For those of you who do Freecycle - Page 2

[SwanValkyrie]

We've received some great items off Freecycle, but like previous posters, it's always been when we post a non-specific wanted ad for it. We got our X-mas tree from there just last month.

When we give things away on there, I always pick the most polite and specific person, especially when they say what they'll use it for. I tend to ignore sob stories though, where it really seems like they're playing things up and exaggerating. I've met some really cool and totally not greedy people from there, feels good making people happy and keeping stuff out of land-fills, especially fixer-upper stuff.

[ElliesMomma]

be polite and modest. and above all state exactly when you can pick up within a two hour time frame. this is the norm. when i'm giving something away, i want to know exactly when you are coming to get it. this is more important to me than anything else. i will choose the person who suggests a pick up time that is most convenient for me.

and don't forget to say thank you! for considering my request to pick up, and for offering in the first place!

[LaughingHyena]

I never minded a tiny bit of 'story' - meaning, if someone just said "I'd love to use this for X".  I liked that someone had an intended purpose for the thing, instead of just those handful of people that will respond to *everything*.   I learned to wait a little at least and see what came up.  Whenever I responded to ads, I did something similar - like "I'd love that for my daughter's room!"  or "That would be great in my garden!" ....Not a big story, but letting the person know I really intended to use the item for something.  Also, being clear about when you are available to pick up the item is HUGE!!!

I think this sums it up for me. Being clear about a pick up time is a big one for me. I tend to find that people who say they can collect whenever don't seem to be as serious about collecting. I think all my no shows have been the I can collect whenever set.

I also appreciate it when people make it clear they understand the condition of the item, letting me know they have a handy DH or don't mind that the kids bike is a bit rusty as they will have to keep it outside.

I do think each group has a different "feel" to it. I belong to 3, since the city wide one got very big and people started setting up smaller more local groups.

[jessaroo]

A lot of people get notifications on there phones and so they can respond quicker than those relying on having to check a computer.  I can only check back on a computer so I look at the time the item was posted to resalize what my chances are of being able to p/u an item.  Most people do not have time to respond back.  Another thing to look at it to make sure it does not say the item has been "taken" later down in the list of postings.  I keep responding and am able to p/u I just do not get set on anything I respond to.  I also really make sure that I will be able to p/u the item.

Good Luck.

[Birdie B.]

Originally Posted by jessaroo 

A lot of people get notifications on there phones and so they can respond quicker than those relying on having to check a computer.  I can only check back on a computer so I look at the time the item was posted to resalize what my chances are of being able to p/u an item.  Most people do not have time to respond back.  Another thing to look at it to make sure it does not say the item has been "taken" later down in the list of postings.  I keep responding and am able to p/u I just do not get set on anything I respond to.  I also really make sure that I will be able to p/u the item.

Good Luck.

I think this is how ours is. People literally email me within 1 minute of posting something on the list from their phone, it's crazy!  So when I'm giving stuff away, I will have 1-2 dozen emails withing 5 minutes. If someone can come right away, I give it to them first. I feel kinda bad for the people who don't see the offer until later that day or the next - they have no chance of getting anything!

But I'm like you, I've never gotten anything, because I don't check very frequently. I don't mind though, I"m more into giving stuff away and having someone come pick it up for free! I haven't seen too many things on our local list that I want/need.
 

[GardenStream]

We give away a lot more than we get. I have received 2 wonderful things from Freecycle. That's where I got my compost bin and a full set of blades for my cuisinart food processor.

I think there is an art to writing the response. I want responses that are polite and specific. I also like a little more information, but one or two sentences is plenty. I do not want to hear a sob story. I ignore those. I also want someone to tell me that they can pick it up within a day or two. I also usually wait at least 12 hours before deciding which person to give the item to. I read through the acceptable responses and look for the one I think will really pick it up. I would say that works for me 9 out of 10 times.

[Amys1st]

I have given several things away on freecycle and received a few things as well. I also a lot of times offer things up to others first such as a few parents I know.

I put on my email, prompt pickup gets first priority.

[jtbuko]

Ditto what others said about being polite. Full sentences and a specific time frame help too. I have been on the same list for 4 years and when I get multiple responses I tend to go with folks whose email addresses I recognize (why give more people my address if I don't need to) first.

As far as getting stuff - YES, we gotten lots of great stuff - PVC building set, compost bin, kitchen table & chairs, toys & crafts, clothes for DD and me, costumes for dress up, fish tank, dishwasher, pet rats with cage, lamps, tea kettle, sandbox and assorted other things over the years. We live in a pretty wealthy county and there are a lot of folks with nice things that they don't need anymore. For big items I include my phone number and mention how to plan to transport the item in my request. 

My biggest complaint about Freecycle is no shows, which is why more and more of my stuff gets donated to thrift stores these days. Freecycle is great for creative reuse type items that can't be donated though.

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by jtbuko 

Ditto what others said about being polite. Full sentences and a specific time frame help too. I have been on the same list for 4 years and when I get multiple responses I tend to go with folks whose email addresses I recognize (why give more people my address if I don't need to) first.

As far as getting stuff - YES, we gotten lots of great stuff - PVC building set, compost bin, kitchen table & chairs, toys & crafts, clothes for DD and me, costumes for dress up, fish tank, dishwasher, pet rats with cage, lamps, tea kettle, sandbox and assorted other things over the years. We live in a pretty wealthy county and there are a lot of folks with nice things that they don't need anymore. For big items I include my phone number and mention how to plan to transport the item in my request. 

My biggest complaint about Freecycle is no shows, which is why more and more of my stuff gets donated to thrift stores these days. Freecycle is great for creative reuse type items that can't be donated though.

That was the real reason behind Freecycle. The idea was, things like leftover drywall cannot be donated, but if you have some patch work, you could use that piece of drywall.  When I started the prompt pickup in my email, I noticed it meant the person picked it up within 5-8 hours. When I said yes picking up this weekend is fine but then the person forgets, well then I have to re list it and it starts again. I also ignore sob stories but I noticed the monitors usually nab them and remove them. I put out a wanted a few years ago for a specific costume. I got it, plus a few months later this person after realizing I had a daughter a few years younger than hers I might want other things. She gave me a bag of wonderful clothes that both my kids enjoyed. I have done this as well with others since it worked out so well.

 

[Smokering]

I just gave away 4 bags of fabric on Freecycle today... I was decluttering my sewing niche (long overdue) and had heaps of scraps, including some fairly big pieces (1-2 metres) and some small but nice bits of quilting cottons. I got four responses within about 5 minutes, then hastily posted a "Taken" to avoid more!

Our group's not too bad, partly because the concept of Freecycle hasn't caught on to mainstream NZ, so it's not a huge list. The moderators do occasionally have to send emails reminding people not to ask for absurdly expensive items, though ("Wanted: Fridge/freezer and washing machine"), and suggesting that it's rude to ask and ask without ever offering anything.

I've scored a few good items - two packets of brand-new fancyish darts, right when DH was saying he needed some new ones; and some nice big ceramic pots for the garden. I try to be polite and indicate a willingness to pick things up promptly. I don't always get what I want, but that's OK!

What annoys me a bit is when a big item is offered without any description. I know it's not Ebay, but how many people are going to want "a couch"? Just "a couch", with no indication of colour or size or condition? I certainly don't want to go all the way across town, hire a trailer, etc, to get some cigarette-smelling maggot-ridden 70s couch in mustard yellow with ripped seat cushions... you know? I've always wondered if those offers get any responses at all. So I try to be specific when I offer items (like, with the fabric, I mentioned the kinds of fabric, the range of sizes of the pieces, and so on - just enough to indicate that I wasn't getting rid of 4 bags of red burlap, or 4 bags of uncut lengths of French silk either!).

[EmsMom]

I have given several things away on freecycle, and received a few as well.  It is annoying when people don't come when they say they will.  But honestly, I have been pretty happy being able to give things away that didn't have traditional value, such as old quilting magazines and books (valuable ones I did sell on ebay).  Or kids sports equipment.  But I have to say, that I have really appreciated it when I have gotten a thank you note afterward.  It just makes you feel nice.  If I get something, I always send a thank you.  I am sure it creates good freecycle karma, just like always letting cars get ahead of you with a generous attitude creates good traffic karma (Hey - it works, people are always waving me in.  I almost never get cut off!) 

[LaughingHyena]

What annoys me a bit is when a big item is offered without any description. I know it's not Ebay, but how many people are going to want "a couch"? Just "a couch", with no indication of colour or size or condition? I certainly don't want to go all the way across town, hire a trailer, etc, to get some cigarette-smelling maggot-ridden 70s couch in mustard yellow with ripped seat cushions... you know? I've always wondered if those offers get any responses at all. So I try to be specific when I offer items (like, with the fabric, I mentioned the kinds of fabric, the range of sizes of the pieces, and so on - just enough to indicate that I wasn't getting rid of 4 bags of red burlap, or 4 bags of uncut lengths of French silk either!).

I'm often left wondering if people reply to some of the vague offers too.  Recently we seem to have had quite a few especially "bag of children's clothes" or "girls shoes" without some idea of gender or size I can't see many people being interested.