Just remembered why I stop freecycling!

[chuckeyegg]

I give up on freecycle over a year ago when I offered some boys shoes, the woman who came for them turned up in a huge car and sent her child to get them and he grabbed them out of my hand and legged it without a word.

Anyway I have a cot I am getting rid of thought I give it another go and have sat in all afternoon for someone who didn't bother coming. Whyyyyy................!

it's a pain when they don't collect :( I only ever arrange collections when I would have been in anyway, that way if they don't turn up I've not wasted my time

I got rid of a travel cot this morning and got given a (small) box of chocolates :)

I love freecycle and generally people round here are pretty good. I have got rid of a fridge, a playpen/fireguard, hair dye (!), plants, fabric ... I have scored a garden table, a greenhouse(!), wooden pallets for my compost heaps and a bread machine book. It's brilliant when it works.

isn't is easier to just put them outside your house with a 'take' sign?

We don't get enough passing traffic for that, Southeastastra (I know, I shouldn't complain).
OP: I've found it best when I've agreed who is to take something, that I put a deadline on it -- ie, tell them, if you don't collect by date X then I will offer it to the next interested party. I've had a lot fewer no shows since I started issuing that disclaimer.

Also, typically, I'd probably leave out front for them to collect on the day they say they will come (ie, I wouldn't wait in for them). Depends on weather, though.

Maybe it just depends where you live.

I'm glad some of you have positive experiences.

FWIW ou Freecycle is completely pointless, there are literally 1 maybe 2 Offers a week but LOADS of requests... most pf them being stupid!

We had someone just before christmas looking for a Brand new XBOX Elite with 2 controllers and 3 specific games as well as a mobile phone and tv/dvd combi in new condition only!

we've mostly had really positive experiences of freecycle/freegle. Have received all sorts, from a sewing machine and bikes to cardboard boxes for an impending move, and have given away anything from a huge selection of odd crockery and glasses, to a computer desk, fridge and freezer and a huge selection of grown out of toys once I finished childminding.

the requests do iritate me slightly I have to admit, if they are asking for something very specific, but when we asked for boxes people were very willing to help.

I have just been relieved of an old but serviceable coffee table. It has gone (I think) to someone moving into their first flat today. I have previously been relived of kids clothes, toys, a fridge, a broken vacuum cleaner, lights and lightshades and probably some other stuff that I can't remember. Haven't received much stuff except a CD (for DD) and a hockey stick (also for dd), but i guess I am fortunate in that we are quite settled.

I get very annoyed (wanted to say something stronger!) with people who want everything and have no manners and people who don't show, but if they dont show I guess they don't need it anyway so I offer to someone else who does. The person who annoyed me most was someone who responded to my ad for 6 black binbags of kids clothes of varying ages - we had a massive clear out and then sorted the stuff into age groups. I offered the bags as single lots asking people to specify the age they wanted. Well this person asked for them all and when I replied saying she could only have one she replied that it wasn't worth her while coming for 1 bag of clothes! These bags each had at least 20 items in. What a greedy person. (rant over)