Freecycle. They said please so they got the item.

Ianna

Yesterday I got two messages asking for laptops. This morning there's already another message asking for a laptop. None of these messages is even particularly nice to read, they've put no effort into creating a nice message. People really surprise me sometimes.

HugoSP

Cardew wrote: »

HugoSP,
To me most wanted ads are irritating and distasteful; but I can understand others may have a different viewpoint, so I think we can only agree to disagree on this matter.

Fine, but I do strive to consider the bigger picture before I just write off people or their actions as irrataing.

I suspect my view is shared by the majority; but could well be wrong.

I suspect your view is shared by the majority, but I also suspect that the majority react adversly to a lot of wanted ads without understanding exactly what is being asked for.

People in one of my local groups were complaining bitterly about one wanted ad for a large television in good contition, until the moderator stepped in and explained in great detail that the poster's needs could be met with an old CRT TV that were being replaced and put out with the rubbish in their droves as people were now buying flat screen TVs. Then the flak suddenly stopped.

I am pretty confident that my view on ‘undeclared’ traders, using deception to obtain goods from Freecyle, as being beneath contempt, is a more widely held view.

Now here we have a common view. Although once title passes to the recipient there is nothing the doner can do, these items are generally given in the spirit that the recipient will make use of them or at least pass them on free.

The only danger here is that when the recipient assumes title of the item, then decides to pass it onto family or friends, then they end up flogging it at a car boot sale, and get caught out buy the original doner.

Although, anyone wanting to protect themselves against this trickery should IMO consider wanted ads, as these tend to be posted by people who want the item for themselves, with one exception in my nearest group. The lady specifically asked for car boot stuff - to raise money for Christmas. I saw no reason to disapprove of that as she was being completely honest about her intentions. Interestingly enough, she didn't get any flak on the group, so one assumes that most others thought as I did.

HugoSP

Ianna wrote: »

Yesterday I got two messages asking for laptops. This morning there's already another message asking for a laptop. None of these messages is even particularly nice to read, they've put no effort into creating a nice message. People really surprise me sometimes.

Exactly - it takes very little effort to ask nicely.

As you have probably read I am of the school of "If you don't ask you don't get", but I fully concurr that your asking has to show respect and politeness to your intended readers

lilmissmup

I have just put my first ever list of items on freecycle as my house needs a good tidy up and i have had a stupid reply already....

I listed several items and got this reply

yes please i will have it for my grandkids please where r u

So i emailed back this....

Can you tell me what item/s you want as i have listed several?

Thank You.

I then got this reply....

steering covers rucksack exersize thing games shot tender please please

Know i know she used please but she won't be getting anything, her grandchildren must have strange hobbies if they want steering wheel covers and a shot tender!!! :rotfl:

busydaffodil1

Ken68 wrote: »

Hi lightfading...when you see an offered item that you want what is the procedure for when you are the owner or moderator.
I don't think other members of the group would object to them taking preference.

I moderate a local Freecycle group. My personal etiquette on replying to posts is something I have taken upon myself to do.

A moderator sometimes has to approve posts so in theory, would have prior knowledge of whats about to get posted. Many groups use the 3 post rule. Once a new member has posted correctly on 3 occasions, they are taken off moderation. Moderators dont get to see posts before everyone else in that instance. Some people do have to remain moderated though.

I dont agree that Moderators should have preference. Infact, I think Moderators have to be extra careful as anything could be used against them. Personally, if I have to moderate a post and would love the item for myself, I approve the post, wait till later in the day & send an email. I do not mention my Moderator Status, my email is sent from my own email account and not through Freecycle and I am very careful about what I say. To be honest, I am probably more careful than I should be but I will never get accused of foul play if I follow my own set of rules. I actually offer much more that I have ever asked for though.

As regards "traders", we have a set of rules to follow. If we suspect a trader/reseller, we put them back on moderation and log everything in our database. This database was designed by our local Freecycle Owner and is invaluable for keeping check on members. Its a whole lot of extra work but when coming across issues, it has proved itself over and over again.
Wer cannot ban people on suspicion only but we do follow up on any reports made regarding people seeing them reselling, etc. Evidence will lead to banning.

vicki_b

someone on my local freecycle posted Offered:opinion and then went on a rant about greedy people asking for cars,laptops,nintendo ds's lol

Ken68

See what you mean, Busydaffodil.....Chinese Walls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_wall

hannoja

Great! Just about to post when my browser decides to crash! :mad:

Freecycle doesn't seem to work for me either; not so far anyway. I've responded to around a dozen or so ads since I joined earlier this year, and ended up with one item which needed something I didn't have in order for it to work... The donor didn't seem to know this, which I realised when I took it back as it had something in it which they wanted back..

ALL my responses were polite. I tried not to waffle :whistle:, but gave a short explanation of why I wanted the item/s in most, though not a recent one, because to be honest I'd become rather demoralised by the whole thing.

I don't get messages in my email. I just visit the site, which I stopped doing for a while. However, reading this thread made me go back for a nosey and I 'applied' for something a couple of days ago, back to my 'polite and friendly' style: 'heard nothing yet though... :rotfl:

Like a previous poster, we (well I: my OH would have nice new things on nice new credit if it weren't for mean, nasty ole' me :A ) use stuff, mend, re-use, adapt to another use, etc.. till no-one would want it! I don't therefore tend to have much to donate. I wouldn't post a Wanted ad either: nothing against them; it's just not me.

HugoSP

vicki_b wrote: »

someone on my local freecycle posted Offered:opinion and then went on a rant about greedy people asking for cars,laptops,nintendo ds's lol

Yes, as if the other members could give a damn! :rolleyes:

HugoSP

hannoja wrote: »

Freecycle doesn't seem to work for me either; not so far anyway. I've responded to around a dozen or so ads since I joined earlier this year, and ended up with one item which needed something I didn't have in order for it to work... The donor didn't seem to know this, which I realised when I took it back as it had something in it which they wanted back..

ALL my responses were polite. I tried not to waffle :whistle:, but gave a short explanation of why I wanted the item/s in most, though not a recent one, because to be honest I'd become rather demoralised by the whole thing.

I don't get messages in my email. I just visit the site, which I stopped doing for a while. However, reading this thread made me go back for a nosey and I 'applied' for something a couple of days ago, back to my 'polite and friendly' style: 'heard nothing yet though... :rotfl:

Like a previous poster, we (well I: my OH would have nice new things on nice new credit if it weren't for mean, nasty ole' me :A ) use stuff, mend, re-use, adapt to another use, etc.. till no-one would want it! I don't therefore tend to have much to donate. I wouldn't post a Wanted ad either: nothing against them; it's just not me.

IMO just because you don't post offereds doesn't mean that you shouldn't benefit from the group.

Whilst I am quite happy to post wanted ads for reasonable (by my standards) items, I do understand why people may not be comfortable with it.