Freecycle

[Alicnwondrln]

i am a member of freecycle have given
5 bags of baby and kid clothes
2 old stroller
a baby bouncy seat
a new rarely used infant car seat with attching stroller
and a baby swing

i have taken nothing
everytime i find something i could use its gone by the time i send them an email
so i have given up

but i have seen so rather bizzare postings and some people post things and then ask for $$ even though its sup to be free
that was annoying I report those people to the mods over there

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Yeah, there are some pretty weird posts sometimes on Freecycle. I just ignore them. There are too many "good" posts to give up on it. I usually just post what I'm giving away, but I recently gave away a children's chifferobe because someone posted that they needed a bureau for a new baby. It was something that I was contemplating getting rid of, but hadn't bothered to list. I was only too happy to get ride of it.

It's been a little inconvenient at times when people don't show up on time, or whatever, but in the end, it's always worked out for me (have only given away a few, large items). And I've always gotten very sincere thank yous.

I personally would NOT bring my kids with me to someone's house, and I only have someone come to my house when DH is home, and they get a nice view of the big puppy (German Shepherd). You just never know...I prefer to play it safe. And I'd understand if someone else felt that way as well.

 

[va32h]

I personally would NOT bring my kids with me to someone's house, and I only have someone come to my house when DH is home, and they get a nice view of the big puppy (German Shepherd). You just never know...I prefer to play it safe. And I'd understand if someone else felt that way as well.

Playing it safest of all would be not using Freecyle, though. That was sort of my point - if you aren't comfortable with the idea of interacting with people you don't know, Freecycle isn't for you. This person asked a stranger to give her something for free, but then refused to comply with the simplest request - pick it up by X day, please.

I have picked up one thing thru Freecycle. It was a rocking horse. My 2 year old came with me - she never got out of the van. I pulled up, picked up the horse from the driveway, and drove off. I suppose the homeowner could have jumped out of a bush and knocked me unconscious in the 3 minutes or so that it took me to put the thing in my van. But that would be very foolish - since I had her address and phone number, and my husband would have known exactly where to send the police, if I didn't come home.

 

[jgmklmhem]

All of the stuff we have picked up or had picked up has just been left on the doorstep and I have never interacted with either the givers or the pick ups other than through email.

 

[denisem]

I've found Freecyle can be hit or miss. I discovered Freecycle when planning a move from MI to FL and was looking to get rid of "stuff".

I had great success passing along everything from 30 yrs. of craft stuff (to a Girl Scout Leader), oddball household items, Christmas decorations and antique brass bed. Never had a problem with no-shows, etc., & met really nice people.

After moving to FL, I signed up. Right off the bat, the moderator was a no-show for an item. When it escalated into people asking for unused hot tubs I backed out...

Denise

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I suppose the homeowner could have jumped out of a bush and knocked me unconscious in the 3 minutes or so that it took me to put the thing in my van.

Well, let's not get sillly and sarcastic now.

I have never NOT had personal contact with the giver or receiver. I have only gotten one item...a futon frame, from a wonderful couple that we chatted for a while with, and my DH came with me, partly because I needed him (and his vehicle) to pick it up, and partly because I wouldn't go to a stranger's house alone. We've given away large items, to the very nicest people, who came to our house, and we helped them get the items into their vehicles. Once, I met up with someone alone, in a public parking lot, and yes, if you want to come back with the fact that they could have jumped out of a bush and attacked me, go for it. I'm just saying that I take as many precautions as reasonably possible. I certainly wouldn't feel personally OFFENDED if someone was uneasy about coming to my...a stranger's...house.

I don't go through life cowering in the corner of a room in my house, but I do try to be careful and smart about things. Of course, there are no guarantees, no matter what precautions you take. If that person couldn't come to my house by a certain date/time, then I would just tell them that it isn't going to work out, and that I was going to give it to someone else, plain and simple...no offense taken. You said yourself that the shelf is still sitting there on your porch.