devious Freecycle taker?

fluffnutter

If you choose to give something away then it's entirely up to the recipient what they do with it. If someone makes money selling stuff they've got on freecyle then they're simply being resourceful IMO. If you place conditions on what happens to your belongings once you no longer want them then you need to be more controlling about where they go.

But why? You don't want them, it's keeping them out of landfill and, one assumes, saving you the cost and hassle of disposal. So what if stuff is sold on? Not your business really.

And if you're disgruntled that they've made money out of something you gave away, then you should have sold it yourself really.

Fishingtime

If someone is willing to come and collect things from my house, I am not bothered what happens to it as long as it saves me having to make a trip to the tip

System

I must admit I would rather either sell the item myself or donate it to a charity shop. It's not in the spirit of freecycle to go along and bag a free item, and then sell it on and make a profit out of it, though I expect many people do.

I could for instance go to my local charity shop, grab myself an item for 50p which is really worth a lot more than that, and then sell it on at a profit, but that would mean someone who needs that item and could only afford the 50p the charity shop is selling it for would then lose out.

Freecycle is for keeping things out of landfill, and it is also intended for those who have very little money to spare and who need things.

DKLS

whitesatin wrote: »

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.

I honestly don't care, if I want rid of something I want rid that is all I want from the freecycle deal. If someone has the wit and nous to make a few quid from themselves from it, good on them.


In fact its better if its a trader as they come in one visit and save me time.

janiebquick

Our local council has a scheme called the Community Furniture Project. Basically, they will collect unwanted items of furniture for use by people in need. One of the local charities also has a furniture shop. Perhaps, OP, you could investigate if there is something similar where you live so you can donate your unwanted items.

whitesatin

Such varying replies. Very interesting.

I am in a position to make it my business and I do have the right to want to know what's going to happen to it. If I can try to ensure that someone genuinely in need gets the item it makes me feel that I have done something to help. It is not about just wanting to get rid of an item, for me, often what I am replacing has some sentimental value to me and I like to think someone will get pleasure from it, not make money from it. I can and do upcycle furniture myself (for myself, not for profit) and only put things on Freecycle that I genuinely no longer need.

Yes, I could give it to a charity shop. We have plenty round here that pick up and sell furniture but I am horrified at some of the prices they charge for something that has been donated in the first place. I have seen many people walk out of the shop disappointed at the prices. You can buy new in certain places for the prices charged. I accept that they have overhead costs but I would rather give it away and fulfil a real need. A lot of people really cannot afford to buy decent furniture.

I am fortunate in that I can buy what I need/want but if I wasn't in this position, I think I would feel miffed to be pipped at the post by someone just wanting to make money from an item I could have done with.

DKLS

whitesatin wrote: »

I am in a position to make it my business and I do have the right to want to know what's going to happen to it. If I can try to ensure that someone genuinely in need gets the item it makes me feel that I have done something to help.

Good luck with that, how are you going to separate those worthy of your donations and those who are not?


From my experience of Freecycle there is no shortage of sob stories, with the "I have a disabled child and a pet with a gammy leg".

whitesatin

DKLS wrote: »

Good luck with that, how are you going to separate those worthy of your donations and those who are not?


From my experience of Freecycle there is no shortage of sob stories, with the "I have a disabled child and a pet with a gammy leg".

Gut instinct, Google and maybe a bit of a gamble.

mttylad

It is the right of the person offering something to know that the person they are giving it to is not just taking it to sell.

If they say that they are not giving it away to someone to sell and someone tells them a load of BS to obtain it then sells it then ISTR that its fraud, obtaining goods by deception etc.

Although many just want rid of something, if they are giving a valuable item away they often don't want to just let someone else sell it - they could have done that themselves.

Freecycle is full of traders, people taking stuff and flogging it on ebay and facebook etc but the mods cant to squat about it because people dont let the mods know who they are and even if they do its upto the person that has had the items taken to do something.

Personally I keep every email through the group so I can search history and see if someone has offered or just posted wanteds.

Truepat

mttylad wrote: »

It is the right of the person offering something to know that the person they are giving it to is not just taking it to sell.

Rubbish!
Someone offering something through freecycle may ask what it will be used for, they may want to know, they may want to be a control freak, but they definitely in no circumstances have a "right" to know. In fact it is none of their business - beyond curiosity and the good will of someone willing to answer.