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"free" stuff in the offered section


Jeremy

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I'm sure many of you have noticed that a handful of people can be quick to pounce when things are being offered for free. Is it a problem when people appear to be snapping these things up, presumably to sell on somewhere else? Or is it fair enough if you didn't want it anyway? Free market, etc...
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Well, our household have offered stuff for free on the odd occasion purely because it was something (a) we no longer needed (b) that wasn't suitable for the charity shop and © which, had we not given it away, would probably have ended up in landfill. The people who collected the stuff were usually pretty grateful too. Result - win win. So, to answer your question, I don't see the issue as a big deal.


PS: why is this not in the Lounge?

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Jeremy, I see what you're getting at, it does feel vaguely wrong that people might be making money out of other peoples' good will.


But on the other hand I'm inclined to agree with LM. I give stuff away for free because it would go in the bin otherwise, which is a waste. It's free either because I don't think it's good enough to sell or because it's worth so little it's not worth it. If someone else sees potential in whatever it is that I don't, and has the time and inclination to sell stuff, I don't think I mind.

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Re. my previous post, I forgot to mention that - on occasion - the collector of "free" stuff has given us a bottle of wine when we hadn't asked for it! I remember one gentleman in particular - referred to it as East Dulwich Currency! So, definitely WIN WIN on that occasion at least.
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I guess it's no big deal if you don't want the stuff any more. It just seems to be against the spirit of the forum (whatever that may be). I guess the message to take away, is that if more than one person is interested in something you're giving away, check out their previous posts.
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I agree with you Jeremy, it bugs me when people are offering things for free (especially when it's "free to a good home") and the same people snap them up, do they really need another fridge?. There's a couple, Louise and Gary, who seem to always abuse people's goodwill on the forum and they've been banned about 6 times, last time was someone complaining that their sideboard given away "to a good home" was being sold on the forum 3 weeks later.


I don't like people who pretend to want something so they can make a few quid, and in doing so take away from those who genuinely need or want something, it's not fair. You're right, it takes away from the Spirit of the Forum ® , if you have your suspicions or know it's being done please report it to Admin and s/he will deal with it.


[edited once] for spelling

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When you put it like that, Mark, I do see what you mean.


I've only had good experiences, where people have been grateful and PM'd nice thank you messages (and also I've only given away small things like unwanted gifts and make up samples that I'd feel really guilty selling) but I do see how you'd feel if you thought you'd given something away to be used by somene who needed it, and perhaps couldn't afford it, only to see it sold again.

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Fortunately it's only a couple of people who take the mickey and so generally it works really well, and I agree about the 'East Dulwich Currency' LM, someone offered me a computer monitor for free recently and I thought it only natural to give them a nice bottle of wine as a thank you.
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Mark, until reading your post, I sort of thought, well if I can't be bothered to sell something on ebay, and someone else wants to make a few quid from it, then good for them (assuming it was a one off thing).


HOWEVER, I had no idea there were people who were repeat offenders, and that is well out of order! And selling it on the same forum they got it from is just plain wrong!

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I say live and let live. If a few people are actively recycling stuff that would otherwise end up in a landfill and making a few quid in the process - good luck to them. I doubt if anyone who didn't need the extra income would bother.
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Seconded HAL9000.


Oh Mark, I've just realised...I misquoted. The gentleman in question actually used the term East Dulwich Forum Currency (as opposed to simply ED currency). So there you go...you have somehow managed to create your own currency!!


I think it's fantastic how the Forum's For Sale section meaningfully places the local in "local economy". And if, by offering stuff for free too, we are saving our Council from having to dispose of items which would otherwise have been destined for the tip - then that's fine by me. We all gain in the end. There will always be a minority of abusers, but it would be sad to allow their behaviour to deter the majority from acting in good faith.

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It bothers me most when the item is snipped up quickly before someone who might want it for themselves gets a chance.


I always find it odd when people advertise stuff then it turns out to be an ebay auction. I know it's better to sell stuff locally but it also doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the forum.

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I have benefitted from several free things over the years and also very cheap stuff from this forum.

I am always mighty grateful but aware I have had to be quick!

However, I usually also bring EDF currency (wine) and sometimes a loaf of bread from the breadmaker I got for ?20 which I could have ebayed for loads!


We are not all bad. Some of us genuinely can't afford much. I am mighty grateful for all I have had off this site.

Don't tar everyone with the same brush (I know you weren't, but ---!)

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PR, I think it's great that people offer things free/cheaply or not as the case may be. I don't thing there is anything wrong with getting bargains if it's something you need either. But like some posters I don't particularly like it that some people ask for 'everything' that's going free so they can resell the items. I nearly bought a TV for my boys room a while ago and since have realised the vendor is making a business out of getting the TV's and reselling them. I don't like that as it makes this place feel less like a community thing and more like ebay.


I've used the EDF currency too to get something free. Perhaps we should think of a good name for it. Any ideas what a bottle of red would be or a loaf of home made bread?

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I can not think of anything that can be done about this problem; more legislation is not an answer.

Otherwise have everyone who offers something for free/very cheap make a note of those who took it, then give that info to the EDF Boss, and let him make a note. When someone has had ten items for free/cheap then they are banned from getting anything else.


See? Ridiculous.

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Whenever I offer anything cheap or free, I usually have multiple offers. I generally weigh up a couple of factors


Were they first?

What kind of poster are they? (Not "do I agree with them" - but do they do more than just barter?)

Has anyone had any negative experience with them?

Am I aware of a specific need - I may not know the poster but I may have read of recent unemployment

etc


I don't just go with a first come first served tho

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I've always been a first come first served girl - but have regretted it on a couple of occasions when people have barely said thank you. saying that I think my telly may have gone into the hands of the aforementioned banned couple - they were very polite and sent me a lovely pm!
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I think that may have been my first ever post on the forum Keef :)


I frequently give away things for free, and my view is that if I'm giving it away I shouldn't care what then happens to it (perhaps there is money to be made, but generally it's things I don't think are worth the effort of trying to sell due to the small return). However it does annoy me a bit when I see things being constantly snapped up by the same person.

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Never pay money for an old CRT TV, as you'll be able to get one free through here or Freecycle soon enough!


And if you have something to give away, if there are multiple applicants then check their previous posts... as SMG says...

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Jeremy Wrote:


> And if you have something to give away, if there

> are multiple applicants then check their previous

> posts... as SMG says...


Ah, but what about those posters who only deal via PM? And, I'm sure, after having viewed this thread, many will in future.

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