devious Freecycle taker?

Nebulous2

My sociology lecturer used to talk about 'the cold hand of charity.' Lady bountiful coming down from the big house on the hill with her basket of goodies to distribute to those she thought deserved it.

I didn't agree with him, not least because I've spent a lot of my life working for voluntary organisations or charities, but he had a point.

People giving things away 'want' something in return. Whether that is a cosy glow because they feel they have done something worthwhile or a straight commercial transaction to get rid of something that would otherwise cost them to send to landfill.

We have had a lot of stuff from freecycle and have given away even more, but my view is its time has been and gone. It has become commercialised, aggressive and too much hassle. We put two bikes on freecycle. People argued about things, didn't turn up, complained about the condition and basically messed us about. We put them on ebay and got £5 for one and £23 for the other with no issues. I don't really deal with that side of things, but my wife has pretty much given up on it altogether and uses Facebook buy, sell or swap pages instead.

Truepat

mttylad wrote: »

It is part of the rules of Freecycle that anyone wanting to obtain items through the group with the intention to resell them must declare this when asking for them from people.

It may not be in any human charter or law, but it is how freecycle works. great many people do not want to give away their stuff just so somsone else can sell it. Yes - we have the right to not give them our stuff, but we DO also have the right to ask if they are taking them to resell and be told if this is so.

If they tell us that they are wanting to use them, give a sob story then their taking and selling can be classed as fraud.
(and before you say it cant - this has been confirmed many years ago by legal bods.)

So you agree that there is no right and I was correct to call your made up right "rubbish". It may be a rule (that technically is unenforceable), but it is not a "right".

But you dont give a monkeys about that do you.

No, why should I. If I am giving something away it makes no difference to me who takes it and I am not the sort of control freak that would demand such information.

axomoxia

whitesatin wrote: »

Rapidly coming to the conclusion that there really isn't much point in making comments on threads such as these. It seems to me that some people are just waiting to pounce for the sake of it, trying to be controversial. Quite what they get out of it escapes me but, I suppose, it takes all sorts. Quite sad really.

As for me I will continue to try and help genuine people out where I can and do my bit to ensure that Freecycle is used for what I perceive to be the original purpose.

That would be "people who disagree with you " then. If you really want to help donate your items to charities that help those on need. They will donate your item to those really in need, and they are far better placed than you or I to determine who the genuinely needy are. Of course, you do loose the chance to play Lord and Lady Bountiful.....

whitesatin

There is no answer to some of the comments made on this thread. But I do hope making them has made the people feel better. They won't make any difference to me, of course. I do what I do and that's me. If I can help someone along the way.......

Johnnytwostep

I think you should take the things to a charity shop, and of course make a big song and dance about giving to the poor and needy.

Perhaps the local paper would like to do a story on your philanthropy.

terra_ferma

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.

This reply would make sense if the OP had not been lied to.

pops5588

terra_ferma wrote: »

This reply would make sense if the OP had not been lied to.

Yes and the OP is entitled to feel miffed at the lie. However it is not the OP's company! If the OP wants to set up their own business and be more rigid about where your items go, then by all means go for it. But Freecycle was set up for one reason and one reason only; to keep items out of landfill. That's exactly what is happening. Personally I'd be more annoyed if I gave something away only to find out it ended up being chucked in a hole in the ground anyway.

I use Freecycle (as in we have taken a few items off peoples' hands) and I actually highly resent the OP putting me into some kind of needy, poor, dregs of society category that they clearly think should be the only ones to benefit of this system. I don't think my need is any higher or lower than that of someone who may be trying to start a small design business, or trying to accumulate items for an auction whose proceeds could very well be going to charity for all you know.

Cheer up and move on.

whitesatin

pops5588 wrote: »

Yes and the OP is entitled to feel miffed at the lie. However it is not the OP's company! If the OP wants to set up their own business and be more rigid about where your items go, then by all means go for it. But Freecycle was set up for one reason and one reason only; to keep items out of landfill. That's exactly what is happening. Personally I'd be more annoyed if I gave something away only to find out it ended up being chucked in a hole in the ground anyway.

I use Freecycle (as in we have taken a few items off peoples' hands) and I actually highly resent the OP putting me into some kind of needy, poor, dregs of society category that they clearly think should be the only ones to benefit of this system. I don't think my need is any higher or lower than that of someone who may be trying to start a small design business, or trying to accumulate items for an auction whose proceeds could very well be going to charity for all you know.

Cheer up and move on.

Oh, I think so too. I wish I had never posted this thread tbh.

janiebquick

whitesatin wrote: »

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.

In other words, you are only prepared to give items to those you consider 'the deserving poor' in order to make yourself feel good.

ThumbRemote

janiebquick wrote: »

In other words, you are only prepared to give items to those you consider 'the deserving poor' in order to make yourself feel good.

Do you have an issue with that? Isn't it usually the prerogative of the giver to decide what they give to whom?