Proof you can't even give stuff away

soolin

A few weeks back I had the forced upgrade in Windows 10 and it knocked out my Canon printer which was only about 18 months old. A long call (well over an hour) to Canon support , new drivers, tech help etc couldn't sort the problem and I was basically left with a working all in one printer that wouldn't print from my PC. Decided that I was spending too much of my working time to fix a problem and just went and bought a new one instead.

Used a cable from the old one on the new one and all was well. More recently I decided to offer the old one free on the various giveaway/freegle type places on facebook. Advert stated the exact issue I had, showed the only cable it came with and stated in several places nothing else was supplied, NO ink, NO other cables and collection only.


Had the usual 'yes please' posts that after a couple of days asked me when I was going to deliver! Had one person offer me a pound if I would do a 60 mile round trip to drop it off, so I declined. Had a lot of people ask if I could just post them the ink for free, which I ignored.Eventually some local person said their husband would collect on the way home from work- so handed it over and thought that was the end of it. A few days later I get a rather irritated email asking where the connection cable was, I pointed out that this was not given away with that cable- recipient not happy with that and told me it was useless without that and they were disabled and needed this for their craft project so what was I going to do. I sent back a polite but brief answer suggesting they re donated it if they didn't want it. Got another email whilst I was away last week saying they had just bought the generic ink for it and was shocked by the price, so their 'free' printer had cost them money for ink and a cable and they thought it was unfair that I offered this for free when it obviously came with a cost. they mentioned again being disabled, and I got the usual 'gutted' remark that they felt cheated and they asked whether I felt it would be the right thing to do to offer them a cash payment towards their costs due to my advert being misleading.

I ignored that and have just had a really hurtful email saying that karma will get me especially as her husband had said my house was a posh one so I could easily afford to help out someone less fortunate and that she wanted me to know she was very disappointed in my attitude (and she mentioned being disabled again).

Remind me never to try and give anything away again

pinkshoes

That is shocking!

Well done keeping your cool. I would have replied saying being disabled is not an excuse for ignorance or stupidity, and the advert clearly said it came with no ink or cable!

We live in one of the "big posh houses" yet live a very frugal lifestyle due to childcare costs. The amount of people that buy stuff on facebook then turn up and hint they would like it for free.

I never offer stuff for free now due to time wasters and people wanting it posted or delivered.

Hermia

For some reason, people seem even nastier when you give stuff away than when you are selling stuff. I gave up on Freegle ages ago because so many people wanted the item delivered or wanted me to meet them at their work. I don't have a car and I certainly don't have the time to go into the city centre and wait outside their work etc. The people constantly mentioning disabilities or sob stories were the worst. On the last Freegle group I was a member of one person got some quite nasty threats from the person she didn't give the item to (he was second to ask and she had already made arrangements with the first person).

The only group I use now is a small one that just covers a couple of postcodes where I live. People are better behaved because it is more tightly managed and lots of people know each other. They also can't use sob stories because people in the group will know how expensive the area they live in is etc.

billn

Well soolin I am shocked and stunned that you did offer to deliver, install, give 24/7 tech support and at least 2 years worth of ink and paper to the poor unfortunate that had the misfortune to be on the receiving end of your donation.:D


Seriously, I hope kama will kick in but not in a way they expect.


I have found out the hard way that the more you help some people the more needy they become.

Syman

this is why i do not opt to recycle old IT equipment from work. THe person that takes it thinks they are entitled to free support and advice.

i now send the stuff to registered recyclers that break them up for parts.

Rosemary7391

Time to block their email methinks! Perhaps after forwarding it to the moderators of freegle/wherever it was...

forgotmyname

I would respond and point them the errors of their ways. But it sounds like their comments got to you.

Just block and ignore them.

Sounds like they thought you maybe a soft touch, giving an item away rather than ebaying it and having a nice house etc.

I would have commented.. yes i got the house through hard work and not being taken advantage of by......

But your probably better off blocking.

theoretica

I recently gave a printer away with no problems and a nice thank you, but as mentioned above find a very local group the easiest and one offer. If something does not appeal enough to go on first offering the chances seem to increase of more troublesome takers.

Campden

Freegle is free and that doesn!!!8217;t always bring out the best in people.

People who don!!!8217;t really want the item may ask !!!8220;because it!!!8217;s free!!!8221;
People ask for more because they know the person offering is generous and community minded.

But it is still an altruistic and neighbourly way of passing on goods, so don!!!8217;t be discouraged by the odd ungrateful or manipulative user.

Other free re-use groups are available.

KRDmum

I'm sorry Soolin, I know you don't feel like laughing but this made me laugh. It is so true! The ignorance and attitude of some people is appalling. Put a price of £2-5 for it and say 'otherwise it goes to the tip tonight' and suddenly people are happy to drive to you to collect it. I'm a great believer in Karma, and the way I see it - you've done a good deed that wasn't appreciated by the receiver.

epm-84

I recently had sort of the opposite problem with a printer - printer stops working due to a part breaking but I had spare inks meaning I had inks I could no longer use and a printer which was no good for anyone.

However, this thread reminds me of an episode of Dave Gorman's Life Is Goodish. He started by asking in the audience want a printer he no longer wanted for free. Someone in the audience say they would like it. He went on to reveal how much the printer costs to use (it was one where the ink was quite pricey) and that he was buying a brand new one because it would be cheaper in the long term. He asked the audience member if they still wanted the 'free printer' and they had changed their mind. He then went on to reveal he had been given the printer for free when someone else got a new printer, only to find out at a later date that they had got rid of the printer due to how expensive the ink was.