Freecycling isn't much fun.

[BroccoliSpears]

We've freecycled masses this weekend and it's really not been a terribly happy experience. Really good stuff too.

One bloke got home and then rang up to complain that he thought there would be more weights in the set (there were precicely the number I'd specified in the offer).

On two occasions, people told dp that they'd been promised way more than had actually been agreed. This meant that one woman turned up to find that someone else had taken the baby gates she'd come for. I can understand why she's a bit fed up, and have appologised and explained what happened twice now in on email and in person, but have now got a shitty email from her because she made the trip for nothing.

I really don't want to be the munificent and adored benefactor. I don't even mind much that no one has said thank you - it was only stuff we needed rid of anyway, but have been left feeling vaguely guilty, and that's irritating. Surely passing on something useful to someone else should be a pleasant experience? Load of grabby wankers round here.

it's not people who are going to sell on that would bother me, it's people who don't turn up, who complain about the goods they get despite descritions or who have the cheek to ask to have stuff that wasn't listed.

It's not bitching, Broccoli, it happens sometimes I have a virtual Freecycle economy in my house and have few top tips having run my group for 2 years now.

1. If possible, tell the lucky recipient that "ok, I have chosen you, so I will now place the item in a bag hung on my front door at [address] where I will leave it for 48 hours." Sounds a bit cold I know but it is so maddening to wait around... and people do get carried away in a fit of excitement only to realise they're too busy... so it it's still there 48 hours later you just give it to someone else.

1. For items that are too big to put in a designated place outside try this: "When replying, please give me a day and time when you could pick up the item". Then tell the winner that "ok, I will expect you at [day/time]. Please let me know if you can't make that time to avoid it going to the next runner-up".

Sounds a bit cold again, I know, but same reasoning applies.

1. For my old baby items that I can hardly bear to give away, I try the following: "This item is of sentimental value so no resellers for this please - only people with a bump may apply". Works every time and I've had some great chats with first time pregnant people (one in particular had antenatal anxiety just like me and we bonded like mad).

1. Unless you have a sentimental attachment, try to accept that it may be resold.

1. Always give to your preferred charity first if you can.

1. Never judge other users by their "Wants" and "Offereds" history, only by whether they've given something to you.

I could go on...........but Freecycle is successful precisely because the multitude of motivations people have for using it.

My experience with Freecycle is pretty positive - yes, I've had no shows, and people that just never get back to me, but I don't wait in for them and just reoffer.
Our group has an ethos of 'why not ask, you never know' (which sometimes means you get big asks, and some people are very picky in their want, but hey, better that they ask for what they actually want), and resellers aren't banned - although the mods will have a word with people. I think its pretty clear who they are, and don't offer things to them

I've met some great people on Freecycle, and love passing on our no longer needed things.