"I'll take 'em off your hands"

[ceresone]

This is a expression that makes me fume! Last summer I offer some ladies some of my beautiful heirloom tomatoes--few days later someone else showed up, said "I heard you had too many tomatoes, I'll take 'em off your hands"
This week, I advertised over $1000. of ceramic paints on freecycle--would you believe one lady said "she'd take them off my hands"??? Believe me, they went to the one that said she did lots of ceramics, and would be in 7th heaven if only she could get them. just my personal pet peeve--dont make it sound as if you're doing me a favor by taking what I'm givin'

[DAVID In Wisconsin]

It's only an expression.

[donsgal]

Originally Posted by ceresone

This is a expression that makes me fume! Last summer I offer some ladies some of my beautiful heirloom tomatoes--few days later someone else showed up, said "I heard you had too many tomatoes, I'll take 'em off your hands"
This week, I advertised over $1000. of ceramic paints on freecycle--would you believe one lady said "she'd take them off my hands"??? Believe me, they went to the one that said she did lots of ceramics, and would be in 7th heaven if only she could get them. just my personal pet peeve--dont make it sound as if you're doing me a favor by taking what I'm givin'

Well in the literal sense, isn't that what they are doing? I mean if you were able to HOLD $1,000 of ceramic paints or tomatoes in your hands as you were offering them to someone, wouldn't they be accepting it by reaching out and "taking them off your hands"? I cannot think of another term or expression that means the same thing. "I would be happy to receive them" or "I would be happy to accept them", sounds kind of formal and certainly is nothing I have ever heard in the real world.

Like the other poster said. It's just an expression and I seriously doubt if anyone intended any disrespect by saying it. If you don't want people to say it, then don't give stuff away! LOL

donsgal

[GoddessKristie]

I agree with you. I know it's just an expression but that gets on my nerves too. I don't like people feeling like they're doing me a favor by paying a fair price for something they need. Of course I don't like cocky people in general...

[EDDIE BUCK]

Long as their hands is aiming to put the MONEY in mine, they can say whatever they strike a notion to say, but if they are acting like they gona takem for free as a favor, then they gona HAVE to takum. Most of the time if someone says "I hear you have more than you need" or "Would you happen to have an old"or " Do you have so and so that you ain't gona need" THEY WANT IT GIVE TO UM. If I happen to have that item, they will never get it. Eddie

[Bearfootfarm]

Originally Posted by EDDIE BUCK

Long as their hands is aiming to put the MONEY in mine, they can say whatever they strike a notion to say, but if they are acting like they gona takem for free as a favor, then they gona HAVE to takum. Eddie

You have a good point, but she did say she had them on FREEcycle, so I'm assuming they werent "for sale"

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

You have a good point, but she did say she had them on FREEcycle, so I'm assuming they werent "for sale"

You are right, I think my mind was on freecycle. LOL Eddie

[georgec]

I might say that if someone says something like "I've got a bunch of junk in my garage, would you some of it?" Or if asked "I'm swimming in tomatoes would you like some?" It depends on the way the items are offered. I think it shows no disrespect, as I would also thank the person.

[BlueHeronFarm]

You know, I think people say things like that so they can feel comfortable with NOT paying you. They feel better about taking something if they feel like both parties are benefiting in some way.

[edcopp]

Originally Posted by DAVID In Wisconsin

It's only an expression.

Very often used with an "entitlement" attitude. That's what makes it sometimes offensive to others

[hunter63]

Originally Posted by DAVID In Wisconsin

It's only an expression.

I have to agree, and truly when I want to get rid of something, they ARE doing me a favor just to get it out of here.

If I wanted to sell it, that's a different story. I tend to use 1/2 new price for good shape stuff.

I have a problem with some people want a "new price" for things/stuff that are well used and only worth that price to them, talk about entitled attitude.

[comfortablynumb]

you advertise it for free, then whine when someone says they will take it.

oh jeeze.

[ihedrick]

Yes, that is a common saying, but when I respond to a freecycle offer I tell the person if the item is still available I would like to have it. I think it just shows a little bit more manners. But you have to remember some folks weren't brought up with manners either.

[texican]

Sometimes, even when somethings free, I'll try and dicker em down some more..... and sometimes it works... If someone has rabbits or chickens to give away, I'll halfway joke, when on the premises, if the cages, or their feed, come with...

you never know, if you don't ask!!!

[chamoisee]

Personally, I think it's quite rude for them to even ask for the tomatoes. Instead, they could have asked how your garden was doing and then if you offered, they could have accepted graciously and very thankfully. I would be disinclined to give anything at all to someone who just walked right up and asked me that way, would take it to the thrift store or homeless shelter first!

[ArmyDoc]

I think I would choose to interpret their offer as an opening to negociating a price. I'd smile and say "Excellent, I'm asking X dollars a pound"

That lets them know you are willing to sell them. Who knows they may say "great" and take them at your asking price. Or they could make a counter offer that is acceptable to you. Worst case scenario they can decide their not interested. Give it a try.

You know what they say "Nothing ventured nothing gained...." Works both ways.

[ceresone]

My, such varied replies--LOL. Yes, it IS just a expression, but it is a rude one, its implying what you have isnt worth anything, and they are doing you a favor by taking it. Yes, I had it to give away, but more in the feeling of sharing something good, not that I was angry I had it.
I realize not everyone HAS social skills, but is it ever too late to learn? rude comments to ANY poster is really uncalled for--remember, if you cant say something nice--then just dont say it, might apply in many situations. or--as in the pot calling the kettle black?

[fordson major]

"I'll take 'em off your hands" is one of my least fovrite expresions! ranks up there with strangers calling me "brother" or "dad", i know who my brother is and i know who my kids are and they aint none of them! do have a long time friend that calls me brother, thats fine, we'll adopt him! (even though he's 46 and accident prone! )

[Jim S.]

If you say you have an excess of something, that can appear to others as a burden on you (i.e., you are CARRYING this load of excess), and so if they say "I'll take them off your hands," they are literally saying they will lift that burden from you.

Please, we all need to remember that semantics are always involved with the spoken word. What is intended and what is heard are often not the same things.

All that said, I used to say "I'll take it off your hands," meaning what I described above, but I quit doing it for the very reason in the OP -- it is far too often misinterpreted. It used to irritate me that people would put meanings into my phrases that weren't really there, but once I understood and studied S.I. Hayakawa and semantics, I could see more clearly what was happening.

[Pony]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

you advertise it for free, then whine when someone says they will take it.

oh jeeze.

She didn't advertise the tomatoes. That person came beggin' at her door.

As for the freecycle, it is always polite to say, "I'd love to have your <fill in the blank>. Thanks so much!"

When I list something on Freecycle, the item generally goes to the most enthusiastic responder.

Pony!