Freecycle- people asking for too much?

xsunnysuex

I posted a wanted advert for a router. No one could get near our desktop comp because my daughter was hogging it. So I wanted to get her laptop onto wireless. A lovely lady answered. Within an hour I had the router, and withing two hours I had my computer back lol. On the way I did buy the lady a box of chocolates to say thankyou. She seemed thrilled with the chocolates, so we were both happy. :j

biscit

DCFC79 wrote: »

I saw earlier today that there was a vote to do with which was allowed and not to be allowed and the users of freecycle were able to vote on them, there was also a vote to do with how many wanteds were allowed each month. This of course could be just my freecycle and not others

It probably was your local group.

biscit

I usually wait 48 hours (so as not to advantage those who are permenantly on the net) and select someone at random. If I preference, I preference people who live or work close by or will be passing through.

I have sent an email to selected winners only to have people not turn up to collect. Now fine you may ened up with another item or not be able to pick
the item up, but it would be polite to say "sorry, can you offer it to someone else."

Some groups have a rule against "sob stories" and I approve of this, I delete emails from people laying it on thick. I don't think personal circumstances make you more deserving, the idea is to keep useful stuff from gathering dust or cluttering landfills, not for hard-luck cases to. Besides I may be disadvantaging someone in worse circumstances who is too good mannered to go on about it. In my book, just saying "I'll have it" is more polite than an email explaining personal circumstances.

NotQuiteNorbert

The one-line replies to offers are the ones that annoy me. You'd think it would kill some people to say 'please' and 'thank you'. We've never once sent a one-liner, and a number of times we have received items as a direct result of this. I've been surprised at the number of times we've received replies from people offering things that have said we can collect as we've been the only ones to say please.

naughty_10382

I saw one the other day asking for 'a Nintendo DS for my 3 year old to stop him stealing his siblings' ones' !!! Words failed me.

Oh and sob stories annoy me. If I reply to an 'offered' post, I will usually say why i want the item, but i won't turn it into a 'woe is me' email.

linni

I decided to offer and item to a lady who despirately wanted the item, but when I phoned her, she went on and on about being disabled etc etc, and because she kept faffing about being able to collect, I said I'd offer it to the next person. After the phone call, I felt really guilty, so I phoned her back and said we'd deliver it. She was so unbelievably grateful and I was glad I gave it to her in the end.

justjims

NotQuiteNorbert wrote: »

The one-line replies to offers are the ones that annoy me.

I love the 'I'll take it off your hands for you' messages, so warming and grateful aren't they.

isabelle304

justjims wrote: »

I love the 'I'll take it off your hands for you' messages, so warming and grateful aren't they.

Ah yes some people have mastered the art to make it sound like they are doing YOU a favour by taking away your stuff! Those go straight to my trash folder. :rolleyes:

NotQuiteNorbert

justjims wrote: »

I love the 'I'll take it off your hands for you' messages, so warming and grateful aren't they.

Heh, I automatically delete ones like that. Those and the ones that say 'hi i will take it my number is ........'.

Claire_Bear

I've noticed a lot of offers saying they will only give stuff to people who leave their house phone number in the reply, and no mobiles allowed. Which is pretty annoying for me as we don't have a landline in our student house at the moment. I guess people who automatically give their number just want to make arranging pickup easier?