Overwhelmed by Freecycle

azzabazza

Yesterday I offered a child's toy on my local Freecycle - first time of using. I have been overwhelmed by the number of responses and hard luck stories. Is this normal?

I gave it to the first person to respond as I couldn't be sure people had been totally truthful.

Taadaa

It's completely normal sadly. There's a whole string on it - can't link as on my phone but lm sure someone will.

azzabazza

Taadaa wrote: »

It's completely normal sadly. There's a whole string on it - can't link as on my phone but lm sure someone will.

Thanks for that. I found it quite an eye-opener. However, the guy who came to collect was so grateful and promised it was going to a good loving home!!!

amcluesent

I guess that'll be booted.

I put some electrical cable on the other week and chap with a BT work email address wanted it. Surely they can't be that short??

cestlavie

cynic that i am, i now check how active the responders are on freecycle - ie if they ever offer items themselves or whether they always take. i rarely give instantly to first emailer as more often or not they are the ovder-eager skimmers for bootsales, so i wait a few days for replies and then take my pick.

torbrex

I seldom if ever give to the first responder unless they are the only one.
I tend to wait at least 24 hours before making my choice then after removing the first I reduce the number of applicants (if required) to 6 going by how politely they have asked and roll a dice until one of the numbers comes up 3 times.

azzabazza

Thanks for your replies. Everyone was polite and everyone was very plausible! I had more than 20 requests and I really just wanted it to go quickly. Have other items to get rid of so maybe will have to exercise more caution next time.

Obviously_the_best

azzabazza wrote: »

Is this normal?

Yes
Blank Blank Blank

caeler

I've had mixed results on freecycle, over the last few years I've offered 20+ items, never posted any wanteds. Most freecyclers are polite and I like a personalised response about why they would like the item but I hate the rude 'I'll have it', or the sad stories of woe and I also hate it when people question why I didn't offer them the item! It's all of that which puts me off.

azzabazza

I actually find it slightly distasteful when I see some of the wanted posts. Someone looking for old plant pots fine. Someone looking for a combi tv/dvd not fine! Someone asked for a car the day before yesterday!

I appreciate that some of you look at all reqests and take a decision on the merits of the request. Fine if you have the time to read more than once, do some research and then take a decision.

Fortunately I haven't had anyone questioning why they were unsuccessful.

This whole experience has been quite an eye opener. In a way I wish now I had taken item to charity shop but that would have been a round trip of 10 miles with associated petrol costs!

Splashy

I have sleepless nights over if I gave something to the right person or not - It is often though the things I expect no response about that I get loads - I have pulled names out of a hat, or I put all the responses in a list, get dh to pick a number and go for that person