freecycle rant

dizziblonde

Try looking for Birmingham Freegle... I gather there was a big hoo-hah in the great electronic giving stuff away community and a lot of groups un-freecycled themselves.

Having said that - Nottingham seems to be dying a death of late. Still need to get round to listing this damned telly that's taking up half of the spare room.

SallyForth_2

There's only one reason really to use Freecycle, and that is because you have something to get rid of which is in your way, which will probably not sell, or be too much hastle to sell, or too much hastle/difficult to dump at the tip, would be a waste to throw away.

There's nothing wrong with a spot of good manners of course, but if you think you are being generous, doing people a favour or expecting extensive gratitute then maybe you are rather missing the point and Freecycle isn't for you.

I also wonder why people are so interested in why people want their stuff - who cares as long as it goes? Choosing based upon the "story" given when there are multiple requests might seem fair, but you have no guaruntee that these stories are any more accurate or worthy than the unimaginative guy who just says "I'll take it".

The Wanted brigade are chancing their luck with some of their asks, but they will soon catch on when they find no-one will respond to their requests.

dizziblonde

When you get one person emailing you 5 times in an hour demanding the item you've listed, note, not asking, it gets a bit much. And yes, if I'm giving something away I at least expect a please and a thank you - that's just manners and common courtesy.

BexInLondon

I'm so glad it's not just me who finds the "I'll take it" emails annoying. They're fine for when the purpose of the post is to save something from landfill, but I can't understand how anyone can press "send" on an email asking for expensive items without feeling horrible.

Even more annoying is the people who use you as a free tip-run. We once begged a friend to drive us round to someone's house to collect a sofa-bed that was described as being in great condition, only to find it stank of fags and booze and was filthy. We had to call the council to collect it as there was no way anyone would want it! Beggars can't be choosers and cosmetic problems are fine with free stuff, but why not be honest in the listing and admit that the item you're giving away is kind of foul?

berkshirelady

I've only recently ventured on to Freecycle, initially to keep an eye out for stuff for the charity that I volunteer for. A mate gave me a bigger TV than the one I already had (which had been given to me anyway), and I had no space to keep the old one for too long. I advertised it on Freecycle, within 2 hours a chap sent me a nice email, and within 24hrs he'd come and picked it up. Seemed like a lovely bloke. In the meantime, other people got in touch, and when I told them it was taken, I got some nice replies that said 'oh well, never mind, thanks anyway!'

Maybe it's like anything on the internet, a bit random, with good and bad people?

My only gripe is that I don't check my emails often enough and missed out on the chance to get a 9ft boat last week!

MarzipanFish

Got a question i thought i'd post here.

I've put a TV on freecycle and got about 6 people asking for it.
I emailed back someone on Tuesday night asking them if they could collect on Weds/ when they could collect. It's been a couple of days and ive not got a reply. Just sent a reminder but what's a decent amount of time to wait before giving it to someone else?
They emailed saying they wanted it within about an hour of me posting so i don't know why they've not replied yet.

lincroft1710

Hate to be a pessimist (those who know me would disagree!) but I doubt you will hear from them again. These people are the bane of Fregle and the reason why I don't bother offering items on there anymore.

misshighlander

I put something on freecycle yesterday. Which I then put as taken this morning. Then this person, demanded to know that if the item were hers to take & when could she collect. Don't think so. If she/he was nice & polite and not shouting/demanding that it was her who was getting the item about it & asked, before the taken message was put up. Then I would have thought about it. Message got deleted there & then.

MarzipanFish

Thanks for the reply. I gave the first person the evening to reply to the reminder and have now asked someone else if they want it. Thought it would be easier than this to give away a perfectly decent TV!

dizziblonde

This is what happens and what's ruined it for the rest of us sadly. I've had the bullying barrage of emails demanding an item (sent at 10 minute intervals) - haven't had the no show crew yet.

I've noticed a fair few people on ours have started adding disclaimers like "I will only give this to people who show manners and decent use of English" - don't know if that works but it's an indication that other people are starting to get peed off with it as well.