Freecycle (Merged Thread)

gromituk

I've probably said this before but... never offer to the first person who responds - there are people sitting there jumping on everything, which not only unfair on the others, but often results in no-shows as they are too cowardly to say they don't actually want the thing they jumped on without thinking about it first. Moreover, these people are likely to be making a living out of it, which, while it may fulfil the aim of keeping stuff out of landfill, I feel is against the spirit of Freecycle a bit.

Savvy_Sue

cookie54 wrote:

cant believe it . i have offered 5 different items and had some replys none have given a reason for wanting the item nor have any of them put in there "p or q " in the replys .......... what would you do as i want rid of these items but having never done free cycle before i am feeling a bit mifffed at peoples rudeness ....................

I wonder if one of the problems with apparent rudeness is the way that people regard email? For example, you'd NEVER start a letter other than with "Dear ..." but it's quite OK to start an email with nothing, not even a 'Hi', although some of us just can't bring ourselves to do that ... just launch in that is.

I do tend to use more words than many people, both in email and text messages and on here In my freecycle messages I try to be friendly and informative without giving my whole life history. And I always finish with 'All the best' and usually start with "If you haven't already promised this I'd love it because ..."

(going OT, I find it very frustrating when posters on the form start a new topic with 'Hi', then start a new line, and when I hover over the list of threads to see if it's interesting all my preview shows me is 'Hi'. I don't need you to say 'Hi' to me here, you can just get on with saying what you want to say! :rotfl:)

But I love Freecycle. My old mac is going to star in a Revue later this year, I hope I get invited! :rotfl:

Colin2511

I have given quite a bit away over the year (3 piece suite, bike, kids clothes etc), and picked up quite a bit, (baby clothes, baby bath, loft board etc)...I have some other bits on there at present that have had no interest, and this has surprised me as they do have a small value and for new mum ideal, I wont throw them, probably shove in attic and do it later on in year if I see a few more mums wanting things

I am about to post wanted for garden shrubs and old sideboards (doing garden and kids playroon out)
I love the site...and think its a great idea, it has saved me a fortune in baby clothes, and I was more than happy to pass these back as babies grown out rather than use the stuff....and as for the suite - will last the lady a while, and saved me taking it to the tip

ScoobieGirl

cookie54 wrote:

cant believe it . i have offered 5 different items and had some replys none have given a reason for wanting the item nor have any of them put in there "p or q " in the replys .......... what would you do as i want rid of these items but having never done free cycle before i am feeling a bit mifffed at peoples rudeness ....................

I wouldn't be put off by them not giving a reason, it wouldn't occur to me that someone would want to know why I wanted it - just when I could collect it.

I would be put off by an abrupt reply - especially if there was no please or thank you. If there is any other reply or its good for a charity shop I'd let them have it instead.

fargo_3

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.

I help out on the efreeko site so thanks for your support. Edinburgh City Council have just made us a partner in their waste reduction project which is pretty cool, so get recycling out there !

inkie

I always state what the item is that I am offering, when I need it collecting by, and for the responder to state when they are able to pick up.
I never even acknowledge e-mails that are not grammatically correct, do not have a please and thank you in them, and do not answer the questions that I pose in my offered ad. I always state 'polite e-mials only please', but I always get a 'giz it 'ere when can I come an' gerr it?' reply!

Craftyscholar

I have been thinking about joining freecycle and have found this thread very useful.
Could I ask if it would be acceptable to offer a footbath (only used twice and thoroughly cleaned )

speedyjoe

Craftyscholar wrote:

I have been thinking about joining freecycle and have found this thread very useful.
Could I ask if it would be acceptable to offer a footbath (only used twice and thoroughly cleaned )

Well if nobody wants it then nobody will reply to your offer, just describe it clearly. I would think a footbath is exactly the sort of thing you would see offered on Freecycle and the sort of thing lot's people will be looking for.

jamstaruk

i signed up for freecycle but must say i reckon half the people asking for your stuff are just on the make ive had a few saying i'll take everything without even a please or thanks im just gonna phone up a charity and see if they want them there are loads about in most areas and at least you know items are going to a worthy cause

Morty_007

cookie54 wrote:

cant believe it . i have offered 5 different items and had some replys none have given a reason for wanting the item nor have any of them put in there "p or q " in the replys .......... what would you do as i want rid of these items but having never done free cycle before i am feeling a bit mifffed at peoples rudeness ....................

I hate this. It's SO rude! The amount of emails I get that just say "I'll have it and i'll pick it up tomorrow give me your address."

I have been toying with the idea of posted a wated ad that goes somewhere along the lines of

"WANTED-SOUTHAMPTON- polite response to my offers

I have been freecycling for about 6 months now and have given away a lot of stuff to others as well as picked up a couple of wonderful items which I wouldn't have been able to get hold of otherwise but something has been lacking on occasion from my Freecycle experience.

What I would like is for every email I receive in response to an offered advert in future to include the words "Please" and "Thank you " and go something along the lines of (And this is just modelled on my own responses so you may change the wording if you like) "Hello x I wonder if your Y and Z is still available please? If so, I would be very interested in the item as I have needed one for a while and been unable to find a suitable one. If you chpose to offer me this item I would be able to pick up any evening this week or at a time that is convenient for you should this not siut. I thank you in advance for your consideration, Many thanks M"


If only I had the courage to actually post the wanted advert