Why free cycle is a waste of time

anotheruser

This is why I end up chucking stuff in the bin.

I don't like to "put it at the end of the drive" as I don't like that behaviour, so if I can't sell it, it is binned.
Yes, before all the judges come along, I feel bad wasting some useful things but I dont' feel bad enough to donate it to a charity shop or whatever - it's unlikely to be worth the effort.

Had an interesting discussion at work about where "end of the drive" really ends.
Someone had a bike leant up against the house - someone had it as they frequently put stuff at the end of the drive to take.  That stopped when the bike went.

MalMonroe

To my surprise, I've found a big difference between freecycle and freegle. With freecycle, nobody's even responded to my ads. With freegle, I've never had a no-show. I don't use freecycle any more.

On freegle, people have normally said what time they'll be coming, usually within a timeframe of about 2 to 4 hours and then I've popped the item/s on top of my blue bin (hidden from sight) and the items have been collected. Most popular thing I've freegled to date was a box of 8 half-used tins of paint.  

I have to say though that I have seen a load of old tat on both sites. I hate the ads that say 'needs a good clean'. Why not clean it before offering? Just because it's free or people may be struggling for money doesn't mean you can't just dust something down. Or wash it. Also if things are 'broken but has some use left in it'. How?? Some things do just need dumping but sometimes freegle really does help people.

MalMonroe

knightstyle said:

I now avoid dealing with young, single parent females who want items I give away for free!  Yes some are fine and come when arranged but more are unreliable do not update when they do not turn up and then expect you to deliver.
Sorry if that upsets people but having given away lots of stuff that is my experience.

As someone who was once 'a young single parent female', I take great exception to this comment. As the sites are mostly anonymous though, how do you always know people's status? Very often they use unisex email addresses and don't disclose their gender or marital status. 

As for wanting items you give away for free - well, isn't that the idea of freegle and freecycle? (The clue is in the names.)

Single parents do their best and should never be condemned for trying to support their children. It's usually women because the men have usually scarpered.

Try to be generous, even if you have 'given away lots of stuff'. Many of us have done the same thing -and delivered, if it's convenient to us, when asked. But don't do generous things when you feel resentful. 

Carrot007

MalMonroe said:

As someone who was once 'a young single parent female', I take great exception to this comment. As the sites are mostly anonymous though, how do you always know people's status? Very often they use unisex email addresses and don't disclose their gender or marital status.

The sort of people they are talking about put it in the message. As if it gains them something. They are probably bullshitting and anyone who used such in a message should be ignored as they will be a pain.

cattom

I can't be bothered with freecycle recycle etsy or ebay. if I got stuff I don't want, on a saturday I put it all in the car, and take it down the charity shop. now that they are accepting donations again.

GaleSF63

I've used Freecycle and Freegle for years and rarely had any problem.

I ignore messages like "I'll take it off your hands", and the ones who, in response to my saying collection on weekday evenings tell me they'll collect it on Saturday at 9am.

It was a godsend when I was emptying my mother's house. Often people would take more than they came for originally.  Some tell me why they want something eg the man who needed a freezer for a very short while till his new on arrived and was then going to pass this one on to his son. A couple who were helping a friend who had recently separated took a bed and chest of drawers. Yes some people might make things up, but why bother? 

Sometimes I've had messages from people telling how pleased they are eg I put a coffee machine on that was still in its box but about 15 years old and I said I didn't know if it would work, and he told me it was making wonderful coffee. 

I live in a small town; my mother's house was in a big city but I didn't find that made any difference to attitudes or reliability. 

I do notice that there are a few of the same people constantly asking for things - not insignificant things - I can't make my mind up whether they are being practical and money-saving by asking, or whether they are just on the scrounge. 

As you can see, I'm a fan, but it has served me well over the years. 

I've made some friends as well!

Pennylane

MalMonroe said:

knightstyle said:

I now avoid dealing with young, single parent females who want items I give away for free!  Yes some are fine and come when arranged but more are unreliable do not update when they do not turn up and then expect you to deliver.
Sorry if that upsets people but having given away lots of stuff that is my experience.

As someone who was once 'a young single parent female', I take great exception to this comment. As the sites are mostly anonymous though, how do you always know people's status? Very often they use unisex email addresses and don't disclose their gender or marital status. 

As for wanting items you give away for free - well, isn't that the idea of freegle and freecycle? (The clue is in the names.)

Single parents do their best and should never be condemned for trying to support their children. It's usually women because the men have usually scarpered.

Try to be generous, even if you have 'given away lots of stuff'. Many of us have done the same thing -and delivered, if it's convenient to us, when asked. But don't do generous things when you feel resentful. 

Whenever I am offering stuff for free either on local site or Freecycle, we nearly always get comments like “I am a single Mum and would love this.”  We also run a business and forever get “single Mums” ringing up and rubbing in that they can’t afford much as they are “single Mums” like it’s a badge of honour.  Cuts no ice with me I’m afraid. It’s first person to turn up gets it and my husband never gives a discount to “single  Mums”. Why should he? 

Some people use Freecycle as a way to get rid of their tat.  A girl  we know borrowed her mother’s car to collect a washing machine which was supposed to be in working order. It was a 40 mile round trip and she damaged her Mum’s car and when she got it home it was not working at all.