Freecycle (Merged Thread)

JimmyTheWig

hula-hoops wrote: »

How do others feel about things being sold on?

My reasons for Freecycling are in this order...
1. Re-use of something is environmentally better than scrapping it (even if it can be recycled)
2. It is easier for me if someone collects it than I have to take it to the dump
3. It helps someone in need out.

So by collecting something of mine to sell on you are fulfilling my two most important reasons so I am not that bothered.
But I would much rather it go for free to someone who needs it.

I think this is different if the collector can add value. E.g. if I have a broken DVD player I am perfectly happy for someone clever to pick it up, fix it and sell it on. In effect, what they are selling is their fixing skills, not my item.

What would really pee me off is if I found someone collected something to sell on, couldn't find a buyer and dumped the item.


As always I would like to think that honesty is the best policy. If you are going to sell something on then ask if the giver minds. Though that may place you further down the list than a lying re-seller! But imagine your embarrassment if the person who gave you it saw you selling it at a car boot sale next week!?

hula-hoops

My point is 'What is genuine need?' If someone says 'I only want to give this TV to someone who genuinely needs it' is my need to raise money to pay the gas bill (and intend to sell said TV that would otherwise be thrown on the tip) less genuine than someone who just wants to play Xbox games all day?

JimmyTheWig

A good point, hula-hoops, and difficult to disagree with.
I do think there is a difference., though I'm not quite sure what that difference is.

before_hollywood

if so can you offer me some tips?

i'm in the process of buying a house and have signed up for freecycle (no doubt i will discover some junk when i pack my stuff, but am wondering what to put in my begging message to stand out but not seem like i am scrounging

thanks

AnnieH

Wanted posts are the reason I don't use Freecycle any more. Sorry BH.

before_hollywood

i wont be specifically asking for anything just replying when people are giving something out, beggars cant be choosers and all that

Poppy9

I have given away stuff but no longer subscribe because of all the wanted posts. They should ban them, if people want stuff for free they just have to put some effort into searching the threads for them.

I gave away two fab sofas but made it clear that they had to collect and remove from my property themselves (one was a 4 seater and the other a 3 seater). I reiterated this on the phone to the person who was collecting and she assured me it was no problem, they had a van and there was 3 of them.

What she didn't say was it's was a tiny van and the 3 of them was her, a butch bus driver, her weedy DD and her grandson age 4 who wanted to play on the trampoline but couldn't do so unsupervised because of his age and I don't have an enclosure at my DD is a teenager and it's 12ft.

OH was really mad as he had to stop working to help her when she got stuck first go through my back gate and then getting into her van. He has banned me from putting anything else on freecycle. We also barely got a thank you.

I now advertise stuff on work e-board and have managed to get rid of some stuff. People are suspicious if it's free and you often get more response if you ask £5 for it.

I've just given away a 22" Panasonic TV to a girl setting up home for the first time and she was amazed that people are happy to give things away.

I also got a child's bike in immaculate condition from a man in work for DD old school when she was in reception. I couldn't just take it for nothing and give him a bottle of wine.

AnnieH

Oh I see. Sorry.

Well don't ask someone to ring/text you about the object. You're the person who wants what they have, so you need to make the effort.

Above all... remember your manners!
I never gave anything away to people who didn't use their pleases and thank yous

Good luck :beer:

ETA: Don't forget Gumtree. Not so many freebies, but some real bargains to be had, and not so many beggars

before_hollywood

is it possible to trace the serial beggars are?

before_hollywood

AnnieH wrote: »

Oh I see. Sorry.

Well don't ask someone to ring/text you about the object. You're the person who wants what they have, so you need to make the effort.

Above all... remember your manners!
I never gave anything away to people who didn't use their pleases and thank yous

Good luck :beer:

if they dont mind a phonecall of a mobile i am more than happy to do the phoning

thanks, i'll report back asap. its just bits and pieces that dont seem much to some people but make a difference when you have virtually no furniture that i am looking for, i have a wish list in my head but would never post a wanted ad asking for any of it