and even "what operating system does it have. I'll take it if it isn't on Vista"
Now I just put it on 99p no reserve on eBay because that way if it sells, it'll get picked up usually.0 -
I gave up on Freecycle for similar reasons. People not turning up or coming late was very annoying. There were occasions when I wondered whether the items would be sold on as I had doubts about the person who colected them.Je suis sabot...0
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Seeing something you gave away appearing on eBay the next day does rather undermine the goodwill in the system. Sob stories also from those very eBay sellers.0
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I had exactly the same thing I offered on there.
4 People got in touch and I contacted them in order and not one actually bothered, even though they were very enthusiastic about the item.0 -
I had the same with an old working oven. It wasn't as modern as people wanted it would seem.
I always pick up what I ask for from Freegle, it's just courtesy isn't it?
i before e, except when you run a feisty heist on a weird beige foreign neighbour0 -
Completely agree, it's rude and annoying. You can minimise the chances of someone not showing up by being very clear in your emails what you expect, including how long you will wait for a response before moving on to someone else.
First responder often not the best choice, it may be an auto response, especially if they don't mention the item specifically.
If they stop replying to emails there may be a valid reason, but if they ever ask for something again you have the option of not offering to them!
Some Freegle groups are using a feedback system a bit like ebay to mark if it was a good or bad transaction.
Freegle is great when it works, unfortunately some of the humans using it aren't always so great.0 -
We've had more success in getting rid of stuff that have been advertised in Morrisons.0
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When we moved we offered our dining table and chairs and three piece suite. Got a lot of emails but they were all time wasters. In the end we put the items outside with a note saying help yourself and they were quickly gone.0
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As long as someone takes them and they are not sent to landfill then we are all winners.0
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I thought it was strict (Freecycle) and people could be struck off if they abused the goodwill of others?
I've only ever received one item and made sure I was there as promised.
I've had no trouble with donations, everybody has been courteous and true to their word with collection timings. I did drop something off once, without prompting as a favour.
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