Freecycle and offer claiming

[kdabbler]

I've been seeing a lot of re-offers due to no shows on my Freecycle list lately. Today, I posted something and got a reply a few minutes after that said they wanted it. I wrote that it would be available after 4 pm today.

I get a reply saying they can't come by until the weekend. "Is that okay?" they ask. :

Yeah, I suppose... I'm just venting a bit. Do you do this to people on Freecycle? I mean, I completely understand about large furniture items and such. Sometimes you need to make large haul vehicle arrangements. But this isn't the case here.

Also, is the etiquette first reply? Or first come, first get?

[akwifeandmomma]

I usually specify, "preference to soonest pickup" in my offer postings.

The etiquette rules seem to vary amongst freecyclers and locations. Here, the suggested wait is 24 hours for responses. Some give to the first reply. Some give to the first person able to pickup. Some seem to want stories, ie. "I want to give this to someone who really needs it." etc.

I can't stand no-shows. They drive me to just donate at goodwill instead.

[kalisis]

I've been a no-show before.... I didn't mean to, it was just a little far for me and I thought I could get down there and then couldn't and it goes on and on. I still feel bad out that, actually.

I have asked people to hold things (bigger things...) with the understanding that they might need to get rid of it NOW and if they can't wait, it's ok. I think it's really up to what you want to do - do you want to hold it? or do you just want rid of it? That's always helpful to list in your ad so people who can't come right away will know.

Good luck!

[Tangled Hill]

I generally just leave it on the porch, and they can pick up whenever suits them. I hate to have people drive out of their way and waste gas, etc. - especially for small items - so if they're able to combine trips or whatever, even if it takes them a while to pick up, I'm all for it.

[beachbaby]

I have a love/hate relationship with Freecycle...love getting rid of stuff that's not donate-able....Haaaate no-shows, no return emails, rude responses ("When can I have it?" Um...delete. . I usually wait til I get a few responses before deciding who I will give to...whoever seems the most serious about picking up and can work with me (I don't have people pick up at my house...I meet in a public place) on pickup times. As the one posting offers, it's totally up to you who you choose and how.

[camracrazy]

I don't use Freecycle that much anymore. We have several thrift stores close to us so it is usually less of a hassle to get rid of everything at once and not have to worry about no shows. When I do use it I put in my posts when I want the item picked up by and let the person who is picking up know that I may reoffer it if they do not come and pick it up when they say they will. I also keep a list of names and e-mails addresses of my "Good pickups" and "Bad pickups" LOL If people from my "Good pickup" list e-mail me about an item, they definitely get first consideration! People from my "Bad pickups" list get deleted.

Good pickups - people that were polite in their e-mails and picked up their items within a reasonable time frame of when they said they would. A follow up "thank you" e-mail is a nice bonus!

Bad pickups - people that were rude in their e-mails, didn't pickup items when they said they would (or not at all), people that expect me to bring them their items, people that give me excuse after excuse about why they can't pick up items.

I actually had one guy that wanted some computer stuff I was giving away. He wanted me to deliver it to him an hour from my home. When I wouldn't agree to that he got very rude and belligerent with me. I then found out that he was selling the stuff that people gave to him! I actually had to block his e-mail address. Crazy!

[grniys]

I don't do the freecycle thing anymore... there were way too many no-shows. But, when I did, I'd wait until I got at least a few responses and read through them. I rarely gave to the first few people who responded, because after giving a lot I realized that a couple of the same people were sitting at the computer automatically wanting EVERY item that came through. I can only imagine they were re-selling them. So no, I wouldn't give to them.

Generally, if someone seemed serious about picking up the item quickly and polite I'd give them the item.

[babygrant]

I took myself off of freecycle because the moderator had a thing against me. :

I hate the word wanted. HATE it. Won't use it. I just find it sounds greedy. So I always say "looking for". Well I posted a couple of days ago saying that I was looking for womens clothes because it is FREEZING here and I need some warm clothes. Well she sent me a huge long email that I don't follow the rules and put "wanted", I always say "looking for" and that I'm taking up too much of her time having to change the wording.

[grniys]

Originally Posted by babygrant

I took myself off of freecycle because the moderator had a thing against me. :

I hate the word wanted. HATE it. Won't use it. I just find it sounds greedy. So I always say "looking for". Well I posted a couple of days ago saying that I was looking for womens clothes because it is FREEZING here and I need some warm clothes. Well she sent me a huge long email that I don't follow the rules and put "wanted", I always say "looking for" and that I'm taking up too much of her time having to change the wording.

Ooooh... I can't stand rude freecycle mods. Once, I posted a comma instead of "-" before location so a mod wouldn't let it go through and sent me this really, really snarky email about my post being in violation with the rules and blah, blah, blah.

Now that I think about it, I think that was the last time I offered anything. I ended up giving the item to a thrift store instead.

[CarsonBookworm]

Freecycle drives me crazy.
Since we don't have a car and most of the people who offer stuff up on CL don't ever seem to live anywhere near a bus stop, we rarely get items from there.

When I offer them, I get so many no-shows and gah, I really hate it. Or, they see the items and decide that they no longer want them.....at the door!

[thixle]

Okay, so after reading this thread and my inbox today...

apparently most people on my local freecycle are GREEDY. This is a small, podunk area, usually 10 posts a day, max. There have been at least 50 posts today looking for digital cameras, large screen tvs, PS3 games, recliners, king sized bed and frame, chainsaw, aquarium (with filter, rocks, decorations, and FISH)... dude, I could keep going here with all these big ticket items people are asking for :

DH is trying to get me to post this--

Wanted: large sums of cash and/or a big pile of money
i would like you just give a large sum of money, if you have it laying around. can pick up in evening in ****** area only, would be greatful if you could bring it by-- in ****** near campus, thanks!

I'm so ready to be kicked out....

[Mama2Xander]

We've been doing lots of decluttering lately so I have plenty of recent experience with this

I don't hold things for people anymore. If someone wants it but can't pick it up for a few days, I tell them they are welcome to email me at that point, but I won't be holding it if someone else wants it in the meantime. In my experience about 90% or more of the people who want me to hold stuff either change their mind or just no show without even telling me. It's a waste of time. The people who actually pick stuff up are the ones who make clear arrangements to pick it up soon (often within an hour).

The one that took the cake last week was a lady who wanted ME to drive the bag of stuffed animals to a suburb (about 40 minutes away), and wanted to know what each individual animal in the bag was and how big it was Um, it's FREE for heaven's sakes!!! Plus there were plenty of other people who were quite willing to come and pick it up from me.

[Patrick's mummy]

Originally Posted by thixle

Okay, so after reading this thread and my inbox today...

apparently most people on my local freecycle are GREEDY. This is a small, podunk area, usually 10 posts a day, max. There have been at least 50 posts today looking for digital cameras, large screen tvs, PS3 games, recliners, king sized bed and frame, chainsaw, aquarium (with filter, rocks, decorations, and FISH)... dude, I could keep going here with all these big ticket items people are asking for :

DH is trying to get me to post this--



I'm so ready to be kicked out....

[Patrick's mummy]

I had a classic one today. I offered 3 cardboard boxes. Now, I could very well putthese in my recycle bin and the council will come and take them away no problem, but I thought maybe someone could use them. I said the location and that I'd prefer collection but could drop off "in the very immediate local area."
I then got an email that simply said "any chance you'll drop off in x" - a town 16 miles from here.
I've had a sh*t day so I lost my temper and replied "no, that's an hours round trip for me and 30 miles away" and she sent me a snarky reply about how i had miscalculated the mileage - no princess, i haven't, i just checked it on the internet.

Some people. It's 3 cardboard boxes - am I really going to take an hour out of my life to do this?!?!!?!

[grniys]

Oh, I remember one time my best friend was getting rid of a ton of baby stuff her boy's didn't need anymore.

Well, she had a ton of disposable diapers in various sizes just lying around in a closet not being used, and her boys were well past those sizes. So, she goes on freecycle and posts something along the lines of "Pampers diapers. Several sizes. Bags are opened, but the diapers are just fine."

Someone actually emailed her to ask if they were unused diapers.

I can't post her response here, but she was more than sarcastic with them and ended up getting an email from the mod saying she didn't need to be so rude.

[Porcelain Interior]

Switch to Craig's List.

Post in the free section and write:

XYZ Item, FREE come and get it

And then write your address or curb location. I like to use the corner (I'm on one) and then like magic in a few minutes your crap is gone.

I gave away a picnic table (nice one) some kid bikes and a lot of high quality stuff I didn't want the hassle of selling. I'm an introvert and find exchanges with strangers to be really awkward so I'd rather just give for free.

[4evermom]

A lot of people on my list ask for people to specify when they would pick up in their response to an offer. I do expect it may be a couple days for someone to pick up and think asking to do so on the weekend is reasonable if you didn't specify you wanted a quick pick up. Not every family has two cars and standard working hours.

[Mama2Xander]

Originally Posted by Porcelain Interior

Switch to Craig's List.

Heh, I actually was using Craigslist... I'm not sure it's that much better! But the stuff did all go, so I'm happy about that

[Porcelain Interior]

Originally Posted by Mama2Xander

Heh, I actually was using Craigslist... I'm not sure it's that much better! But the stuff did all go, so I'm happy about that

Well I think it is better, the rules are more lax, and there aren't these power trip happy mediators like at some freecycles.

Also I think it's key if you want stuff gone ASAP without a big ordeal to do a listing with a location and a warning : It's on the curb as of now.

That's how I do it and BOY does it make decluttering easy. I don't have to answer emails or anything.

I just kill my listing after the stuff is gone.

[angelcollector1]

Freecycle was good when I was looking for something, I got lucky... I found it and picked it up without incident- of course it was just books to read for entertainment.
I advertised several things on Freecycle; new/used excellent condition clothing, furniture, etc.... people didn't show up, didn't show up, didn't show up... or showed up and picked one thing out of the bag they were supposed to take, left the rest of the items scattered all over my porch and it was a nightmare. I don't bother now.