Freecycle (Merged Thread)

ScoobieGirl

I go for the first to reply, but the closest geographically is also popular. Or you could specify in the advert a time that suits you for collection, and chose the first to reply that agrees to it - it may cut down on no shows that some people associate with straight forward first to reply.

As for how long to wait before chosing someone, I would base it on how often you check the freecycle site, and then add 1/2 day. Not an issue though if you go for the first to reply.

Elliesmum

:rotfl: I too agree with many of the comments being posted on this thread. Firstly I think freecycle is a brilliant idea and in principle is a fantastic way of keeping stuff out of the land fill. However I too am amazed with the attitudes of the individuals who frequent these groups.

I have many a time offered stuff where people; a) Do not turn up, b) Do not reply to emails and c) Do not have the transport or means to collect the items.

Previously before Christmas I had a large quanity of items that would have been brilliant for a school or play group etc. Offered in on my local freecycle, 4 people replied - not one had the ability to collect items and they all knew where I was as I have posted my location in the origianl offer. I was astonished........ how did they think they were going to get the items?

Also had the same problem with a broken pink buggy. Again offered it on freecycle - replied to emails - nothing back. So I ended up putting it in my grey bin. However someone seems to have taken it out of the bin :eek: which I was quite pleased about (ie. it wasn't going in the landfill) but my hubby mumbled that I couldn't give it away, but someone was prepared to take it!

I am also astonished on what gets asked for. Someone has just asked for a glass topped computer desk, not just a normal one. I think I would be too embarrased to be this specific on requested.

But on a positive note I have had some fantastic items off freecycle and hope to continue. My hubby has only just collected today a lovely computer desk to go in our new study (when it's built :rotfl: ) and previously we have received suitcases, filing cabinet, tv bench, V tech speaking book, baby clothes and a gorgeous ikea wardrobe for my daughter - which I was second for because the first couple who turned up said to the lady who was giving it way "oh isn't it flat packed then?" and the lady replied that it was stated in the posting that it was whole, they replied "we can't take that away, forget it!" Oh well their loss my gain :j

I do urge anyone who wants to use their freecycle group to stick with it as the benefits way out weigh the down side. I think the oddness of some of the people on the groups just makes freecycle what it is and it adds to the character of the community that is freecycle.

EM x

ViksB

I love freecycle too, but I would like it to be less email based and more web based and I have stumbled across
http://www.efreeko.co.uk/
which whilst in its infancy I think could be a good alternative to freecycle. I now list on both.

sundin13

I've found that lately I've had more responses that have made me feel a bit suspicious. I've freecycled about half a dozen things, and one person has responded to three of them. Also, my latest has produced a few responses about how much the respondent's 'disabled child' would like something. Am I just being cynical?

Sarahsaver

I definitely don't respond to the ones who say 'can I have it all' I once posted such a mixed batch of stuf that it was very unlikely one person could have needed all of it. Tend to ignore the sob stories too. If after two emails back and forth they have failed to collect I would re-offer.

lightisfading

ViksB wrote:

I love freecycle too, but I would like it to be less email based and more web based and I have stumbled across
http://www.efreeko.co.uk/
which whilst in its infancy I think could be a good alternative to freecycle. I now list on both.

For anyone in the Scunthorpe area, i'm setting up a site to do just this pm me if youre interested.

ScoobieGirl

sundin13 wrote:

I've found that lately I've had more responses that have made me feel a bit suspicious. I've freecycled about half a dozen things, and one person has responded to three of them. Also, my latest has produced a few responses about how much the respondent's 'disabled child' would like something. Am I just being cynical?

I doubt you are being cynical, athough there is a good chance that one person trying to get three items could be looking to make a profit it may be someone who has fallen on hard times and had to start a home from scratch. When I am suspicious I look back at other posts they have made, whether they are always asking for things and never offering. No matter how hard up you are there is often something you dont need any longer - childrens clothes that no longer fit etc.

No one I know with a disabled child would use them to gain sympathy like that.

If there are no other replies I give items to people even if I think they are making a profit - it's still being re-used and if they can make money when I can even give it away to anyone else then good luck to them!

HugoSP

The disabled child angle puts me off straight away.

Friends who have disabled relatives tend to be very matter of fact about them and don't use their existance to blag stuff. They may talk about their children as needing or liking something, but won't mention them as disabled, but may mention them as having difficulty in walking etc, when this is relevent to the conversation or topic.

As for me, I tend to go for first response, unless it's something that could easily fall into the hands of someone who would try to sell it on.

For example, I have at the moment a lightweight buggy that I need to get rid of. When I advertise that I will probably state that traders etc are not welcome and I will probably choose a recipient based on their e mail. People who are after everything that goes tend to respond differently than people who genuinely need an item.

Alternitively, people who ask for items that I have spare and only ask for one or two items every so often will get my attention.

HugoSP

One of the groups I belong to constantly moans about the number of wanted ads, but, as one poster pointed out. You do have the option of ignoring the wanted ads you can't/won't help and responding to the others.

I'm a great believer in what goes around comes around.

I often post wanted ads for building materials as I'm renovating my house. I consider that I may be providing a potentially useful service to some people by being able to remove the rest of that 1 tonne bag of sand/aggregate that they no longer want. After all they'll only have to get a trailer or a skip to dump it in.

I have got a few bits and pieces this way. I try to co ordinate pickups with regular trips to the area, but at the same time be considerate to the doner.

I have never had any bad experiences with Freecycle. The only issue I do have is that some stuff never seems to shift, yet I can see its value to many people that may need it, so I'm reluctant to throw it away.

The best experiences I have had include a washing machine. I picked the old one up and installed the new one in the doners house as a thankyou and to help her out. I suppose it was fortunate for her that I could do that!

Also, I picked up a dog cage that has proved to be extremely useful, and today I picked up a child safety fireguard - again to stop the dog!

To date I've given away a running machine, two fish tanks, a towel rail, a childs bike out of a cellar I cleared out for someone, two mirrors, an old scaffold plank for shelves, plus a few more I can think of.

Justie

the general rule on our freecycle group is to give to the first responder providing they collect within a reasonable time.