Freecycle is it corrupt??

Idiophreak

I've never used free cycle - but I don't think traders collecting the stuff is really against the spirit of the thing, from a "sellers" point of view. The idea is that you get rid of stuff you don't want and it gets reused rather than thrown out. Which will happen whether a trader collects or anyone else.

northern_star

I've used freecycle for about a year now with varying degrees of sucess. As a result I seem to blow hot and cold in my feelings towards them.

I've offered many items and requested just a couple.

Most recently we had some large fitted wardrobe mirror doors to offer and when the guy came to collect them it became apparent that he must scour the boards for precisely these items and then use them in his DIY business. At first I felt a bit miffed as I'd hoped they would be going to an individual who wanted them for their own project but then I thought more about it - at least they were being re-used (part of the ethos) and, as someone said earlier, 3 parties were benefitting and they were kept out of landfill.

As my partner and I are looking to merge our 2 homes we will soon have many surplus items. However we are planning to use the following criteria; smaller items will be taken to charity shops and larger or electrical items offered on freecycle.

BTW, I'm told you can check out the posting history of anyone who asks for your item/s by putting their username in the search facility on your freecycle site. This way you can see whether they have offered stuff themselves or they are simply always posting wanted ads. It might help you to decide who to offer your items to.

smousie

In recent weeks, people on my local Freecycle group have asked for:

All of the gear required to kit out a tattoo shop (inc. chairs, power supplies, sterilising equipment, etc)

A laptop power cable (the ad even included a specific part number!)

A digital safe

A boat (!!!)

A laptop computer

An iMac computer (these cost upwards of £800)

A caravan

A Chloe Paddington handbag (As if anyone is going to Freecycle a designer handbag worth £1000!)


All of these are really expensive items that are unlikely to be Freecycled, and the posts just seem to be motivated by greed, people want to get expensive luxury items for nothing. I'm willing to bet that few or none of them actually get any replies...

I also disapprove of traders who want to take "the lot" - why should they sell the item to someone when I can give it to the person for nothing? If someone says they want everything I've listed, I assume they're a trader and ignore the email, and give the items to posters who sound genuine.

Big_Bird_4

Cardew wrote: »

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.

No I'm not a trader and I've never taken anything offered on Freecycle, only given it away. I'm quite happy for the person who gets my stuff to do what they want with it and don't presume to make moral judgements about them.

Does your stuff go into landfill now? Or have you found a better way to dispose of it than Freecycle?

DenBo_4

I too have an on/off relationship with Freecycle, due to greedy people and their wanteds, but I don't think anyone replies anyway to them. I've had some stuff from Freecycle (an iron and a foot spa, and an electric heater that someone had got from freecycle, used it until not needed, passed on to me and I've passed it on to a friend). I think it's great to use to get rid of big stuff, and smaller stuff I can carry goes to my local charity shop. I don't have a problem with traders getting my stuff, I usually put the "24" hour thingy for replies, and you can usually weed them out. However, if no one else wants stuff I'm happy for them to take it off my hands! And it's great the stuff isn't being chucked away, I'm often surprised by the things that are offered and people take!!

My local church sends clothes to an orphanage in Tanzania, and everytime I have asked for baby clothes to send I have been absolutely thrilled by the amount and quality of the clothes, I've been given bags and bags of baby stuff, people are so happy to give their things and not throw them away.

oldMcDonald

Ken68 wrote: »

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.

The several kitchen items I was giving away were electrical items (food processor/ fridge/juicer type things) and there was no way that I was going to make it easy for someone to pick them up and car boot them.

Ken68

Depends I suppose, Old mc...whether you rural or not.
My average distance to collect offered items is 5 miles.
Once travelled 10 miles to pick up a small electric kettle, thinking I could accept anything on offer. Was all took for tho. All portioned out. This village was literally in the sticks, so a poor day for the environment.
Ever since have only dealt with heavier stuff where I have (had) the transport.
I have, and I'm sure that a lot of MSE's have a clear distinction between honest trading and rogue trading, and an understanding of profit but not profiteering.
Saving, as in moneysavingexpert is quite a negative thing and posters ought to move on to enriching themselves by legitimate trading.
p.s....welcome Gunslinger to the board, a good first post.

navig8r

gunslinger13401 wrote: »

Seems like a lot of posts for items are not making the board but are taken.
I guess the takers are psychic.
There must be huge temptation for administrators seeing items before it reaches board.
Does this happen?
Am I the only person who has noticed strange things on Freecycle.
There are also on my local boards a large number of greedy people posting wanted for luxury items that would never be sent to landfill. I have seen everything from Leather 3 piece suite(must be black), expensive musical instruments and increasingly commonly cars.
And then the others who either request or take everything they can and then spend a profitable sunday morning at the local car boot sale.
Surely this is contrary to the ethos of Freecycle.
Great idea but against human nature in an environment where greed rules
I look forward to any comments.
Michael

To put your mind at rest you could always Post a fictitious expensive item and note at what time it gets posted and the time of the first enquiry..;)
Dave

GiraffePC

I'm finding this thread very good, as I've been wondering about Freecycle.
I've 4 heavy items to get rid of and want a few things but wasn't sure about the system - now I'm still unsure!
As for collecting, well distance up to 25 miles is no problem, just carrying things on the back of me bike!

Peter.

Cardew

Big_Bird wrote: »

I'm quite happy for the person who gets my stuff to do what they want with it and don't presume to make moral judgements about them.

Well I certainly feel able to make moral judgements about them - they have lower standards than your average 'Rag & Bone' man.

If there was nothing wrong with them grabbing everything that came up for resale, why not put a note on their email, requesting the items;
"I am a trader who will be selling your items in a boot sale or on EBAY"

How much response do you think they would get?

Without that note, it is simply deception.