What weird/outrageous requests have you seen on Freecycle/Craigslist?

[Miss March]

I saw one the other week where a woman said that she had an amazing opportunity to attend a 6 month retreat. She was really excited about it and said it was "a great opportunity for her." So she was looking for someone who would keep her cat for her for 6 months and then give it back when she came home. She went on for a bit about how sweet the cat was, and then said "I'm open to talking about a stipend, if that seems like something that is important to you." I guess there was just something about that wording that rubbed me the wrong way. It came off as "I have a chance to follow my dreams and my cat is such a delight that you should just enjoy pet sitting her as a favor to me, and gee, if you really feel like you NEED to be paid anything for that privilege, I guess I can talk to you about it." I can't imagine even asking my best friend to care for one of my pets for 6 months and not offering some kind of payment up front, so it surprises me that she'd be asking total strangers to watch her cat for free.

[Amara]

I was uncertain as to whether to put this into this thread or the scammer one as it fits both perfectly. Posted in the "Wanted" section of our CL this morning:

Iīm a 33 years old and seriously ill single-mom from Germany and I have a big heartīs desire. I canīt fulfill it by myself, because it is about 130,000 USD. Is there anybody, who can subsidize me (with some Dollars) My paypal-account is cinderella.2011@web.de. If you have any other ideas, where I can get so much money, please let me know. Iīll be in Santa Barbara in October this year.

[CrazyDaffodilLady]

I was uncertain as to whether to put this into this thread or the scammer one as it fits both perfectly. Posted in the "Wanted" section of our CL this morning:

Iīm a 33 years old and seriously ill single-mom from Germany and I have a big heartīs desire. I canīt fulfill it by myself, because it is about 130,000 USD. Is there anybody, who can subsidize me (with some Dollars) My paypal-account is cinderella.2011@web.de. If you have any other ideas, where I can get so much money, please let me know. Iīll be in Santa Barbara in October this year.

She didn't even say what her big desire is?

[Morticia]

I was uncertain as to whether to put this into this thread or the scammer one as it fits both perfectly. Posted in the "Wanted" section of our CL this morning:

Iīm a 33 years old and seriously ill single-mom from Germany and I have a big heartīs desire. I canīt fulfill it by myself, because it is about 130,000 USD. Is there anybody, who can subsidize me (with some Dollars) My paypal-account is cinderella.2011@web.de. If you have any other ideas, where I can get so much money, please let me know. Iīll be in Santa Barbara in October this year.

She didn't even say what her big desire is?

I thought it was the 130,000USD?

[Amara]

Heh. I flagged her and I am sure others will as well. This town has an unfortunate number of street beggars--most of them not helpless, simply freeloaders--that won't make her begging easy if she does come here with thoughts of money flowing toward her since many of us locals have gotten very hard core about them.

I must say, however, that it is kind of tempting to write her, "Well, I have only $10,000 I can offer but will that help?"

[ladyknight1]

Our local freecycle mods posted this morning:

Effective August 1, 2013 we will no longer allow the exchange of living creatures here in freecycle.

Thank You,
The Mods

[Amara]

Good, Ladyknight!

[siamesecat2965]

Not anything specific, but i thought you all might get a kick out of it. I have a friend who I swear lives in a cave, under a rock. She has many interesting "ideas" and theories about many things. She will also periodically  send me something she has just discovered, like its the newest, greatest thing EVER! things that are generally common knowledge.  today's email was asking me if I had ever heard of Freecycle, she had just discovered it, and wow, isn't it wonderful! you can get things FREE, and so on.

I told her yes, i've known about it for quite some time, but while it may be great for some, its not all sunshine and roses, and included a link to this thread, since I know she wouldn't believe me if i told her stories of freecycle nonesense.

[RegionMom]

On my freecycle, if one person posts a Wanted or Offer of item X, often you will see a slew of requests for same item.

A few days ago, a woman desperately posted that her freezer had gone out and she needed a freezer NOW as she had no funds to replace the food.  (I do not know if she got one, but I hope friends came to her aid.)

Anyway, once or twice for the past few days, people have been asking for fridges or freezers.

Not outrageous, but it does smell just a hint of, "hmmm, wonder if that one person's post made a few people think of their item X and maybe they want to get rid of it...does not hurt to ask!"

[wheeitsme]

On my freecycle, if one person posts a Wanted or Offer of item X, often you will see a slew of requests for same item.

A few days ago, a woman desperately posted that her freezer had gone out and she needed a freezer NOW as she had no funds to replace the food.  (I do not know if she got one, but I hope friends came to her aid.)

Anyway, once or twice for the past few days, people have been asking for fridges or freezers.

Not outrageous, but it does smell just a hint of, "hmmm, wonder if that one person's post made a few people think of their item X and maybe they want to get rid of it...does not hurt to ask!"

Or...
If someone needs it and I get it first then I can sell it to them.

Sometimes people are not nice.

[LadyJaneinMD]

On my freecycle, if one person posts a Wanted or Offer of item X, often you will see a slew of requests for same item.

A few days ago, a woman desperately posted that her freezer had gone out and she needed a freezer NOW as she had no funds to replace the food.  (I do not know if she got one, but I hope friends came to her aid.)

Anyway, once or twice for the past few days, people have been asking for fridges or freezers.

Not outrageous, but it does smell just a hint of, "hmmm, wonder if that one person's post made a few people think of their item X and maybe they want to get rid of it...does not hurt to ask!"

Yes, that's EXACTLY it.  One person's offer makes a whole bunch of people think how much they want one, but someone else got it, so then they all post a WANTED for the exact same thing.  Happens all the time.

[Amara]

A bit odd. Last night I found an email from someone from my Freecycle group asking for the lot of books I was giving away in my last post. The one that was originally posted about three weeks ago and deleted about two weeks ago. I didn't bother to answer.

[Slartibartfast]

NSFW language in this one making the rounds (I found it via Wil Wheaton) but the "ps I also babysit" absolutely makes it for me.

[Lorelei_Evil]

I laughed so hard I think I hurt myself.  Now I want Hot Pockets.

[afbluebelle]

NSFW language in this one making the rounds (I found it via Wil Wheaton) but the "ps I also babysit" absolutely makes it for me.

I think I'm in love