What would you do? Would you take it? Even though its not yours?
By avonrep1
@avonrep1 (1862)
United States
April 2, 2007 12:03am CST
I am a member of a local recycling group called Freecycle.
It is a place where you can get rid of stuff you are not using or want anymore.
I had some preschooler books about 60 in all and separated them in to two lots to give away. I posted the offer and got many responses.
I agree to give two people a set of books, told both people that I have other freecycle stuff on the porch to only take the one with their name on the box.
I sit the boxes out on the porch after marking them. I always place it on the porch for pick up because you never know who will show up. Anyways my door bell rings.
One of the ladies that was picking up the books was picking them up on her lunch break from the hospital. The other lady got there before she did and took her box.
I feel that this is stealing. Yes I was giving them away anyways, but I promised them to someone else. What do you think. If you were in a group like this or if you are in a group like this.
And you were picking up some items that were going to be left on a porch for you, would you take the other box, even though someone elses name is on it, just because you want what someone else claimed first?I know I wouldn't because I have picked up stuff myself off of porches that had other boxes for other people and I left them along. I didn't even look to see what they were getting and I won't.
5 people like this
12 responses
@onabreak2 (1161)
• United States
2 Apr 07
No I wouldn't, that is really stealing. If you had someone Else's name on it.
I think from now on you should get the persons phone number so you can call them up and ask them what they think they are doing. Also I guess you could report them to the police. That is not a very honest person that did that. I would be upset about it too.
@avonrep1 (1862)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I don't know if the police can do anything about it. I will have to ask the police officer that lives across the street from me.
I do know that, the person who did this, will never get any thing freecycled from me again. I saved the email address and won't ever let them have any of the good stuff I have.
Them books were in like new condition, one would spend over $200.00 USD for buy these books. I am upset about it, but I figure Karma will pay them back 10 times full.
3 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I am with you. We too go the freecycling thing and I try to knock to thank the people and let them see me taking only my stuff. I like meeting my freecycle people. There are bad eggs in every crowd and sadly we must out think them. I schedule a time for the people to show up for their things. I know my schedule and we connect based on their availability. Avoids overlap that way. Things get to who is rightfully the taker! Good luck in the future with this wonderful group!!
2 people like this
@avonrep1 (1862)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Thanks Willow and you will be happy to know that this hasn't and won't stop me from using Freecycle. I love that someone organize a way for people to get rid of stuff or find something they don't have the money to go get. I like it and will continue to use it regardless of the bad apples, but I won't be leaving it on the porch anymore.
1 person likes this
@chertsy (3798)
• United States
3 Apr 07
You need to report this to the person that's in charge of your freecycle group, give them the person's email address. First explain to them what happened. This person should be removed from the freecycle community. You should also email this person and ask why she picked up both boxes or why she picked up the other person's box. Maybe also there could be a reason why she picked up the other person's book.
Good Luck, hopefully you can solve this problem.
1 person likes this
@breepeace (3014)
• Canada
5 Apr 07
Oftentimes, the mods will either send that person a warning email, will blacklist them publically or block them from using the group.. that's your best bet.
I've had some rude ones upset that they didn't get something from me they really wanted, but I've never had a theft.
@kareng (54665)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Our local freecycle group has a link on the site to report abuse. I would report this lady. You are correct, it is stealing and not right. She should be thankful for what she got and not be greedy. Do let the listowner know what happened either by email or calling.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
3 Apr 07
that wasn't cool of her to do.that's an opportunist
at work.i wonder if she was reselling them at a used bookstore also-there's people on my local freecycle who do that.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
7 Apr 07
Oh I'd have been livid. I hope you wrote to the moderators and let them know on this. They should be aware of the situation so that they can decide whether or not to remove the member. I love Freecyle and it's a shame some have to abuse it. I would have emailed her as well and let her know what I think of her and offer her the chance to rectify the situation. I saw you wrote to her and she hasn't responded back. I think all you can do at this point is report her, let others know if you can not to give her things and make sure you don't give her anything either. Let the mods know and leave it in their hands. That's about it which really is lousy but there isn't much else.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
2 Apr 07
That was wrong on the part of the other women. She should just have taken the box with her name. It doesn't make any difference that you were giving the things away. The box had another persons name. She had no right to take it. In my book it is stealing but obviously the other women didn't think so.
1 person likes this
@blackkatdreamer (1461)
• Canada
3 Apr 07
That was soo rude! after all she was getting what she was getting for free she should have been happy with that and not taken someone elses stuff and the other woman was probably asking for them for a good cause... report this person to the mediators because to me it is stealing... I'm also a member of the branch her and have never had anyone rude like that!
@bad1981 (799)
• United States
3 Apr 07
Personally, I wouldnt do that because you were nice enough to give it to that person in the first place...so why should they steal from you. Id ask them why they did it, it might have been a complete mix up and they jsut took both thinking it was for them and not even looked at the name. Otherwise it could have been then stealing them but you never know. Im assumming since you were giving them away there isnt anything that the police can do.
1 person likes this
@jc_star10 (953)
• Indonesia
10 Apr 07
I definetely would not take it at all. It has other name on it, there's no way i take it. If i want that badly i would ask you, is that box already taken ? Or do you still have other books ?. She must be warned for not taking that box, otherwise the other lady who want that box will be dissapointed.
