Choosing recipient from Freecycle?

[jama]

Just curious how others choose who you respond to when you offer things on freecycle? The other day I listed three things..and had over hundred responses..quickly...
I ended up choosing a guy because he wrote good sentences!....

 

[cats mom]

Just curious how others choose who you respond to when you offer things on freecycle? The other day I listed three things..and had over hundred responses..quickly...
I ended up choosing a guy because he wrote good sentences!....

I think that sounds like reasonable criteria to use.

Was it really good stuff to get so many responses so quickly, or are folks just all about free?

 

[njmom47]

and I agree it isn't always easy to choose who the recipient of your item should be!

I haven't had that many replies to any of my items, but I do read the email and go on the "vibe" I get (that might sound silly but it's how I roll).

I also agree with you that if the person can't spell or write in complete sentences, I won't reply to them. If I have chosen them for a previous item and they were gracious enough to thank me (or not) I also base it on that.
If I see that person only has "wants" and no "offers" I won't reply to them.

Hope that helps!

 

[Vijoge]

I just give to the first person who responds and can give me a definite pick up time. And 'no shows' never get a second chance.

 

[pyrxtc]

How about first response first choice. I pick whoever replies first and is polite about it. Sometimes the ones who need it the most can't spell or have nothing to offer but need more stuff. The only reason I won't give it to a person is if I have an idea that they will be reselling my stuff but mostly I don't care cuz it will be gone from my house and I don't have to deal with it anymore.

 

[Madison'smommy]

Just curious how others choose who you respond to when you offer things on freecycle? The other day I listed three things..and had over hundred responses..quickly...
I ended up choosing a guy because he wrote good sentences!....

Since it is stuff I am trying to just get rid of, I would offer it to the first person who emailed me. If they cant come in a timely manner, then I would move down the list. If its free, I want them to come get it asap! So, I sorta feel like whoever can get it first!

 

[jama]

Was it really good stuff to get so many responses so quickly, or are folks just all about free?

i had a trampoline with safety net, pots & pans..from pampered chef but scratched ..and a cash register..

i guess alot of people thought it was good stuff...

 

[akcire]

i had a trampoline with safety net, pots & pans..from pampered chef but scratched ..and a cash register..

i guess alot of people thought it was good stuff...

Just an FYI most Ronald McDonald Houses will take gently used Pots & Pans for their community kitchens. Since they get used/abused multiple times a day their life in the houses is short. If it is junk, they don't want it; but if they are decent the could go to good use.

 

[Justsyd2]

I usually choose the first person who tells me when they can pick it up, instead of the 30 people who email with "I want it."

 

[erincon23]

Sometimes I have stuff that I would rather give to a particular need -- I had a huge stack of kids' workbooks (school-type stuff), and decided to give it to a couple of people who indicated that they homeschool (I would have been happy to give them to teachers too) (and two weeks later, I got a Freecycle computer printer from someone who had received a large number of those workbooks!). I had some Cub Scout stuff, and one woman said that she really wanted to get her son in Scouts but couldn't afford the items -- they went to her rather than just the person who said "I'd like it" -- got the idea they'd be resold. Our Freecycle mods (and this may be universal, but I don't know) suggest that you look for someone who indicates a specific need, but you should do whatever works for you -- first reply, most specific need, whatever.

 

[pearlieq]

I take the first polite person with definite pick up plans.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I always thought it was give to the first person who emailed with a pick up date

 

[clutter]

I always thought it was give to the first person who emailed with a pick up date

I thought that too. But last weekend I was chatting with a woman that was picking something up (I was outside) and she said she'd gotten into a battle with our moderator because you're supposed to wait 24 hours and then choose. (But apparantly many people in our group have had nasty arguments with our moderator.)

 

[Vijoge]

I thought that too. But last weekend I was chatting with a woman that was picking something up (I was outside) and she said she'd gotten into a battle with our moderator because you're supposed to wait 24 hours and then choose. (But apparantly many people in our group have had nasty arguments with our moderator.)

Wait 24 hours for what? It's not a contest lol! Or a sale. . "This offer good until 07/31/10" If I have something to offer and you can come get it this afternoon, it's yours. But I will check our rules to see if I missed something. . .

 

[sherry7]

If I get a few responses, I generally pick the person who is most polite in their email. Please and thank you go a long way!

I also give preference to those people who have given me things before, or those that I notice that give away a lot of things. On our local Freecycle group, there are a few people who are constantly "wanting" items, but never seem to pass anything along to others. Last week, someone posted that they needed a newer refrigerator, preferably a stainless steel side-by-side or French door model...and they wanted the giver to deliver it to their 2nd floor apartment. Um, yeah...right!

 

[aprilgail2]

I always thought it was give to the first person who emailed with a pick up date

I never pick the first person to email--I figure that if people are out working they can't respond right away until they get home from work- I figure if they respond right away they are doing nothing but sitting home on the computer and not working! I give it to a person who responds later on in the day and doesn't just say "i want it"!

 

[littlezar]

I had a metal shed that was given to me for free so I wanted to pass it along when we were getting ready to move. I posted it, with pictures, on a website similar to craigslist (lejeuneyardsales) in NC. Within 2 minutes I had 40 emails. I read them all and ended up giving it to the guy who wrote more than "Me!" or "I want it" He said if I chose him to receive it to let him know what time was good for me to have him come pick it up. I replied asking if he could come that day (it was around noon on a Sunday) and he came and got the shed by 2. Drove up in a truck with a trailer and 3 buddies to help him get it on the trailer and then proceeded to thank me and ask me if I was sure I didn't want anything for it!

 

[pyrxtc]

I never pick the first person to email--I figure that if people are out working they can't respond right away until they get home from work- I figure if they respond right away they are doing nothing but sitting home on the computer and not working! I give it to a person who responds later on in the day and doesn't just say "i want it"!

well SAHM's are home and maybe we just happen to check the computer as you posted. They might need it just as much.

 

[sherry7]

This is long, but worth the read. This is what our Freecycle moderator posts from time to time, in response to question of "who to give to":

We have been seeing an increasing amount of posts that are stipulating who
items will go to. While I understand that people like to help those in need
the most, please know that you cannot be sure who really is in need. You may choose whomever you want, but please do not clog the list with "only people in need should reply" posts.

We have some members who prey on people like this and abuse their
generosity. Sadly, unless someone turns them in, we cannot remove them.

It is nearly impossible to know for sure who is in need. How do you know
that the person isn't going through a horrible divorce? How do you know that
the person hasn't just declared bankruptcy and cannot afford tuna let alone
what you are offering. How do you know that the person isn't lying?

It is up to you to give this gift to whomever you feel would be the best
recipient. You are not obligated to give our gift to someone who is rich,
poor, single, married, has no kids, has 1 kid, has 15 kids, has a car,
doesn't have a car, or has a purple octopus named George living in their
backyard. You can choose the most polite, the rudest, the funniest, or the
shortest response to receive our gift. You can put their names in a hat and
do a draw, or we can wave our magic fingers over our screens and pick one
that way. You can choose the first, 3rd, or 53rd respondent. You can wait 24
hours and then decide. It is up to us.

Keep in mind that many people work and yet still fall below Federal poverty
levels of income. Try to give them a chance by posting items at night, or
waiting to make your decision.

You may also want to base your opinion on whether or not the person you are giving the item to is one who typically gives to others as well. Even those
with very little, tend to offer the most.

People will come up with all kinds of sob stories just to obtain items and
resell them. Our advice to you is to simply "gift" the item and know that
most people do not ask for something unless it is an item they would not be
able to buy for themselves.

Freecycle can educate the world at a local level about how critical
recycling and reducing waste are. It empowers people on a grassroots and
local level to take charge and make the world a better place, keeping
countless tons of reusable items out of local landfills. It is a cycle of
giving, not charity. Everyone gives to everyone with absolutely no
expectations of anything at all in return.

Please keep in mind that we are not a charity. We recycle items to keep them
out of landfills. It is not our job to determine who is in most need of
items. If you want to be sure your items go to charity, then consider giving
them to a charitable organization. That is not our purpose. Yes, we do help
those in need when possible, but our main goal is to reduce waste in
landfills.

Whatever you decide, please keep in mind that it is not your place to judge
the neediest person on the block. Be content with helping the environment.
If someone posts a "wanted", they most likely are truly in need of that
item. If you want to help them, that is wonderful, but please do not harass
members about whether or not you feel they are needy enough, and worthy
enough to receive your items.

 

[pearlieq]

I figure if they respond right away they are doing nothing but sitting home on the computer and not working!

Or maybe they work second or third shift. Or have the day off. Or work a compressed schedule like a lot of nurses and emergency workers.

I'd hate to think of a police officer being thought of as lazy and undeserving because they work 3 12-hours shifts per week and happen to be home on Tuesday.