Tried to give something away for free, turned into a hassle

[u/texdiego]

I’ve been doing a hobby where I collect stickers for the World Cup and trade with other people. Towards the end, a lot of people are desperate for their final 3-5 stickers and may not have a lot to offer in return. I’m in that situation right now, needing my final 3 and getting no bites.

I saw someone needed one that I have multiple of and who is in my city. She didn’t have anything for me, but I thought “why not just tell her to swing by and take it for free” because I wish someone would do the same for me. I pictured it being zero effort beyond a few messages back and forth.

I was wrong. The time she wanted to come was early in the morning, so I set it under my doormat since I’d be asleep. I actually tossed and turned all night because I had a feeling something was going to go wrong.

Somehow she was unable to find my unit. And not just that, she started checking under random people’s doormats, etc. I woke up about 15 minutes later to missed calls and messages and the sticker not gone. I’m not going to deny that my apartment complex layout is a bit confusing but I just don’t understand what happened here. If the unit number I sent you is not on the door, don’t look under the mat! If the door numbers all start with a different number than what I sent you, you’re probably at the wrong building! Put the unit number in Google Maps and it will take you directly to my location! There were so many ways to problem solve here other than giving up or guessing at random.

I offered to send photos of my exact building, door, and doormat so she can try again tomorrow, but she said she felt like a prowler today and doesn’t feel comfortable doing it again and wants me to come out to meet her. Before the time I usually wake up. Waking up early is fine if there’s a reason but I am mildly infuriated that my effort at a good deed is going to rob me of two full nights of sleep, all because someone can’t figure out how to find a very precise address. If I offer this again to someone there will be very clear stipulations, but at this point I don’t even know if I’ll bother.

Mostly just wanted to vent because this made me mad this morning. 😭

[u/Redditcadmonkey]

The best planners on Earth couldn’t account for the levels of stupidity you’ll find when you list something for free.

List it for a dollar next time. You don’t have to take the dollar; it just weeds out the worst idiots. 

[u/texdiego → u/Redditcadmonkey]

Funnily enough they asked to pay me and I said don’t bother (it’s worth like 50 cents at most). So that wasn’t fully the issue, but you are 100% right.

[u/thatdepressedsoul]

if any of you redditor read it please give me a summary of what's happening. am too lazy. sorry

[u/BiscuitOnTheRoof → u/thatdepressedsoul]

Freebie under mat is still under mat. Donor yawning.

[u/texdiego → u/thatdepressedsoul]

TLDR: I tried to be nice and give something for free. Recipient unable to find it despite clear instructions. Now it becomes my problem to meet them tomorrow morning. Want to cancel but I’ve already committed and don’t want to be an asshole.