freecycle rant

DaveAshton

shiningdove wrote: »

"Hi needed Laptop/notebook must be windows
specs:
512 Ram or over
40gig or over
Os:-windows xp or higher
1gig Processor or higher
With power suply working order
Can collect within ******* "

:l

Better have a spellchecker on that laptop as well

gocurlygirl

Hello,I have had a couple of problems with Freecycle (not turning up to collect)and have had someone collect that appeared to be a trader but on the whole have had a good experience and met some lovely people through freecycle-and yes I have received a couple of things too,nothing big or expensive.I have to admit that there are people who are requesting a computor ,laptop,fridge freezer and several other things in the same message :eek:and I was surprised to see that.
Don't give up on freecycling,it is a good idea but do be careful.If really worried many charitys will collect depending on what it is,at the local tip one day I was astonished to see a woman put a load of nice looking childrens clothes and toys in the skip-some still had labels on.

rosie383

I love using freecycle, but like many of you, I always do a search to see how they use freecycle.
The last thing I put on, I specifically said that i would only consider people who are 'givers' rather than 'takers'. I was amazed at the difference in the replies I got. All of them were courteous, all were using freecycle in the manner intended, and I wished I could have had one item for each of them.
I am sometimes happy to deliver things if it is convenient for me and I feel the person is genuine. Sometimes people really can't get to pick things up but really need them.
Recently I asked for some old wood or broken paving slabs for the allotment. I was offered a broken bed, and when I went to see what was there, it was outside with dirty bedlinen on it,, all in a heap. Yuk! I took what I could use and left the rest, but I did email the lady and tell her I had taken what I could and wouldn't be back for more. Someone also offered some broken paving slabs and when I went to get them, they wer big, and still embedded in the garden. I took what I managed to get out of the ground, and got what i could into the boot, and emailed the lady to say I couldn't take any more. She got really sniffy and told me she had expected me to take all of them as she wanted the area cleared. Honestly, they were all laden with inches of muck, and I just couldn't manage any more!!!
I have just left her to do her gardening by herself. And I am not an ungrateful person by nature.

lolly1981

we went througah stage of using freecycle quite a bit, we offered a cooker, worked fine but had been in the garage for a few years so needed a clen, was picked up the next day, i had about 6 emails. and a tv that the tube had gone in it, someone picked that up knowing the screen was green but felt he could fix it, possibly a trader?? but i didnt mind, we couldnt afford to fix it and it wouldve gone to the dump which woudlve been a waste really, if someone could fix it.

we have also asked for some items before, one was a heavy bottomed large saucepan, son wanted to make sweets and i asked for some wheres wally books for him, they are expensive in the shop and he was going through a phase, one lady replied with 2 OH picked them up on way home from work, they were ripped and drawn in but my son LOVED them he was so excited. i sent her a thank you email

so it can work but i do have agree the amount of people who want flat screen tvs or a certain sofa etc just have no idea. and have think that theyve hit a goldmine with freecycle

Maybeanotherday

Your all funny ,the responses some of you have put have made me chuckle They've gotta make you laugh sometimes better than getting bogged down in it x

marleyboy

Its funny, I always want to put in a request for any loose bits of lego (trying to build a collection for when baby is older), but I always feel cheeky whenever I try to write a wanted ad and end up deleting it.

You wouldn't think it would be such a big deal, as freecycle is all about offering and requesting, I just never have the heart to hit enter and post the request - I cannot even ask for an old used lego brick, what chance would I have in asking for a digital camcorder or HD television?.

TUS

Wonder who will be the first to post a wanted for an iPad, hehe ;-)

TUS

Ha, this offer made me laugh:

Large Floppy-ish Cactus in Ugly Pot

Hi, we have a big cactus in a huge, square green, plastic garden pot. It's semi floppy and not particularly prickly.

heretolearn_2

Must be lucky with our local group then, I've only had good experiences. I've given away a folding Z-bed, a bag of books, and a printer and cartridges, which was collected by a local school. I've received a ladies bike, a Polaroid camera, a TV (a fairly old one, no remote, but works fine and although we got it for the kids computer games, a couple of days later our TV broke so we are extremely grateful for it!) and a shoe tree.

I just ignore the greedy people with huge wants lists (I imagine they give up eventually) and everyone who's got anything from me asked nicely, and said thank you. I also ask nicely and say thank you.

Abbafan1972

I have just clicked on my bookmark for Birmingham freecycle and it doesn't seem to exist any more. :eek: