I am a member of freecycle but I use Craigslist. Freecycle seems like such a hassle. I have to wait for a mod to approve my post. By that time, I could have the stuff gone after posting it on craigslist.

 

I switched to craigslist so I could delete the post when the item is gone. Plus I like that my email is not shown on the listing.

 

freecycle since it is for my county and the craigslist only hits major cities an hour away. I use craigs for selling sometimes, though.

 

I get fewer no shows with freecycle. Maybe that's just my area.

 

I actually use Facebook, more often than not. The upside being that it's not an anonymous person contacting you. You see their face, and sometimes their contact info (if they keep it in their profile). In my experience, the Facebook people are more likely to show up.

Craigslist/Freecyle users are ALWAYS no-shows/no-calls, in my experience.

 

I've never even joined my local Craigslist.

My local Freecycle only has moderated posts for new members (and I guess for members who violated the rules too many times as well.) Anything I personally need to post goes right up.

 

I use craigslist. I've had better luck with them. My local freecycle sux. Completely and totally. I eventually removed my membership because I was tired of the spam not being removed by the mods, and sick and tired of the SAME PEOPLE constantly requesting ridiculous things and not having these requests removed, or the member warned to not ask for another expensive item. Yes, there were people on there that would ask for "a new/used car, must run, have good tires, nice paint, good interior, would rather mid 90's or newer" FOR FREE!

: And they would post this several times a week. And people would ask for things like "I need a TV" (fine, there are people that may well have one to freecycle) but they go on to say "I need a TV 32" or larger, color only, no console TV's, cable ready, would like if you have the remote too, etc. etc. etc."

Our freecycles here are nothing but people who do not really "need" what they are asking for, or people giving away junk that is of no use to anyone. If something is broken beyond repair, why would anyone want it? Not necessarily things that can be "parts only" but things that are completely useless... ya know?

Craigslist has some freaks, but if you are careful, it is much much better. At least here... but I think it all has to do with what area you are in.

 

I agree that Freecycle seems like too much hassle. Craigslist just seems so much easier. I post things both in the free stuff category and in whatever category they belong in. I almost always am able to get rid of whatever it is within a day or two.

 

Personally its just easier for me to grab the bag of donations i have and take them to savers/goodwill or the drop box in the grocery parking lot. Honestly i dont have time to montior emails and wait for someone to possibly show up.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1growingsprout Personally its just easier for me to grab the bag of donations i have and take them to savers/goodwill or the drop box in the grocery parking lot. Honestly i dont have time to montior emails and wait for someone to possibly show up.

I totally agree with you. That's what we do with most of our stuff. We use craigslist for the the things we can't donate to the goodwill... recently I gave away a unopened 5 gallon drum of paint... things like that.

 

I donate to Salvation Army. I'll take my own tax deduction, thank you. I don't need to give that away.

We don't have a local Craigslist. And I am tired of Freecycle. The same people respond for everything. They want pictures, too. Too much hassle.

 

I never use freecycle (the system is too clunky and seems to be patrolled by the same people over and over). I sometimes use craigslist (I like being able to delete my posts or amend them as needed). I mostly use Free Market but I think it is unique to our metro area. It allows you to sort by county and category and I can amend or delete my posts.

Nicer things, I give to charities (I like the tax deduction), but items that are obscure (like kayak polo gear), items that need to be fixed or cleaned, and items that charities refuse to accept (like a perfectly good diaper changing station and covers) I give away on the free sites listed above.

 

Def. craigslist
Our freecyclers are similar to the PP's
want pictures, request new items ALL THE TIME, are rude in their emails, etc

 

I use charities that have curbside pickup. There are 3 in my area, that will come pick up things. It's WONDERFUL.

 

I prefer to drop them off at a local charity shop. I tried Freecycle, but my group is heavily moderated and my items were constantly being rejected.

 

Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul.

I don't like people I don't know showing up at my house.

 

I always feel like freecycle people are more likely to take the odds and ends I have that I don't want but don't want to pitch in the trash.

I hate actually doing it, though -- I try to post a few things at once, and then I inevitably wind up planning my whole day around freecyclers coming to get stuff. And then there are the no-shows and the rude people. Don't even get me started on the GREEDY requests!!!!

Aw, geez, that reminds me of the pile of stuff I have in the garage waiting to Freecycle. Sigh.

Will Goodwill take EVERYTHING?

 

yeah, I mostly mean the type of things I can't donate to a charity but would rather not throw in the trash. I do drop off donations and sometimes use the charities that pick up things, but seem to end up with little odds and ends that I like to make a little effort to give away before throwing away.

I also just put things out by the street with a free sign, but I don't want to do that with 'junk' , yk? If I post on craigslist and clearly describe it as junk, at least they know what they are getting

I'm going to try craigslist today for a few things I have sitting around. I don't usually like people coming to the house either, but DH is home today and I can just leave the items out on the front porch.

 

Freecycle. I'm fortunate to be in a group that is pretty friendly, not terribly greedy, and I've met some really nice people that way. I do get no-shows from time to time, but I find that if I only list a few things at a time, I don't have as much of a problem with that. I've also changed my expectations so that I understand that the occasional no-show is part of the deal. That made a huge difference. If someone doesn't show now, I just go right on to the next person and don't waste time being mad at them. But I do note their username so that I avoid giving anything to them in the future.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1growingsprout Personally its just easier for me to grab the bag of donations i have and take them to savers/goodwill or the drop box in the grocery parking lot. Honestly i dont have time to montior emails and wait for someone to possibly show up.

I'm the same way, our salvation army has TONS of drop off locations. They will also pick up at your house depending on how much stuff you have.

I've had a couple of friends have issues with freecycle. I definitely would NOT do it. One of them was getting rid of a couch....the guy came to pick it up and injured himself picking it up, and is now suing them.

: They could have had the salvation army come pick it up for free (and they have liability coverage so wouldn't have had to deal with that)

:. A whole lot of problems for a couch maybe worth $75

:.

 

I use Craigslist for selling stuff and Freecycle for giving away. As a pp said there are some things that you don't want to throw away but you can't really sell them. I got rid of a bunch of CD and video tapes that way. I just put them outside my front door and they could pick them up at their convenience. I think it does depend on the area you live in.