Fill Your House for Free

w00519772

I am completing on a house next Wednesday. I have to refurbish this house. I already have a bed; fridge etc.

I was watching 'Fill Your House for Free' last week: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/kirsties-fill-your-house-for-free/4od. There was lots of good stuff available for free in a shop.

Do these shops actually exist or was it setup for the show only. I am aware of websites like Freegle and FreeCycle were you can get stuff virtually. However, I was wandering if there are physical stores that exist?

I am also interested to hear if anyone has experience with websites like Freegle and Freecycle.

I_have_spoken

AFAIK Kirsty's 'store' is a set-up just for the telly.

I gave stuff away on Freecycle when I moved house, just saying 'please' will give you an advantage over 90% of responders

freeisgood

I also watched this programme, I think the shop was fabricated as I could not find anything like it on the net, also I think it would empty pretty quickly if it existed!
Freecycle and (if it is still running) stuffforfree, are great. We have had lots of furniture/bathroom fittings etc, for free.

Better_Days

I_have_spoken wrote: »

I gave stuff away on Freecycle when I moved house, just saying 'please' will give you an advantage over 90% of responders

Yes, I know what you mean. I give stuff away on Freecycle, and it is amazing how rude some people are. They want something for nothing and can't even be bothered to say please. If I give away something that is popular it goes to the person who sends the nicest email Plus it also seems to cut down on 'no shows' or the item later ending up on ebay.

SailorSam

The annoying people on Freecycle are those that say they'll take everything you're advertising but they can't drive so will you deliver it.

BitterAndTwisted

There are stores offering cheap furniture and household stuff but the only ones I know of are targeted at the destitute/those on benefits and you are asked for proof or need a referral.

The one way to be an attractive recipient on FreeCycle etcetera is to be ultra-polite and flexible about when you can collect. People needing to get rid of stuff don't want to hang onto it for a week until you can collect or hear your sob story about why you are more deserving than anyone else. Oh, and don't give them your mobile number so they can call you: they won't and why should they?

Elsewhere

We've given stuff away on Freecycle/Freegle and also received some useful things - two tvs, a TV stand, hifi unit, 4 bookcases, a large wall unit with display shelves, cocktail cabinet etc, some good quality and vitrually new kitchen units which we fitted in our son's kitchen...

Lots of firewood for our woodburner...

Oh - a pair of bar stools and matching table...

IMO it's not worth the hassle of selling perfectly good furniture on ebay for the few quid it usually raises. Measuring it, photographing it, describing it, waiting around for couriers... I'd rather give it away - even if I suspect the recipient may sell it on. So long as they ask politely and are willing to collect it promptly at a convenient time, they can have it.

Better_Days

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

People needing to get rid of stuff don't want to hang onto it for a week until you can collect or hear your sob story about why you are more deserving than anyone else.

Ah yes - those mothers of at least 4 young children who are in desperate need of a washing machine, fridge, tumble dryer, cooker, hoover, flat screen tv, laptop, bed, wardrobe.....and in some posts the whole bloomin' lot.

I've seen 'Wanted's' that even specify the make and model of whatever it is they are looking for, to match their 'deycoor':rotfl:

One of the most irritating ones I had was from the local scouts who seemed to think that as they were a voluntary organisation I should deliver what I was giving away to them :mad:

Ivana_Tinkle

In addition to saying please and thank you, when responding to ads on Freecycle it's worthwhile making clear how and when you can collect (ie "I have a van and could collect any evening" or whatever). It makes it clear that you're serious and have actually thought about whether you can pick it up before replying.

G_M

Some charities have larger shops/stores that sell furnitue, and white goods, pretty cheaply.

eg

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/miltonkeynes/shops-and-furniture-stores-2/browse-photos-of-stock/

BitterAndTwisted

The British Heart Foundation has a number of stores where they sell pretty decent quality second-hand furniture, my local one also sells electrical appliances which they also deliver for what must be at cost it's so reasonable.