To feel like giving up on Freecycle.

[Robotlady]

I love the idea of Freecycle and have been on and off it over the years. I always end up thinking I've had enough and leave though.

Recently I've offered three items and picked up one. The offers have all been met with contact from people who say they want it and then NEVER GET BACK IN TOUCH.

The area where I live is identified in the original post, I reply with my address and contact number and then...nothing!

If they change their mind, it's absolutely no problem, why don't they just message me to say?

Why do this?

I hang on because people have stuff going on in their lives and I'm trying to be fair to someone I've agreed to give something to, but I shouldn't have to chase them.

I was quite specific about collection on the last one and yet it happened again.

The item I collected, when I first contacted the person, said there were a couple of people before me and after a few days they contacted me and said they were no shows and I could have it.

Maybe it's just our local group. Such a shame though, puts me off offering items.

Using it isn't obligatory, why would you be unreasonable to not use it?

Because people want something trivial but then much more important things come up and the trivial item, of course, is left at the bottom of the list.

I gave up years ago, and discovered the benefits of the local tip

Keep plugging away OP, maybe just a run of bad luck or your area, but hopefully not.
I’ve given lots and lots of things away on Freecycle over the last couple of years and all bar one turned up when they said they would. Yes you get annoying questions sometimes but the concept is good and so many things I would have dumped in the tip have (hopefully) been used some more elsewhere for a little while longer.

I advertised 3 times, had 3 people contact me, supposedly very interested ..they all arranged times but no-one turned up. It needs a rating system for ‘buyers’ and ‘sellers’ to avoid timewasters

It took me weeks to give away a trampoline in good condition a few years ago. Had 3 no shows. In the end I said you have to get it by 6pm or it goes to the next person. It worked.

I've recently had the same issue advertising on 'next door'- free items I might add. My location is on the original listing, plus I add that I'm within 20m of XYZ tube station. Despite this I had someone wanting my number, full address and postcode, even before they said how many items they wanted or when/if they could collect them. WHY? They said they needed to details to find out how far the drive was. Gave me address, then got accused of wasting 'their' time, as it was too far from them!!! Despite the fact the details were in the original post.

I found on freecycle that once you reply, they have your email. I'd then hear nothing more, but was 'suddenly' inundated with spam emails! On balance, I have had generally friendly people, but the time and effort of waiting in for no shows has made be question just sticking it in the recycling bin!

Can you leave it outside with a 'free' sign? If it's decent, someone will take it.

I've thrown a lot if stuff down the tip because freegle wastes my time we have a freegle type group on Facebook which is ok but I still end up down the tip fortunately ours recycles electricals

I second the suggestion of leaving things (especially larger, more visible, easily identifiable items) outside with a "free" sign. I've done this a few times, and they've always been snapped up in short order. Saved me a trip to get rid of it and the annoyance of a no-show. (And I didn't have to waste time talking to anyone about it.)

YANBU.

I use Freecycle, a local Freegle group, and an "Everything Free" local Facebook group. I wouldn't give up on any of them but have had similar time-wasting no-shows on all three (and lots of people asking if I can deliver when my posts always state collection only).

I've had less frustrating results when I require a collection time and contact number/email from would-be takers before I agree anything and give my address. I also note that the Freegle site does allow rating of givers and takers so you know to be wary of anyone with lots of "thumbs down" ratings.

I have I given up on giving things away. I take clothes to charity or the hospital. Baby things go to a local baby charity that redistributes them.

Again for me I state location in my posts but get lots of people saying it's too far, they have young kids etc. Well I have young kids too and they live to far for me to drive. It was making me annoyed at the waiting about and bagged up stuff hanging around. You could do a self rule "if its not collected inna week I will charity shop it"

I gave up on free cycle but have better luck using local Facebook groups. You still get a few pisstakers but I am normally very clean on when the item has to be collected and narrow down our area greatly which helps.

I will never take other people's secondhand stuff. Some people are extremely filthy and will give away stuff that should go in a dump.

Iboogy Why would you even bother to reply to a thread with a comment like that?

There's an app called Olio that I've found quite good. It's primarily to prevent food waste but there is also a non-food section. It's much more user-friendly than Freecycle and in my experience the people who contact you about items through it are less flaky.

I will definitely take some one's second hand stuff. The second hand farm house by the river; the once owned diamond tiara; a bag full of used twenty pound notes.

And if I can help, be kind, I'll offer an object for re-homing if it's worth it. No one came to collect my DH although he reported everyone we'd ever met wanted him.

Missing the point of the thread @lboogy. This is about those who ha e said they're interested and have arranged to collect an item. As second items are beneath you then you wouldn't use freegle anyway.

Op, last Christmas I also offered an item that gained many replies. The person who replied had said they'd be available to collect but after I suggested a time and day, I heard nothing back, so a week later I offered on Facebook and again, a lot of interest but this time it was collected within 24 hours.

I gave up on it about a decade ago. Endless time wasters.
It was dead good when it first started.

Thank you everyone, I usually take stuff to the charity shop but sometimes things are not suitable and freecycle would be the better option.
I'll persevere I think because it's a good thing, maybe just lay down the law a bit in the post
I'm going to try leaving stuff out with a sign as well, we'll see how that goes.

Put stuff outside your house with a 'free' sign on it. That usually works. Otherwise I put it on local Facebook groups of my area and the surrounding area with first to collect gets it.

Just to add - if you live in a flat and the item is small, try leaving it by the lift/stairs with a note saying 'free'. I've gotten rid of some stuff that way too.

I gave up on free cycle after I offered some curtains on there and two separate people contacted me to ask if I would deliver them to seperate places over 20 miles away.

You can also advertise on gumtree in the free section. And if there is a local FB community page. These tend to work quite well