AIBU to be wary of these freecyclers

[Bathsheba]

I've just done a huge clearout of my wardrobe - I've lost a lot of weight and I have a lot of things that are too big for me.

I have ended up with 5 black bags of very good quality larger sized clothes. Everything is size 24 - 30.

my initial thought was to offer on freecycle as our charity shops are very hard to park outside for dropping off a large load.

However the first 3 messages I have received are along the lines of "I have a friend who would really like these".

Is it awful that I'm automatically wary of this - my worry is always that anything given away on Freecycle automatically ended up in a car boot sale making money for someone which is NOT the spirit I'm giving it in - and the easiest way for a guy, or a size 10 women to come and pick things up to profiteer from them is to claim its "for a friend"...

if you don't feel comfortable, then email them to say that they have already been taken, then if no one takes them, re offer them in a week or so. I know what you mean, it is silly, but it really irritates me that things I freecycle are being used for profit rather than properly used.

Send them to me instead!!!!!

Could you ring the charity shops and see if there was a way to donate them? Some may be willing to come and pick them up.

A lot of charity shops will do a pick up if you ask - might be worth a go.

You're right. A lot of people on there do make money from selling the stuff on.

Try offering just a few items and see what emails you get. Those trying to sell it probably won't be bothered for just a few items. Then when they come around, and if you think they're nice (and obviously the right size for the clothes!!) give them all of them.

I offered a pushchair on my local freecycle, even ended up dropping it off for the woman... saw it on ebay the week after, i knew it was the one i'd given away as her ebay name was very close to her freecycle name, and there was something on one of the wheels that i did to fix it, and she'd noted it in the listing!!

I'm all too weary offering things now... However i have a sofa and chair to get rid of and no-body blimin wants it!!

Some people do sell stuff on. BUT...part of the reason you are Freecycling is because it is easier and more convenient for you. So you just have to accept that you might not know what happens to the stuff. If you do, then lug it the charity shop.

I mainly freecycle to stop things going into landfil so i don't really care if some enterprising person takes it to a bootsale or puts it on ebay.

i haven't got the time for the hassle of selling it so good on somebody else if they want to make some money for taking the time to do it IMHO.

According to the Freecycle website, the aim is to "reduce consumerism, manufacture fewer goods, and lessen the impact on the earth. Another benefit of using Freecycle is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process."

So if people want to sell Freecycle stuff on ebay, that isn't actually against the spirit of the website so it's entirely up to them.

A lot of people seem to misconstrue Freecycle, and see it as some sort of "give to the needy" enterprise. Which it is not.

I can understand why you would choose not to give to these people. Then don't - it is your stuff and if you want to make sure it goes to people who are in need of the stuff and are not just going to sell it that is up to you. To flush them out perhaps send them a reply saying because you have had so many replies then you are splitting the stuff between everyone and offer just a couple of items. If they are going to sell they probably will not bother.

On the other hand I personally don;t care - if I can give to someone who will use it I choose to but if I could be bothered to sell I would do it myself and just want rid of the items I list.

Therefore you ANBU to not want to give to people to sell but decide what you want from it - to get rid of the stuff for your own benefit in which case you shouldn't worry who gets it, or to go to people who need it in which case give it to a local womens refuge

I've done Freecycle and think it is fantastic. One of our regulars always puts, very firmly, "no e-bayers" - OK, there is no way to tell, but it gives out the hint that you don't want it sold on. No harm in it really.

I don't care what happens to stuff I've Freecycled - if they want to sell it, that's up to them. I just want it out of my house and not in landfill.

Woman's refuge is a great idea tho...

My local Freecycle says in the rules that people intending to resell things should say so in their reply...so it's allowed, but they should be upfront about it, and then you can take it into account when you decide who to give the things to. Pity there's no guarantee they will though! I don't mind people taking things to resell if nobody else wants them and if I can't be bothered to sell them myself, but would still prefer them to go to someone who really needs them or at least who will actually use them themselves. So YANBU to be wary of people who are being sneaky about wanting stuff to sell on!
If you get lots of replies though then you have every right to ignore any dodgy or "grabby"-sounding ones (even if they got in first) and pick one you think will actually welcome the clothes themselves. It's still your choice who to give them to out of all the people who reply!

have you a salvation arm bin at your recycling depot?

or i used to donate clothes to social services. mainly childrens though.