Freecycle is it corrupt??

missyg_3

What about the people who so desperately "need" an item - and then go on to specify it must be this certain make, model, colour, condition etc

BrandNewDay

I have given things away and said, "Bootsellers OK." This was when I had a large volume of stuff that I needed to get rid of THAT VERY INSTANT. Then, there were times I'd sorta pick from the emails to see who I thought "deserved" it based on my whim at the moment.

Meanymoo

I've just joined my local freecycle group because I've got a few things to get rid of. I don't sell things on ebay (lack of time and inclination to make a few pounds here and there). The things I want to get rid of are usable (an old vaccuum cleaner, for instance, which we no longer use as we've upgraded to one that copes better with cat hair) and I hope someone will get some use out of them. A few years ago I'd have chucked them out, but I'm much more conscious of the landfill problem now, so if I can pass them on to someone else that's great. I don't give two hoots if the person then sells them on. At least I've done my bit in prolonging the life of the items and stopping them going to landfill.

I haven't posted the items yet, but if I get several replies and one stands out as someone who'd really appreciate an item then I'll give it to that person (that's human nature, I think - to do things that make us feel good about ourselves ). But I wouldn't refuse to give someone something on the grounds that they'd said 'I'll take the lot' or similar - we all have our own reasons for using freecycle, some reasons of conscience, some to declutter, some to get 'free stuff'. Who am I to judge?

Badger_Lady

It does seem to me that some people, including on this thread, have a very worrisome attitude to Freecycle.

1) If you want shot of something, why does it matter who it goes to? Is it not 'doing you and the environment a favour' by stopping you from having to get rid of?

2) People who offer have very different approaches, and it's difficult if not impossible for the taker to know how best to handle them.

For example, two people offered a list of books each last week:

- One said "whoever wants them has to take the lot" because they didn't want to answer the door to 36 different people each collecting one book.

- The other person, however, would only allow each taker to collect a maximum of 2 books "to keep it fair" - she had to keep re-offering because, frankly, some of the books were rubbish and no-one wanted them.

You can't expect people to pre-empt your attitude towards freecycle - there's nothing wrong with somebody asking whether you managed to dispose of other items when they collect something. They're not taking advantage - they're just asking, and thinking that they could do you a favour by taking it away at the same time.

Calm down - if you think something's valuable, don't bung it on Freecycle! And if you do, don't think you have power / authority over who's "entitled" to it. They're not begging, they're responding to your advert!!!

I do give things away on Freecycle, and whoever asks gets. They don't turn up, someone else gets. No-one wants it, goes in bin.

missyg_3

Good post, meanymoo! I've continued my freecycling and on the whole my experiences have been good.

I have been given the runaround a bit by a few people. I gave one person the benefit of the doubt and delivered the item myself. Last night one person kept me waiting an hour without even a call. Another keeps changing the time they want to collect (I am getting quite annoyed with this one, it's been going on since Saturday, how long before I can tell them I'm offering it to the next person?!)

Surely people should be making every effort to accommodate the person who is giving the item away - not the other way around!!!

missyg_3

I would prefer someone to 'take the lot' in certain cases if they are willing to pass along what they don't want and not bin it. That method minimises the amount of car journeys being made.

Meanymoo

missyg wrote: »

Surely people should be making every effort to accommodate the person who is giving the item away - not the other way around!!!

Agreed! Messing people about / keeping them waiting with no explanation is really rude.

I think Badger_Lady's also got a point saying people are not taking advantage when they ask if you've got anything else they can take off your hands. No harm done as long as they ask nicely .

I did chuckle this morning when I saw a 'wanted' email for a playstation, but then later today someone posted an 'offered' playstation so I suppose it does happen. There seems to be a new games console out every year so there must be a fair few old models lying around not being used. Can't bear the things myself :rotfl: .

vikingaero

Can someone offer me a guide as to how long I should wait before offering something to the next person in line?

I offered our baby buggy on Freecycle and sent the lady a reply saying that she could have it on Saturday along with my mobile number. She hasn't replied and I either want her to collect it pronto or offer it to the next person.

I just know that as soon as I email the next person then the original recipient will pipe up!

geordie_joe

Badger_Lady wrote: »

You can't expect people to pre-empt your attitude towards freecycle - there's nothing wrong with somebody asking whether you managed to dispose of other items when they collect something. They're not taking advantage - they're just asking, and thinking that they could do you a favour by taking it away at the same time.

Or they could be looking for more free items to sell at the boot sale.

Asking if you have anything else sounds like you are willing to take anything, because you intend to sell it. After all, what would you say if they showed you a load of stuff you didn't want, how do you turn them down politely when you have asked for anything else?

The sad thing is some people use freecycle to get free stuff to sell. This may not bother some people if they just want rid of it, but others would prefer it to go to someone who needs it, not someone who is going to sell it.

geordie_joe

vikingaero wrote: »

Can someone offer me a guide as to how long I should wait before offering something to the next person in line?

I offered our baby buggy on Freecycle and sent the lady a reply saying that she could have it on Saturday along with my mobile number. She hasn't replied and I either want her to collect it pronto or offer it to the next person.

I just know that as soon as I email the next person then the original recipient will pipe up!

She can't want it that badly if she hasn't replied by now, unless she has just given birth and hasn't had time to reply.

I would email her saying if she doesn't reply in 24 hours you'll offer it to the next person as you need the room.

After all, it's yours so you can give it to who ever you like.

I once went to buy an item that was advertised locally in the paper. She had said she still had it and I could come and collect it, but when I got there it was gone. Three people had rang about it and she told us all it was still available and sold to the first one who turned up, not me.

Her excuse was half the people never turn up anyway, so she was just hedging her bets.