Freecycle!! Any place

[k0xxx]

I am the moderator for our local (county) Freecycle group and there are several questions here that I may be able to answer.

Locals only - One of the stated goals of Freecycle, besides reducing waste in our landfills, is to promote a sense of community. Before anyone joins our group, they are required (by me) to tell me where, in our county, do they live. I do allow members from outside of our community, it they have a reason for doing so. This is generally up to the group owner/moderator.

There are numerous individuals that will join every group within a 200 mile radius, take everything they can get, and never contribute.

No group in your area - Start one. That's what I did. We were in the middle of a Freecycle void, so I started my own group. It is simple to do and each state/area has people assigned to help someone through the process.

Mean or rude people - This is generally a result of a lack of oversight on the part of a moderator. I basically follow the same rules of conduct that is used by BYC. You may get a warning the first time, you'll probably get bounced the second.

A bunch of people constantly begging - Yeah, we get that too. I have made it a policy of my group that members limit their wanted posts to once a week and once a month for the same item. No perfect, but it helps.

Requires a Yahoo ID - I never really thought about it. I guess since you are joining a group hosted by Yahoo, it makes sense though. I've heard that at some point, Freecycle may move to it own servers for hosting sites and leave Yahoo. I can't say that this is a fact, it's just something heard through the grapevine.

I'd be happy to help with any other questions about Freecycle to the best of my ability.

Mark

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I was actually kinda shocked by the begging on our freecycle. I was a member in Anchorage, Alaska and it was strictly moderated. Your first post had to be an offer and you were only allowed one "want" per certain number of offers. It really worked well. The group here is tiny and backwoodsy and basically a joke.

 

[ChickNLittle]

Yeah, some of them are little S__ts. I agree it depends on the moderator. I'm thinking about doing my own freecycle for the SE Georgia/NE Florida area. If its supposed to be to keep things out of the landfill, what do they care? They should be glad. The worst one I ran into was jaxfreecycle.com Probably because I LIVE an hour away. They always complain when I list a "wanted", you can only do it every seven days, and if its the same item, once a month. Thats cool, no problem with that. However, you can list as many free things as you want everyday. Some people have even emailed them and told them in not so nice a way to "remove them from the list". So I wonder how many things are staying out of the landfill?

 

[k0xxx]

Freecycle, due to certain legal restrictions (something the lawyers decided in regards to it's non-profit status) can no longer require that your first post be an offer. It can only suggest it.

Like everything else, once the lawyers get involved, well... you know.

It does seem that the more rural areas are the ones with the most begging going on. It could be due to several reasons, but I'd probably get in trouble with my members if I voiced my speculations.

"So I wonder how many things are staying out of the landfill?"

Actually quite a bit. I'll be the first to admit, it's not perfect. However, just in our small area a lot of stuff goes to people that can use it, and not in the trash.

Mark

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I agree with the statement about the more rural areas. I, honestly, won't list anything to give since I saw how it is run here. I have no desire to give things to people who make a habit of sitting on their duff taking all they can, just so it can sit on the back porch with the past 15 years of donations.

Sorry, that was harsh. I also grew up here and know of what I speak. I am having a yard sale instead and donating the rest to charity organizations in the area.

 

[k0xxx]

"I am having a yard sale instead and donating the rest to charity organizations in the area."

I like Freecycle. I think that, even with all of the sillyness that goes with it, it is a great idea and that it does a lot of good. HOWEVER, what you are proposing is far better. You know that the items go to someone that really wants to have it and helping out those in need too. I encourage members to donate to local charities.

Where Freecycle shines, is when you have a single item, a broken item that someone may want to repair, or no spare time. I have never had a yard sale. When I didn't need an item, I used to throw it in the trash. The idea of a yard sale gives me cold shivers, so for me Freecycle is a way to have someone come pick up items that I would otherwise have to pay to get rid of. What they do with after that, is something that I don't worry about (but, that's just my nature).

After you've been in a group for a while, you tend to learn the individuals that are just playing it and avoid them. I will usually wait until I get several responses and choose among them.

 

[cantley2003]

I love freecycle! I've only had one person do a no show on me, which was kinda funny since it was for an item they requested. But mostly I find it intresting to see who is going to show up at my door and save me a trip to the goodwill. I've also met some very nice people through freecycle.

 

[love-my-wolves]

I was surprised with my Freecycle. First off, there is not one for my "city" but the neighboring city has one. I signed up, and found a very nice lady who gave me a full bag of wine corks. Of course I only needed 3 for my incubator, but I will put the rest to use soon. I have posted my 2 dogs for free, but got no real interest, so that was ok. I have listed want adds, and got 2 plastic playhouse slides to use in my pool. That was nice. With that said, my moderators have a VERY strict policy about posting only 1 want add every 7 days. I accidentally posted 6 days between, and was given a very thourough email stating it was my one and only warning, if I did it again, I would be suspended! I like that they cut down the begging that way. Also, they do not tolerate begging, pleading, or whining. I like that. Our mods are great on my Freecycle! I know when I move I will not have as nice of a experience. Steph

 

[SpottedCrow]

I'm a member of 2 local Freecycles. Sometimes you get the greedy grabbies...that want want want, like a car, a laptop, dining room set...

Two years ago, a whole bunch of us got 5 pounds of apples each! I baked myself into a coma! LOL

Right now I have a post up for things for my hubby's hip replacement and I've found out that I can get them through the council on Aging, which I didn't know...but another lady was the shower chair...
I've given away books, clothes, craft stuff, car stuff. There was a lady that I met through Freecycle that lived right down the street from me that I gave her my grandmother and mother's beanpots because she collected them AND she wound up moving to Maine to run a B&B and getting chickens because she met Slifer and Obelisk.

A lot of it is how the group is run. The mods for my groups make pretty sure that people aren't greedy grabbers...

 

[chickenlisa]

I love our group. I've given many huge boxes of my boys outgrown clothes, games, toys, etc....to so many people and received big items like our huge picnic table, tomato cages, puppy pens, wood, fencing, etc...but my latest find is this... i posted it in coop designs too...
Before:

After:

Lisa