Freecycle is it corrupt??

Horace

I have tried to use freecycle but have been unsuccessful all the goods have either gone or never existed in the first place. I have now resorted to using various charity shops - I have had furniture and electrical goods from the British Heart Foundation and yet more furniture and glassware from my local Primrose Hospice Charity shop (plus I have given them stuff too as well advised them on pricing antique glass).

Cardew

Big_Bird wrote: »

If a trader takes your item away and sells it to someone who has a use for it, then that's three people happy. You've got rid of whatever it was that was cluttering up your house without having to stick it in landfill. The trader's made a bit of cash and the person he sold it to has got something they wanted.

Why do we think that a trader using Freecycle to earn money for their family is less worthy than someone who just wants the free stuff for doing nothing?

Because it is 'FREECYCLE' - not give something to a trader so he can make a profit.

Because if you(assuming you are a trader - and with that philosophy you probably are?) and your like, didn't grab everything then somebody would get it for free.

I have stopped freecycle for 2 reasons:

Firstly because within seconds of anything being offered you are inundated with people who are obviously traders( the "I will take the lot" brigade for multiple items)

Secondly the begging requests, cars, bikes, DVD players, boats etc etc. again a lot from traders.

If you can't understand why the majority don't want our items to go to traders, I simply give up.

oldMcDonald

The owner of our local Freecycle has asked for everything that I have offered and it makes me so cross. The first time was a chest freezer and I gave it to him as I didn't realise that he asked for all that came up.

I won't be using Freecycle anymore due to something that happened the other week. I had offered several kitchen items and wanted to give 1 item per person (almost all the replies said 'I'll have 'em all'!!), so I selected people who only asked for one item and gave them the address to collect. One of the ladies came to my door to collect one of the items and started to ask for the other ones as well, to which I told her that all had been alocated. Her friend who was with her then said the she had also emailed me and asked if I was going to give her the items she had asked for. I said again that I had offered them out and she got really angry, saying that she had had a wasted journey!! I was really taken aback and will not put myself into that position again. I could have emailed the owner, but he doesn't really seem to be that interested when others have made complaints onlist.

pennypuppy

oldMc Donald I would report him to Freecycle HQ! that is so annoying.

madfrenchgirl

So far, no one is making me looking fwd to giving my stuff away when i start refurnishing the house.

Sarahsaver

I just ignore the regular emails I get saying 'i'll take the lot' when I have offered really eclectic lists of random stuff that I doubt someone would really NEED.
Our local group has a rule if you offer something you can say 'not for resale'
I have mostly good experiences however, people who genuinely wanted and needed items, as well as things I have received which have been invaluable. I have had some lovely follow up emails and thankyou cards from some people.
I do not understand why its against the rules to ask for an Ipod but not a car, caravan, x-box, PS2/3 and so on!
I tend to fall in and out of favour with it! I have asked for things which I know LOADS of people would have surplus to requirements but had not one reply.

Sarahsaver

Oh btw madfrenchgirl there are probably charities you can give your stuff to instead. Our area has one for people with babies and young children to whom I donated things like bugy, cot, baby clothes, bottles etc. The local authority has a scheme for furniture for people on low incomes.

Lady_E

This morning I logged onto Freecycle and there was a msg stating that the OP had recently become an Ann Summers rep and was offering to organise parties and we could contact her on her email address. I have tried REALLY hard to sus out the "prevent landfill" ethos and can only think it must be saving her printing flyers to post;)

I think it was pretty poor of the mods, that this was not seen and deleted as soon as possible.

I too hate the idea of traders . If I had wanted money for my stuff I would have used ebay . Enough said :rolleyes:

MOLLYBRUSH

Well if I can share my experiences - they are somewhat different. I owned some properties and have sold them off, I have a huge amount of stuff to give away and the charities were not interested, even in pine beds, a washing machine which was an integrated one, etc. I have offered all sorts of stuff and as far as I know all of it has gone to genuine people. It has saved me the bother of taking it to the dump, although I guess that is counter-productive in the time it takes to reply and organise, but at least the stuff has not been wasted. I have given away all sorts from loads of half empty paint cans (from student house) to artists and wardrobe doors to someone wanting to board out his loft. It makes me so happy to feel that the stuff is being put to good use and I get a lovely warm feeling from helping people out who genuinely seem to need these things. It's been avery positive win-win situation where I live.

Ken68

I've refurnished a good part of my house with Freecycle furniture, quality stuff and as it's difficult for the poster to shift without paying someone or having a skip, I don't feel at all guilty.
Have sold car now so no more freecycle except local and light, BUT I would have thought any MoneySavingExpert is a trader in their heads anyway.
As for giving away a small kitchen item per person it just aint economic, doing more harm than good, with the petrol used, better use charity shops.