When you get something from freecycle......

fernliebee

I love free cycle and give and get a fair bit on there. I see it that the people who come to collect are doing me a favour getting it out of my way, but it is nice when the people are polite.

I always thank them at the time of collection and then I email afterwards to say thank you too.

On a tangent, it really annoys me when you offer something and then someone just replies with "I want this" it is so rude!!!

never_enough

No need for anything other than a thank you but turning up when you agree is almost as important. Our forum asks for a 'taken' e-mail to be posted on the board. That way people should stop asking the OP for that item & also I suspect it means they can check if anyone is abusing the system.
I've given a lot of items from small electrical to large furniture, all of which I've been happy to see go to some use elsewhere. I've been amazed at the difference in responses from people both by e-mail & in person, from the downright rude to the incredibly grateful, via a comfortable middle ground. A follow up thank you e-mail is up to you, no one will mind if you dont, but as other posters have said it's a nice touch.

*niptuckfan*

i have only taken somthing once from freecycle and i gave the lady a bottle of wine....it saved me £35 so i wanted somthing to say thanks.

linni

I am always really pleased when I get something from Freecycle because there are so many enquires I consider myself lucky to be chosen. I got a fantastic doggy paddling pool last year which I would never have even thought of and my pup loved it. I always say 'thank you' and send an email afterwards. I also think letting them know why you would like it is a good thing too.

Glad

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Katyag

When we were getting baby bits from freecycle for DS2, for the bigger things we got we sometimes gave some sweets or chocs or something as it was big things that saved us loads.

I always follow up with a thank you email tho.

Amazes me the people who reply to your offer, 'I will have it', 'I will take it off your hands' or the sob stories then ask for delivery too or the people that ask for something and then ask if you have anything else they can have!

I offered a handbag after offering some baby swim nappies to someone. A woman replied to the handbag saying she would like it and did I have anymore baby stuff to offer! When i said no but she could have the bag she didnt turn up!

Cardew

silvercar wrote: »

I haven't got a problem with people selling stuff on and I know its within the rules,

It is not within the rules in many groups - mine expressly forbids resale.

Even those groups, who do allow resale, stipulate that they must declare they intend to resell items.

I have a huge problem with dealers/boot sale/ebay merchants getting any of my items by deception.

Modern day rag and bone men, but lacking any principles!!

The biggest single improvement to Freecycle would be for moderators to trace and ban dealers. Followed by banning the begging requests for high value items - laptops etc.

tsstss7

OP I'm always just as pleased to get rid of stuff via freecycle as I am to be given it so imo just a thanks is all thats required. I always email a quick thanks after I've picked up if I haven't seen the person involved and thanked them to their face (ie if they have left on the doorstep etc) and most people do the same to me.

When I give I do what others have mentioned and wait about a day for a few requests then I pick according to my latest whims - the last time I gave away some books for boys and gave them to a school so that felt good. I had so many I offered them to others too but only one other person bothered to turn up.

I try and eliminate traders by only giving to people who have already offered something and seem genuine but only because often I wonder if they will dump the item if it doesn't sell. Otherwise I wouldn't be too bothered and would give to them if no one else wanted it.

LondonDiva

northern_star wrote: »

One thing we’ve learned (been using freecycle a while now) - if you have lots of people asking for something you’re offering and can’t decide who to offer it to, take a look on your Freeycle group page at their posting history (just put their email into the ‘search’ bar). This way you'll see whether they place offers themselves or mostly ‘wanted’ ads. It helps to get a ‘feel’ for the genuine users.

HTH.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo:o

75% of stuff that I've given away on Freecycle has been in response to wanted ads. So, old tvs, digiboxes, floppy discs plants, a 2 year old undercounter freezer, lamps - about every couple of months at least

If you looked at my 'offered' posting record (approx 25%), you'd only see me offer the stuff I'd had enough of because it was getting in my way, i'm done with them or I'd decided to be particularly disciplined that month - so guide books, Nigella Christmas presents etc.

The majority of items I give are stuff I don't use & until someone asks for it, I hadn't realised it could be taking up space in someone else's kitchen cupboard or spare room (thinking of the not some MSE purchases of stair master, juicer, kitchen stuff, spare hoover, 2 old vcrs).

I do agreee about the 'I can pick up at 5 my numbers 07 xxxxxxx' responses though - they get deleted straight away.

Ken68

Asking receivers to jump ever higher to catch the crumbs orf your table, is teasing.
Say please, say pretty please, no uneducated people need apply.
I appreciate that re-selling could be a problem, in which case sell it yourself, or give it to a charity shop.
Charity shops are a far better way to get rid of stuff, and altho buyers have to pay ,they (and givers) don't have to travel any further than their usual visit to town.
Freecycle does not save the planet from pollution.