Tips to help when using Freecycle

squeaky

Becles wrote:

I like it when people drop a line to say thank you afterwards.

I put an old CRT monitor on, and a man asked if he could have it as the monitor for his sons games computer was broken, so I gave to him. That evening I got an email from the boy saying thank very and he was pleased he could play his games in colour again instead of just blue like on his old monitor. I thought that was lovely

Yep

I got a fairly well worn sofa a couple of weeks ago, to replace my rapidly dilapidating one, and it's currently undergoing an intensive course of TLC. I'm taking photo's as I go along and will send them off to the person who gave me it when I'm done.

rainbowrisin

squeaky wrote:

Yes, it's the "sob story" rule.

Some moderators take the guidleine very literally and only accept something on the order of:-

Wanted please, childrens clothes for a boy 18mnths - 2yrs

Most will allow a brief description such as:-

Wanted, a gas cooker. Any colour or condition accepted because mine has broken down completely this weekend.

Well, maybe not that, but you get the idea

It leaves a grey line between explanation and sob story, I know, but it works for our group.

But a whole chapter and verse thing full of "need" and "desperate" are likely at the very least to be returned to the poster asking that they remove all the "story" and just state their wanted in simple terms.


There are few hard and fast rules for Freecycle moderators, but plenty of guidelines... which is why you'll see a fair amount of variation from group to group. Some mods are very keen on some things, others are a bit more lenient.

They're all volunteers too, so be gentle with them if you disagree


As for selling on:-

Most groups ask somewhere in the etiqutte file that is sent to all members (and then repeated monthly) that people trading should say so up front when responding to offers.

Some members won't care, they just want rid. Others will choose to give to someone in need.

But at the end of the day - once you have given an item away - it isn't yours any more, it's theirs.

Thanks for this. TBH I haven't read all my freecycle's rules, so this is really helpful. I was also surprised that one poster said that you can see what members have offered or accepted. I'm not sure that's something i'm comfortable with, as I feel it turns the whole thing into a "you must give before you can get", whereas my understanding of freecycle is you take as you need and offer as you can - the balance obviously varies over time.

nearlyrich

I freecycled my unwanted lounge furniture last summer, got messed about by more than one set of takers who promised to collect then didn't and never even called to say they were not bothering. We eventually had to take the uncollected 3 piece suite to the tip which was a shame but we had nowhere to store it and it was raining.

So my tip is keep the doner informed and if you can't collect as arranged a phone call or email to explain is the polite thing to do.

squeaky

Again this an option in the set-up process for the group. It's normally set as a minimum standard that only members can see the members list (and not just any old Tom, !!!!!! or Harriet), but some groups do set it so that only moderators can see this.

And yes, some members will indeed check previous posts to see if their intended recipient posts Offers as well as Wanteds. We can't stress enough, some days, that people making Offers are free to choose their recipient by any criteria they choose.

I know that there are people who have limited means and may well ask for more than the ever are able to offer, and Wanteds certainly have their place on Freecycle since there are plenty of people in real need, and they often remind others that they have such an item in the darkest dustiest corner of a cupboard, or the attic / garage... but many people do feel that Freecycle is as much a local community sharing thing as anything else and so will opt to gift to someone who also clearly shares, IYSWIM? and that is their right.

HTH

squeaky

nearlyrich wrote:

I freecycled my unwanted lounge furniture last summer, got messed about by more than one set of takers who promised to collect then didn't and never even called to say they were not bothering. We eventually had to take the uncollected 3 piece suite to the tip which was a shame but we had nowhere to store it and it was raining.

So my tip is keep the doner informed and if you can't collect as arranged a phone call or email to explain is the polite thing to do.

A tip here is to temporarily keep all the emails from people who respond in a folder. Don't bin them until after the item has been collected.

If you feel a recipient is messing you around, rather than genuinely being unable to make an appointment, then maybe you could email them and say something like "If I haven't heard back from you (you haven't collected) in x many days (your choice but say three is pretty fair) then I will consider that you are no longer interested and will offer this to the next person on my list.

Then pick another person by any criteria that you apply and have another go.

It's really sad to hear of people being messed about - I guess I'm just lucky, our local group are really good. If you've been messed about big-time you could bring this up with your owners/mods by using the owner address listed at the very bottom of your group's home page. They may know of other complaints about this person and may just have a quiet word with them

nearlyrich

Sadly one of the people who messed us about is a MOD!! Anyway it didn't deter me I have offered other things since and had more success.

squeaky

Oh dear!

Anyway, I'm glad you didn't let a bad experience put you off. It really is a great scheme.

There's a real buzz to taking a neglected gizmo out of the back of the kitchen cupboard and that you're sick of the sight of, and absolutely making someone else's day as you hand it over on the doorstep.

AND you make loads of space for a whole new bunch of gadgets

Crazychik

Ive had some good experiences on freecycle, both collecting and receiving.

However, just one incidident really wound me up, that I responded to an ad, arranged to collect it, went round and the lady said it wasnt her's to give away and that she needed permission. She rang me and said its available, I went round again, and she told me, the person who it belong to changed their minds! I was furious to say the least. Time/petrol wasted. Nothing I could, not even complain to the moderator, I tried but got no repsonse.

Moral of the story is to make sure what your're giving away is actually just that reason, available to give away!

I received a text from somebody, who collected some top soil from me ages ago, he was wishing me & my family a merry christmas! How nice was that!

carolt

From the Green and Ethical Moneysaving Board, a longish thread - haven't looked at it, but probably ought to be linked here.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=166028

getcarter

I replied to someone who was offering a breadmaker on Monday, haven't heard anything and it hasn't been posted as taken - so frustrating!