Freecycle Alternative : ForFreeForum.net - What do you think?

happydj

OK I will try and put everything the best way I can.

Freecycle: It is excellent, im not trying to replace it - im only offering an alternative. Let's just get that out of the way first.

Board not being available until registration is complete: Yes you are right about spammers, they use a fake email address etc and can gain access to the board - however everything (as im sure you are aware suffer from this one way or another) I am working on a little mod which will let guests see the forum main page, but wont see any posts/profiles etc - do you think this would be a better idea?

FFF has advantages over Freecycle for a number of reasons, there are a few in my eyes, however that just may be because I created the thing! Anyways a few of my best ones:

- Subscribe to local area, have emails sent instant, daily, weekly, monthly: This is usefull if the news gets updated every day, but you just want a weekly report of the changes. Also usefull when you have listed an item and would just like the emails at the end of each working day (after all this leads us onto my next point)

- Fair! If something is post 1st come - 1st serve basis, the person getting rid of the item might miss one of the emails send by other groups such as freecycle. On FFF all posts are in order - so even if the person getting rid of the items, and they only choose to have daily email report - they can still see very easily who was 1st. Also on the topic of fair, if the 1st person who asked for the item no longer wants it, you can offer it to the 2nd post. The forum system is plain and easy to use (after all your using the same basic technology as the forums on MSE!)

- Quicker: Instead of going through the emails and searching for the 1st come - 1st serve person who asked about the item, its listed in the forum - and you can contact them by clicking on there name. Sending them a PM will also send them an email, if they are only just send them an instant message - and it will popup on there screen (they dont even need to refresh there window!)

- Safer: Because email address's are hidden from normal plain text view on the forum, it would be hard for people to get your email address and enter it on Spam lists just because they didn't get your item!

- No waiting for your items to get listed: As soon as you have created your listing, and submitted it - it gets shown. Plain, simple, fast!

- Built in image hosting: Easily upload pictures of your items to include on your posts

- RSS feeds: Include these feeds on other websites. If you have a website in/about your local area, you can use the feeds to automatically display 'Whats going free' links on your site.

- The 'togetherness' of it all! I personally like the idea how people get together with the same sort of things in mind. Take a look at MSE for example, we are all here for 2 reasons: to help others if we can, to save money! Thats what makes a website (in my opinion) the community of the members. Some people may not like it, but you don't have to use it. It's just another feature.

Well I think thats my favourates and most usefull so far. Yes we do have a rating system which is still under development and will be launched on future upgrades to the website. Also, we take comments, questions, suggestions on how to improve the forum: and if we can do it - its done! The whole idea of FFF is to create a large online community where people can come together!

Like I said, some people prefer different ways to others - but it is always nice to have a selection.

Paul

happydj

carrie483 wrote:

I find that if you wait for the emails (mine go through yahoo and it seems t otake longer) then the offered stuff is gone before i get an email.

This is one of the things which has happened to me. Another reason FFF is more user-friendly (in my opinion - but of course I would say that!) Its totally fair! You can see if you were 1st person to reply etc. You can select how you want to get told about new topics etc.

Rex_Mundi

happydj wrote:

Board not being available until registration is complete: Yes you are right about spammers, they use a fake email address etc and can gain access to the board - however everything (as im sure you are aware suffer from this one way or another) I am working on a little mod which will let guests see the forum main page, but wont see any posts/profiles etc - do you think this would be a better idea?

That sounds a good idea to me. I think it can only help you build up your membership by letting guests have a browse of the forums before deciding whether they'd like to take part or not.

happydj

Rex_Mundi wrote:

That sounds a good idea to me. I think it can only help you build up your membership by letting guests have a browse of the forums before deciding whether they'd like to take part or not.

Hello Rex,

Thanks again for your thoughs about this - Its good of you to offer your honest opinion. I admire that.

Hoping to get the mod and other little upgrades and suggestions sorted out tonight.

Paul

alimbee

Hi Happy dj

Pleased to support your efforts and have registered. I can see the benefits over freecycle and wish you all the best with your site.

By the way I think it looks fab! love the colour scheme!"

HelenD_2

Hi Happydj

I have just registered!

Looking forward to my confirmation e-mail :0)

Looks good so far - I'll let you know if I have any comments when I get to the forums.

H

arkonite_babe

Is this site just designed for people on the mainland or is it available for people in Northern Ireland too??

happydj

arkonite_babe wrote:

Is this site just designed for people on the mainland or is it available for people in Northern Ireland too??

I am adding a northern ireland section very soon.

Strepsy

Looks great. None for Cheshire yet so I posted the first one

happydj

Excellent thank you very much. I have had alot of support from MSE and I am really keeping my fingers crossed that the more members we get and the more the usefull it will be for everyone.

Still very early days but we have got quite alot of members already!