We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Freegle/freecycle ingrates

Options
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?
If you lend someone £20 and never see them again, it was probably £20 well spent...
«13

Comments

  • MamaMoo_2
    MamaMoo_2 Posts: 2,644 Forumite
    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.
  • Hoof_Hearted
    Hoof_Hearted Posts: 2,362 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    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...
  • paddyrg
    paddyrg Posts: 13,543 Forumite
    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.
  • 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.
  • missesther
    missesther Posts: 190 Forumite
    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 neighbour
  • aubergine
    aubergine Posts: 51 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    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.
  • DCFC79
    DCFC79 Posts: 40,641 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    We've had more success in getting rid of stuff that have been advertised in Morrisons.
  • EmmaHerts
    EmmaHerts Posts: 313 Forumite
    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.
  • mttylad
    mttylad Posts: 1,519 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    As long as someone takes them and they are not sent to landfill then we are all winners.
  • I_luv_cats
    I_luv_cats Posts: 14,453 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    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.


This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.