Idiots who say they will and then they don’t 🤬

Depends what it is. I once had a bag of broken rhinestone jewellery with several people fighting over it.

We've recently drastically downsized and as a result got rid if probably 90% of everything we owned.

We sold quite a bit on a local site and did quite well but did have one or two difficult 'customers' and it was the same with stuff we were giving away. Most of that went to charity shops and local fundraising groups as they were easier to deal with and appreciative.

Please don’t take useable stuff to the tip. I don’t advertise anything due to the hassle you’ve described, but I’d never send anything to landfill that other people could use. Charity shops often collect, if you can’t get to them.

Sorry this hs happened to you. I almost never gift anything on FB - there are no rules.
I use Freecycle or Freegle, when I reply to someone wanting my stuff I say 'if I have not heard back from you by [give date & time] then the item will be re-offered. I give a window for collection and say 'if not collected by the end of this time, will be re-offered'.
Some people are dependant on others for transport, so may appear to mess you about, but they can message to say so! If someone really annoys you, you can report to the Mods (not so on FB). However, these posts do attract a few sad individuals who can't organise themselves.
I would say that those of us who are used to this type of gifting know that many gifters don't like to be disturbed. It is standard practice to collect without knocking on the door. It is then also standard to send a 'thanks' message.
The other advantage of Freecycle / Freegle is that the groups tend to consist of folk who are used to this, they are usually much bigger groups, more likely to have crafters / DIYers, and follow the set procedure.
Not sure if this advice is too late for you, but may help others.

It can feel quite complicated getting stuff onto the sites, and then annoying if people don't follow through.
My favourite site for buying and selling is Gumtree.
Good luck!

Well that’s daft to throw your toys out the pram and say it ll all go to the dump get it sorted and taken to your local charity shop, some will pick up if you can’t get it there
I do sell on FB marketplace, it’s hit and miss, some are awful at following through picking up etc but some people are fine I also use EBay again you can advertise 10 things and only sell one but it’s worth a try
However if you’re giving it away just get help to get it to a charity shop

Maggiemaybe

Please don’t take useable stuff to the tip. I don’t advertise anything due to the hassle you’ve described, but I’d never send anything to landfill that other people could use. Charity shops often collect, if you can’t get to them.

We have a shop at our local tip. The OP could enquire.
I take donations from our charity shop that have been hanging around too long.

Maggiemaybe

Please don’t take useable stuff to the tip. I don’t advertise anything due to the hassle you’ve described, but I’d never send anything to landfill that other people could use. Charity shops often collect, if you can’t get to them.

I would say don't dump as well!

Can you contact a local craft group, Knit and Natter or U3A, a WI or TWG and offer craft items?

They will be glad of them as they often make items for charity and free yarn, fabric etc woul be most welcome.

Have a look at Vintage Cash Cow. I recently sent a box full of items and got £300 for it. You register on the website and they send you the labels to send your stuff. It doesn't cost anything. It's worth a look. Most of it was jewellery that I never wear and my daughters wouldn't want.

J

I wonder if the free things attract time wasters more than the sold ones.

I tend to use a local recycling site to give away larger items such as furniture, and have often been messed about. People don't turn up, after I've cleaned up the item, moved it to the hallway or somewhere easy to load into a car, and arranged a delivery time. It's so rude. If they can't get a lift or arrange for someone to collect it, the least they can do is let me know. The site is quite strict, too. If you notify the moderators they issue a 28 day ban to time-wasters.

I am not looking for effusive thanks, but I do get a bit pursed of lip when I see some of the replies. People don't even use sentences, or say please and thank you. I once offered a microwave (free) on a holiday park, and the answer was just 'Number?', not 'Yes please', or 'I would like this, where are you situated?'

I don't get upset though - I just roll my eyes and mutter about people being raised by wolves.

I've had similar experiences .
It is frustrating .
Talking to a friend yesterday - we both have had the same experience as you have had over and over again .
It's happened with furniture , white goods , plants and clothes ...

And on a smaller level as I wrote on another post - I bought delicious cake for our coffee morning .
Instead we had some other nice cake and how they complained .In the same week I was given artisan bread from the food bank .
The recipient had too much and passed it to me .
I'd just shopped and had no room in my freezer .
Giving it away was exhausting and thankless .
I can remember the days when whatever we threw out was taken with gracious thanks .

OP, I’m not sure if you were giving away or selling?
If I’m giving it away I’ve had no problems, from a dishwasher to a casserole dish, selling it seems to depend on the price. In my postings I make it clear if not collected in the agreed timeframe it goes to the next requester. I do both in drabs and drabs so it’s easier to manage.

I was equally as angry when I harvested my lavender - I didn't want it and decided to gift it on fb to anyone willing to collect; waited all b****y afternoon for some woman to collect - and she didn't show. She then chose to ignore my reminder messages so the whole lot went in the compost.
Why can't people do what they say they'll do or at least inform in a timely manner if circumstances change? Sheer bad manners!!

I sold 2 pairs of boots I cannot longer wear. My daughter put them on vinted for me at a price to attract buyers. The lady who bought them was a single mum with 2 small children and not a lot of money. I was pleased that they went to a good home. I hope she loves them.

I've got two winter coats that I'd love to give away to someone in need of one but how to find out if they are genuine.

It's a challenge as they may well just sell them on and keep the money.

Millie22, do you have a local centre which supports the homeless? Winter is approaching and there will be many rough sleepers in need of a decent coat.
If there isn't a dedicated charity in your area, then possibly the Salvation Army, who do a lot of work with the homeless, would be happy to have your coats.

Millie22

I've got two winter coats that I'd love to give away to someone in need of one but how to find out if they are genuine.

It's a challenge as they may well just sell them on and keep the money.

There are some charities who take coats, boots etc for the homeless. You could ask on a local fb page or nextdoor.

OP if your stuff is saleable , take it to a charity shop rather than the dump .
The charity shop I volunteer in welcomes knitting or crochet stuff . It sells very well .

Yes, even when it's free often people can't be bothered even though they apparently want it.

I used Freecycle quite a lot. I would reply to the first one, ask when they would collect it and tell them if they didn't collect it at the time specified I would pass it on to the next one. Very occasionally I got a phone call saying they would be late, please hold it, but most turned up. If they didn't I just emailed the next one and asked if they still wanted it and gave them the same deal - collect on time or I'll hand it on. To all the others I would respond to their email that it was taken but if not collected I would be in touch.

There used to be someone on our Freecycle who responded to almost all ads, saying she was in a wheelchair and couldn't drive and could it be delivered. I felt pretty bad about not being able to deliver but told her I couldn't and gave it to someone else.

Found out later she responds to all ads, isn't in a wheelchair, quite a few people felt sorry for her and helped out by delivering - and she was selling everything on in the market. She was banned after a while.

AreWeThereYet, am same as you in that respect of people collecting. I also get a lot of things from other freecyclers and always make a point of thanking them even if i have seen them when collecting.

Millie22

I've got two winter coats that I'd love to give away to someone in need of one but how to find out if they are genuine.

It's a challenge as they may well just sell them on and keep the money.

Most foodbanks have a rack of winter coats, they will be happy to take yours and pass them onto someone who needs them.

So true. Having sorted a house full of stuff after mum passed, skip, sell, free cycle, charity shop. I found the charity shop and skip the easiest.
To sell you put a price, they want it cheaper or delivered. Then they don't turn up. So then it's off to the charity shops.