AllC34Me

I know this is the general topic area so this is a general question even though the question is about giving away free parts.
I have been receiving requests for free parts from forum members that have seen me give free parts out in the past.
They range from "do you have this specific part for free?" to "what free parts do you have for my 1978?" tp "please contact me before posting free parts, I might want them".
Is it just me or does this feel wrong to anyone else?
My first reaction is to stop giving away free parts altogether but I would like to know what you think about it.
I try to be open about the parts and I am only asking folks to cover the cost of shipping and I list parts for free once I confirm I cannot or will not be using them on my 1974.
I could try to sell these items like most everyone else does but it just seems wrong to sell something that someone here might be able to use to keep their car on the road.
Yes, occasionally I give a part away and find it for sale somewhere else, those guys just don't get considered for future freebies.
I'm probably just getting old and maybe cranky but I wanted to ask your opinion before I make a decision what to do with these parts.
Thanks for weighing in.
David Howard

Torqued Off

People should be ashamed to send you questions like that. Its disgraceful, and cheap. Offering anything for free is kind, but then here we have people who begin to take advantage of it. Sound familiar with things going on in the U.S., so no surprise. If I was you, I would stop offering free parts to anyone. This is a CORVETTE forum, which means people are engaging in a hobby, not a personal need. Another way to look at this is when you give things away for free, you devalue that same part that another guy is trying to sell,.....so you aren't doing him any favors. Stick with capitalism.

AllC34Me

Interesting perspective.
Thank you.
David

Iceaxe

^^^THIS^^^

People never appreciate something you give them for free, but sell the same item to them at a great deal and they can't stop talking about it.

YMMV

NONN37

Ive tried to do the same in the past when i offer stuff up locally. I usually try and get them to tell me about their project. but i started getting people just coming over with the intent to flip stuff and just asking to take boxes of random stuff. so i stopped.
Mostly old VW parts. i could tell right away when i asked about what they were working on.

People skim craigslist and offerup, classifieds using the free/ 1$ search, instead of looking for actual things so the theres higher chance of random flippers hitting your ad.

What i started doing was putting my free/junk/giveaway stuff for sale, really cheap. People who need it will know what it is, and how much it is really worth. And they will inquire about it seriously, instead of just being opportunistic.
So i put a bumper for 20$. weeds out the freeload searches. i get someone who wants it and asks real questions. i tell them they can have it for 10. they come over and after some story of their car and stuff i let em have it for free. If they come over and cant explain their project or what the parts i have are, i just sell it to them. I make a few bucks lol. but its usually actual people who need it.
its the free ads that get you flippers.

screw the people asking for free parts though. thats rude. what youre offering is generous enough. If i see something I like I dont mind leaving a few extra bucks especially if Im taking more than one thing. but if youre taking everything, screw that too lol. i set a limit and tell em its to help others too.

AllC34Me

Very helpful, thank you.
David

AllC34Me

Good thought.
Thank you.
David

pauls71stingray

I'd like to add another point of view.. David has been extremely generous with me in offering free parts. I have not and will not sell what has been given to me. The parts and knowledge that have been given are both helpful and greatly appreciated. As I SLOWLY get my car together I've been trying to pay it forward by giving away extra parts that I might accumulate, as per David's example. We all know how expensive this hobby can be and without the help of other hobbyists some of us would be excluded from enjoying the corvette world! One day I'll actually get to drive my car and I for one won't forget those that helped me get to my goal.
As David has exemplified not all corvette owners are TACOS.
THANK YOU SIR

Blue73Shark

BEJ

Here are my thoughts on this David. I agree, people proactively contacting you about free parts is wrong and if it were me being contacted, I would be put off by it. By the same token, people turning around and selling parts that you have given them is also wrong. Here is the thing though, you do A LOT of good for this forum and have genuinely helped many members, myself included. On balance I would imagine that the good vastly outweighs the bad. What you do speaks volumes about you as a person, who you are and the integrity and kindness that you possess. The same is true of those who would take for granted what you do, or have done. Their actions speak volumes to them as people, specifically their integrity. By circling the wagons and saying no more give aways, you allow those people to take something away from you and diminish the sense of community that you have directly contributed to in this forum. Having been privileged to meet you on more than one occasion, I get the sense that you truly enjoy doing these give aways and truly enjoy the camaraderie. Don't allow a few bad apples take that away from you. Perhaps just be a little more discerning in who you give parts to. Just my thoughts, hope it helps.

Bryan

redvetracr

this is a monster you and you alone created...

rgwoehr

red topless gator

I totally agree! Couldn't have said it better myself.

Rodnok1

I wouldn't let the leeches contacting you bother you, it's no different than super low ball offers or people knocking what you have for sale. Do what makes you happy and if that's giving away some stuff do it I say. If someone gets pissy because they are trying to sell something and feel you took a sale away... Oh well it's not like you intended to do it(plus free is free you cannot compete with free anyways).
You've been extremely generous and courteous amd I for one applaud you and wish more were like you in the world.

AllC34Me

These were good comments, thanks to you that took time to put them out there. I will give it some thought and maybe offer up some more stuff lower in price and free shipping. I like that. Even if I can just cover the shipping then I get the same result and some folks get the same parts.
Will see how it goes but thank you again.
David

AllC34Me

I reported your post to the moderators.
It doesn't offer any helpful thoughts, which I was soliciting.
David

bmans vette

I have some input regards this subject.
David Howard has been most generous to me (and others) over the years.
Thank you David.
We have a Pay-it-Forward event around Christmas time and I remember David giving away 45+ items in 2017, almost all including free shipping.
Remarkable.
The rules were not very strict .....take an item, give an item.
I also remember some greedy ones on there each year. One guy jumped from member to member....and then at the end said he did not have anything to offer. Pretty lame.
But such is the nature of our culture so why would the CF be any different.
As to the Support Capitalism sentiment......this is a hobby forum and the Parts Section is not Ebay, Amazon, etc. The service is a free one offered by the owners of the forum. Saying that giving away parts "diminishes" the value of the guy trying to sell that part is pure BS. You want capitalism....go to Ebay and pay the high fees I pay to sell items. I have been on there for over 12yrs. Besides...selling on CF can be frustrating as there are a lot of cheapskates here......LOL.
My other point is this.....you give something away, you don't own it anymore. Ever give a gift to a friend or family member only to see it someone else's house later? Its called re-gifting.
IMO - It is the new owner's decision what to do with it. Of course, one could say that the "new" owner garnered the item under fraudulent means. That is their bad karma to deal with. You did a good deed and deserve the respect and thanks for it. Nothing more.
Also I would throw out this thought......the guy who sold the free item........he has a project car that he cannot complete or his family has a high unexpected bill to deal with and now needs to sell off stuff to meet his bills. Should he keep a list of the source of all his parts, free and bought? And return the free items? See my point?
Keeping score is not a joyous way to go through life.
God blesses us and we share his blessings.

I will always remember my good friend David Howard no matter what. I will remember him as the person he is, not the material things I got from him.

Hope to see you in 2019 David....God bless you, Tammy and your family.
Dennis

bmans vette

Prayers sent for you.

Jeffs82c3

c3_dk

Put a price on all your parts, and then give the money to charity.
That is the way I do it here in Denmark.

Just yesterday I sold something here in DK, the price was very good, but still people wanted a discount !!
I then say, buy to the cheap price, or stay away.

This is what I support, sorry it's in Danish, but look anyway, look at the pictures, the hospital clowns makes the kids VERY happy, when they come = I'm very happy !!!!

https://danskehospitalsklovne.dk/