Freecycle is it corrupt??

shelley_crow

The most annoying thing about freecycle is people who ask for things and don't turn up. Case in point: i gave away a computer cabinet recently, a woman wanted it but didn't know what time she could get it on the day. She was arsing around over delivery and asked me to leave it outside in the rain for her to get!!!! She never turned up so i offered it again and the young chap got it straight away. The freecycle in my area is generally good but i can see how greed could ruin the concept.

johnniegif

:j
I think Freecycle is great. About 15 months ago I recieved the best (and my first) "freecycle" I could possibly want ... a lovely little dog, whose owners were being posted to Iraq & Germany.

This was my first Freecycle transaction. I have given away more than I have received and still have plenty to go. There are serial abusers and many extremely rude people. I usually apply a "manners filter" to avoid the "I want your xxx" or "give me your xxx" type of person. I have been disappointed by non collection, no reply once allocated, lack of any thanks etc. but hey ho. If people muck me around and ask/demand future items, they get an explanatory email and I ignore further requests. At least my items have (hopefully) found a good home ... and at the end of the day, I have a lovely little dog, who (fingers crossed) won't go in landfill for many years to come.

I still have some cooking apples left from a local lady who had recently moved into a house called "The Old Orchard". It seems the orchard was functioning very welll and she didn't know what to do with all the produce. I am extremely gratefull to her for the many apple crumbles we have made from the apples.

What goes around comes around. I think Freecycle is excellent. Long may it live.

missyg_3

Haha here's a good one. Collector wants to collect tomorrow but "can't specify a time."

So I'm supposed to wait in from morning till night? :rotfl:

IamJen

Wow. It's interesting (and sad) to hear the stories of scary admins. I've been participating in the Oxford and VWH groups since we moved to the area a little over a year ago. We've had great experiences. We picked up a computer and a desk, that we later re-freecycled. We sent off a bed and a wardrobe to a family that had just moved house. We've swapped all sorts of vouchers and newspaper freebies via the post. Oh, I have tons of stories, but yeah.

jstyles

I tried to stick my settee on freecycle and posted a picture that was a link to Photobucket.

They refused to approve my listing citing that I wasn't allowed to host the pic anywhere else but on their site! Man - what a lost opportunity for someone: the settee's going on the tip now. Very sad indeed.

They said I'd agreed to host any pix with them when I signed up. Here's the 'understanding' reply I got from them when I queried why. A fair enough response, I guess, but it's not WHAT you say - it's the WAY you say it. Needless to say - I'll be avoiding their 'friendly' site from now on.

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Original Message ----
From: wirralfreecycle <[EMAIL="adminwirralfreecyclegroup&#64;gmail.com"]adminwirralfreecyclegroup@gmail.com [/EMAIL]>
To: marlinjas
Sent: Saturday, 15 December,

Beecause you cant take the time to upload it to our site, ?? it is in our rules you agreed to when you joined this group,.
Admin


On Dec 15, 2007 6:05 AM, John Styles wrote:
Why not - what's the big deal? Saves you having to host it?

What a waste - it has to go to the tip now.

<img>

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Original Message ----
From: wirralfreecycle <[EMAIL="adminwirralfreecyclegroup&#64;gmail.com"]adminwirralfreecyclegroup@gmail.com [/EMAIL]>
To: marlinjas
Sent: Friday, 14 December, 2007 1:27:24 PM
Subject: Message not approved: OFFERED (from CH47)- Three-seater Settee/Couch : blue/grey patterned material.


no outside links we have our own photo section


> I'm offering this up to anyone who can make use of it. Our new couch
> is arriving soon and I need the space!
>
> It's a large three-seater in a bluey/grey patterned material. Very
> hard-wearing.
>
> We've had it for five years and my mom-in-law gave it to us after
> they'd had good use out of it - so it's not exactly brand new! It's
in
> reasonable nick - no tears or even too much wear, really (we've used
> it with a throw over it most of the time). The basic frame is very
solid.
>
> It needs to go by Sunday (16/12).
>
> Email me or give me a call on 999999999 if you'd like it. First
> come, first served!
>
> I have taken a picture of it and stuck it on photobucket - link was here

Ken68

You wouldn't have got many takers anyway, jstyles, a truck is needed for that sort of thing.
A committed Freecycler needs at least a large estate car, god knows why so many saloons about.

jstyles

Ken68 wrote: »

You wouldn't have got many takers anyway, jstyles, a truck is needed for that sort of thing.
A committed Freecycler needs at least a large estate car, god knows why so many saloons about.

You're right Ken.

I've calmed down now. Just wanted a bit o' a whinge like the saddo I am. They do okay on the whole the Freecyclers!

Ken68

I can see Freecycle branching out into Skills Exchange Trading System (SETS) eventually. After all once the group is up and running.
I'll do your garden if you cut my hair sort of thing.

Caterina

I have used freecycle a fair amount of time both to give and to ask and in a way I am not too fussed if someone resells my old stuff, they are doing me a favour in the first place by taking it away and it DOES get recycled, even if someone has to pay for it. Whoever chooses to buy it is actually CHOOSING to pay money for whatever object they are purchasing. And it is one less thing that is being manufactured, thus saving materials and energy.

I know that it sounds deceptive to ask for things and then resell them, it is certainly less than ideal, but in the end the recycling happens, the thing continues to get used, and even if someone makes a little money this way, so what, at least I have been helping someone who needed a bit of money in a small way.

Caterina

Cardew

Caterina wrote: »

I know that it sounds deceptive to ask for things and then resell them, it is certainly less than ideal,
Caterina

That is the whole issue as far as many of us are concerned - we don't like being deceived, conned, swindled(call it what you will) by vultures who blatently abuse Freecycle.

Many Groups(mine for example) forbid any reselling of items and I believe all the rest stipulate that traders must declare their status. So by not declaring their status as traders it is deception pure and simple.

The fallback defence of traders, that it would all go to the tip, is completely invalid.

If no traders were scamming on Freecycle, almost every item would still find a home and not go to the tip. Those items that would not find a home, would not be of any use to a trader as it wouldn't sell either.

I really do find it incredible that some are prepared to defend dishonest people and condone their practices; which are a major cause of disillusionment with Freecycle.

I see their activities as no different to bogus collectors for a recognised charity who pocket the donations for themselves.