Freecycle - Beggars CAN be choosers!

gravitytolls

duchy wrote: »

The grabby posts put me right off however I did ask for a front door someone was offering and then had to email them to explain my transport had fallen through-Bless him he delivered it and wouldn't accept anything for petrol.

I had a clear out recently and used our council's free large item collection. The divan got picked up but before they arrived a colapsed warddrobe, a big (non flatscreen) TV and a hoover missing the cylinder section all vanished within ten minutes from outside the house. I was happy as it left me short on my "three items" so I could put out more junk and presumably someone had something they could make use of.

I do this lots now, if freeglers don't want stuff. I've given away a wardrobe, chairs, old bicycles and boxes of odds and ends, by bunging it on the drive with a large FREE sign on it.

Azari

originalbob wrote: »

Joined my local freecyle group around 8 years ago and got thrown out after I sent a polite email to the group moderator explaining that I genuinely had nothing to recycle as I was in the process of setting up a new home after separation and homelessness.Reapplied two months ago and again three weeks ago as I now have stuff which is perfectly usable but which needs a new home.Heard nothing...Is this typical?

I got the feeling, from reading other threads on this subject, that some of the moderators are on a bit of a power kick. Just as with internet forums.

Most stay in the background and just make sure no one is seriously abusing the system but a few treat it as their own little kingdom and rule with a rod of iron.

StaffsSW

I don't think it helps when MSE advertise freecycle as being "a great way to bag freebies on giveaway sites". The way that article is written is bound to attract the lower end of internet users who are just on the take.

marleyboy

Were I to ask on freecycle for a top of the range 50" Plasma and a PS3 for entertainment purposes......and get them. I would have to ask who would be the bigger fool? Me or the one who donates them to me.

I tend to give a lot away on freecycle, another man's junk is another man's treasure as it were. I frustratingly go through the requests on my offers, as there are so many on the top of the list, who go around collecting such items and selling them on as stock.

I currently have a wooden carry-cot and a cot to be put on there, but will choose to offer to a genuine member who wants one, rather than just offer it out to anybody. This will involve looking into the post history of members to see if they are genuine, or if they just grab what they can from whom, without any offers whatsoever. This will be only after each post has been vetted as seeming genuine. A simple "Anything you have to offer" style message will be discarded first and foremost.

I have received a few good items on freecycle in the past, so feel it only right to offer such items I have cluttering my shed back to others who are in need.

ian103

We moved house and got rid of lots of stuff on freecycle, we thought some were genuine recyclers other were car booters and we tried hard to make sure it went to people who actually wanted it. we even had one email of thanks!

pimento

marleyboy wrote: »

Were I to ask on freecycle for a top of the range 50" Plasma and a PS3 for entertainment purposes......and get them. I would have to ask who would be the bigger fool? Me or the one who donates them to me.

I tend to give a lot away on freecycle, another man's junk is another man's treasure as it were. I frustratingly go through the requests on my offers, as there are so many on the top of the list, who go around collecting such items and selling them on as stock.

I currently have a wooden carry-cot and a cot to be put on there, but will choose to offer to a genuine member who wants one, rather than just offer it out to anybody. This will involve looking into the post history of members to see if they are genuine, or if they just grab what they can from whom, without any offers whatsoever. This will be only after each post has been vetted as seeming genuine. A simple "Anything you have to offer" style message will be discarded first and foremost.

I have received a few good items on freecycle in the past, so feel it only right to offer such items I have cluttering my shed back to others who are in need.

I've only ever given to Freecycle and frankly I'm glad to be rid of whatever it is I'm giving away so it goes to the first person who asks. What they do with it afterwards is their business. I'd be a bit uncomfortable judging who is the most worthy to be given my cast-offs.

mttylad

ian103 wrote: »

we even had one email of thanks!

When someone gives something to me they always get a personal email of thanks.

axomoxia

The purpose of freecycle is to keep things out of landfill. It has no other purpose, and certainly not a chance for people to play Lord and Lady Bountiful, bestowing their gift upon the grovelling poor. I got a few noses out of joint when I suggested on my old freecycle forum that if they wanted to _really_ help people there where a couple of local charities that aided those who were genuinely completely destitute who would be very glad of items they were holding back for the "right sort".

SailorSam

I hope this come doesn't come across as being cheeky but i've been asking for something on my Freecycle and up to now haven't been offered one. So i wonder can i take this opportunity to ask you all could you watch out.
It's for my poor old Granny, she isn't able to get on and off buses these days and is almost a prisoner in her own house. What she's after is a Mercedes-Benz C63 Amg Coupe, preferably in black and fully taxed.

sammyroser

I joined a while ago and was advised to offer something before placing a wanted ad.

I keep meaning to list a garden chair, completely solid just doesn't match the rest of my garden furniture.

I would feel terrible asking for something with so much value! The things I am looking for are old bits of wood, wooden pallets or used plant pots.