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

Too many people want something for nothing these days. I have a very old-fashioned, large tea set with side plates, cups, saucers, teapot, bread and butter plates, jam pot, cake stand, sugar bowl and milk jug. My children are horrified that it may come to them. Instead they have instructions to let a vintage tea shop have them for free where they will at least get used and hopefully admired.

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.

Our libraries take coats and have a rail which says help yourself.
Personally I do not care what they do with my items once they have collected as it is no longer mine to worry about.

You are not alone. Usually things being given away, people arrange to collect and don't come , don't answer queries. I do put outside if weather wet. Lack of thanks also. I have a theory there is more commitment if payment involved

I have had both free and paid-for stuff from Gumtree but haven't needed to use it for giving away things.

I also use freecycle.org
There is someone occasionally who is not very organised and makes me sigh - but I have given away quite odd (!) things successfully there.

Most people are very pleased to have it. Even fairly old/incomplete stuff.

When my brother died we put loads of cds dvds, new linen, a few clothes, books etc marked free on the wall outside and in 20mins it was all gone. You often see things left outside here even furniture with free to collecter written on it. We picked up a bedside table ourselves
On FB its pot luck if they turn up or not even for free items
Ebay they need to pay before collection and give you a collection number to claim your money. Ebay has no commision fees now except for car parts. You can still get non payers though.
Hth xx

We have we a lovely neighbours what’s app group and if any of us has an item they have that’s useful and no longer needed we advertise it and either put it on the step to be picked up or take it round . I have been given loads and given out loads - we never charge for it . Otherwise always goes to the charity shop or if knitting stuff to a friend or my knitting group .

AreWeThereYet

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.

There is somebody here who hoovers up any item that is offered on our local WhatsApp group, even if they could not be any possible use to her. For example I offered a high chair and she was after that, though she has no children or grandchildren.
I always try to give things to people who could conceivably be planning to use them themselves rather than sell them on, and now tell Mrs Hoover that the items have gone.

Please give it to the charity shop rather than the dump.

I love rummaging through the craft section in charity shops, even though I have enough craft stuff to keep me going indefinitely.

Or, on the other hand, are there no local church groups who would take it off your hands. They often run craft groups and make things for charity. My MIL's church knits dolls, blankets etc.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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.

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 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!!

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'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 .

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.

J

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.