Freecycle Nusiance

Becles

I've got rid of a few things lately through Freecycle, but it's starting to get to be too much hassle.

The last thing I advertised had replies within minutes of sending my message. I waited a few hours, picked a person and emailed to let them know they could have it, and gave some times when I'd be in for them to collect. I never heard from them again.

I waited 24 hours and emailed someone else. They said they were still interested, made arrangements and never showed up.

I mailed a 3rd person and asked if they were still interested. They had 48 hours to respond (gave them a Sunday and Monday in case it was a works addy!), but they didn't reply.

Mailed a 4th person, who said they were not sure about taking it, and perhaps they could arrange to come round for a look, then they would have to go away and think about it. I mailed back saying I wanted rid of it, so it was either take it or leave it. They never replied so I assumed they didn't want it.

Mailed a 5th person who said he was still interested, was just up the road and came round within 2 hours to collect it!

Two days later person number 3 mailed to arrange collection. I said sorry but you took too long to reply and someone else has taken it. They mailed back saying I was a time waster

This has become typical with my Freecycle group lately. Do other people get problems like this?

What's the proper etiquette for deciding who gets things and organsing a mutual time for collection, as I'm wondering if I am doing something wrong?

Cardew

I am fed up with the whole Freecycle 'thing' in my group.

The 'wanted' requests have to be seen to be believed. Requests for cars, motorcycles, laptops, 26" silver flat screen TV, etc

I am convinced it is a happy hunting ground for EBAY sellers.

matttwine

yah unfortunately now its become more mainstream its attracted this sort of behaviour, I have had the exact same problems giving away plants would you believe it.

Savvy_Sue

Becles wrote: »

What's the proper etiquette for deciding who gets things and organsing a mutual time for collection, as I'm wondering if I am doing something wrong?

I would email your moderator: ours regularly send out an email saying "Choose who you like" "respond promptly" etc. I don't think it's you at all! So I would tell the moderator and let them deal with it.

Miss_Behaving

I agree - I've unfortunately given up with Freecycle. 90% of the adverts posted are wanted and like Cardew's group, my local one contains requests for laptops, computers, playstations, 12 foot trampolines and even sea-worthy boats!!

I have given loads of stuff away, so much so that I was emailed one Monday by a regular requester asking if I was going to post anything that week and offering to collect everything beforehand to save me the trouble of posting!!

It was great initially but I have to agree, it has become a hunting ground for ebayers.

Justie

I would email your mods too

I'm a member of 2 as we're on the border between areas - on the main one the rules are to give it to the first responder whereas the other, which is much slower, says to take a couple of days and then pick who you'd like to have it. If you want rid of things urgently then saying in the message collect tonight or collect by XXX so people know when they need to be free for. It can be really frustrating though.

I think one of the problems with the bigger lists is that you're so unlikely to be the first to respond that people just reply to anything they might possibly want not thinking they'll get it... still no excuse for rudeness though.

I tend to give it a few days and then bin things or take them to the tip but if I can get rid of it to someone who'd use it then that's much better than just chucking it.

If your local Don't Dump That is active then that might be a better place for you but ours has about 3 people on it so is useless.

Cardew

I only get the digest now as I can't be bothered with the dozens of emails - mainly 'unrealistic begging requests', 'taken' and 'thanks' Usually all on the same digest!

I contacted the moderators to see if the wanted, thanks and taken could be put on a separate list - but they can't.

andyrules

You wonder how some people have become that greedy, Becles, but you know you've done your best and if they can't be bothered or are too fussy, then that's their problem.

I used to pass on my baby clothes to a relative, and she would pick out the odd one that had a label she liked and hand the rest back saying they weren't the kind she would have bought! (not that she could afford to, which was the whole idea!)

Gingham_Ribbon

I haven't used freecycle, but can you just say first come first served and arrange an hour when you'll be in?

I couldn't be doing with all that faffing. That's the last thing you need at the moment, Becles.

ScoobieGirl

It sounds like you've been unlucky. 90% of my freecycle experiance has been positive and when I have had someone who had mucked me about, I try and make my self remember why I am Freecycling in the first place - I've not given up so far.

I was getting wound up by the peeps asking for items with obvious value, but like others have said after a few people emailed the mods we don't get any now.

Please don't let the idiots and selfish people put you off. Freecycle is a great idea. You're doing a good thing. :T

As for who get it's. I keep a good few months worth of freecycle emails and give preference to the ones who have given the most. Then I tend to go by location and drop things off. I ask for rough locations in the replies and explain that I'll drop it off to the person who is least out of my way, for the journeys I have planned that week. If it is a bulky item I go by tone of the email. The 'I want it - call me' generally doesn't get it even if they do reply first. And if I only get replies from people who sound like they are going to make a profit on it then that's fine. If I can't sell it, and they can at least it's not going to landfill

Poppycat

I got fed up of the constant emails, sometimes bouched back to me and had to reactive my account, and ungrateful people. I go out for one person desperate so they claimed for a school uniform, sent the measurement, reply back said interested I asked where abouts are you to arrange pickup collection, nothing.

I cant be bothered with it now, its the tip from now on.