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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be p****d off with freecycle freeloaders?

125 replies

SillyMillysMummy · 26/03/2007 16:53

i know its a green website and that, to keep stuff out of landfill, but i find the wanted posts are getting out of hand. somebody has just posted - wanted - bugaboo cameleon buggy!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:

NotanOtter · 28/04/2007 23:23

someone on mine asked for a trampoline today

a woman gave me a piano thursday then emailed me last night to say sorry she was keeping it but she may not want it for long so would email me again .....whasatallabout?

Kemmers · 09/10/2007 13:06

Ive never heard of Freecycle!

ChantillyLace · 09/10/2007 17:09

I own a local Freecycle group and I do control the Wanted posts. I don't let my members take the piss with shopping lists etc but as far as expensive items go if someone is willing to just give it away then why not ask?

I trust my mmebers to be sensible and realise if someone is genuinely in need ofsomething or if they are pushing their luck a bit. (or a lot in some cases!)

I do have people who continually try to post just wanted ads and the rules state that you have to offer first and that you can only post so many wanteds in one month.

When approving messages I do try and put them on in a mix of Wanted and Offered and Taken so I don't have whole pages of just 'I want this' and 'I want that'.

Many Freecycle groups do get slated but I have had absolutely no complaints about mine, only lovely appreciative emails so please keep giving Freecycle a chance. A lot of the charities people give to are all well and good but if they get too inundated they dump the stuff at the landfills!!

ChantillyLace · 09/10/2007 17:10

I also have to say that I have met so many lovely people on Freecycle and made some really good friends too!

colditz · 09/10/2007 17:36

I think, for example

"WANTED BUNK BEDS!" is fine

but "WANTED PINE BUNK BEDS" is cheeky!

If you NEED something, why does it matter if it's pine or not?

ChantillyLace · 09/10/2007 17:39

I agree with that. I don't mind my members asking for buggies and washing machines etc if they're needed, but as you say, the make or type shouldn't matter if it is urgently needed.

If someone actually puts a brand name on something expensive I tend not to add it then message them and tell them what I've done. They then have the chance to decline an offer if it's made.

LazyLinePUMPKINJane · 09/10/2007 17:42

In the last 2 weeks I have had someone on one of my groups ask for A ps2 (plus games, natch), A DSLR (!!!) and a fracking Vespa!

Christie · 09/10/2007 17:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LazyLinePUMPKINJane · 09/10/2007 17:43

Saying that, I did get a lovely little tikes cosy coupe for DS yesterday and he hasn't been out of it since.

ChantillyLace · 09/10/2007 17:45

Christie - I've just banned a member for doing just that! Apparently she is being investigated by Ebay too! She was making hundreds from Freecyclers' stuff! Not really in the spirit of what it's all about. Most if us like to think that our stuff is going to a good new home and to someone that needs it.

Hulababy · 09/10/2007 17:45

Today there was an iPod - granted the old model but even still - on the offered. Suprisingly it went very fast! Have also seen a laptop too, and once a Wii - which went within seconds!!!

Also have some very hopeful wanted ads on there. I wonder how many are fulfilled!

bossykate · 09/10/2007 17:48

i do this on every moany freecycle thread!

charities who will take these things and be glad of them.

Evergreen Trust

Emmaus

lailasmum · 09/10/2007 17:49

I think wanteds for basics that people may forget they can give away is a good idea for example i like to ask occasionally for padded envelopes as I know a lot of people stash ones that get delivered to them and then end up with millions, I always get some, often from schools and businesses. But I have noticed an upturn in wanted on our local freecycle for things like games consoles, tvs and large appliances and someone also put the other week 'I have been looking through a catalogue and found a childrens digital camera my son would like, we really want one if anyone has one' I think this is just a bit of an abuse of it. Our freecyle has currently got so few offer ads, its all wanted, its barely worth looking at.

katybumpinthenight · 09/10/2007 17:57

i got rid off alot off stuff on freecycle over the weekend and it is the rudeness of the replies which gets me.i offered a gamecube and a retro super nintendo.the nintendo had over 40 replies in 15 mins!i don't expect people to beg but emailing me to tell me to hurry up and send my address as they are waiting to pick it up takes the piss!i also had someone who said "i'll have this" [the nintendo] "and this"[the gamecube ] but send in 2 different emails!!!!
i also offered some little britain stuuf which a lady was collecting.she didn't show.she emailed the next day to say sorry her dd was poorly and could she collect the day after at x o clock.still no show.i then offered a futon and she emailed to say she was very interesed and could collect asap!!!!
i have met some truely lovely genuine freecyclers and think it is a great idea,i just wish it had some sort of feedback system so you can ind out about no shows and scammers ......sorry moan over

katybumpinthenight · 09/10/2007 17:58

find out !

BroccoliSpears · 09/10/2007 18:43

I'm not sure I mind if people sell things I give away. If I don't want it any more but I can't be bothered to list it on ebay or sell it in some other way, then fair play to someone who does have the motivation to get some cash for it. It's kept out of landfill, which is my main objective.

I think it's particularly good where white goods are concerned. Who would have wanted my stinky old dishwasher that didn't reach 60 degrees and had two broken programmes? It would have ended up in landfill if a chap with a shop hadn't taken it for parts or to mend and sell on.

I don't really use freecycle to give away things that I could sell myself though, unless they are things I got from Freecycle in the first place (I got a nice freezer, and when I didn't need it any more it seemed the right thing to do to put it back on Freecycle for the next needy person. Hm... I was quite discerning about making sure that went to someone who needed it though, not a shop.)

I did once give away an enormous Ikea tv stand. Huge, it was, and in great condition. Clearly stated that it would need two people to lift, and a van or trailer to take it away. The woman who 'won' it phoned to say she was going to send round a taxi for it . I'm not sure if she thought me (8 mths preg at time) and the taxi driver were going to lift it in for her, or how she thought it would fit on the back seat of a taxi!

ChantillyLace · 09/10/2007 19:53

Katy - I know a group not far from me started a Feedback system and the majority of the members moanbed about it so she took it off again!

We have a lot of things on our site that go to Refuges and local schools and groups which is very worthwhile.

There are unfortunately some very rude people out there though I have to say on my group I havent met any.....yet! Even the member I banned was really nice and the ban only came through because I was under a lot of pressure because people like to think they are helping someone out with this stuff rather than making money!

I do get ed up with people complaining about Freecycle and saying the stuff should go to charity. As I said earlier, the charities get inundated then dump the stuff at landfill anyway so not necessarily the better thing to do.

I work very hard ensuring there is an even spread of wanted and offereds on the site, and I try hard to make sure everyone knows how important politeness and punctuality is etc etc

Perhaps I'm being too hopeful! We are a relatively new group so I'm probably in for a rough ride once our membership tops the thousands!

ChantillyLace · 09/10/2007 19:55

that was obviously supposed to say moaned! see I feel so strongly about Freecycle that it's making my typing crap!

katybumpinthenight · 09/10/2007 21:06

i wouldn't moan about it as i think it is a great idea i just get a bit fed up with waiting for people who have no intention of collecting.

good luck with your group chantilly

ChantillyLace · 09/10/2007 22:07

Thank you!

I am very fortunate with my group and we havent had too many non-shows but as I say I'm sure I'll have more problems as the group grows!

I love running the site and feel like i'm doing something worthwhile!

derah · 11/10/2007 20:36

We had someone asking for a 3-piece suite, preferably in leather, cream or chocolate in colour. WTF?!

I'm busting for a new sofa and keep a very keen eye out on Freecycle for one (why are the ones that are offered always blue and yellow check pattern?!?!) but no luck yet. But I'd never DREAM of asking for one!!

I've also responded to two people asking for a fridge/freezer since we've got one we're trying to get rid of and neither bothered to reply, even to say no thanks. So very rude! I find it hard to believe that they were so swamped with offers that they couldn't reply to them all!!!

Freecycle is a great idea but the rude people and the ones taking the piss are ruining it for everyone else.

ChantillyLace · 12/10/2007 19:56

derah - that made me laugh about the colour of sofas! I desperately need a replacement too and I keep looking out but they are just as you say, and my lounge is deep red!

It is very rude of people not to reply if you've answered a wanted ad especially. When offering we ask people to put a Taken message on but we are so inundated with messages we tend not to put 'received' but how long does it take to shoot off a 'no thank you' email to someone.

goingfriggincrazy · 12/10/2007 21:42

I'm a mod for a Freecycle group-my blood boils at times.
Had one asking for a 7seater people carrier the other day steam out of ears emotion,also one person asking for a few items to furnish their new flat list which included washing machine,cooker,microwave,sofa,double pine* bed,any bedding,TV,video and oh yeah,a playstation would be fantastic too!

goingfriggincrazy · 12/10/2007 21:44

Oh add a DVD player to the list also.

IlanaK · 12/10/2007 21:49

I haven't read this whole thread as it is just too long! But I am a regular freecycle user, but only to offer things, never a wanted. We have had only good experiencs with people being really grateful for what they have got from us. I had one guy so desperate for our bookshelves and with no transport that he and a friend carried them along a busy London road for two blocks! I almost always get thank you emails from people once they have picked stuff up too.

Howver, that said, I agree that the wanteds are crazy. I regulary see wanteds for laptops, flat sscreen tvs, etc.

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