Why Don’t Folk Give Things Away?

[allenlondon]

I’m sure when I wert lad people gave away unwanted goods. Now they sell them on eBay.

What happened?

In Denmark, in my sister’s commune (local council area), on one day each year folk left unwanted goods on the verges outside their homes, and their neighbours took what they liked.

Are people getting meaner?

[ichkeria]

I frequently see people posting free stuff online and leaving things on the street out for people to take

[Bobbisox1]

I've never sold on eBay , wouldn't know how to and I'm the most unhoarder of a person ever , I never keep unwanted stuff

[bednobs]

they do still give them away - freecycle and fb local selling pages prove that. I think people in general have les disposable income (or have forgotten how to make income stretch) so if they can get money for stuff they do. Also, charity shops etcge very picky about what they will take. I have recently tried giving away a load of baby stuff but can't

[emmie]

no they are not getting meaner, 32 million raised for the NHS by Captain Tom Moore, is testament to that.

i give bundles of good clothing to British Heart Foundation.
i wouldn't dream of selling the stuff on e bay.

[bednobs]

also, perhaps it's true that if things are free, people can't see they have value?

[allenlondon]

That’s what I like about AB - whatever you post, there’s plenty of people to put you right...

[davebro]

I give stuff away - what with ebay/paypal fees, shipping etc. it's often not worth trying to sell on ebay or gumtree.

And there are"freecycle" sites on the internet.

[emmie]

The BHF is always grateful when i donate, they usually tx me to say thank you.

[bednobs]

I thought you wanted a discussion allen (hence your question "are people getting meaner" not just people to say yes. Did you mean to sound so grumpy?

[Old_Geezer]

No point. By the time I'm replacing something the old version is worn out.

[barry1010]

People do give stuff away - check out your local Freecycle site when it is up and running properly. People still give to charity shops and there is a jumble sale four times a year near me that people donate to. I also see loads of posts on FB with people offering stuff for free - everything from outgrown school uniforms to furniture to white goods.

Maybe it's just your area that is a bit tight, allen :D

[dannyk13]

I frequently give unwanted articles to members of my family and on occasion to a neighbour if I was aware that could make use of it.

[allenlondon]

Oh bednobs ("Did you mean to sound so grumpy?"), please try and distinguish between grumpy and taking the micky out of oneself...

[allenlondon]

Freecycle? Love the philosophy, not sure at all about the way it works in practice. Over several years trying, I've met too many on freecycle who think that if a thing has no price, then it has no value - and don't bother turning up to collect it, and on one occasion complained that some old step-ladders weren't 'clean' (they had paint and cobwebs on them!)

Also, I'm sometimes suspicious that the things I've given away will next day turn up at a boot-sale or on eBay.

A

[naomi24]

Apart from houses - and part exchanging cars against new ones - and we always buy new - I've never sold anything at all. The charity shops do very well indeed from us.

[Mamyalynne]

A long time since I sold any personal or household items, I ask round first and if no one wants them then it's Freegle or the local Hospice shop.

[puzzled54]

I take small stuff to the Bhf and put large things on free cycle or Facebook market place for free, but I do wonder if some people take things and then put them on eBay to sell

[bednobs]

sorry allen, it rather came across you were taking the mick out of us rather than yourself. I suppose the thing with things turning up on ebay the next day, I don't care. if I have given something away then it's that persons to do with what they want. if they can bother to ebay something, good on them - I cant!

[allenlondon]

Yes, point taken, but that's what I meant about the philosophy of freecycle - I get much joy out of the thought that I'm giving something I don't want to somebody who DOES want it - it makes me feel part of the community. Giving it to some entrepeneur who trawls freecycle and the like for goods for their own profit, now that's not part of the philosophy.

A

[Mozz71]

People do give things away, but instead of doing it like you suggest, they donate their unwanted to charity shops.