Freecycle and related sites comments

CoD_2

I think the yoghurt maker request was fine. the recent petrol car, at least 6 month tax and MOT, good runner pref 5 door on my local group was not.

I do get annoyed when i'm given a sob story, say fine and then get strung along for WEEKS without them ever collecting. i waited 5 weeks, with emails back and forth for one item, worth about £30, readvertised it and it was gone and collected within the hour.

we've made some people very happy though, which is good.

lil_me

Personally, I'd rather wanted ads were not allowed. Freecycle is only there to prevent items ending up on landfill. In the current financial climate I am suprised people are still giving usable items away as a lot more are selling them through the free ads newspapers/websites/ebay etc.

Personalities on there, well there isn't much that can be done. I choose who I give items carefully, those who have usually offered items rather than 'wanters'.

Suppose it's like Marmite, love it or hate it (PS this thread will probably be moved)

pnq06

Have you got another local group that you can join up to?

I only ask as I was a member of a "want want want" group (usually the latest games console, fridge freezer, washing machine a brand new 3 piece modern suite etc.) which was really off putting especially when like you I was offering really decent stuff and I had replies like "I'll take it" and so when I moved house I stayed with my other group but joined up to my new group and the difference in posts has been fantastic... I never really want or ask for anything but you see lots of regulars who gift and who obviously aren't put off by it. I too have offered on there and it has become so difficult to gift stuff at times cos 95% of replies are actually nice!

fletty

how do you decide who to give it too? I've only posted a couple of things and find it hard to decide who to give it too, then I've felt that the person I choose was a bit grumpy never even said thanks! I'm not letting it put me off but I've never recieved anything from my wanted ad, or seen anything that I fancy.

pnq06

fletty wrote: »

how do you decide who to give it too? I've only posted a couple of things and find it hard to decide who to give it too, then I've felt that the person I choose was a bit grumpy never even said thanks! I'm not letting it put me off but I've never recieved anything from my wanted ad, or seen anything that I fancy.

I usually don't give it to the people who give sob stories- I hate the ones that really try to guilt you... And if I don't receive any replies which I like the sound of then I usually go out of my way to drop it into a charity shop or if its a large item then usually charities are more than happy to collect. But like i say, I'm quite fortunate with my new group :j

*Maya*

The wanted ads on mine are getting stupid. People asking for a Ps3, flatscreen tv's, laptops :rolleyes: The op is looking for stuff that wasn't *big fancy stuff* but you got no replies. I assume that the members in your group didn't have it to give away at the time you wanted it. I put things on freecyle most weeks and pick people who offer a lot back to our group.

Freecycle exists to reduce landfill by people giving away stuff they don't need instead of putting it in the bin. Because somebody gives does not entitle them to receive in return. It's not a swap shop.

anguk

There's often wanted on mine that gobsmack me, there was one lately that asked for "modern, looks new, brown leather 3 piece suite" another asking for "lcd with built in freeview" and then there's others that just ask for entire house contents!

I've no problem with people asking for things as long as they're not taking the pee. I've just asked if anyone's got an old spin dryer because my washer has broken.

fletty

Our freecycle has some very bizzare stuff on the wanteds, (all i wanted was a toddler bike) but on ours they ask for tvs, trailers, parcel shelves, king size bed!!!etc but there is some 'ordinary' things on there too. I never post expecting to recieve I just want to get rid of things that are of no use to me but maybe to someone else..

lil_me

anguk I know exactly what you mean, you'd be amazed at what gets rejected, but I strongly believe members should self moderate. I always look at what a member is requesting, if they are just greedy people wanting me to furnish their entire home, I won't give them items I offer.

Maya, indeed it doesn't mean they are entitled to receive something because they have offered but it is up to me who I give my items to. Personally I think to take you should offer, but that is my personal opinion. Swapping items is not allowed.

How I choose

No sob stories
No lack of manners
Search (there is a little search box) to see what they have offered or if they just place wanteds

JoolzS

I stick with my local freecycle because the huge majority are nice people. If everyone gives up on it because of the idiots then a huge amount of stuff ends up in landfill. I use freecycle to at least delay some of my stuff ending up in landfill. I hope that's what other people do too.

I have no way of filtering out the idiots other than just pure intuition but I still offer stuff. I've given away some stuff to some very nice people and I prefer that to putting it in landfill. In fact, I prefer giving away stuff to idiots, or people who sell it on ebay, than putting it in landfill.

Julie