VENT: Freecycle

[canadianmom2three]

I firmly believe in passing along what I can, as we have been through some really rough times, where we got through thanks to the generosity of others...therefore I try to use freecycle when I have something to pass on. What really gets to me, is even though I try to make sure the stuff is going to someone who will really benefit from it, every so often, I feel like I've been had. Tonight I gave away 3 little pet shop sets, a whole grocery bag of barbie, little ponies, a nearly new lightbright set, 4 tubs of little used moon sand, a huge bag of potato heads, one of wooden blocks, one of mega-blocks, a never opened lego set, a never used fisher price learn to play piano, and a bunch of craft stuff that DD never used (crayola spin art, art easel desk, bead sets etc.) this was a LOT of GOOD stuff, 4 cardboard boxes to be exact.... The lady who showed up to pick it up was a grandmoter, driving a stunning cadilac, wearing pearls and a sweater set, she did not fit my image of someone who would have need of all these toys. I struggle because I am glad to be rid of the stuff, and really, I shouldn't care who takes it, but at the same time, I feel like there must be someone out there who would need/appreciate those things more than this lady....I can only hope that she is planning to pass them on to someone else who really can use them. Anyone else experience this with freecycle?

 

[myAAbatteries&aTD]

Wow - sure wish I'd read your freecycle post - my girls would have LOVED to have half of what you gave away! I try to let several people respond (if I'm offering something big or nice) and sometimes ask for info as to who will be using the clothes/stroller/etc..... so I can try to choose who will benefit most from it. I'll also break items into smaller lots or bags and then maybe split it up between a couple of people if I have several responses.....

 

[Cindy B]

Did you post needy family preferred?

Did you state looking only for hard luck people?

Who knows what this grandmother had going on? It could be for her daughter, neices or nephews. It could be for a church group, or a preschool or whatever.

You can't be judgemental. The sweater set/pearls could have come from a consignment store and the cadillac an older model. You don't know the situation. You gave it away.. not gave it away with conditions.

If you really wanted needy family, you should have donated it to Goodwill, church group,etc... yourself. It doesn't bother me about things.. whoever takes things, takes things. The whole spirit of freecycle is to rid the earth of clutter. It is not to rid the earth of clutter for only poor/needy people.

 

[RNMOM]

I haven't tried Freecycle for give aways yet but when I have had things like that to give away I have contacted the police to have the battered women's shelter give me a call. I have dropped off all my no longer needed baby equipment and lots of clothes and toys to them in the past. I know there is always an ongoing need for replacement supplies as the families they help move on.

I guess the other way to look at this is maybe she is a director of a shelter or children's charity and will put the toys to good use. I guess it is unfair to judge her by appearance but I would have probably felt as you do.

 

[pearlieq]

How about the Goodwill or the Salvation Army next time?

Wanting to help the needy is definitely admirable, but Freecycle isn't really a charitable group. They're more of a "green" type group where it's fair game for anyone to take whatever they can use.

 

[Pigeon]

I've never heard of any income restrictions for Freecycle. The point is to keep the stuff out of landfills if someone else can use it.

 

[angwill]

Sadly you can not control who things go to no matter where you give them away. I knew a girl who went to the Goodwill on the day they had fill a bag for a couple bucks. She would hunt down all the name brand clothing fill several bags and sell them on ebay for a nice big profit leaving goodwill with a couple bucks in return. I highly doubt the people who donated them thought that would happen to their things. Maybe it would help if you see it as recycling and saving it from a landfill instead of how needy the person recieving is.

 

[tasha99]

Sadly you can not control who things go to no matter where you give them away. I knew a girl who went to the Goodwill on the day they had fill a bag for a couple bucks. She would hunt down all the name brand clothing fill several bags and sell them on ebay for a nice big profit leaving goodwill with a couple bucks in return. I highly doubt the people who donated them thought that would happen to their things. Maybe it would help if you see it as recycling and saving it from a landfill instead of how needy the person recieving is.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't think there's anything wrong with what that girl did. Goodwill for the most part creates employment for the people who work there--what people do with their purchase is nobody's business. That girl showed initiative, and anyone who wanted name brand clothes had the same opportunity to shop early as she did.

Now Goodwill could have priced their clothes better, but it's hard to get the same kind of money locally that you can on ebay. Goodwill is notorious for overpricing things too (esp. furniture and toys in my area).

 

[TwistofLemon]

I understand what you mean. The ones I'm always surprised at ...."I need a new computer and a nice desk to put it on"....or "My refrigerator broke, I'd like a new 25 ft side by side with water and ice in the door"

Wonder how many of them get what they ask for??

 

[Magic Mom]

I left my freecycle group because of this debate. I was accused of being greedy because I took a few offers. Some other people that wanted the items but asked too late got angry because they said I didn't really need "free" items. I guess I wasn't poor enough in their eyes. LOL They haven't seen my budget I think.
I wasn't the only person they were angry with. There was some drama over it so I left.
The way I understood freecycle is that it passes unwanted items along to people that want them...instead of dumping them in a landfill. There isn't a income guideline.
I understand you wanting things going to needy families, but maybe freecycle isn't the place for that. I bet your local church knows of families that need help.

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

Well, I bet there are plenty of families out there that are very grateful for people like you! You are a blessing! Don't let her make you feel bad. My ex-husband's wife goes on there to get odds and ends for there household because they are very bad off financially and they are very grateful for ANYTHING that they are given. If they are given too much of something or it doesn't fit they give it to someone else in equal circumstances. So not EVERYONE on there is on there to scam you, I promise.

 

[holly7347]

I know how you feel. We freecycled a power wheel jeep a couple years ago. DH got it at a yard sale really cheap but it needed a new battery and we never got around to getting one because DD was way to young to ride it at the time. As our garage started filling up DH decided he just wanted to get rid of it so I freecycled it. I clearly put in my post that it would need a new battery so I did assume that who ever picked it up would at least have enougy money to pay for a battery even if they didn't have enough money for a new power wheel. Well a couple days later I found the power wheel for sale outside a consignment shop type place. That really irritated me, especially since taking items to sell is against freecycle rules. On one hand I'm happy to be rid of clutter in my home that I can't use, and happy to keep it out of landfills. But on the other hand I rather it go to someone that might not be able to have such an item without freecycle. Maybe next time if you really want the items to go to someone in need specify that in your email (although people can lie) or donate to a women's shelter. Or maybe sell it to a consignment shop, around here Once Upon a Child (not sure if they are national) pay you cash right on the spot for your stuff you don't have to wait for them to sell it to get paid. Then you could donate the cash to the charity of your choice.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I use freecycle to get rid of things also and I have also noticed sometimes that people who show up for my junk (and my decent stuff, too) drive super nice cars. Well, maybe that's how they afford them. Get the rest of the stuff for free. Nothing wrong with that. When my kids outgrow their gymboree clothes, I don't have the heart to sell them on ebay. I give them to goodwill,etc. Yes I realize someone is probably buying them for a quarter and putting them on ebay. To me though, I find it wrong to sell used clothes. I'd prefer they go to a charity. Lately I have donating to a women's shelter. They use most of the clothes for the residents there.

I only get "angry" with freecycle when the person doesn't say thank you or when they don't show up at all. THAT bothers me.

 

[bdcp]

I know of a few people who use freecycle in order to get rid of things they don't need and don't want to just throw away and to find things they are looking for. They are all what are considered upper middle class as we live in a very well off area. Freecycle is not a charity. Anyone can join. Also, Goodwill stores exist to raise money and it doesn't matter what someone does with what they buy. I have a real difficult time with those that expect the only ones to take from Freecycle should fit a certain profile. The whole point is people give also and aren't just throwing away. We have no way of knowing what that grandmother may have recycled in the past. We donate to our church who run a store where all profits are donated to charities that the church supports. Even before we started attending this church we donated to them. If you want someone who is needy to actually get what you have to give away you need to go straight to a source such as a shelter that actually use what you donate. Most places run thrift stores where ANYONE can buy.

 

[Mkaz]

I understand what you mean. The ones I'm always surprised at ...."I need a new computer and a nice desk to put it on"....or "My refrigerator broke, I'd like a new 25 ft side by side with water and ice in the door"

Wonder how many of them get what they ask for??

I have seen so much of this. It drives me crazy. We listed an older riding mower once. You would not believe some of the replies we received. When can I pick it up? You have to give it to me. I want it. Blah blah blah. That was the only thing we ever listed. We just drop our stuff off at the Salvation Army, or find a home for it.

 

[roadtripper]

I'm so glad to get rid of my stuff that I never worry about who is picking it up. What steams me is when people want really detailed info--like once when I listed a box of cookbooks (maybe 15) and people emailed re; exact titles, etc-- no time for that. Also when people pick through when you post 'please take all'. Still it's a great way to keep stuff out of landfills. Renting a dumpster is all the rage in my neck of the woods-- it sickens me to think about how much stuff is just being tossed. Where do people think all of it is going?

 

[madison66]

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[PrincessKitty1]

It's strictly recycling to me. We are happy to have anybody take our stuff rather than throwing it in a landfill. Sometimes when I have really nice stuff, I hold onto it until I hear of a charity yardsale, then give it to them. The last time I did this, the co-worker who had helped organize the donations said the charity told her I had donated "really nice stuff."

But it really is just STUFF and it's impossible to figure out how "worthy" people might be. Even most charity sales will allow their members to purchase items for a song before the yardsale starts...is that fair? I try not to to worry about it. (And yes, the last time we donated through Freecycle, the woman we brought our computer to lived in a much larger house than ours BUT local charities won't take computers so we were happy somebody wanted it.

 

[LadyyRedd]

It got to the point that I just sent an email with the list of items, boxed them up and put them at the curb with the email saying first come, first serve and no need to email me back. That eliminated the receipt of the hardship emails. And quickened the pace of how swiftly the items were picked up!

This is'nt allowed on my local freecycle list.

Kimya

 

[timmac]

The lady who showed up to pick it up was a grandmoter, driving a stunning cadilac, wearing pearls and a sweater set, she did not fit my image of someone who would have need of all these toys.

Maybe she wants to have them for when her granddaughters come to visit, or something like that?

I have to agree with others, the point of freecycle is to get rid of stuff you don't need and keep it out of landfills.