Non collectors/no shows for items offered for sale/free

[minder]

The fourth in a couple of weeks didn't show this evening. This has been the case on the forum for years now. These people seem so genuine/plausible by pm but in the end don't show up and don't make any contact even though I provide all contact details. Some have been browsing the forum when they're meant to be picking up!

I've bought lots of things on the forum over the years and wouldn't dream of doing this.

Recently joined Freecycle and they have a strict policy on excluding from the site anybody who doesn't show with no contact.

[Alan Medic]

Perhaps you should name names so there's a useful list of non showers?

[aerie]

This happened to us 6 weeks ago with a bed we manouvered ourselves into the hallway to accommodate a speedy pick up.

No further contact, explanation or apology offered. It's not a respectful way to behave. And a crying shame as it was only months old. Of course the it was totally in the way and we were required to pay to have it removed.

The wife was upset and cross that she had provided contact details, and address.

[keano77]

Out of interest, how can you tell a person is browsing the forum unless they are posting at the time?

[Alan Medic]

If they are a registered user and you click on their name, it shows you when their last 'activity' was.

[Sue]

I've occasionally had this problem in the past, and now I always ask for a contact number if somebody is coming to pick something up.

Apart from being able to phone them if they don't turn up, it means if I have to go out urgently and unexpectedly I can contact them to rearrange a collection time.

[mummydaddyme]

I've been on the other end of this. Genuinely wanting to buy something, been given a day and time to collect then the seller doesn't get back to me with their address. What winds me up even more is that my messages have been read by them and then they re-post the same items for sale again.

[Sue]

I had one instance where I narrowly missed getting an item I really wanted - I had been the second person to reply.

I was then contacted by the seller to say that the people who had bought the item had changed their minds when they got it home, as it was too big for their flat. However, they had agreed that I could buy it from them at the price they had paid for it.

I was obviously delighted, and even more so when I texted them and they offered to deliver it (it would never have occurred to me not to collect it myself)! We agreed a mutually convenient time the next day.

However the following morning, I received a text to say they didn't want this item in their flat (for a few hours!!!!) so they had given it to a friend !!!!!

Had I known, I could have collected it myself as I had assumed I would have to in the first place.

Some people have very odd ways of going about things, to say the least.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

I just had this today , someone saying they will collect a unit this afternoon , we dismantled it and now they can't get it . It annoys the hell out of me !