Giving to Freecycle

I am trying to de-clutter, I had in my kitchen a 14" old style portable t.v., on top of upright freezer, since my O.H. died it is very rarely used, so get it gone, put it on freecycle Wednesday lunch time, within an hour someone asked for it, daughter setting up own home, now 2 days later not been in contact, I was going to give a radio cassette/cd player to her, but I am now thinking is this a dealer who looks on such sites.

 

I put a two seater sofa on gumtree for free last week, within the hour I had contact from two separate accounts along the lines of 'scott p' asking if it's still available. Never heard from him again, very annoying.

 

I've been having the same trouble with Gumtree, several folk wanted stuff but then never got back, I think gumtree's reply email is going into folks spam boxes.

Pam, report them if they didn't turn up, 2 no shows and they're banned

It really annoying when someone says they want things and then doesn't bother to even say they don't

 

I put a 6 x 4 shed on Freecycle and had maybe 10 people contact me so I picked one that used their Ps & Qs instead of the rude ones. They said they would pick it up three times and never showed so a weekend mostly wasted. A week later they asked if it was still available, the cheek!

 

Yes, a lot of replies go straight to spam so the people you have replyed to don't think you have answered them. I think Freegle, Gumtree and the like need to remind people to check their spam more often.

 

What I do is when I offer something to someone, I will say "I've left it round the back" and if its not picked up then I just have to take it in. I haven't wasted my time waiting around for a no show in the mean time.

 

I've given away a few things on Freecycle. Each and every time it was more trouble that it was worth, and the recipients seemed quite ungrateful. There were many takers who then made all sorts of excuses and messed me about too.

I also once actually got offered something I asked for. When I drove for half an hour to get it, it was left outside (as the person said it would be). It was nothing like he'd suggested, and he wasn't even in when I knocked (we agreed I'd call rather than just taking it), no answer.

I don't use Freecycle any more. If I have anything to give away, I mention it on Facebook first, or ask people directly if I think someone I know might be interested. Failing that, it goes to either the charity shop or the tip.

 

The rules are quite clear, don't hesitate to report someone if they've messed you around, or if the thing was mis described.

That's what mods are for

 

If I don`t hear tomorrow will put it on a facebook local free site, I already have 2 bags of odds and sods for charity shops.
I will report it to the moderators on freecycle, the only other response I had wanted it delivered.

 

I gave away 12 big sacks of rubble and hardcore once. The bloke did actually turn up after rescheduling three times. But guess what he turned up in? He came for 12 sacks of rubble, in a Ford Focus. Being the good natured mug that I am, I decided I couldn't let him completely destroy his clutch, brakes and suspension, so I loaded most of the sacks into Gothilda and followed him back to where he wanted it putting. Of course he didn't even ask if I wanted some petrol money. As it happens I didn't mind and would have refused any offer of recompense, but it would have been nice to have been asked.

 

My reply might have been

 

I can't remember if it was Freecyle or Freegle cos I've recently joined a few of the same type of sites, but the first experience I've had couldn't have been better.

I spotted a "Wanted: Office Chair" ad by someone local to me, I got in touch to say I had what she wanted, she was extremely grateful and asked if she could come to collect it the same night, which she did, and she emailed me immediately she got home to thank me again and say how perfect it was.

Great result for us both, it was only in my way and I'd been wondering whether to sell it on Ebay for ages and never got around to it, and I got the chair from work for nothing in the first place!