Nothing wrong with asking! I've asked here if anyone had old faucets kicking around from an upgrade (offering to pay, of course), and within a week had four of them (plus a couple shanks) at the doorstep. I'd be willing to give away lots of bottles if there was a new homebrewer around who asked nicely.
EDIT: Hell, Glibbidy gave me a case of Grolsch bottles last year, too!