Freecycle, comes with a free laugh!

[OllieMartin]

Agreed, given that I had four responses in one day, I'm starting to think I should have put it on ebay. But then that's not very karmic is it?

[allotmentlady]

brilliant poem! U have to give it to him.........I receive the most stragest requests when I recently advertised our treadmill on there.......

[kernowyon]

we only ever get carpy replies to anything we offer - there is even one guy who has a standard reply that includes a space to add what is on offer eg

I would love to have your ............ if it is still available

only problem is he usually uses CAPS when filling in the blanks. (he never gets the items anyway for lack of originality)

give it to the poet

[vikkib]

Poem guy wins, hands down!

I always go for the most polite reply - I hate the 'what's your address so I can collect now' emails and I'm far too sceptical to believe all the sob stories. Everyone's elderly mother's, cat's, aunt has just broken their leg AND developed a chronic illness on the same day they were robbed blind of all their worldly possessions and is therefore in desperate need of my paddling pool!

I now live in hope that someone will go down the poem route when replying to my next offered post!

[OllieMartin]

My favourite sob story (which is very popular in Hull) is when someone approaches you in town and says:

"Excuse me, I rode my bike into town and left it outside Boots while I went in to get my prescription and someone nicked it. Could you lend me 20p for the bus?"

If they weren't such scary characters I'd laugh at them. How long has it been since you could get anywhere on a bus for 20p? And if it only costs 20p they could walk it!

Why always 20p?

[BumbleB]

Maybe they are collecting the rare ones.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Maybe they are collecting the rare ones.

I think you're probably right!!

Ollie, I think it's got to go to the poet, and you can tell him 'The Vine' was most amused. He'll be really mortified that you shared it with 10,000 forum members

[happybunny]

nice poem

[taff]

I've never had anything like that in reply to any of the stuff I've posted, I congratulate you.
If I'd got a poem like that, I would have given it to them just for laugh value and ingenuity.
It definitely beats "I'll fetch it now, where are you?" e-mails....

[jackie j]

I should try this for my son as he has split from his girlfriend and she decided to take everything that they bought. All the white goods in the kitchen and the wardrobes belonged to the flat they shared. He is starting again and so far has bought a new bed and chest of drawers. The cooker and Fridge/freezer came with his flat, he bought a telly when he lived with us, he has nothing to sit on, no bedding to speak of, she did let him have a white towel that she had used whilst bleaching her hair though, how kind of her.
He would rather save his money and buy it when he can afford to.

[Hilary B]

I should try this for my son as he has split from his girlfriend and she decided to take everything that they bought. All the white goods in the kitchen and the wardrobes belonged to the flat they shared. He is starting again and so far has bought a new bed and chest of drawers. The cooker and Fridge/freezer came with his flat, he bought a telly when he lived with us, he has nothing to sit on, no bedding to speak of, she did let him have a white towel that she had used whilst bleaching her hair though, how kind of her.
He would rather save his money and buy it when he can afford to.

Many years ago now my sister stated that if she couldn't afford nice furniture, she would prefer to use whatever was going free (she suggested old Tea chests to sit on) while she saved for what she wanted.
I wouldn't go that far, but certainly, cheapest going (we bought most of our first furniture secondhand from local ads) until the good stuff can be purchased.

[OllieMartin]

I've written my response:

Hi Mark, thanks for your rhyme,
I've mulled it over and taken my time,
The other requests we're boring and plain,
Giving sob stories over and over again,
About mothers and daughters and son's-in-law,
Who had no fridge or were terribly poor.

I posted them all on a forum I use,
For the other members to peruse,
And vote on who they thought should win,
I've counted them up, all votes are in,
They read your poem and loved it too,
So I'm happy to say, I'll give it to you.

I'm at home all week, each day,
So when you can, swing by my way,
But preferably before friday if you can,
I've got a pretty busy weekend planned,
I've left my details lower down below,
See you later, mind how you go.

Ollie

[Pumpkin Becki]

Perfect!!! Our very own Poet Laureate!

[shirlthegirl43]

Brilliant!!! Well done you. I wonder if you will get another rhyme back to arrange collection time

[OllieMartin]

I was trying to put my details in the rhyme, but I couldn't fit a whole phone number in, it was just too long to say, and I couldn't rhyme anything suitable with 6!