Freecycle (merged)

Cinders2001

dobbiesloan wrote: »

That is because the moderators get first choice

As a Moderator I can rightly answer this.

All messages get equal attention for moderation. If we see something that we would like, then we do exactly the same as any other Freecycler, we message the Offerer with our request.

This is no different than everyone else. We don't have an 'I got there first therefore it's mine' approach. We may see the message first but believe me, we DON'T get everything we ask for........

....... all names go 'in the hat' and it's up to the Offerer who gets their property.

Cherryscone

I am glad to hear that the mods dont keep all the good things for them self tbh i didn't really think they would but i still think its unfair to post one item in maybe 4 or 5 different groups it wastes peoples time and when they say need picked up today and its something you need you email them and they dont reply back now that widdles me off .( i am grumpy today lol)

RedBalloon

So far I have been grateful to receive some excerise weights and a bathroom cabinet - great site!

dobbiesloan

madmam wrote: »

madmam wrote: »

I am glad to hear that the mods dont keep all the good things for them self

Read the next quote Straight from a mods mouth

Cinders2001 wrote: »

As a Moderator I can rightly answer this. We DON'T get everything we ask for

You may not get EVERYTHING but as you can get in first you have a better chance than others. How many offers go to the first person to reply?
For those that are not on moderation how many times have you had an email asking for items before you get notification that you offer as been posted?

Morty_007 wrote: »

He isn't joking, it isn't true in all groups but he is convinced it is that way on the couple of groups he frequents (or rather doesn't frequent.) I'm sure there is another site that Dobbiesloan normally touts when freecycle comes up.

Maybe not true in all groups but as you say ALL you acknowledge that it dose go on.
There are other similar groups out there but I don use or recommend any.
I am on at least 6 local groups under another name and I visit them many times during the day.

grannybiker wrote: »

If I'm inundated, 1st to be weeded out are the 1 liners / those with lack of courtesy / manners.
I then read the others carefully and draw up a shortlist. This can depend on things like how far they'll be coming to collect my item, (special car journeys rather fly in the face of the environmental ethos of Freecycle, I believe!) Sometimes, if I don't recognise the name, I'll go into messages and type in their user name so I can see all their posts. I prefer to give to active Freecyclers who have themselves posted offers.
Then it can be a simple matter of pick-a-number!

I only give to the people that say please. A simple one line saying "May I please have the item on offer. Thanking You #####" is polite enough for me. I hate reading begging emails.
As for your method of choosing, an ebay seller might be around the corner but someone who genially needs it may be a few miles away. I do not post many offers as I am a bit of a hoarder, but if I see a wanted I ask myself do I ever use the one that I have got? If not I will give it to them.

grannybiker wrote: »

"Edit" your preferences. Change to "Receive Daily Digest" "you do meet some lovely people."

The trouble with daily digest is by the time you ask for an offer it will probably have gone.
Yes the genuine frecycler’s are lovely people.

Still not convinced? For the newbies and others that are on moderation. Try a little experiment. Post an offer for an expensive item like a laptop. See if you get any request for it before it is posted on the group’s home page. Wait a while then you will get replies like "I will take it" then, you get the begging ones (mostly from sellers) telling you they work for a charity or I need it for my disabled kid. And if you are lucky you might get a few replies from genuine freecyclers.

Two things I hate are Wanted, an expensive item. & Offer it’s broke but u might be able to fix it or printer no ink. We all know it is cheaper to buy a new printer than it is to replace ink.
I am an experienced freecycler but I would still advise newbies to avoid it.

spansmarie

I tried to access the Freecycle site logging on with my google account, but when I try and get on to my local board, it keeps asking for yahoo info.

Do you have to have a yahoo account to access the board?

grannybiker

Yes, but it's quick and free to register.
Hope that helps.

Cinders2001

Read the next quote Straight from a mods mouth

You may not get EVERYTHING but as you can get in first you have a better chance than others. How many offers go to the first person to reply?
For those that are not on moderation how many times have you had an email asking for items before you get notification that you offer as been posted?
.

You make all the Mods out to be First-Come-First-Servers!

Let me tell you how I mod......I vet the messages to weedle out the spammers, we get many every day, I edit most of the titles of the posts to make them comply with the rules and to make the Posts more readable. I then post them to the board.

At the end, which can be up to an hour later as we have a very busy group, I will then go back to any I would like and place my request like everyone else.

If you think asking after an hour is too soon..... then you are not on my Freecycle!!!

There's a lot of work to do being a Mod. We don't just hit send to every post that needs to be Moderated you know. You should see the pages and pages we have to know about to be a Mod!

"How many offers go to the first person to reply?" you ask?
How should I know! I'm not obsessed with getting something. I ask for my name to go in with all the others that they will consider.

DON'T LUMP ALL MODS AS THE SAME THANKS!
Maybe you have a problem with your mods and you should be addressing the issue with the site owner of your local Freecycle if you don't think you are getting a fair deal.


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I'm now going to go hide in the corner........am waiting for all the comments and daggers at my above comment.....better still, i'm off to MODERATE!! lol!!!

lbt_2

Hi Cinders

You really didn't need to explain yourself but it is nice that you did - it gives everyone more of an insight into what is involved in moderating. Moderators work hard, and I don't think people realise how much is involved ... and no, I am not a moderator myself, I just appreciate the things that other people do for me.

The people who moderate are no different to any other group of people ... the majority are pretty sound honest people, but you get the odd few that aren't, but you can't let that put you off.

Someone rightfully said in an earlier post, you don't let the odd rude driver stop you from driving your car, do you? So why should you let the occassional idiot stop you from doing a good thing by using freecycle?

grannybiker

Appreciates Cinders and all the other Mods who work hard to ensure our sites run smoothly.
To the critics, as in all aspects of life, there will always be some whose methods we don't agree with or are struggling to keep things on an even keel to the satisfaction of all. Providing the rules are being followed, perhaps they could do with the offer of some help? Would you be willing?

grannybiker

Our posts crossed, same sentiments!