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

[artk2002]

Well, technically, one does not "need" a computer.

Considering that more and more things in life are going online, that's an outmoded way of looking at this. Want ads in the newspaper are no longer good ways of finding jobs. Many jobs require online applications. Internet cafes cost money and in the long run, having your own computer may be more economical. Libraries may have computers available but that access has its own issues.

Computers are rapidly moving from "nice to have" all the way to "necessity." I'm sure that people made the same argument about the telephone 100 years ago.

[squeakers]

My sis is a single mom and needs a laptop. Otherwise she can't get on the computer. Sproglet will unintentionally trash the desktop tower when it's on the floor, and there's no desk that's safe from her for the keyboard. She'll pull at all the wires and has even nearly broken the monitor. A laptop or iPad is the safest way Sis has to use the internet because it's small enough that she can put it up out of Sproglet's reach, all the parts of it at once, and get it down when she needs to use it. She can't go to the library because Sproglet hasn't mastered the quiet part yet, or the sticking close when she's in a new place.

A stereo with speakers, though, is over the top.

I'd say sproglet needs some training because I know kids can be taught from a very young age what the word "no" means.  Cats.. not so much 

[VorFemme]

I can see asking if anyone has an old laptop because a student can't afford one or needs something for a  project (learning to repair a computer, learning programming, or learning to use Linux for office tasks - as examples) and I have given some away... on Craigslist.

But I do mention the specs of the computer and its age when I am offering it - so if 256mb and a 2gb hard drive aren't going to work - the person knows before they arrange to meet me.

And the person who wanted me to hand them a Windows 8 desktop when I told them that it was XP, had no hard drive, and could be upgraded with more RAM - but that *I* wasn't going to do it....we met in the parking lot of a local electronics superstore so that they could pick up whatever they wanted or needed....instead I got "attitude" about how I hadn't delivered a computer that matched what they thought I was bringing to them... 

I checked my emails when I got home.  I don't know what they were griping about, unless they were supposed to meet someone else entirely....at the same time and the same place.

[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.

[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.