Does anyone here Freecycle?

[erincon23]

A few months ago, a friend suggested Freecycle when I mentioned that I was looking for a big tank for my son's tortoise. For those of you who don't know what Freecycle is, it's a loose "group" of people in your community who are willing to give others in the group things that they no longer use. You sign up for your local group -- all managed via a Yahoo group email list (go to freecycle.org to find a group in your area) -- post the things that you are giving away, and accept someone who is interested in that item. I've given away a huge pile of elementary school workbooks, cub scout stuff, and today, daylilies. I've received stuffed animals (for DS17's school play), and two computer printers. It's a great way to find just about anything. You can also post looking for things that you need.

My question for freecyclers -- can you retract an offer to give something to someone? Someone posted that they were looking for perennials. I have a big overgrown bed of gorgeous daylilies, and I've offered them to two other freecyclers in the past, both of whom made appointments and never followed through. I responded to this latest poster with an offer that she could come and dig some up, and she was very interested. We emailed back and forth, and she called this morning to get directions. I told her that we would be leaving at a certain time for a party, and she said she could come over an hour before we had to leave -- and showed up five minutes before the time I told her we were leaving. I had actually gone out and dug up the flowers rather than making her dig (which turned out to be a good thing -- they were very difficult to dig out, and she was probably close to 70). When she didn't show, I waited nearly an hour and tried to call her; she didn't answer. If we had to leave before she came, would it have been a bad thing to then let her know that I was no longer able to offer her the plants because I can't rearrange my schedule to accommodate her? This one turned out ok, but not sure what to do in the future.

 

[krystalleigh1]

I'd just tell her that since she didn't stop by to get them, you moved on to the next person on the list and they're gone.

That's the thing that stinks about freecycle. Last year we had an older, like new hide-a-bed couch that was left in the house we bought. We didn't need it so I listed it on Freecycle. Several people responded but I went with the first responder. We set up a time for her to pick it up, we hauled the couch out of the basement (not an easy task) and I told her it would be by the curb. She was supposed to come in 15 minutes. She never showed. It ended up raining cats and dogs about 30 minutes later and the couch got drenched (it was REALLY heavy so we were not hauling it back inside-took about 30 minutes just to get it out of the house with DH's buddy helping him). So the nice hide a bed was reduced to a piece of junk all because of this. We ended up taking it to the dump.

 

[QVCshopper]

We had a very strange experience with freecycle after having used it before. A lady said her house burnt down and needed furtniture. She would say she was coming, then cancled just before, at least 2x. On the third time, we called and two men in a pickup truck drove by really slowly (furniture was in the front yard), turned around, and drove by again. But they didn't stop. It felt weird, and we filed a police report b/c we were going away the next morning. That said, we reposted the furniture and gave it away to a family with a son going to college. But, we haven't given anything else away since. I feel a little more comfortable with Salvation Army, Goodwill, and a local children's charity. You can never be too careful with people from the internet coming to your house... Also, just putting stuff outside with a free sign works.

 

[dd50]

I have been giving things away for years and yes you do have people that don't show. If they don't come or call and try to rearrange appointment I go to the next one. After a while you will see that sometimes the same people respond and I know that they can't need every thing I am giving away so I don't even notify them. It seems that the people that really need your item will show up.

I even gave a broken TV away because I was looking on freecycle and someone said that they take broken TV's and it just so happened that mine broke the night before. He said that he tries to fix and sell.

I will either put the things outside for them or in my garage because I don't want anyone in the house.

 

[erincon23]

This was a response to a "wanted" ad, not one I placed. So there was no "next" person to go on to -- but I don't think I'll be responding to anyone wanting perennials again, since it's labor-intensive to get them out of the ground (and even if they dig, I've got to be here the whole time, where as with any other type of item, it's hand it over and run).

Interesting experiences with Freecycle! I've only done a few and had good experiences (except with these flowers). We responded to one ad for a fish tank, went over to the lady's house, and it was someone my husband had worked with several years ago! He hadn't seen her since he left the company, and later that afternoon, we ran into her again at the library. (We didn't take the fish tank...)

 

[santadog]

I have had so many "no shows" via Freecycle that it's gotten to the point that I only offer stuff via "Curb"

I just put what I want in front of a vacant lot on the corner, and post what's there. It's usually gone by the next morning. If anyone emails, asking me to hold anything, or if anything is still around, I just have an auto-responder, telling them I am not home, but the stuff was all put out on the curb: fist come, first served,

 

[java]

Ugh I had an ebay issue- someone told me a sob story about her daughter's room- and I offered a Disney item(a princess plush horse- big enough to sit on)
Well she sold it on ebay!
I dropped out of my freecycle group.

 

[Bell30012]

I gave up on Freecycle. Too many people really expecting things to be in perfect condition. It is FREE after all. We gave away a swingset, go kart, television and a couple bicycles. I never heard so many picky people.

 

[LisaInNc]

I use it. It has worked great for my giving away stuff...it always shocks me at what people will come and pick up.

I have never had luck with anything I have asked for.

We are moving this summer so I plan on using it a lot more. I think it's really an efficient way to recycle things.

Lisa

 

[lucigo]

We have a goodwill with a drive-thru right down the road. Its so much easier and things are gone immediately, and I feel good knowing they will go to people who really need them. I've been in their store and the stuff I have taken there would be considered "top of the line"

 

[Bell30012]

We have a Goodwill Donation Center but not a Goodwill store. I have actually found them to be picky, as well. I was cleaning out my storage building and found my Torelli Italian Racing Bicycle. It was dusty the rear tire was flat, the front tire was missing. (I found it later.) The Goodwill Donation Center told me that they couldn't take it.

I sold just the frame on eBay for over $500.

If I ran a donation center for any charity we would take EVERYTHING brought in (if it was legal). We'd thank the donator and then sort it all later. Sure, much of it would be sorted into metal recycling, trash and other dumpsters.

What do they say about looking a gift horse in the mouth?

 

[RetroMom]

I've had a great time with Freecycle. I've given away a lot of stuff that I didn't think anyone would want (such as a 3 year old hockey calender magnet that a guy was thrilled to get) and I've received many things such as plants, a dvd player and a great set of wooden magazine racks. I've never had anyone complain, but then I'm always really descriptive of what I have.

 

[HaleyB]

Yes we freecycle and yes lots of people are flakes.

We almost always just put the item by the curb with a 'for sale' sign with too high a price and then let the person we are giving it to to ignore the sign. We do that because where we live if you just leave something out w/o a sign someone will take it.

The exception is that we sometimes give away plants from our fish tanks. I have some hilarious stories about people's sense of entitlement with free items.

 

[NYCDiane]

Freecycle.... I stopped about 1 1/2 years ago, but used to use Freecycle a lot. For the most part, I had great experiences. There were a few messed up ones...

First, I was giving away 4 brand new car tires. I was very specific in my Freecycle post about the pick up time, location, etc and that if you can't make it at that place/time, please don't respond. I also noted that if they couldn't be picked up the day I specified, I would have to throw them away. I had several responses --- typical, "oh, can we do it at this time/day instead" types of responses..... Well, I had one who promised they would absolutely be there, no problem, etc etc etc.... The day came, I waited. And waited. And waited. Of course, the person was a no show. I ended up having to throw perfectly good tires away because I was clearing out my storage unit and had no place for them. Lo and behold, the person e-mails me that night asking if we can reschedule!! NERVE!!!!

Another messed up time (that ended up turning out great) was when I was giving away some clothing my daughter had outgrown. All great clothes in perfect condition. In my post, same deal: I specified time/day/place for pick up, etc. Of course, everyone wanted to do it at a time more convenient for them. I can't do that, I work odd hours and have a very small time frame for this type of stuff. Well, I ended up not giving them to anyone. However, a few weeks later, I posted it again and a woman emailed requesting the items and she could definitely meet me at the day/time/place. I went, we met, she was so happy and grateful for the items. Her daughter is about 2 years younger than mine so now, instead of posting on Freecycle, I just contact her directly and give her the clothing my daughter outgrows. It's helped her out a lot and I feel great about it because I'm helping her out and I'm so happy that the items are going to someone who will love and appreciate them.

Another great time was when we were moving and I had a ton of large items to give away: refrigerator, loft bed, kitchen storage rack, etc. The people who responded to all those ads were amazing! They promised to be there, showed up, took the items, and sent "thank you" emails.

I've had many awesome experiences on Freecycle. I think the good outweighs the bad by a mile.

 

[starwood]

I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff lately on Freecycle. I can't believe how inconsiderate some of the people are. I have one guy that everytime I list something he says he wants it. The first time I had to e-mail him 3 times before he came to get it. The next time I didn't want to give it to him but he was the only one who responded. He never showed up. It's free people. If you don't want it don't respond.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I love our FreeCycle list and use it a lot-- in fact I had 3 things on my porch this morning and several yesterday that were picked up. Around here we generally just put things on the front porch to be picked up, no need to set a time or to be able to meet.

Our moderators keep track of "no shows" when we report them and after 3 strikes (reports) they are removed from the list. Freecycle is only as good as the moderators that run it to be sure that the rules are followed and that members are not abusing the list. We are in a military area so we have a lot of turnover and lots of need for people to give things away, and to get things.

I even gave a broken TV away because I was looking on freecycle and someone said that they take broken TV's and it just so happened that mine broke the night before. He said that he tries to fix and sell.

We have gotten several large screen TV's that are broken. My DH is handy and loves to tinker with electronics. What would cost $200-$300 to have fixed he can often do for less than $100. When he fixes them then we find someone that needs one. The first one went to a coworker of his that was going through a divorce and had lost the TV in the split. Another went to a good friend that has done a ton of things to help us out. Of course one of them is in my living room showing Phineas and Ferb right now.

Freecycle....However, a few weeks later, I posted it again and a woman emailed requesting the items and she could definitely meet me at the day/time/place. I went, we met, she was so happy and grateful for the items. Her daughter is about 2 years younger than mine so now, instead of posting on Freecycle, I just contact her directly and give her the clothing my daughter outgrows. It's helped her out a lot and I feel great about it because I'm helping her out and I'm so happy that the items are going to someone who will love and appreciate them.

I do the same thing! I found a great woman with a daughter several years younger than mine and at the end of each season when I clean out I just get it all together and email her and she comes to get it. And her daughter just loves it.

 

[NYCDiane]

I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff lately on Freecycle. I can't believe how inconsiderate some of the people are. I have one guy that everytime I list something he says he wants it. The first time I had to e-mail him 3 times before he came to get it. The next time I didn't want to give it to him but he was the only one who responded. He never showed up. It's free people. If you don't want it don't respond.

..


There are some people who will respond to almost every ad on Freecycle and then try to sell the stuff. I had an experience like that and it really angered me. I gave this woman some amazing baby items because she told me they were going to a home for young, single mothers only to find out later on that she does this all the time and sells the stuff to either places that buy used children's things or at a yard sale. Had I known that, I never in a million years would have given her that stuff!!

There are also "hoarders" who just "collect" stuff. There was one guy on my old Freecycle group who just had a house and yard filled with stuff.... Just loads and loads of STUFF.... Yet, he was always on Freecycle looking for stuff or answering posts. Actually kind of sad.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I'm not a fan of Freecycle.
I used to give things away on there and have gotten a few things as well. It was about 50/50 for us, with half being give away, and half being we got.
Then almost over night the emails started pouring in. People begging for ridiculous stuff like a free house or free 4-wheeler. It spread like kudzu, and soon my inbox was getting 250+ spams a day, with 10 or so legitimate emails.
I distinctly remember one lady who posted several times that she wanted a free minivan. She only wanted a RELIABLE minivan. It had to have a great looking exterior with no dents or scratches, it had to have low miles, and it had to be 2001 or newer. (This was around 2007). She stated that it had to be free and she would not waste her time with anything older than 2001. LOL I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. But she was serious. There were dozens of beggars wanting free houses. Free ATVs, free chainsaws. They wanted free boats, free guns, free money. As more posted, more joined in. I contacted Freecycle to stop the "wanted" emails and it was all or nothing, so just unsubscribed and deleted the email account which had pushing 1500 beggar emails by that point. Its amazing how some of these people have no sense of pride in themselves and are only after a handout.