LOVING Freecycle.org!

[Robinrs]

Mare posted this a little while back and I joined the group in my area. It's been AWESOME! I've met the nicest people through this site!

The site invites people to offer stuff they no longer need or ask for stuff they do need. Everything must be for free. I have gotten rid of things I no longer need, reminding me of the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure", and gotten stuff I REALLY need from people who were more than willing to let it go!

There was a news report on it here in Atlanta the other night (I missed it!) which caused an influx of 600 new members this week! Our site must have really good mods because not a lot of the "greedy" wanteds get through!

Thanks again, Mare! This is so much fun!

 

[Lachesis00]

I wish I could say the same for here.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I've seen freecycle mentioned on the news twice, once as recently as a few days ago. I need to check it out, soon!

 

[arminnie]

I signed up a couple of weeks ago. We have some great moderators who don't let the begging get through.

Before I moved from CA I wanted to get rid of my kingsized mattress and box springs. I literally could not give them away. My only alternatives were to pay to have it hauled to the dump (about 4-5 year old $1400 set in excellent condition) or move it across country with me.

I posted it on Freecycle yesterday morning and three hours later it was out of my house! I had about 10 emails requesting it.

It just kills me the amount of good stuff that I had to throw away in CA because I couldn't get any charity to take it. They were so picky.

 

[nativetxn]

I've never heard of this website, Robin. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Lachesis00]

A lot of homeless people or nearly homeless or extremely poor folks here... :/ And the people who post spam the list. They've got probably 10 email lists for the Phoenix area. And so I will get the same msg 10x at least.
I feel terrible for these people but gosh. Every once in a while a decent deal comes through. Probably one every 75 posts is a good one... Not a "I want" "I need". Cracks me up the ppl who want expensive stuff... laptops or brand new beds (they will ask this). I mean it doesn't hurt to ask but wow

 

[Robinrs]

Rachel, just like any internet source, there will be people who will try to get over on it. Believe me, if this site was not moderated I wouldn't be here.

The mods on my local Freecycle put out a request for volunteers to moderate. The requirements were very tough and serious. I think if your site were more stringent, your experience would probably be a better one.

When I post it takes sometimes hours before it's approved. The requirements are tough.

BTW, homeless, nearly homeless or "poor people" are not the problem, GREEDY people are and they are not necessarily impoverished. I've been unemployed for over a year and struggling with an eBay business and a part time job but I'm GIVING things away. Lack doesn't necessarily make one greedy.

Arminnie, I totally agree. Last year when I moved I had to get rid of a LOT of furniture because my next home was much smaller. I called a list of charity organizations that either never called me back or didn't show up. I ended up giving a lot of the stuff to the movers! Last week there was a couple moving who posted the stuff they couldn't fit in their truck every few minutes! This is a great way to NOT fill up the dumps with stuff others can use.
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[HisEllyNelly]

Just saw a clip on Freecycle on MSNBC. I just freecycled my sons old,but very nice wooden bunk beds...they were gone in 20 minutes. Yesterday I did the ultimate in freecycling....FREE YARD SALE! My lawn was covered with books and old toys, a treadmill, old pc parts, and all kinds of "junk"....it was all gone in 45 miutes. Had some "dealers" come by...but the good stuff was gone by the time they arrived as I had three moms show up and take just about everything...was nice to know the things which we dont use but are in good shape will be used by someone else instead of sitting in the junk yard.

 

[legs22]

Someone is offering an IKEA dining room set for 6 and I emailed I was interested. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by Robinrs

Arminnie, I totally agree. Last year when I moved I had to get rid of a LOT of furniture because my next home was much smaller. I called a list of charity organizations that either never called me back or didn't show up.

And the charities that did show up for me went through each and every item deciding what they would and wouldn't take - no boxes of clothes, etc.

One thing I will say in the charities' defense was that this was October 2001 - just after 9/11 and after the dotcom bubble burst in CA. Lots of people were moving out and trying to get rid of stuff. Many organizations were just so stuffed to the gills that they couldn't accept any more without violating fire codes.

I wasn't allowed to have a garage sale where I lived (condo) and I did give away a lot to people that I knew.

I'm sure I could have sold the bed here in AR and made a little money but it made me feel better giving it to someone who could really use it. I picked the first person who replied. I thought that was fair. She was a very nice young mother of two and was thrilled that she and her husband were getting a new bed that was big enough for the kiddies to crawl up into in the mornings.

Our moderators are great. They have made it clear that they will not accept posts asking for things like a new laptop. They've even gone so far as to have the headings list "Wanted" not "Needed" - no begging allowed.

And I agree with you Robin - needy is not the same as greedy.

 

[Pooh's Pal]

I joined about 2 weeks ago and have been watching for something I needed, while compiling a list of what I have to go on the site. Yesterday someone posted they had a Lexmark printer. I emailed...she called me this morning and we are going to meet on Tuesday for pick up.(I hope once I post my stuff, it will go as quickly!)
The printer will be put to good use by my DD in her freshman year of college. In-fact the person giving it away, asked if she needed anything else! Wow......yes there are really nice people out there...you just have to do a little searching for them!!

 

[ennazus]

Very cool!! Thanks for sharing that link!!

 

[Virgo10]

ACK! Ignore this post. I just checked the title of the thread and the address was there

What's the URL? I tried freecycle.com and it wanted me to download a program that would read Korean so that can't be right. Anyone?

Roberta

 

[Robinrs]

AMEN, arminnie!

If that were the case I'D be the greediest person alive!

HisEllyNelly: There's a FREE yard sale going on next weekend here! I would love to put a sign like that up in my son's bedroom!

Congrats on the printer, Pooh'sPal. I just emailed a lady about a laser printer she can no longer use a minute ago. She says it works with 98 and lower and she now has XP. My son's geriatric computer, which used to be mine, is W98, so it would be great for him, especially with school starting tomorrow.

I put up a WANTED for women's toiletries for the homebound seniors at the place I used to work out. I noticed that lots of women were offering them (cleaining out their bathrooms) and the ladies LOVED the selection. I got about 20 emails! People are so kind, especially if it's for a good cause. The ladies rarely go out and to have all the fancy products that they use regularly for nothing is a blessing for them.

I also OFFERED up a box of old National Geographic Magazines that I've had for awhile. They were from the 70s and 80s. An art teacher emailed me immediately, she wanted her class to make a montage of the amazing photography in the books, something I had planned on doing but never got around to. It's a pleasure to help out an educator.

Like I said, I LOVE this site!

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by Virgo10
ACK! Ignore this post. I just checked the title of the thread and the address was there

What's the URL? I tried freecycle.com and it wanted me to download a program that would read Korean so that can't be right. Anyone?

Sorry! It's actually www.freecycle.ORG

You find your local group, join and post and ask away! I joined two group, ATL and ATL-ITP, which is the area closest to me, the ATL covers too broad an area but has more people in it. Remember, you have to go pick up the item, and sometimes the cost of GAS beats getting something for free!

 

[binny]

been a freecycler for a few months now and LOVE it!!


Our group is just getting a new moderator and we get some spam but not a lot.

We got a huge jump last week after that National news story. the funny thing was I was teling dh a couple of days before " I ought to write into the paper about freecycle, I dont think enough people know about it here" LOL

 

[Robinrs]

Funny post this morning! A woman posted an offer for FOOD, said she'd been cleaning out her cabinets and wanted to give away to someone who can use it... ALL of the foods were very high in carbs!! I also had to do a Carb breakdown of my cabinets, wish I thought to give it to someone who is not on a low carb diet, besides my greedy sister!

I didn't get the printer, but did get some GREAT wardrobe boxes someone offered not far from me. They're the moving boxes with the hanging bar that I can use for storage. The freecycler got them when her company moved her and she had 15 of these very costly boxes.

My sister also wanted to offer up some BOGO coupons she had. I put them up and got 20 responses. A woman who is hosting orphans from Russia and their escorts responded. Said she was looking for good but cheap entertainment for them! She even asked if I like to meet somewhere so I can meet the girls! I tell you, I have met some of the NICEST people on this site!

 

[legs22]

Well, I never got the dining table. The person offering it said it was gone within MINUTES of her posting her offer. I think I would have to check the freecycle site constantly in order to get anything like that.

In the past I have always given to Goodwill. There is a Goodwill 5 min from my house and I have recently given them a lot of stuff. Should I stop giving to Goodwill and post offers on freecycle instead?