JB
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Freecycle or greedcycle?Anyone else here use freecycle? anyone else notice the wild discrepancy between what is offered and what is wanted?
The last email I got from them - offered; table lamps, old pregnancy books, childrens videos etc. Wanted - laptops, timber for wood burners, a complete wood burning stove!
On the other hand we've offered stuff through that and noone has expressed the slightest interest.
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Cathryn
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Timber and wood burning stoves have been offered on out local freecycle. Probably depends on where you live.
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Chez
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What Cathryn said - but yes, there's a huge disparity. Someone on ours has this week, all in a row, asked for a greenhouse, an incubator and a garden shed. They've offered an old TV.
I think that people do get to know the genuine offerers and wanters, though - and if people post too many wants, they just get ignored. One person last summer was basically asking for a whole smallholding. I don't know if she got banned or if people just got fed up with her - but she doesn't post any more.
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jema
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Not been on in a while, but you do need to filter out those that take the Mickey.
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2steps
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Same here mostly. Though we do get some pretty good stuff offered, solid pine bunk beds today and yesterday I got a new bike for Emily off there as hers was stolen a few months ago.
The ones I really hate are people who are 'desperate' for a certain model of something or ask for something but it has to fit very set specifications. I always think if your 'desperate' then surely anything is better than nothing? And I just ignore the replies to wants where people are rude or just send a phone number
I've given away a fair bit on mine but as i can't drive often miss out on great stuff 
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Jamanda
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I think ours is pretty good. It gets good stuff offered and asked for. I've given away things like car seats and swings, and got a lovely old school desk (or it is now I've restored it). I think it's quite well moderated, maybe that's what makes the difference?
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Chez
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Ours seems to have a very gentle moderation policy that lets people make judgements for themselves. Unlike the local freecycle cafe, which IMO is overmodded - so much so that I don't think people like to post on it. I certainly don't very much.
Agree with 2steps - someone was DESPERATE for a 2008 model of a particular pram, specified the colours and everything - and it cost nearly £300 new. The post was allowed up - but, so were the complaints. I don't think she posts much now.
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Jamanda
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Nothing but offers and requests go up on ours. And they have to be formatted correctly.
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Chez
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| Jamanda wrote: | | Nothing but offers and requests go up on ours. And they have to be formatted correctly. |
The mods let the complaints through with a note saying that they had had a lot about this particular WANT and that they thought they were valid. Generally they don't allow chit-chat.
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Anders
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Some people really are greedy and never give anything away themselves.
We moderate on freecycle and we tell people who often ask for expensive items to restrain themselves. If they persist we just reject their posts. I don't know if that is heavy-handed, but plenty people still post.
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Chez
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I think there's a balance between asking for stuff and giving. And some people are in a position where they need to/can do one more than another. Like 2steps says, I think it's the specification-thing that bugs me the most.
eg, nothing wrong with asking for a greenhouse - but specifying that it must be aluminium with floor vents and in good condition is a bit off. And asking repeatedly for expensive things is just rude.
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alison
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It is a tough one though.
I have got rid of quite a bit of stuff, but none of it advertised by me. All stuff where I have read a wanted, and then thought, we have that, and I never thought anyone else would want it.
I would happily put a wanted, but it may look like I have never offered!
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Jamanda
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| alison wrote: | It is a tough one though.
I have got rid of quite a bit of stuff, but none of it advertised by me. All stuff where I have read a wanted, and then thought, we have that, and I never thought anyone else would want it.
I would happily put a wanted, but it may look like I have never offered! |
I don't think that matters at all Alison. The point is to keep stuff out of land fill that would otherwise would end up there. It's not meant to be a swap shop.
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Chez
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I agree with Jamanda. But I do see what you mean.
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sean
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And she wants a Learjet. 
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frewen
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I came off because I would put things up and then people would say yes please and never turn up.
Far easier to give it away to friends, neighbours and rellies
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Jamanda
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There's a beehive on ours tonight. Hmmm.
Edited to say - email sent, fingers crossed 
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ken69
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Can honestly say that having joined Freecycle as a 'wanter', am now a giver.
If it's free, after a while it sinks in to give freely.A religous conversion almost.
Same with charity shops, stuff is cheap, give it back when you upgrade .
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RichardW
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| sean wrote: | | And she wants a Learjet. |
But it must be a 2007 model in green with the full extras pack.
Ours is too quiet (keep thinking about joining the ones in the towns further away to shift the bigger stuff). We have offered loads & have only got rid of one kids play house. Its heavily modded & the format has to be "just so".
Allison when the "wanted" ad is filled do they not post that its been filled by you? On ours when a offer is taken or wanted is filled then the offerer or wanter is supposed to post that its been "taken" or "filled" (not sure thats the term they use)
Richard
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hamster
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We had one a while back, someone asking for "a few essentials" for their child who was setting up home: television stand, computer, microwave...
Most people on ours seem to be quite sensible, or it's well modded. You get the occasional wanted ad that stretches credibility, but then given the things that sometimes get offered ("large teak dining table and six chairs," springs to mind) maybe it's not that extravagant.
A lot of people are at different stages as well. I often feel bad because we've taken a lot and given very little, but then we only moved in last summer and a) needed a lot of stuff and b) haven't yet managed to accumulate much stuff that we don't need. I offer things or respond to wanteds when I can, but it always seems very small in comparison to the things we've been given.
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Green Man
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I've seen somebody wanting a logburner before which I thought crazy, but then I remembered I knew somebody who once ad one sitting in a garage, so you never know. I always feel a bit rude asking for anything. Perhaps you should only get a couple of asks per year an as many offers as you want. 
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mochyn
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I belong to three groups and have offered/taken from them all. It's a wonderful system but you do have to filter quite heavily.
You've reminded me: I was going to sort out some more stuff to go on...
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Green Man
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Ours is have in a plant swap this month which I'm looking forward too. I have taken loads of cuttings this Summer to swap., but I hope people don't just come and take. we shall see.
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mochyn
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| Cho-ku-ri wrote: | | Ours is have in a plant swap this month which I'm looking forward too. I have taken loads of cuttings this Summer to swap., but I hope people don't just come and take. we shall see. |
Oooh: really like that idea. How does it work?
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colour it green
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i like freeecycle and have rehomed many things to grateful people.
nBut yeh you do seem some hilarious wanted - woodburners, cars, sat nav,
what rattles me is when they follow up with 'in good condition only' or colur etc
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jema
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| mochyn wrote: | | Cho-ku-ri wrote: | | Ours is have in a plant swap this month which I'm looking forward too. I have taken loads of cuttings this Summer to swap., but I hope people don't just come and take. we shall see. |
Oooh: really like that idea. How does it work? |
It wouldn't on ours  as it would be modded out of existence.
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mochyn
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| colour it green wrote: | | ...nBut yeh you do seem some hilarious wanted - woodburners, cars, sat nav, ... |
Actually, I got a woodburner a few weeks ago from Freecycle. It's a bit battered but rescuable and it's going to form the heat/smoke source for a smoker.
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sharonb
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Ours too - we can't be trusted, it seems, to compose our own messages now, we have to use "message maker". I tried to post two ads offering goods yesterday, formatted them exactly as message maker does and had them both rejected. I got a very curt message from the mod telling me not to copy message maker, but to use it instead!
I appreciate the work the mods do to keep Freecycle going, but ours have let the power go to their heads, constantly posting about rules / regulations, and are very quick to remove people from the list. My mum got removed for allegedly doing something she couldn't possibly have done, without warning, and with no way to state her case.
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Helen_A
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Ours uses the 'message maker' as well...
was a complete pita to join (I got a questionaire, and was expected to submit my phone no and postcode...  to 'prove I was entitled to join' - no I didn't.... long story) and now I'm wishing that I hadn't bothered as I've got one email address that is only used for that and its permanently bombarded with spam...
Helen_A
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Gervase
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| Cho-ku-ri wrote: | | I've seen somebody wanting a logburner before which I thought crazy, but then I remembered I knew somebody who once ad one sitting in a garage, so you never know. I always feel a bit rude asking for anything. Perhaps you should only get a couple of asks per year an as many offers as you want. |
We got our log-burner from Freecycle. I must confess to feeling a bit aghast when I saw a similar model for sale for nearly £900, but it was posted as an offer by the Freecycler, M-J emailed and collected it, so both parties were happy.
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Belinda
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We got a record-turntable and a food processor from freecycle which was brilliant. In return we've given away a couple of children's bikes to happy new owners, a large sandpit, and a child's easel. It's been a great way of passing on children's stuff in good condition and making more space in our garage!
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mochyn
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There was a land mine detector offered on ours a while ago.
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Green Man
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| mochyn wrote: | | Cho-ku-ri wrote: | | Ours is have in a plant swap this month which I'm looking forward too. I have taken loads of cuttings this Summer to swap., but I hope people don't just come and take. we shall see. |
Oooh: really like that idea. How does it work? |
I don't know yet ,how it will work on the day. Our Area Freecycle has an offshoot group called the Cafe' where we can talk and arrange Freecycly things without breaking the rules. The posters we have done for the plant swap do not have the word 'Freecycle' on them. We had a glossy magazine/book swap a fortnight ago which was great.
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Tristan
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| mochyn wrote: | | There was a land mine detector offered on ours a while ago. |
Always a useful item to have if you find yourself on the Brecon Beacons
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mochyn
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| Tristan wrote: | | mochyn wrote: | | There was a land mine detector offered on ours a while ago. |
Always a useful item to have if you find yourself on the Brecon Beacons |
I think the old chap was a bit tempted...
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Pea
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The two groups i am part of are pretty good, one group does limit the amount of wanted ads whereas the other does not. The one that does not is full of them, not much is offered.
I have offered and recieved various items from both groups. Im currently looking for a dining chair with a drop in seat for a college course, I have very cautiously sent a message to nearest group to see if it gets posted.
Pea
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Tavascarow
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On my local freecycle tonight.
I suppose if you don't ask you never get but!!
| Quote: | A Want Please Caravan!
i am in need of a 4 berth caravan, what is in good condition. or fairly good. size about 17 foot if you can help than i would be so greatful. thank you... |
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Jamanda
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M-J got rid of a caravan on freecycle.
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mochyn
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We frequently get caravans wanted/offered on ours.
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alison
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I've given 2 caravans on free cycle.
I will proberbly do one more this year, when I have finished re possessing it.
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