Love It

To be honest, going through our Freecycle sounds so grabby. Very few things are up and people want the world handed to them!! I posted something once and had a hard time getting the person out here to pick up the stuff. Now I just put it on our front lawn on Sunday. Monday is garbage day and 99% of the time someone would have garbage-picked it off our lawn Sunday night.

I did a few years ago and got on some email lists of weird people so I stopped using it. I really liked it up until then.

I've only used Freecycle once to get rid of my late dog's doghouse. Since it was a heavy item and we couldn't meet in a public place, I had my dh meet the guy at our house and my dh helped the guy load it onto his pickup. We had a good experience and I plan to use Freecycle again in the future when I have large items that I need to get rid of.

I too love freecycling. Some things I have learned:
1. Lurk for a while to learn which folks are only there to hoard things for themselves -- they're the ones who never give anything away and post lots of ridiculous wants.
2. If you have something to give and you get many replies, be patient before choosing a recipient. I once gave away a box of blankets to the first responder, then read a later email from a woman who worked for a domestic abuse center! I would have rather the more needy ones had rec'd the items. Our local Freecycle states that the giver gets to choose the recipient, it's NOT first-come. This takes care of the vultures.
3. Make it clear to your responders (recipients) that if they don't show, they don't get the item. I put it right in my offer emails that I will attempt delivery once and only once and items get passed on if they don't show.
4. You can get rid of ANYTHING on Freecycle.

I have been a member of freecycle for almost 2 years in my community. I have given and recieved with hardly any problems whatsoever.
When giving, the hardest part is picking just one person to get your item. Also, it's best to describe your item honestly and as completely as possible. It avoids someone saying they want something and then changing their mind if it's not the right color or size and leaving without taking it.
When receiving, I prefer a "porch pickup" as it is less uncomfortable if you don't care to make small talk with strangers. Although, after being a member for a while and seeing all the posts, many don't seem like total strangers anymore. Politeness and courtesy are key things to remember when communicating with others in your group.
I really think FreeCycle is a great concept. It benefits families in several ways and blesses people with things that are still very useful ( and many times NEW) but just no longer wanted/needed by the person that owns it. It's matching up needs and wants with items that may otherwise end up in an ugly landfill.
I wish I would have found freecycle sooner than I did

My mom had a neat way of putting it when describing how great Freecylce is -- she said "When we were really poor, and we needed some thing, it drove me crazy to know that someone somewhere was throwing away that very thing we needed."

It is the best thing ever! I wish I had more time to get things and give away my things. It is never ending.
Although, some people get real crabby and make statements to the whole group that are really for 1 or 2 certain people: "I don't make calls." "You better show up when you say you're going to".

It's not you...just be nice, be good and be fair. Items do not need to go to the 1st who replies. (Anyone w/email on their phone gets it all) I like to hear short stories from people that explain why/what they need it for. It makes one feel like they're really helping someone out.
Helpful hints - state your town & the nearest large intersection. With the price of gas these days, even if it's free, it's not a bargain to drive 30 miles to save $5n my soapbox: .

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Mom to Joey & James 3/16/02

Love it. Been using it for 2 years now. Have given and received many times.