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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to stop giving things away on free cycle?

52 replies

Disenchanted3 · 17/04/2010 20:02

Because I never get anything in return?

Its not really a cycle is it if you just give and give with no return?!

I've given away some really good stuff like lovely buggies, clothes for babies, leather office chairs, books,

But not once have I been offered anything that I've asked for, not even crappy things like 'bits of material for quilting' lol

My relies are always polite, I say please and thankyou, tell them I can collect at their conviniance and leave a number, but nothing.

OP posts:
honeydragon · 17/04/2010 22:02

parakeet - just try your local tip for a bike they have loaaaads normlly, especially this time of year - then use the money saved to get any work it might need doing if you cant do it youself, I've always done quite well this way! In fact only once did I have to pay - and that was for new tyres - I then found out my bike was worth £200!

jurisfictionoperative · 17/04/2010 22:18

Check out my aibu thread 'its called freecycle not takethepisscycle! I am really fed up with it! you try to help people and they just mess you about. and i have NEVER recieved anything i have asked for!

expatinscotland · 17/04/2010 22:37

around here, barnardo's actually has bins set up in the recycling centre that are specifically for recycling cloth.

wubblybubbly · 17/04/2010 23:38

Someone actually asked for a static caravan on our local site and got one too!

DilysPrice · 18/04/2010 00:04

I don't really understand people who Freecycle stuff that a charity shop would be happy to take. We've got loads of shops to choose from locally, so surely unless you're actually housebound, it would be easier and more worthwhile to take a few books or toys or a bag of decent quality clothes to one of them?

The stuff I Freecycle is either large furniture, weird special interest stuff, or occasionally kids shoes which I know have been hardly worn but which charity shops won't take.

AvengingGerbil · 18/04/2010 00:11

I got rid of a non-functioning Dyson hoover on Freecycle (and got an email from the collector to say they'd fixed it)!

TheNextMrsDepp · 18/04/2010 00:21

I gave away a fridge freezer on freecycle. It was third-hand and of no interest to any charity organisation (who are very picky about electricals). It was collected by a lovely lady with next to no money who was trying to set up on her own after leaving abusive husband. It felt really nice to help her out, so we gave her a couple of other bits and pieces too. I can't bear throwong things away, so keep freecycling, as you never know who you'll help. You don't give to receive.

WebDude · 18/04/2010 00:39

re "large furniture,... but which charity shops won't take."

Perhaps some of the special interest stuff wouldn't be easily used by a charity shop but locally the British Heart Foundation (furniture and electrical) shop has all sorts of items from dining table and chairs to washing machines and even bookcases and so on. Worth checking if there's one near you.

As for the OP, I didn't think there ever was any "cycle" such that you'd likely get something you want, it's just an alternative recycling method.

I guess you've just never seen something you'd like or asked for something you need...

WebDude · 18/04/2010 00:41

sorry - just re-read... can only pass on sympathy no-one in your area has come up with things you have asked for, OP.

cat64 · 18/04/2010 00:52

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ChippingIn · 18/04/2010 01:08

I like our branch of Freecycle, I guess they are all different though.

I had had things from it and have given things away on it - all without any hassle (touch wood).

It's a shame it's being abused by people as it is a great idea.

TheNextMrsDepp · 18/04/2010 01:12

I just hate to throw anything away. Second hand and recyling is the way to go. Some things you just can't sell, so giving them away is the next best thing. Our local tip always has a pile of stuff they've picked out and it is sold it for charity (tip workers beer fund, possibly).

zapostrophe · 18/04/2010 09:22

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Alouiseg · 18/04/2010 09:35

Where would be the best place for me to give away a peg perego jeep that needs a new battery? I feel cheeky asking for money for it because it needs someone who can do the new battery thing.

Bathsheba · 18/04/2010 10:18

I'm wary about gioving things away on freecycle because I just no longer believe all the sob stories...

From reading the HUGE amount of "wanted - Everything for a house" messages that have come up recently there has been a LOT of "my daughter who is a young single Mum" who have always "just been given the keys of her first flat". Now, as far as I'm aware the city hasn't seen a massive building plan of social housing, so frankly I just don't believe they are all genuine. Also there appears to have been some huge Doctor Who style virus that has affected every washing machine in the city, but only of those who have 3 or more children. Also charities that are for "vulnerable people" seem to have a huge amount of staff looking for a huge amount of stuff all the time.

I find it fab for when we hav big items that WE need taken away as I consider people to be doing US a favour rather than me doing them one....however I still don't velieve half the stories I get told...

StrictlyKatty · 18/04/2010 10:24

Alouise I'll buy it off you when we get to Colchester

DS would die for that! I'm sure DH could fix the battery situation.

IsItMeOr · 18/04/2010 10:42

For people giving away good quality children's clothes and toys on Freecycle - FaraKids have specialist children's shops (around London at least) and they are incredibly busy, selling things for a fair price.

Freecycle is best for giving away stuff that can't go to charity shops imho.

Alouiseg · 18/04/2010 13:56

Katty If you can collect it you can have it

alicet · 18/04/2010 14:13

I am fed up with it too.

So now our childrens clothes and toys that I can't be bothered to ebay go to the local womens refuge. I know then that it will all get put to good use.

Although I accept that I am benefitting in people taking stuff away from me rather than needing them to be super grateful I did get p*ssed off with the fact that very few people even said thankyou when they collected never mind actually email to say thanks (which I always have even when I have realised that the items I collected actually aren't much use to me after I get them home)

lovechoc · 18/04/2010 14:44

I have a success story - someone who wanted a white goods item picked up today like she said she would - at least some people have a conscience and don't muck you around but they seem to be very few and far between. Even got an email saying thank you when she got home. Obviously really appreciated the item.

emsyj · 18/04/2010 14:59

I've only ever given away a single bed and some huge wardrobes on freecycle, neither of which we had space for but which were too good to tip (and would have required hiring a van or trailer to tip) and both people collected exactly when they said they would, and the guy who took the wardrobes sent a nice e-mail afterwards saying how pleased he and his girlfriend were with them as they'd been using canvas ones for ages that were a bit rubbish. Freecycle is brilliant, people come and take away all the crap that you don't want any more AND they're grateful for the opportunity to do it!!!! Love love love freecycle -see it more as a facility to have unwanted things removed for free rather than a source of free things for me, although have just posted requesting a lawnmower... Not holding out much hope, but worth a shot.

sungirltan · 18/04/2010 15:12

if you want to avoid landfill you could also look up local charities who distribute toys/cltohes to asylum seeker families - as in give directly to instead of sell on iyswim

i know asylum/immigration is a sensitive issue but there are kids/babies who have literally nothing

realitychick · 18/04/2010 15:20

I know it's frustrating. I've given away dozens of items worth a lot of money and only ever received one thing I asked for. And some of those were to slightly dodgy sob-story customers. One came to collect a cot and when she found we had two as I have twins, told us actually she had two grandchildren staying so could she take both. But on the other hand, they saved us a trip to the tip, they'll get used somehow and I've worked out I'm too lazy to sell on Ebay or do a boot sale. At least there's more space now in the garage.

libelulle · 18/04/2010 15:26

just sometimes freecycle warms your heart...we got a baby bathing seat from someone when DD was about 6 months old. We reposted it when she'd grown out of it...and it turned out that the original freecycler had had another baby, so we ended up freecycling it back to them

We also got some old roofing felt (for a garden project) hand-delivered by a bloke 2 hours after we posted a request for it

On the other hand, we have an iron sitting outside our front door which was supposed to be collected 3 days ago

EasterBilby · 18/04/2010 16:21

I try to think of it like karma. If I don't get something I really want I have a good sort out through our junk, then hope I'll get it next time one comes up.

parakeet - not optimistic at all asking for a ladies bike. In fact my friend has just offered a ladies and a gents mountain bike on our group. Some groups insist you offer some items before you can list a WANTED post though.

I'm a moderator for our local freecycle group, so obviously think it's ace Yes there are a lot of sob stories on there, but I try to blank them out. We are very strict about Wanted messages; only 3 items per month.

When I'm offering things I usually wait 24 hours then eliminate the txt spk and people with no manners. I also eliminate those who constantly post Wanted messages, and probably reply to every Offer (I get to know them being a moderator.) I then pick a name out of a hat.

I've got rid of loads of things, lawn mowers, TV's, a garden shed, random kitchen stuff. We love a particular dessert which comes in glass ramekins, also a coffee which is in nice jars, great for storage. I hate recycling them so I save them and every few months offer them and get several replies.
In return I've got kids stuff, toys, and the best thing was a spinning wheel and drum carder. I was hoping for a wheel for my birthday, but could never have justified the drum carder too.