Freecycle (Merged Thread)

JimmyTheWig

That's an interesting take on it, Ferris. I'd always considered the "free" more important than the "cycle", but I guess it works in equal measures...

daleigha

ferris, i dont think its snobbery at all, i think its just people fed up with people taking the piddle on freecycle!! i dont think people using freecycle could be snobbish - how can you be snobbish and use other peoples second hand goods, and offer your own for free?
if someones toaster breaks and they desperately need a new one, and cant afford one that matches their colour scheme, then whats wrong with a different coloured one? as long as it toasts bread, surely thats the main thing!!
maybe im just a bit more suspicous about peoples requests than you are - and thats not a bad thing at all that you have faith in the human race! but i just feel that some people try to take advantage of others peoples generosity on freecycle, or treat it like a free shop or something!! i have seen repeated requests for certain things on my freecycle, for the same thing, infact people have said things like 'this is the third time i have posted this wanted ad as no one has responded before' so i dont think trying freecycle first and then going and buying it is what these people intend to do!
there are some fabulous, genuine people on freecycle, but unfortunately there are also people out to misuse it, and ruin it for everyone, which is a pity as the spirit of freecycle is such a good one!!
xx

judderman62

well I, yet again, have a good example from one of my local groups - bearing in mind most groups have alimit on posting wanteds - I THINK generally 2 a month or so - one person has just posted 3 wanteds at once for:

a ps2
a dvd player
a freeview receiver

yesiamtom

Okay, i recently signed up to freecycle portsmouth to try to get rid of a bike...and get a bike

However my request to join the group hasnt been verified for about a month now i think. I take it the admin/mod is on holiday or something. Anyone able to help me out ?

Henwen

I love it. I joined my local group about 2 years ago but dip in and out according to whether I have stuff to offer. It's great. It's better than Ebay at encouraging recycling as there are no listing fees and so people post really low-value but useful stuff rather than chuck it.

Yes there are people taking the mickey and the no-shows and those who say "I'm interested" and then ignore you are annoying but the overall ethos is great. As well as rude people there are some really lovely messages of thanks when you help someone else. Ignore the losers and just reap the benefits. Block them from your inbox but don't give them the satisfaction of ruining your day.

To cheer you all, my local tip (or "household recycling centre") says it recycles 90% of stuff taken there. That's a much larger % than I expected - fab.

Ferris

daleigha wrote: »

ferris, i dont think its snobbery at all, i think its just people fed up with people taking the piddle on freecycle!! i dont think people using freecycle could be snobbish - how can you be snobbish and use other peoples second hand goods, and offer your own for free?

very easily, judging by this thread. as i mentioned, there are some real chancers and lowlifes on freecycle, but the mocking on the thread extends much further. i think some people are possibly jealous that others have the audacity to ask for (and get) certain things, when they themselves 'couldn't possibly' ask for them. it's a community to encourage recycling and in effect keeping useful goods in use, so where's the shame in attempting to find such goods? why should people be mocked for it? i reiterate: noone forces anyone to read wanteds.

if someones toaster breaks and they desperately need a new one, and cant afford one that matches their colour scheme, then whats wrong with a different coloured one? as long as it toasts bread, surely thats the main thing!!

if someone says they desperately need a new one, i'd agree. but that's not my experience, in general posters just put up a hopeful "our toaster's broken, wondering if anyone has a silver one to match our kitchen!" what's wrong with that? it's keeping a useful item in use rather than sitting in someone's cupboard/garage/shed. part of the snobbery is assuming that all people posting wanted "can't afford a new one" rather than that they might just be leveraging a tool that allows greater circulation of goods in a community.

people fixate on the free, rather than the cycle...

maybe im just a bit more suspicous about peoples requests than you are - and thats not a bad thing at all that you have faith in the human race! but i just feel that some people try to take advantage of others peoples generosity on freecycle, or treat it like a free shop or something!!

i'm very suspicious of people, believe me

it is impossible to take advantage of people's generosity on freecycle, unless you do something in bad faith, such as getting something to sell on without telling the offerer. if someone chooses to equip their entire house - furniture, kitchen equipment, entertainment - from offers and wanteds on freecycle then they are not
taking advantage of anything or anyone - in fact, they are adhering completely to the freecycle philosophy as they are minimising wastage and landfill. but such a person would be the target of scorn on this thread...

i have seen repeated requests for certain things on my freecycle, for the same thing, infact people have said things like 'this is the third time i have posted this wanted ad as no one has responded before' so i dont think trying freecycle first and then going and buying it is what these people intend to do!

repeat posting is against the rules on most freecycle networks, so the moderators should be stamping it out. and rudeness is rudeness. in reality, i don't really see there is a problem with repeated wanted ads other than the (very sensible) logistical one that it would result in tons of repeated messages every day. but as far as the freecycle philosophy is concerned, it's fine as far as i can see.

there are some fabulous, genuine people on freecycle, but unfortunately there are also people out to misuse it, and ruin it for everyone, which is a pity as the spirit of freecycle is such a good one!!
xx

i agree, but people seem to be confused about what the spirit of freecycle really is. it is a tool to minimise wastage and keep things out of landfill. that is it. of course it leads to some wonderful community spirit and making good friends and all sorts. i think some people think the spirit of freecycle is some sort of philanthropy, seeking to improve the lives of other people in their community.

that may be a side effect, but it is not the spirit of freecycle...

bah, humbug

Ferris

judderman62 wrote: »

well I, yet again, have a good example from one of my local groups - bearing in mind most groups have alimit on posting wanteds - I THINK generally 2 a month or so - one person has just posted 3 wanteds at once for:

a ps2
a dvd player
a freeview receiver

a case in point... all of the above can be very, very old technology. most people i know have upgraded several times from the first one of each of these that they bought, and probably keep hold of the old ones just because they work and it'd be a shame to throw them out. perfectly reasonable things to ask for, really...

if there is a rule on the number of wanteds per month (not all groups have such rules - most of the ones i'm involved with don't) then inform the moderators so that they can sanction the rulebreaker accordingly. if there is no such rule, then hooray for that much-vaunted spirit of freecycle working its magic

brightonman123

our local group has a database option, to log no shows etc.. whether repeat offenders get barred is another matter!

ladypinkof66

Just put an offer on Freecycle consisting of lots of kitchen items - had two replies this is them

I would like these items and can collect at the weekend

Hi can collect later tonight or on saturday morning


I am so annoyed no please thanks i feel like smashing them all and taking to tip
however i know i am supposed to keep them out of the landfill

What has happened to courtesy nowdays.

judderman62

ladypinkof66 wrote: »

Just put an offer on Freecycle consisting of lots of kitchen items - had two replies this is them

I would like these items and can collect at the weekend

Hi can collect later tonight or on saturday morning


I am so annoyed no please thanks i feel like smashing them all and taking to tip
however i know i am supposed to keep them out of the landfill

What has happened to courtesy nowdays.

If you feel strongly enough about it you could hang on to them for a while and re list in a few weeks time - if you're not desperate to get 'em out of your home - just a thought.