Freecycle is it corrupt??

mummyfrugal

Im having a new boiler fitted next week because the old one (over 20yrs old) is unreliable and is an 'unecomonical repair' and there was an ad asking for an old boiler for parts to make a bio-diesel thingy - its strange how sometimes fate is kind of very accurate with its timing!!!

Of course I emailed and a nice bloke is coming to collect my old boiler and its bits are going to make bio-diesel!!! How cool is that - I only wish absolutely everything everyone had that was of no use anymore could be used this way! Its nice to know that my old klanky boiler can still be of use to the planet in a small way :-)

grayme-m

In the last few weeks a couple of large items (a sofa and a bed) to new homes with minimal work on our part, thumbs up to Freecycle. :money:

A big raspberry to all the 'ill have it's' and the resellers , because you didn't!

sarahlpage

Another positive for Freecycle - I used to be a teacher and had boxes of books, revision guides etc just stuck in the garage.

In the summer I thought I'd clear them out, stuck them on freecycle - I had loads of 'I'll take the lots' but I had a look through and waited a few days - then I got a newly qualified teacher who wanted them. She came and got them and was so greatful (I know how little NQT's are paid from experience and how hard it is to set up your library!)

So good old freecycle. They went to a good home.

However, I have never managed to get one thing off freecycle because, like has been said earlier, everything is always gone within 30 seconds!

Nevermind, at least my stuff won't go to the tip and I don't have to take it anywhere.

Groovegal

I have to say that I have been Freecycling for 2 years now. I love the group however it does seem like some people are using it for profit and the byline is changing the world one gift at a time. I love the concept of giving things to people who will really appreciate them, the group although borne out of the desire to prevent landfill could be classed as charitable as essentially thats what it is.

Things that would improve the group I belong to would be (IMHO)

:If you are planning to sell you have to state that when replying

:A limit to wanted posts

: A blacklist file so that consistent no showers could be weeded out and prevented from wasting time

Think thats all. Only thing is I think Freecycle should also be acknowledged as a charitable group in addition to a "green" group as really it is used at least as much if not more for this purpose but also may be preventing landfill

primowino

I have only been using freecycle a few weeks amd I have had no bad experiences to date. This weekend I asked for baby knitting patterns and a lady actually brought some round to me as she had collected some childrens furniture from us when we first joined and she was so please to return something to us. The best one was a lady asking for broken GHD straighteners as her switch had broken. My straighteners had just broken beyond repair - so I was able to give away my broken ones - what a good trade! Like anything it is open to abuse, but I hope the good people using it out number the bad ones.

dirtyflannel

I have just discovered freecycle and have had one item which I really needed. Before I reply to any I always think about if I am desperate for the item or could some other person need it more than me. Some people aren't bothered if car booters got to take away their unwanted clutter though. Personally I don't think they should be going on there though it is supposed to help the community and lots of people do need things because thet are genuinely poor.

gravitytolls

Me too, DF. I always read through each email, deleting any that are rude ('I'll have it', and the like), and hopefully choose the person I feel it will most benefit. Mind you, sometimes I get i wrong. Last summer I offered a swing and slide set, perfect condition, but having moved from a big house/big garden to a considerably smaler one, itwas just too big.

I was inundated with requests, chose the single parent, who turned up in a brand new range rover. Ah well, them's the breaks.

PBA

As far as I'm concerned I only give stuff on Freecycle if it isn't worth my while Ebaying it. I couldn't give a monkeys if someone more entrepreneurial than me thinks they can make a few quid, at least I've got rid of something I don't want anymore without having to hire a van to take it to the tip.

Ken68

PBA wrote: »

As far as I'm concerned I only give stuff on Freecycle if it isn't worth my while Ebaying it. I couldn't give a monkeys if someone more entrepreneurial than me thinks they can make a few quid, at least I've got rid of something I don't want anymore without having to hire a van to take it to the tip.

That's my thinking PB....just giving something free makes the receiver want to respond in kind.

linni

What I don't understand is how I can get 'taken' before I have even received the 'offered' post. I have also noticed that when something is 'offered' there is often a 'wanted' for the same item either before or just after. Despite all of that, I have received some lovely things and met some really great people.