Another Peeve I Have

The unwritten meaning is: if you want it, take it.

If no one takes it, it's trash.

I pick up that stuff once in a while, if it's something I can refinish or re-make into usefulness. For example, I made a sweet desk out of an old dresser. It was made of quality wood.
 

Well, maybe most of the time.

Two years ago, I saw a nice table out by the curb on the next street over. I am always looking for tables to put things on at my garage sales. I assumed, like most people, that it was left out for anyone that wanted it. I was stuffing it in the backseat of my car when a woman came flying out of the house shouting, "What do you think you're doing?" I told her I thought she was giving away the table. She told me that the table wasn't for me and that she put it out because someone saw it on Marketplace and was coming for it. I suggested that she put something out to indicate that. All I got for my trouble was, "Don't tell me what to do!"
 
My grandson was coming and I noticed my neighbor had this cute ride on train next to her trash can at the road.
She said it had been sitting in the shed and was really dirty but I was welcome to it.
I told her I'd love to clean it up for for DGS.
I got it looking like brand new and all the electronics worked. It was a Vtech(?).
Anyway, he loved it.
 
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caroln said:
Around here you have to be careful about anything left in your driveway, even if it's not close to the curb. Bikes, balls, lawnmowers, rakes, brooms, plants waiting to be planted, trash cans...I've heard of all of those going missing when left out.
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My dear neighbour was mowing the grass in her front yard, she went around the back to get more petrol and when she came back the mower was gone. I also gave a friend of my husband's his old fishing rods, when he came back to get the fishing baskets the rods were gone.
He said "Gees, they're quick around here".
 
Here they stopped picking up trash items next to the dumpsters in the alleys ( items too big for the dumpsters ). They stopped paying employees (and hiring people ) to pick up those items. Instead, they bought a big truck with an arm to grab them ( it doesn't fit down the alley). They make you put those things in your front yard close to the curb. They might get to them in a month. All the grass dies under those items if no one steals them.

Y'all are right about putting a price on something will definitely make it disappear.
 
oscash said:
When I was moving house, I put a stack out the front of my home and had a sign "Freebies" they were all gone within an hour.
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Good idea, we do the same, lawnmowers, strimmers, spare veg. The only difference perhaps is we live on a bridleway rough track, so it has to be walkers.
Once they took large amounts of horse manure, but not enough, so now it is put on the fields in between sowing.
 
On the right side of my driveway is where I put free stuff with a sign and it goes quick and it's nice to see someone want it. On the left is where I put things I sell, Tomatoes, apricots, plumbs, apples and other things from my old construction business. I put out a jar and people leave money for the things that are for sale. Yes, I live in the country.
 
Jondalar7 said:
On the right side of my driveway is where I put free stuff with a sign and it goes quick and it's nice to see someone want it. On the left is where I put things I sell, Tomatoes, apricots, plumbs, apples and other things from my old construction business. I put out a jar and people leave money for the things that are for sale. Yes, I live in the country.
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we do the same ..and put an honesty box outside. Lots of people sell produce, and eggs and honey that way
 
I think what makes a difference here is my driveway at the street is 80 feet from the house. Hard to misinterpret whether it belongs in the yard or is on the street.
As for theft, I release attachment to the money, if they steal it, that is their karma. I count the money at the end of the day and notice the empty spots, mostly to put something else out. I find joy in the smiles on people's faces when they find something they like, and I am rid of it.
I sit in a white robe with my coffee cup each morning and people pick up veggies and wave. When some of the women who live here are out walking they get many thank yous for the garden produce.
 
Nathan said:
When I was moving from my previous house, I put a sofa out on the curb(lived in the city) with a "free" / "gratis" sign. Someone knocked on the door, asked "how much" did I want for the sofa. ?? I said "it's F-R-E-E". :p
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I did the same with a perfectly good and well cared for sideboard when the charity shops said they didn't take 'dark wood''.. the sideboard would have brought them in at least Ā£300 even second hand, it was very good quality.. but if I'd had a Ā£50 composite Ikea unit they would have taken that..

...so out mine went to the end of the drive...

I wrapped it up in cling film in case it rained, and put a ''Free'' sign on it... and a guy knocked the door, couldn't believe it was going for free, and came to check .. he was absolutely delighted.. he said he'd just got a new home with his small children, and little money to furnish... so the charities loss was his gain..

W653_A303-5FT-SIDEBOARD.jpg
 
It is funny isn't it? So many would appreciate such a beautiful piece but others seem to be blind to see the value and the beauty. I furnished much of my newlywed home from estate sales. I am still much the same way, I love old things and the character and orginality to having them in my own home.
 
hollydolly said:
we do the same ..and put an honesty box outside. Lots of people sell produce, and eggs and honey that way
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Where I live, there's a very productive organic farm operated by a fairly young couple with two young kids. In recent years they've been selling two ways: First, there's the CSA method whereby people subscribe ($$) prior to spring planting for a certain amount of vegetables & fruit as the harvests arrive. Second, the farm maintains a produce stand by the roadside with produce prices marked and an honesty box in which to put the payment. It's been working out okay (though, possibly, there may be a bit of minor theft, I haven't heard).

However, the situation may be precarious. Cannabis growing was fairly commonplace in this region for a few decades. Then the price for C drastically dropped due to Canada having sanctioned a regulated above-board cannabis-for-adults marketplace system. I've heard that the price per weight, for the unlicensed private grower, is now one-thirid or less what it was in 2010. This in turn has resulted in some houesholds becoming desperate, and also in a spotty increase of those who've turned to harder, addictive drugs. And that kind of habit is costly.

Hence, there's been more theft in the region. So I hope the farm I referred to can maintain its friendly, trustful way.
 
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debodun said:
Well, maybe most of the time.

Two years ago, I saw a nice table out by the curb on the next street over. I am always looking for tables to put things on at my garage sales. I assumed, like most people, that it was left out for anyone that wanted it. I was stuffing it in the backseat of my car when a woman came flying out of the house shouting, "What do you think you're doing?" I told her I thought she was giving away the table. She told me that the table wasn't for me and that she put it out because someone saw it on Marketplace and was coming for it. I suggested that she put something out to indicate that. All I got for my trouble was, "Don't tell me what to do!"
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A bad experience two years ago:(. Have you managed since then to get tables to place your sale items on?
 
oscash said:
When I was moving house, I put a stack out the front of my home and had a sign "Freebies" they were all gone within an hour.
Click to expand...
Whenever I have something I want to put out for people to take, I put a FREE sign on it, and it usually is gone pretty quickly. I don't put out junk, that goes in the trash.

I would never take something from someone's driveway if it did not have a FREE sign on it. The most I would do is ring the doorbell and ask if they are giving it away. I imagine a homeowner may put something out for a friend or relative to pick up, perhaps they are on the way.
 
In housing association house, rules seem to be different. We have 4 in a row. Three if them are owned (ex rentals bought by current tenants at the time), they do whatever they want in their space.

Twice in mine, I put two items. First one was a girl's bike, added a sale sign on it. Got one caller after a week. Asking how much was it, said Ā£45. I'd paid Ā£135 originally. Person went into a ranting/raving about it being too much for the state it was and left.

I'd specifically said it was a fixer upper. It needed repairs and at twice the original cost. I gave up after got letter from HA saying it was a nuisance and eyesore.

Second item, was my old exercise bike. Still in good working order but my knees aren't lol. Didn't put a sign this time as I had an ad on browser online. Once again, after fortnight, got letter from HA to remove ugly item or pay for uplift. We out in in the designated area for large items to be recycled. It disappeared in two days.

I was left having to cancel inquiries on se and also terminate the advertisement online.

Seems once you own a place you can do anything you want and no one complaints but a tenant in housing just not allowed.

Thankfully, found out who was complaining and happy to say she's moved out. Also, I'm out of items needed a shift, all my clearing's done now šŸ¤£šŸ¤£šŸ¤£
 

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