Freecycle is it corrupt??

lorrainewinson

Ive had nothing but good dealings through Cumbria freecycle. Ive got rid of a load of stuff to some very nice people and Ive also managed to get a few things that I wanted too. Only been let down on pick up once in the last year.:T
If it keeps it out of the landfill then its OK by me.

angelatgraceland

jaffacat wrote: »

I like the idea of freecycle and that it stops stuff going to landfill but what upsets me is the animals that are offered......the mods dont stop this and I think that this board (freecycle)is used more and more for getting rid of animals...

It is not against the rules of Freecycle to give animals away on the site. Horrible as it sounds-they do sometimes end up in landfill. I havent allowed it on the group I run but that was as a result of members vote which I think was a fair way to do it. I also dont want the possible hassles of animal posts on the group.No worse putting an animal on Freecycle than offering it in an ad in the paper. So the reason that "the mods dont stop is" is that they are following the rules of the group owner who has followed freecycle rules and is allowed to have animals on the site.

zztopgirl

Ive just sent off an email to the mod of my local group. There is a repeat offender, last year demanded a laptop that must come with wifi and xp, today is demanding wardrobes that must fit his description and wants them delivered(fair enough if he hasnt the transport).

I offered some giveaways the other week on another site, and just realised its this same person who rang me for them. Arranged a date and i said please call me if there are any problems, nope never heard a thing and wasted a day waiting in for them. They did eventually go off to a good home. I suppose im just angry, yes he may be trying to furnish his house, and had a genuine reason for not making it when he said he would, but a free laptop?

There are quite a lot of other wanteds here too, most of the time i just seem to find begging emails in my inbox. Whats the point?

lawsofnature

It's interesting to read these comments about FreeCycle.

I used the service once to give an item away, and felt a bit screwed-over - for want of better words.

The person didn't turn up until very late to collect the item, and then the item in question was supposed to be a Xmas surprise for her son, but her son turned up with her to collect it. I just had a sneaky suspicion they were Ebayers or car-booters (they had lots of goods in their car). I also received a torrent of quite rude emails from people wanting goods from me - lots of people wanting free stuff certainly lack manners. One person was a 'Dr.' - and whether he/she be a medic or academic - I felt like saying 'you cheap so and so'. (I guess this opinion is against the spirit of Freecycle ). And then followed loads of rule change type emails from the mods.

The up-shot of one experience is enough for me never to do it again - I'd prefer things not suitable for charity shops to be collected by the council or end up on the tip.:(

Xandar

I know this thread is a few months old, but wanted to throw my experience on..

I am disgusted with what i just had happen -

I used to be a member of my local freecycle and rejoined today. For every offer of something, there were 50 'wanted's - but the 'wanted' requests were so clingy I just posted a disillusioned message to the admin and am looking elsewhere to give my stuff away.

Examples:

Wanted - a few tropical fish to keep the kids amused - tank is setup and i dont get paid to the end of the month -thanks very much
wanted - Nintendo 64 - im an old addict. thanks
Wanted - washing machine - my daughters has broken - thanks

etc etc etc - loads more like it...

i thought the point was you offered, then folks had a chance to get it if they were quick enough.

This just left a bad taste is my mouth - 'take,take,take' as usual...not much community spirit of giving there!

im off to find another network that IS about giving.

Xandar

Ice_2

our freecycle is cut short you either offer or wanted keep it business like keep it short and give it afew days before you decide who gets it...I have given away a 28" wide screen tv with stand 2 computer towers both working 2 monitors both working 2 computer desks in good condition 2 computer chairs in good condition...2 all in one printers in good condition...and many other things mostly they are man with son or gran with daughter that has turned up but I don't care really as long as they are not taking up space in my house any more...thats the whole point isn't it they are free...although I have never wanted anything myself...:Dbeats paying the local council £15 per item...

Sparky67

Xandar wrote: »

i thought the point was you offered, then folks had a chance to get it if they were quick enough.

This just left a bad taste is my mouth - 'take,take,take' as usual...not much community spirit of giving there!

im off to find another network that IS about giving.
Xandar

I use Freecycle off and on. I have offered stuff, but I've also posted "wanted" requests too, and have been offered items every time - one was an exercise step which I use regularly, the others were a breadmaking machine and a juicer so that I could try them out before committing to buying one myself. I have since Freecycled them back again so someone else can do the same.

You could be waiting so long to find the right item being offered, sometimes its better to just ask. You would be surprised how many people have something lurking in the cupboard but haven't got round to offering it...

I do agree that some of the requests are a little excessive though (mobile phones, working laptops, x-boxes etc)!

Lakeuk

Xandar wrote: »

I know this thread is a few months old, but wanted to throw my experience on..

I am disgusted with what i just had happen -

I used to be a member of my local freecycle and rejoined today. For every offer of something, there were 50 'wanted's - but the 'wanted' requests were so clingy I just posted a disillusioned message to the admin and am looking elsewhere to give my stuff away.

Luckily my local isn't at that point yet, some of the wanted ads are short, I pay more attention with the wants saying why they want the item which no-one ever does so I mostly ignore them. I have replied back to some but never heard from them only to see them post again a few months later, then you get those that want the latest gadget, or those you think are wanting it to make cash.

on another local freecycle site the wanted ads have got so bad that they now only allow them to be posted on a Wednesday

penniesforme

Sparky67 wrote: »

I use Freecycle off and on. I have offered stuff, but I've also posted "wanted" requests too, and have been offered items every time - one was an exercise step which I use regularly, the others were a breadmaking machine and a juicer so that I could try them out before committing to buying one myself. I have since Freecycled them back again so someone else can do the same.

You could be waiting so long to find the right item being offered, sometimes its better to just ask. You would be surprised how many people have something lurking in the cupboard but haven't got round to offering it...

I do agree that some of the requests are a little excessive though (mobile phones, working laptops, x-boxes etc)!

I've actually asked for an iron and a blender a while ago. ( was a very skint student back then...and i really needed those stuff)

anyway, i posted the request, and about a couple of hours later, i have a very RUDE email from admin regarding my request. something about 'Over the top requests. electrical store, taking advantage of the goodwill of others on site etc etc'. that email reduced me to tears...I was really going thru a rough patch, and was trying to juggle my classes with work..and had to live on bread most days (dont worry, i'm over that period now). How dare they judge me....

but that just made me avoid freecycle altogether. The admin basically gave me the impression that they are rude idiots who think they are superior to others and therefore pass judgements on other people based on the 'wanted' list that others post. i stopped my subscription to freecycle since that.

also, i have had some suspicion that some stuff are always going to the same person, or someone from that clique;)

i now give stuff away on gumtree/ or leave them in front of my house.

lucypeach

Our local freecycle has so many begging letters on it, more 'wanteds' than 'offers'. After I gave away some fantastic items I decided to log on and see if there was anything I wanted,but you have to be quick as all the good stuff goes to car booters! I did get a printer for my computer - pity it doesn't work - now what do I do with it? Put it back on freecycle?