Freecycle is it corrupt??

cedrickerry

I'm not sure on our local freecycle. I've given a lot of stuff through freecycle, but never been successful in getting anything. Posted a couple of wanteds too . .. . . .. packing boxes when moving etc. but never been successful. only minutes after I've submitted a wanted, it's been offered by someone, but if I then ask for it, it's already gone . . . . . how come? In understand people don't want to trawl through all the wanteds before offering, but when it's minutes ago . . . . .

I'm sure there are good things about freecycle, but I agree with some of the other forum posts about giving to a charity shop instead. At least a few people have a chance fo getting it. Seems to be the same people being successful over and over again!

If I'm bored I may have a look, but not convinced anymore

kittykat23uk

I've given away a few things on freecycle and gained a few things. I gave away a very broken greenhouse to a couple who had an allotment. I gave away a bag of old clothes. I received my two gorgeous bunnies from a lady on Freecycle, I got their hutch off someone else on freecycle. I regularly gave away the soiled bedding from the bunnies to a lady with an allotment but she is moving away so I need to find a replacement soon because my compost bin is filling up quickly! Any takers?? :rotfl: A friend of mine got a nice telly off someone on Frecycle- so it does work sometimes.

skintchick

It used to work better when it was smaller and not as well-known - now chancers are on there to get stuff to car boot or eBay and it's not as nice. I give away a lot of stuff but am amazed how many people say they will take the lot and then ask where I live - because they live two counties away and don;t know the area! They are obviously just wanting to sell stuff on as they will always want the five binbags of clothes, whereas most people don;t want that many second-hand items.

Also, I notice now people want almost new items, and brands, rather than just needing, say, a kettle or whatever - they want an XYZ kettle or nothing. It's become about greed and consumerism which is a shame.

Ken68

I can never really understand how Freecycle got orf the ground. The founders must have realised the potential for abuse, unless if just grew out of an urgent desire to get rid of unwanted goods. Like buying popularity.
The real crime to me is buying the stuff in the first place if you intend to give it away and also falling into the trap of replacing it for the latest upgrade.

Selling and buying is a skill that should be learned by everyone.
And once the decision has been made to get rid, why the need to track it's future.
Checking it's provenance is more important.

mummyfrugal

Hi I have given and received from freecycle. I do think that some people out there are just traders (i've had the same person ask for 3 separate things I listed at different times). When someone asks for something I know its a bit cheeky but I go on advanced search and put in the 'author' name and look at what ads they have placed in the past. I gave away a PS1 and when I looked at a response I got asking for it in the past she had asked for games for her PS2 so obviously she didnt need it!! I tend to go for people who have offered things in the past as at least they have given and so it seems fair they should receive too. I have managed to rescue my neigbours fence panels that were destined for the tip, they were collected by someone who was desparate for a fence. I've also been lucky in getting some items, but I think when you reply to an ad you really need to be polite and give your phone number and tell them you wont let them down on collection (and then keep your promise). I think its great that we can recycle things we cant give to the charity shop (or cant lug there)! and its great we can get things too that people don't want anymore. I love houseplants and placed an ad for any unwanted houseplants and got a housefull off a lady who was moving to america - they would have just gone in her green refuse bin otherwise (and would have cost a fortune from the garden centre). It was also nice when I gave away my little boy's bike (he'd grown out of it) and I got an email a week later from the person I'd given it to with a photo attached of his son riding it in the park - its nice to know that some some genuine people exist and it fills a need. It is quite annoying though to see an ad asking for... "a sofa (but please could you deliver and take our old one to the tip)" but as with everything in life, there is always people who try to push their luck to the limit. Getting more worrying is when I once let someone use the toilet who was picking up something and she had rumaged through my bathroom cabinet (nothing interesting in there believe me) but I am more wary now and no one is allowed in my home - no excuses.

Please don't be put off by freecycle, I've had good and bad experiences, but you have to go with the flow, what goes around comes around, and I got a really nice DVD recorder off a very nice lady who was upgrading (makes all the hassle kind of worth it).

All the best to everyone freecycling out there, but dont let anyone in your home and dont be put off - it keeps loads of stuff out of landfill and thats got to be worth it.

Sarahsaver

it still bewilders me.
No-one wanted a broadband modem or baby clothes
We got given a very nice cot only to discover a major important part of it was missing, people should be honest and say if something is broken.
I dont offer so much but i have decided not to even give the 'i'll take the lot' brigade the time of day;)

angelatgraceland

mummyfrugal wrote: »

Hi I have given and received from freecycle. I do think that some people out there are just traders (i've had the same person ask for 3 separate things I listed at different times). When someone asks for something I know its a bit cheeky but I go on advanced search and put in the 'author' name and look at what ads they have placed in the past. I gave away a PS1 and when I looked at a response I got asking for it in the past she had asked for games for her PS2 so obviously she didnt need it!! I tend to go for people who have offered things in the past as at least they have given and so it seems fair they should receive too. I have managed to rescue my neigbours fence panels that were destined for the tip, they were collected by someone who was desparate for a fence. I've also been lucky in getting some items, but I think when you reply to an ad you really need to be polite and give your phone number and tell them you wont let them down on collection (and then keep your promise). I think its great that we can recycle things we cant give to the charity shop (or cant lug there)! and its great we can get things too that people don't want anymore. I love houseplants and placed an ad for any unwanted houseplants and got a housefull off a lady who was moving to america - they would have just gone in her green refuse bin otherwise (and would have cost a fortune from the garden centre). It was also nice when I gave away my little boy's bike (he'd grown out of it) and I got an email a week later from the person I'd given it to with a photo attached of his son riding it in the park - its nice to know that some some genuine people exist and it fills a need. It is quite annoying though to see an ad asking for... "a sofa (but please could you deliver and take our old one to the tip)" but as with everything in life, there is always people who try to push their luck to the limit. Getting more worrying is when I once let someone use the toilet who was picking up something and she had rumaged through my bathroom cabinet (nothing interesting in there believe me) but I am more wary now and no one is allowed in my home - no excuses.

Please don't be put off by freecycle, I've had good and bad experiences, but you have to go with the flow, what goes around comes around, and I got a really nice DVD recorder off a very nice lady who was upgrading (makes all the hassle kind of worth it).

All the best to everyone freecycling out there, but dont let anyone in your home and dont be put off - it keeps loads of stuff out of landfill and thats got to be worth it.

You are spot on! What you do regarding checking the author as a way of choosing is one of the things I recommend to our members. I also have an email on safety-nothing alarming-just commonsense. Most members are great-its only a few who spoil things for the rest. We only let peole join who live in the county for the very reasons another poster said. Some people are indeed chancers and they are the ones who often dont turn up when they realise the time and distance involved.
I always suggest waiting 24 hrs for a recipient and then to choose carefully-at the end of the day tho its up to you who you give to and why.
Freecycle was never set up to get rid of stuff Ken-it was set up to stop good items going to landfill.
The sizes of groups does indeed have a big impact. Some of the major towns are huge and you can't get anything easily. However-you can get rid of things easily!
That is why some of the groups split into smaller regions-it keeps it more local, more manageable and it works better.
The whole signup process is unfortunately a bit of a pain because its a yahoo group. One day they may leave yahoo groups-its in the pipeline.
Cardew-you are right-mods do need to be proactive. Trouble is-I am-and the group in the next town isn't! Some group owners are just not up to the it I think.
Tricky one though for a totally unpaid position.
Most mods do ban abusers but unfortunately banning isnt much of an answer as they can just rejoin under another name. Far better to have a few rules and stick to them. Often people do mend their ways when they are kindly reminded in a tactful manner-others choose to leave because they dont like the rules-problem solved!
Ive also had the odd email of "I will take it"-No you WON'T!
People soon get wise to such members and eventually they just get ignored.

rlc_2

I've never had a bad experience with Freecycle. I've got rid of boxes of books, old computer equipment and furniture. The people that have turned up have always been pleasant to deal with and grateful for the stuff.

All power to it.

jorichste

Just wanted to add another positive. I always had great responses from freecycle. It saved me the time and hassle of trecking to the charity shop, do I care if stuff got sold afterwards?no. I had no more use for it , most of it would have gone in the skip when I cleared out the house to move, if someone got good use from it or earned a few extra pounds the good for them. I had several positive responses when asking for packing boxes, thanks freecycle.

gravitytolls

Love freecycle. This week I collected a fridge freezer for my son's flat, as he had a tall fridage and a seperate freezer with an extension lead stretched scross the kitchen. The fridge and the freezer are now on freecycle, with a dozen takers. Without it, all 3 of these would have probably ended up at landfill.