devious Freecycle taker?

whitesatin

I put a large item of furniture on Freecycle and was soon inundated with replies to view it etc. One man said that he would be able to take it and implied that he would be able to help out a needy person with it. I googled their name only to find a Pinterest site with dozens of upcycled furniture items, all looking very pretty. Further investigations showed that he had an auction website showing similar items. Now, I may be wrong and maybe he uses the money to help people out but, somehow I doubt it.

It kind of puts me off but I mustn't let it as I think it is a great service if used properly.

kiddy_guy

Is it possible he's giving the profit made to a charity?

If not, you can always give him your details to collect the item. Of course, you don't necessarily have to give him correct details

whitesatin

kiddy_guy wrote: »

Is it possible he's giving the profit made to a charity?

If not, you can always give him your details to collect the item. Of course, you don't necessarily have to give him correct details

It is possible that is what he is doing but I don't think so, somehow. Anyway, it has now gone to someone that I know really needs it as it is a friend of my daughter's.

Hermia

whitesatin wrote: »

I put a large item of furniture on Freecycle and was soon inundated with replies to view it etc. One man said that he would be able to take it and implied that he would be able to help out a needy person with it. I googled their name only to find a Pinterest site with dozens of upcycled furniture items, all looking very pretty. Further investigations showed that he had an auction website showing similar items. Now, I may be wrong and maybe he uses the money to help people out but, somehow I doubt it.

It kind of puts me off but I mustn't let it as I think it is a great service if used properly.

I have a neighbour who does this as a business. She gets furniture from Freecycle, does it up shabby chic style and then flogs it for an absolute fortune.

whitesatin

Hermia wrote: »

I have a neighbour who does this as a business. She gets furniture from Freecycle, does it up shabby chic style and then flogs it for an absolute fortune.

That's certainly not in the spirit of things. I know lots of people who really rely upon getting stuff from Freecycle too. So not fair if this is going on. Trouble is, I can't prove it so no point in complaining to Freecycle.

axomoxia

Freecycle has one purpose only - to keep things out of landfillm . if you want to make a charitable donation, donate it too a charity.

vikingaero

axomoxia wrote: »

Freecycle has one purpose only - to keep things out of landfillm . if you want to make a charitable donation, donate it too a charity.

If someone wants to screen people taking stuff on Freecycle then that is their business.

I would rather the item go to someone with a genuine need rather than a reseller.

mttylad

If you can identify someone taking stuff off the group and reselling it then please pass all this information onto the group moderators.

If they are going to resell it, this is allowed however they MUST declare this to the offering person otherwise they are contrary to the Freecycle rules and common decency.

Let the mods know, they will investigate but they have no power to take any legal action - only remove the person from the group. (at which point they rejoin under a new name).

pops5588

I'm pretty sure I heard the lady who started this business on Radio 2 and she was asked the question about people doing things up and selling them on. She said it was perfectly fine should people choose to do that and that, as a previous poster said, it's mainly been set up to keep items out of landfill.

If someone has made a nice little business out of it, what's wrong with that? Maybe they are in need - they need the money. If you don't need it and you're giving it away for free, why do you think you have a right to monitor where it's going and what it's doing? If you care that much then keep it...

janiebquick

My local Freecycle is quite upfront about this. The aim of Freecycle is to keep stuff out of landfill and what the person receiving the goods does with them is up to them (as long as it is legal).

I myself have sold goods obtained on Freecycle on Ebay. The last item I gave away on Freecycle was a freezer that no longer worked. The guy who came for it was obviously going to either strip it for spares or fix it and sell it on. What else can you do with a dead freezer?

emmy05

it does get on my nerves when i see ppl collecting free items and then selling them on facebook groups, i was very fortunate to pick up a bunk bed with double bed on the bottom for my 2 girls from freecycling over the weekend, i am grateful in pickin up a bargain from freecycling, and i also give things away free, but you can never be sure, just keep an eye on the names that crop up so much i guess.