Rude people on Buy Nothing/Freecycle groups

[Anonymous]

I generally love my BNG, but, I do agree that the people who take forever to pick things up are annoying. If others are interested, I feel like you should plan to pick something up in a day or two max. Otherwise, just let someone else have it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Love Lubalin - so many great internet drama parodies.

[Anonymous]

I love it when your free item lists your cross streets and the person who wanted it decides you’re too far from them days later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree with annoying-ness of the no shows, but disagree with calling out the PP talking about doing a good deed. I recently donated a bunch of baby gear that was barely knew used: A stroller, a playpen, three baby gates and a bunch more items. things I easily could have sold and benefited from the sales. The mom it went to cried when picking it up because she was so happy that somebody posted items that she really could use and didn’t have money for it all. In my book that’s a good deed.

If she didn't cry would it still be a good deed? If she didn't say thanks? If she no-showed?

At the time something is posted to BN, the goal is to get it out of the poster's house but not into a landfill. I guess there's a bit of a positive element to the environmental aspect, but you can't make it a good deed based on who picks it up unless the poster asks people to demonstrate competitive neediness in the replies, which would be frowned upon in my group.

Agree. There was another post a few months ago where someone was irritated that she didn't get a thank you. It's your local neighborhood. Rarely are you going to get a "mom crying" because of gratitude. Again, go sell your shit if it's so valuable. You will be mad that no one wants to pay $150 for your baby swing you paid $200 for six months ago.

Buy Nothing is to build community and reduce waste. If you want to be the neighborhood savior, you are going to have to do more.

"Building community" is saying something like, "I'd love this for my daughter" rather than "ME," no?

Build community - I've borrowed a piece of lawn equipment using Buy Nothing rather than buying new. Met a neighbor and now we say hi, message about things in the neighborhood, drop off excess zucchini, etc.

Gave away a Batman and Robin Halloween costume. The mom sent me a picture of her boys wearing the costumes, and I sent a picture of my boys wearing them 15 years ago. It made my day.

Right, and those type of interactions don’t start with “ME” or “NEXT.” They start with polite interest, saying thanks, etc.

[Anonymous]

I hate it when people don't read. When I give things away I tell people to DM me and that I don't follow the comments. Its shocking how many people post that they are interested in an item but never send me a DM. I started doing this after people would say they were interested and then it would be on me to hunt them down. I've also had people say my location didn't work for them when I provide my cross streets in the original post. I've started throwing more things away because people make it such a hassle. I feel bad but I just don't have time for this.

[Anonymous]

You want sick? have a crack at me.

I post pictures of very desirable things (think large Tupperware bins for sweaters, wrought iron patio furniture, boxes of lightbulbs, etc.) as free and then never answer the responses.

I don't even have the things, but I like making people scramble!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had someone ask me to deliver their free items! They lived around 30 minutes away from me.

Same. I’m sure they figure it can’t hurt to ask but it’s still surprising.

I stick to a hyper local / neighborhood buy nothing Facebook group now and people are more polite / accountable with it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do too and this is why I don't post things for free. The people who jump at free never seem to show up and always have issues. They just seem to be flaky and unreliable. Instead I sell for $2-5 and I get responsible people who show within the hour.

For instance I was selling a 2 year old, excellent condition washing machine with all the bells and whistles (came with the house, but I already had my own I was moving) for $25. People lead me on for days that they were showing. Some people even had the nerve to ask if we could deliver it. One person arrived with a car and wanted us to load it for her (how the heck would a washing machine fit in a car?!). I deleted the ad and reposted it for $100 and it was gone later that day. I guess it's just suspicious when things are priced too cheaply. And a lot of people wouldn't take something that's free because they think it's meant for someone who is needy.

Agree, this used to be called having skin in the game.

[Anonymous]

When they say to not email and pick someone that did rather than responses that were made as requested grrrrr

That’s life but really…ask on your personal page if that’s where you’re really picking the recipient. I don’t have time for that nonsense either.


Also always list your cross streets. Or mega condo name. If it’s a complicated pick up with door codes or weird access folks need to know before responding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Once I was giving away lots of barely used baby bottles (my baby refused the bottle; I was a FTM and freaked out and bought every brand in desperation but none worked). Someone claimed them and said she’d come by later to pick them up. It was a snowy day.

Lady pulls up in a giant Mercedes then calls my cell and tells me to bring them out to her.

Uh, seriously? That’s not how this works. If you want it for free, you get your butt out of your Mercedes and walk fifteen feet to my porch to grab them.

You brought them out to here didn't you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want sick? have a crack at me.

I post pictures of very desirable things (think large Tupperware bins for sweaters, wrought iron patio furniture, boxes of lightbulbs, etc.) as free and then never answer the responses.

I don't even have the things, but I like making people scramble!

What a loser. Get a new "hobby."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate it when people don't read. When I give things away I tell people to DM me and that I don't follow the comments. Its shocking how many people post that they are interested in an item but never send me a DM. I started doing this after people would say they were interested and then it would be on me to hunt them down. I've also had people say my location didn't work for them when I provide my cross streets in the original post. I've started throwing more things away because people make it such a hassle. I feel bad but I just don't have time for this.

Why not donate them instead of filling up land fills it take 2 seconds for drive up donations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hate it when people don't read. When I give things away I tell people to DM me and that I don't follow the comments. Its shocking how many people post that they are interested in an item but never send me a DM. I started doing this after people would say they were interested and then it would be on me to hunt them down. I've also had people say my location didn't work for them when I provide my cross streets in the original post. I've started throwing more things away because people make it such a hassle. I feel bad but I just don't have time for this.

Why not donate them instead of filling up land fills it take 2 seconds for drive up donations?

Donations are also a pain. A bunch of people on my group do “curb alerts” where they put something out in front of their house for trash pickup a bit early with a “Free” sign and then post on the buy nothing group that it’s available. Whoever gets there first (random passer by or buy nothing member or trash collector) takes care of it. PPP should try that rather than going straight to trash.

[Anonymous]

One person just listed a picture then wanted people to tell her a joke or write to her as to why they want the picture in their house. I kid you not.

[Anonymous]

On my local Buy Nothing group, a white woman posted a used diaper genie. A black woman asked if she could have it and also asked if the giver would drop it off because the recipient had no car. The giver said yes. The giver messaged the recipient to say she left the diaper genie outside of the recipient’s apartment building because she couldn’t find the apartment number and had left her toddler in the car. The black woman then complained about the interaction on the Buy Nothing page because she considered it rude of the white woman to leave the diaper genie outside where it could have been stolen. Everyone in the group then agreed that the white woman was racist and committed a micro aggression by not delivering it to the door.