Freecycle (Merged Thread)

lightisfading

Just to give a positive side of freecycle for once...

So far this week I've offered 7 items - I've had multiple replies for all, almost all of which have been polite. The first 4 have been collected on time by polite people, the rest should be going today. I've also collected an item (knitting needles!) from an extremely nice lady who went through her stash looking for extra bits for me!

I have a simple system - if you're rude you don't get considered. I arrange a time with a half hour window (I find being specific tends to result in people showing up on time more than 'sometime around 10'). Everyone else gets sent a 'Sorry you weren't lucky, but thanks for replying' email that saves me the stress of getting annoyed about certain ones

I also have a folder system in my email - one for replies to my offers, one for people who have taken items, one for no shows (only one so far), one for items received. It makes it easy to check back when you're thinking 'im *sure* that person didn't show up for something last year'.

Also, not everyone knows this but if you go to the group page (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/**yourgroupname**) click messages, then 'advanced search', you can search by author. This can be very handy for weeding out the people who post a want every 5 seconds... I know I'm also far more likely to give to those who have posted an offer before.

So yes, in summary, not EVERYONE on Freecycle is a rude idiot.There are a few but it's easy enough to operate your own 'no idiots' policy

brightonman123

i see a few people posting that the 'wanters' had expected / asked for items to be delivered?? they need reporting to the group moderator, as totally out of order!

to make it crystal clear, especially for larger objects, it might be worth including 'YOU will need a large car / van to take away..' etc..

Having said that, I did get a lovely coffee tabe delivered by a very nice couple, which i hadnt expected- was only fair to give them something towards for petrol and effort, which they seemed surprised (but pleased) to get!

Ken68

brightonman123 wrote: »

i see a few people posting that the 'wanters' had expected / asked for items to be delivered?? they need reporting to the group moderator, as totally out of order!

to make it crystal clear, especially for larger objects, it might be worth including 'YOU will need a large car / van to take away..' etc..

Having said that, I did get a lovely coffee tabe delivered by a very nice couple, which i hadnt expected- was only fair to give them something towards for petrol and effort, which they seemed surprised (but pleased) to get!

I suppose, by the very nature of things, the people who NEED Freecycle, are the poorest, so don't have a vehicle,
and also probably not the highest educated anyway. However good manners cost nowt, as they say and how do you
covert an ill mannered person.
By being well mannered whenever, by giving unreservedly, by getting on the same wavelength as the person who is receiving. Being sympathetic.
The Salvation Army don't say. "not you, you too scruffy", nor "not you, you didn't say please" or "not you, you ill mannered lout".
If you think the receiver is going to sell it (to make ends meet as he sees it) then sell it yourself, or take it down the recycling centre or a charity shop.

lightisfading

Ken68 wrote: »

I suppose, by the very nature of things, the people who NEED Freecycle, are the poorest, so don't have a vehicle,
and also probably not the highest educated anyway.

Exactly.

I actually set up the freecycle group in my area, and moderated it single handedly for about 2 years. The whole time (and up until recently) I didn't have a car. On a couple of occassions I said something like 'I don't have a car so can only collect from bus routes or a short taxi ride', and a couple of people were nice enough to deliver. Luckily, I never NEEDED a bed, or a washing machine, or a cooker - if I had I would have worshipped the person with the heart to deliver the item.

As Ken68 said, often those who might really need the item don't have a car... not everyone does.

Of course, if someone is rude or demanding tell 'em to !!!!!! off!

Firefly

lightisfading wrote: »

Just to give a positive side of freecycle for once...




Also, not everyone knows this but if you go to the group page (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/**yourgroupname**) click messages, then 'advanced search', you can search by author. This can be very handy for weeding out the people who post a want every 5 seconds... I know I'm also far more likely to give to those who have posted an offer before.

So yes, in summary, not EVERYONE on Freecycle is a rude idiot.There are a few but it's easy enough to operate your own 'no idiots' policy

Thanks very much for that handy hint. I've just had a search as I've been waiting for a lady to collect something and she seems to be delayed at lots of meetings in the evening. Turns out she's the vicar!! Oops. I'd better be more generous of thought. :rolleyes:

LimeLight

i'm currently waiting for someone who was due at 8.30. it's now gone 9 and i have to go out hence the reason i asked if she could come early.

I chose her as she was the only person who said please.

blaque*angel

ladypinkof66 wrote: »

After many rants on here I have now decided to give up on Freecycle altogether, these are just some of my experiences this week.

i think that was a wise decision. you really over stressed yourself,which is not healthy.

buxtonrabbitgreen

I found the group I was in were a grasping impolite and ungrateful lot. So I changed groups. I always put my location on my offers so people can decide whether it is worth their time and petrol. I had a very nice polite lady turn up exactly on time on Sunday. So it didn't mess my day up. And today someone wanted something I was offering and to make sure that it was really what she wanted, so as not to waste both our time I sent her a photo.

POSSETTE

i would love to carry on using FC but my moderator is a power crazy cow who has banned me!!
i have only ever given stuff away and quite often delivered out of my way for folk, BUT i advertised some straighteners to give away, boring make not ghds, but someone else was listing some too, person A asked the other lister about hers and then recieved a scam email about ghds on a website,from someone with the name jody in thier email address,my moderator says this is me under another name and banned me for solicitating scam mails!!!!
i am flippin furious but she wont back down and admit being wrong,what can i do to report her? I have since listed under hubby name so i can still carry on giving.

judderman62

POSSETTE wrote: »

i would love to carry on using FC but my moderator is a power crazy cow who has banned me!!
i have only ever given stuff away and quite often delivered out of my way for folk, BUT i advertised some straighteners to give away, boring make not ghds, but someone else was listing some too, person A asked the other lister about hers and then recieved a scam email about ghds on a website,from someone with the name jody in thier email address,my moderator says this is me under another name and banned me for solicitating scam mails!!!!
i am flippin furious but she wont back down and admit being wrong,what can i do to report her? I have since listed under hubby name so i can still carry on giving.

have you had a scout round the main freecycle site to see if there's any pointers or contact details ?