Bunch of miseries!

[Tony]

The missus thought she'd be nice and advertise a kids wardrobe collection only on freecycle southampton's facebook page, nothing wrong with it just a bit used.  Stuck it on Gumtree too.

We had a lady reply on freecycle facebook asking if we would deliver it (no pleases or politeness), which we said no to (what, you want it wrapped as well?), and also someone on gumtree very excited - said she'd pick it up when the husband got home - so we said yes to her.

Anyway, she turned up with her baby and husband (young couple) plus a teen lad to help, and set off down the road - carrying it home between them.  Well, I couldn't have that so got them to throw it in the car and drove them home.  Very happy people and wardrobe gone to a good home.  Result.

Said it had gone on the freecycle facebook page, and got a whole rant about "but I posted first" and "you didn't say it was advertised elsewhere" - pointed out it would cost us to deliver it and it went to the first people offering to collect - freecycle admin wade in and kick me and the missus out of the group.

Honestly, try and do a nice thing and get a load of grief!  Not bothering with freecycle again, in the future we'll just list it as free on gumtree..!

</rant>

[julianf]

I use freecycle here quite a bit - mostly scratching, but sometimes shifting stuff too.

The one here is very clear - you say what it is, and where it is, and that's that - its entirely up to you who you give it to.  Sob stories are discouraged, but its your call either way.

Ive got stuff for Rachel's work before (she works at a school) and im sure people favour that, over individuals, but that's their call also.

Sounds like your local group is a bit of a mess.

[Julian]

I've had the odd good bit of kit off freecycle and shifted quite a bit of stuff I don't need, they even let me advertise oil collection (no replies though).  The local group seems to be run along the same lines as Julian describes.  If I don't get a polite response, they don't get the kit.  It's surprising how arrogant some of the requests for stuff are.

I find the mysteries of Yahoo groups (on which our local group is run) completely unfathomable and illogical to use and have been looking at alternatives.  I believe Freegal is quite a popular one, I think many people are getting fed up with the way freecycle is run and moving over.

[Jmg]

I think many people are getting fed up with the way freecycle is run and moving over.

Aye freecycle has long been left to rot with overzealous admin and rules that are far too stuffy for a site that is all about reusing stuff rather than landfill.

We've got quite a few local free groups on facebook up here and while there is a bit of bitchyness among users if someone seem to be asking for too many of the things on offer it gets by without anywhere near as much fuss as the genuine freecycle sites.

[julesandtash]

There are loads of Facebook selling groups down here. A bit like an online boot sale where people put details of stuff, with photos and what they are asking for it.
Buyers can then make offers or just accept the price.

Tash has sold loads of stuff that way and bought some as well.

Unlike eBay, there are no fees to the site or to Paypal so the same bits of kit can be had for far lower prices.

I haven't bothered with Freecycle down here for over a year. It is full of stupid people asking for 42" TVs, Speedboats and iPads.

[Dickjotec]

Our free cycle is fine get and place stuf. Got a very good sailing dinghy with sails etc. biggest problems is when people say they want it then you don't hear from them again.
I always try to let the first to reply have it but there is no requirement to.

[julianf]

The most impressive stuff ive scrounged here -

Rayburn Royal (broke for parts to restore ours)
Garden shed (for Rachel's work)
Kitchen stuff - kettle / toaster / washing machine / fridge
Boiler (bio compatible)
Belt sander
Workbench / vice x2
Bathroom stuff, inc these -
http://www.cphartshop.co.uk/exclusive_taps/grorba1cp.html and
http://www.cphart.co.uk/bathrooms/classic/original/original_bath_shower_mixer

I picked up a couple of dumpy bags of building sand a few months ago...

There are some people on freecycle who are basically trying to save themselves a trip o the dump, but there are others who genuinly want to see the item reused.


Im currently digging out an area here for hard standing.  Nice top soil.  Put it on freecycle - found somone 5 mins down the road.
I fill the trailer in my own time, drag it there, on the way to Rachel's work, pick it up a few days later - easy solution for me - closer and simpler than anywhere else i could get rid of it, and its going on their garden.

[Rotary-Motion]

The missus thought she'd be nice and advertise a kids wardrobe collection only on freecycle southampton's facebook page, nothing wrong with it just a bit used.  Stuck it on Gumtree too.

We had a lady reply on freecycle facebook asking if we would deliver it (no pleases or politeness), which we said no to (what, you want it wrapped as well?), and also someone on gumtree very excited - said she'd pick it up when the husband got home - so we said yes to her.

Anyway, she turned up with her baby and husband (young couple) plus a teen lad to help, and set off down the road - carrying it home between them.  Well, I couldn't have that so got them to throw it in the car and drove them home.  Very happy people and wardrobe gone to a good home.  Result.

Said it had gone on the freecycle facebook page, and got a whole rant about "but I posted first" and "you didn't say it was advertised elsewhere" - pointed out it would cost us to deliver it and it went to the first people offering to collect - freecycle admin wade in and kick me and the missus out of the group.

Honestly, try and do a nice thing and get a load of grief!  Not bothering with freecycle again, in the future we'll just list it as free on gumtree..!

</rant>

i hear ya there tony had simarlar, and think what is up with this world, just dog eat dog...

[Rotary-Motion]

I've had the odd good bit of kit off freecycle and shifted quite a bit of stuff I don't need, they even let me advertise oil collection (no replies though).  The local group seems to be run along the same lines as Julian describes.  If I don't get a polite response, they don't get the kit.  It's surprising how arrogant some of the requests for stuff are.

I find the mysteries of Yahoo groups (on which our local group is run) completely unfathomable and illogical to use and have been looking at alternatives.  I believe Freegal is quite a popular one, I think many people are getting fed up with the way freecycle is run and moving over.[/b]

i gave up on it for this....