Freecycle giving away items

2moretrees · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 08:29 PM

Have you ever given away items on freecycle? When you do, do you have to give it to the first person that responds? I'm finding that it seems some people just wait for things to be listed to take them, but really don't need them. I suspect they are reselling them. Is it appropriate to wait for a response from someone that you really think needs the stuff being given away?

34saving · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 08:43 PM

It's my understanding that you can give it to whomever you want. Waiting a day or two for the e-mails to come in and then responding to one you like is functionally no different than responding to the one that hit your e-mail server first.

Bluezy · #3 (**permalink**) 08-10-2005, 02:07 AM

I've never heard of Freecycle. May I ask what it is?

34saving · #4 (**permalink**) 08-10-2005, 10:39 AM

www.freecycle.org
It's basically a network of local groups that exchange free stuff. For example, I post that I have a door I don't need, somebody who wants it comes and picks it up. Its life is extended and it's doesn't go in the landfill.

Fern · #5 (**permalink**) 08-10-2005, 11:02 AM

I've been using Freecycle all summer. NO, you can choose to give it to whoever you want. It can be a little annoying becus i've had several instances where people said they wanted something, then never followed through; meanwhile, i was having to turn down scores of others who wanted it. Freecycle etiquette is to promptly make arrangements for pickup, preferably in a day or two, for the convenience of the giver, since it is, after all, free.

I guess there is a risk that some people take only to resell, altho you'd have to factor in the gas to pick up stuff, and it certainly wouldn't seem worth it for the many smaller items offered on the site.

cercis · #6 (**permalink**) 08-10-2005, 03:48 PM

I gave away a washer. My email program doesn't always put emails in the order they came in, so I had no way of knowing who responded first. I just read through the emails and picked the one that sounded "right". She was really nice, came and got it and wrote back to say it was working great.

momma4 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-11-2005, 11:12 PM

I love the freecycle group

I got a washer when mine broke down for the second time in less than a month after I got a used one UGH good thing I talked my dh into a brand new set next incometax. I have also gotten alot of my closets just about cleaned out which my dh likes cause I am such a packrat LOL.

momma4 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2005, 11:14 PM

forgot to add I will be putting up my old washer and dryer (if they make it of course) on freecycle when I get ready to move

just want to keep the cycle going

Tree0164 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-16-2005, 04:03 AM

I just posted our old tv that wouldn't work with cable but worked fine w/ a dvd player or playstation. Got a zillion responses.

cercis · #10 (**permalink**) 08-16-2005, 07:37 PM

I ended up with 3 washers last year. We had one when we moved in to the house, the previous owner left hers and then I bought a front loader with some extra money I earned. I gave one washer away to a friend of a friend who had had a fire (started by her cat, cats and candles are not a good combo) and the other on freecycle.

It felt really good to pass on things to people who needed them. I probably could have sold them, but it didn't seem worth the hassle and I figured the karma would be worth more than the $50 I could have gotten.

akaivyleaf · #11 (**permalink**) 08-17-2005, 07:17 AM

Our freecycle group is horrible... There is more arguing than giving and people complain about the free stuff. I get in the group when I have something to get rid of, and get out as soon as the transaction is over.

Sharon