Rant - Freecycle users

hugheskevi

I strongly support the principle of Freecycle. Personally my prime motivation to use it is to avoid second-hand goods going to landfill when someone could use them.

I only ever offer things on there. Each time I carefully describe the item and put photos on, and every time there is a deluge of responses, frequently from people who clearly just want things to resell (which can be identified by those who respond to every offer with the same text, as I often put several things on at the same time, or those who respond to offers such as small female bicycle with a male name in their e-mail address without any explanation).

That I can live with - folk will always abuse these things, and I don't really mind resellers as ultimately it achieves my objective of avoiding things that can still be used going to landfill.

What really irks me is the pain of arranging for someone who has responded saying they want an item to come and collect it. It is amazing what seems to happen to folk such that they can't collect things - relatives going into hospital, losing phone, losing job, relative dying, etc, etc. Then there are those that simply never respond again after you go back to them asking when would be convenient for them to come and collect.

Latest irritation is someone who lives literally two streets away from me who wants an item I offered, but hasn't found time to come round to collect something after 3 weeks...Geez, it takes almost as long to e-mail to say why they haven't come as just popping round would take.

Think this will be the last time I use Freecycle, I just want to give something away to someone who can arrange a time to come round and collect it, turn up at roughly that time and collect the darned thing :mad: That only seem to happen with about every 1 in 3 items I offer

starrystarry

I agree completely. I offered a single bed & mattress on freecycle a few months ago. Several people asked me to deliver it, despite me clearly stating it must be collected. The person who I offered it to was supposed to arrive at a certain time as I was going out that afternoon. He finally turned up nearly 2 hours late. His excuse was that he'd been fetching rope to tie the boot up with. Only he turned up without rope. In a Citroen Saxo. He just left the bed hanging out of the back of the car. And he didn't even say thanks.

System

we offered a double divan base someone turned up in a ford escort and although we said it wouldn't fit they tried anyway which resulted in it getting damaged and dirty.
They said they would come back the following day which of course they didn't , when they eventually responded to my emails they stated they didst want it as it was damaged and dirty !:mad:

if i cant get an item to a local charity shop now im afraid it gets demolished and binned.

Mergic

I totally agree there are some really inconsiderate people out there, but there are also some very grateful people out there too. We recently gave some homewares and small electrical items to a lady fleeing domestic violence and she was very appreciative.

If you are fed up of people on Freecycle there are lots of local charities that will collect large items. The British Heart Foundation are a national charity that will collect large, small and electrical items from a lot of places across the UK...

http://www.bhf.org.uk/test/van-collection.aspx

Norman_Castle

A few years ago I offered a pc monitor. The person I offered it to failed repeatedly to collect it so I put it on ebay for a pound. It sold for a pound in the last minute of the sale. The buyer failed to pay or contact me. I then noticed her near identical email address to the freecycler. It was the same person. Some people are just clueless time wasters.
It was taken eventually by someone who arrived on foot and was happy to carry a large and heavy pc monitor 3/4 of a mile to his home.

Edit. Just remembered, I checked the non collecting ebayers feedback not long after . She had bought another monitor from someone else and failed to pay or collect that. Bonkers. OCD?

Hoof_Hearted

I gave up on freecycle for similar reasons -- people not turning up on time to collect or people clearly not wanting the item for their own or their family's use. It's a great idea ruined by the greedy and inconsiderate.

ellay864

I always allow time for a few responses and weed out the obvious ones who will just take anything to sell on, usually the same standard e-mail referring to my 'item'. But I've got rid of some things to some lovely people. Best of all were the ladies who turned up not just to collect my old kitchen but to dismantle it to. And then gave me some flowers too

mttylad

I make my terms clear and unambiguous in my offer.

I.e.
I don't want a mobile phone number from you, do not respond if you cannot collect it soon and how I have detailed collection.
A polite response with the above item in it or I will consider yyour email an auto responder.
Ignore the above and I ignore you.

I am very strict with them, I keep the responses in case someone cannot make it - I email them and tell them they need to come collect it or I'll pass it on.

When I make the offer I specify when it must be collected by and how.

Abrupt and to the point - but if they want something for free then they need to get off their bum and come collect it.

monty-doggy

I gave away a lovely white metal cotbed that was in perfect nic. Half an hour later the girl had it listed on for sale or swap for £20.

This really peed me off!

whitesatin

I just give things to the local charity shop. Some collect without a fee as long as it conforms to safety regulations.

But most people are decent, when you think about it, and it would be a shame if Freecycle folded because of the few who mess you about.

paddyrg

Free cycle sob stories, what's you worst? My best involved pets, children and cancer all in one autographed template first email. A secondhand sink unit is pretty indifferent to all of the wires this person had dreamt up.

Frankly don't bother now, too many greedy people being selfish (needed-new iPad must be latest generation and come with crate of champagne for cancer daughter) and just using you as free stuff to sell... Not so bad in itself but for pity's sake be upfront about it. Also, I don't want to hold the item until you sell it then get the buyer to collect from me.

Winds me up, can you tell?