[ShannonCC]

Overall I love freecycle

Love the idea and for the most part it works great for me

I'm just wondering though, how many chances do you give a person who is a no show?

A week or so ago I offered a really nice kitchen faucet and this woman didn't show up twice in a row. I ended up donating it to my Aunt's church sale instead.

This week a woman is supposed to pick up a kiddie pool. I emailed her back that she could have it and the day she chose was fine. She never showed or emailed. I emailed asking if she still wanted it and she asked for my address so I figured ok, she never got my first email (happens, right?). So I wrote her back (mentioning that she didn't get my first email) and she said she'd come yesterday. Great! This morning the dang pool is still on my front steps. Maybe I'm cynical but now I'm thinking she pretended she didn't get the first email because she forgot to pick it up the first time.

If the freecycler emails me and says "sorry, I forgot" or "sorry, something came up" or heck, anything, I will bend over backwards holding on to it until they can come by. But she hasn't emailed me (the woman the other week didn't either).

So I'm a little put out but I do want it gone so I might email her again and give her a third chance (3 strikes you're out, right?).

I don't know, it's just annoying sometimes. I give most of my stuff to GoodWill because it's easier but Freecycle is good for the things that can't really go to GoodWill. Like the faucet was a good one but had no installation directions (I stated that). The pool is in good shape but in need of cleaning (I posted pictures so everyone could see).

Eh, just cranky I guess.

 

[MaggieSqrl]

I agree - I'll also bend over backwards to help someone out, as long as there is some attempt at communication (email when they forget, something comes up, whatever...). Our local freecycle is quite active, and "useful" items get claimed very quickly. I've listed some nice things there and had several responses within minutes of my posts. Now, if they were able to respond that quickly to my initial offers, then they should just as easily be able to let me know when they're coming. Just my 2 cents

I do love freecylcle for decluttering - you can't beat it!

 

[wonderwahine]

ive BTDT, ive given up now, if they dont e-mail, it goes to the next inline.

 

[ShannonCC]

Well I emailed her yesterday (saturday) to say it's still out there and let me know if she still wants it (she said she'd pick it up friday and didn't). As of this morning she hasn't emailed back and the pool is still out there so I just re-listed it on Freecycle.

 

[mightymoo]

I often ask them to state when they could pick it up in their original email and I make it clear that it will go to the first person who can pick it up. If its a useful item I often get someone who will come in the next couple hours, then if they don't show I can pick someone else quickly.

 

[ShannonCC]

I picked a new person today and she picked the pool up within hours! And then listed another item and that also was gone within hours of listing it! Now THAT is how freecycle should work

 

[anthasam]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShannonCC I picked a new person today and she picked the pool up within hours! And then listed another item and that also was gone within hours of listing it! Now THAT is how freecycle should work

I agree!! I tend to email those folks back that I've "dealt with" before too. If I know someone lives nearby and always picks up, I'll give the item to them, even if they weren't one of the first to respond.

The local thrift shop knows us well -- after one or two Freecycle no-shows in a row, I get disgruntled and drop off over there instead.

 

[tracymom]

I saw an idea the other day on our freecycle group that said if you had a person not show repeatedly or be a bother, just put them on your mental list and don't give anything else to them. This was from the moderator; I had to giggle.

I'm about ready to start using the again; the last time I had to get rid of stuff, it just seemed like this incredible hassle with dealing with people who don't show and the ones that keep emailing you asking if you've given it away yet and if you haven't can they have it. I wanna say "GET BACK IN LINE, YOU! Being a pest ain't gonna get you stuff from me."

One irritating thing about our freecycle list is that the mods want you to list everything in a single post to cut down on the emails. I've never really agreed with that because it means if you need stuff, you have to open the emails. I used to much preferred to put what you were giving away in the subject line, then people could just open it if they were in the market for what you had.

 

[Peppamint]

I haven't had very good luck with FreeCycle... about 50% of the people actually pick up an item after emailing back and forth and a few people seem to have expected delivery (some were 20 miles away).

When my mom had a goat buckling that needed a home we got a million emails... some people emailed multiple times. Not sure what they thought that was gonna do besides bug me.

 

[mightymoo]

I once gave away a working laptop on freecycle. It had sat for so long in a box and though it worked I didn't feel comfortable trying to ebay it. OMG, I got so many emails and people were emailin me for a week after I already said it was taken.

The neat thing is I gave it to a SAHM trying to get a home business going. I could tell she really needed it too, she said she would pack up her four kids and drive the 40 minutes to my house right that moment!

It is a pain, but I enjoy giving things away through freecycle more than other ways because I get to meet the folks that are using my items and see how I'm helping them.

 

[serenetabbie]

When I first tried Free Cycle, I had several no shows. It made me so mad! Now I usually put in my post that the item will be going within a week if no one picks it up. Either it goes to goodwill or I put it out by the curb for the trash (where someone usually stops and throws it in thier car

). I always pick up the stuff when and where I say I will.

The other thing that irritates me about freecycle is that people in my area don't seem to read the "offers", they just post what they want. I had a complete, hardly used crib with all the parts and directions that I gave to a charity. The day the charity picked it up, I posted it was gone and noticed 4 (FOUR!) posts wanting a crib. *sigh*

 

[Lazyhead]

I've had no shows and people that come a day late.

My biggest peeve with Freecycle is that I'll get no emails from it for a day and then get a TON with everything that people are offering and it's already been taken. I think people choose who gets their stuff too quicly and that some people just respond to everything.

 

[fremontmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazyhead I think people choose who gets their stuff too quicly and that some people just respond to everything.

I definitely agree with that. I have received emails back after something had just been given away that I had emailed for and the person will say, oh I wish I had given it to you, I just gave it to the first person who responded. I am sure there are people out there who just email immediately on just about everything.

That's kinda why I wait a day before picking someone to receive my offereds. I usually print out the potential recipients and then if someone doesnt show, I email them. If no response it goes to the next person. I haven't really had anyone not respond after the email reminder though. I think one chance is enough after an email reminder.

 

[BabyBumblebee]

I do get really really fed up with the no-showa - especially if I've gone to the trouble of giving really detailed directions, and putting the item outside etc. If I get an email from the 'no-show' I will give them *one* other chance, but after that it goes to the next person in line - seems to me that's the fair way to go.

 

[amis2girls]

Because it's Yahoo-based, I often get reponses by Yahoo Messenger.

: Just in case I don't check my mail fast enough, they're going to throw a chat screen in my face.

 

[bdavis337]

I've been Freecylin' for a long time now, and I try to use a few simple rules to avoid frustration. I list a bunch of similar items all at once, like a bag of kitchen utensils, or a box of shoes, etc. I post just that item up, and make sure it's in the subject line, like LADIES SHOES TO OFFER. My posts are simple - I won't split up the box or bag of stuff, I give preference to the respondent who can come the fastest and I ignore people who have burned me before. I post when they're gone, and then I move on to the next item. We're encouraged to list all of our items at once too, but if I do one bag or box every few weeks, it doesn't send up any red flags. I'd like to have the patience to sift through every email, determine who needs the item the most, etc., but if I do that I end up with a box of shoes sitting in my closet for 3 months while I wait for someone to pick them up.

 

[lilyka]

i give them one chance and then take it to then donate it. I don;t have al day to get rid of junk. if smeone wants it for free they need to jump on it.

 

[Thalia]

I used specify the pick up date AND time in my offers, so that only people who could pick it up at a time convenient to me would respond. I live in an apartment, so it's hard to just leave stuff outside.

If someone doesn't show, I just go to the next person. If there is no next person, I take it to the Salvation Army.

 

[BinahYeteirah]

Most people I had given stuff to have picked up in a timely manner. I don't care if they don't come once or twice so much, because I just put things on my front porch. I don't even notice until it's gone.

It's amazing what people will take, too. I listed some burlap fabric that had been lying on the ground out in my driveway for months. I told the list that it was dirty and wet and all that, but someone wanted it. I guess it would be good for gardening, but I am glad it's not in the trash!