Jules. Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 This week I have had good & bad freecycle experiences. I got a 6 man frame tent on Sunday- all it cost me was a bit of petrol to collect it & 4 eggs in an Omlet box I have offered a small slow cooker & a blender. The slow cooker went no problem, the blender person has wanted ME to phone HER mobile with directions to my house I thought that if I had offered something it should not cost me money to give it away. I did email her comprehensive directions. The lady had my email, mobile & home number, & could have called me if she had wanted to. She didn't. So I have offered the blender to someone else. I also offered my small White Knight tumble dryer. I had loads of interest ( as you'd expect) & then I thought of someone at church who would be grateful of it, & offered it to her. She's taking it, & so i had to withdraw it from freecycle saying it ws going to a deserved home. I had some snide emails saying that people were surprised I had withdrawn the offer so early ( I had intended to keep it on there till Tuesday, but withdrew it on Monday to stop people being disappointed). i felt personally wounded by one email- I didn't realise how much sarcasm could come over via email. but- one the whole my freecylce experiences have been ok. My new composter came via freecycle in October. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 What a shame some people are so rude. We have offered and received loads of things through Freecycle. I have had a few impolite replies, basically 'I'll have that' rather than 'please would you consider me for the item you offered'. I ignore them. I always make a point of posting thanks and often send a card too. Sorry you've had to put up with this - have you referred the person who was so rude to the Freecycle moderators? They are breaking the rules if they're sending nasty emails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Glad to hear you had mostly good experiences with freecycle. I think it is such a brilliant idea and have only had really good experiences myself. My only gripe is that things go instantly on the group I am on and as I am dialup and not broadband I don't stand a chance. I wish our group had a wait 48hours policy before offering somebody the item, but it is first to ask gets it Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 oh Jules, how rude are some people. Sending you a hug. We had a bad freecylce experience. Ross posted a question asking if anyone knew of a good area to go rabbiting, it wasn't actually for him, but for a farmer we are good friends with. The mod then sent him a email with swear words and all, telling him that it was offensive [pot kettel ???] He emailed back telling her she was uneducated using swear words, so she blocked him and said: ''i dont get paid from freecycle as a mod to take your back chat'' I didn't think the mods got paid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I didn't think the mods got paid They don't I am co-mod on one local freecycle group, you do the job for love I am shocked that a mod used bad language. I think you should have reported her to the other mods and enclosed a copy of her e.mail. She wouldn't be a mod for long Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I would have, but it was Ross who recieved it and he wouldn't let me. Some people hey? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 It can be a bit hit and miss sometimes, I have recently advertised our piano, and then offered it to someone who sent a polite e-mail, they have ignored all my e-mails and I even rang their mobile but nothing Another lady replied rather bluntly demanding to know why I hadn't been in touch to let her make arrangements to collect it It's usually no problem though Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 HAve given two things - one was a dishwasher but I was fed up of the 20 questions and yes I will have it and then no I wont - eventually it went and it was working fine and was better than my own one albeit the same _ I had no where to keep it in case I needed spares etc. The I offered a settee and a recliner - the recliner went then the settee went so I took the settee off and then they did not want it - grrrrrrrrrrr - they were getting these things for nothing too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 When we get some better weather I will put the tent up in the garden & post some pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I generlly have had good experiences, but I have noticed lots of things that come up as taken, but have never seen an offered post for them; a friend reckons that the mods are creaming off the good stuff to sell at boot sales!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 if we hear of Tessa saying shes been selling at car boots we'll know where it came from [im only joking , your lovely!] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris70 Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Hello, I've tried to do my first ever freecycle deal this week. A sofa bed that unfortunelty Boris has ripped the cover on. Three replies, one jsut saying they'll have it when can they come and get it. Anotehr asking why I sated it needed recovering and requesting a photo, and the final one again saying they'd have it. I wrote back to all three, offering it to the 1st person who replied, who has since turned it down, as did the one abou the recovering. A guy is coming round this evening to look at it - so fingers crossed it will go. I think everyone is so egar to get things and type quickly manors just seem to go out the window - which is a little unfortunate really as they really do cost nothing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygal Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I've had good and bad experiences with freecycle too... the good- picked up some great sets of shelving, have given away a washing machine to a very grateful family who obviously were in need, once gave an old pushchair to a couple who said they were going to turn it into a go kart the bad- people not showing up when they say they will, one person was supposed to come, didn't show, I re advertised the item and they asked for it again!! Needless to say it didn't go to them. Also some people always post wanted, but never offer, I think with anything you've always got a selfish contigent who don't enter into the spirit of the thing. There's also been controversy over people collecting items then selling them on ebay which personally I don't like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I gave up on mine when requests came through for a garden swing lounger And a car Yes someone really asked if anyone had a roadworthy car to give away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 if we hear of Tessa saying shes been selling at car boots we'll know where it came from ] Trust me this just doesn't happen honest I've been a very lazy mod since I joined this forum Reading other people's experiences of freecycle, I just remembered that a couple of years ago I freecycled two huge family bibles, leatherbound blah blah, they were inherited from my late MIL. I got some really weird e.mails from people telling me I shouldn't treat such precious books in such a way and I was demeaning them I never replied. I reckon it was better to give them to somebody that really wanted them rather than stick them in the cellar. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I've only used it once - to give away some roof bars for our old Vauxhall which were 1" too narrow for our new(er) Vauxhall . Two people came but they didn't fit so we decided to keep them (just in case ). Then a few months later someone emailed, came to look, they fitted, they took them! Nice chap too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I have seen several cars go via Leeds Freecycle! They were usually elderly, in need of TLC, but had been well cared for. In one case an old Volvo was offered by someone who had been given it on Freecycle the year before. We gave away our old games console when my OH updated it for a newer model. I couldn't live with two of the things so insisted he did something productive with the old one. He gave it to a clinic for deaf children, for use in their waiting room. It was very graciously requested and received. Before we moved house we cleared our garage - there was no point moving bits of wood, half packs of laminate etc., and removals companies won't touch all those half-used pots of paint in case they spill in the van. We gort rid of the lot through Freecycle and everyone either turned up as promised or called to rearrange. They all posted thanks. This year I was given a huge bagful of quinces by a lady whose tree was covering the lawn with fallen fruit - I have a cupboard full of quince jelly as a result! I agree some people are cheeky, others ask for more than they offer. Our experiences have been overwhelmingly good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I've had good and bad experiences. I've given away LOADS of stuff, all the baby stuff before I moved and after I moved lawnmowers, carpet, toilet and sink to name but a few. I've had a few no shows but not many. I bent the rules to ask for a handyman so now I'm moderated before my posts appear on the big local group - as that means I'm flooded with emails if its a popular item and cant get a TAKEN note through for hours I don't offer my good items on that group any more. Also the moderator was quite rude to me but doesn't stop the persistant WANTED posts although she did post the other day to remind people not to keep asking for the same things but she has done little to stop it. When I asked for a handyman I got one REALLY rude email from somone about breaking the rules and how it was bad enough with all the wanted posts etc - his tone was horrible. I politely replied with an apology anyway. Then I got a second email from him having a go at me for advertising my businessess on my emails to the group and himself. Again I polietly replied that my websites in my email signature are not business and that I would not be changing my personal email settings to suit him (its my ICT website for resources and my blog!). I also reported him for his rude and aggressive tone to the moderator. Who did NOTHING. I reported someone else too and the moderator emailed back saying it's tough. The person offered me something an hour after I asked for it, I read the email an hour later and replied with some suggestions for when I could pick up. She then emailed me back saying "sorry I've given it to someone who lived locally and collected immediately". HUH? So basically she offered it to me and an hour later had already given it away. It makes me think that group isn't very well moderated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfYaffle Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I love freecycle although I've had one or two bad experiences. The worst thing is the volume of e-mails, I have to check my mail box twice a day to keep it manageable. If you go on daily digest you can't respond quickly enough to get anything. I'm getting some slabs at the weekend to go under our (as yet non existant) hen house so I can't complain and I have seen another local Omleteer getting an incubator recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I bent the rules to ask for a handyman so now I'm moderated before my posts appear on the big local group. Oh how unfair. Our local group is allowed to ask for suggestions for plasterers, dentists or how to get rid of mice etc., No problem. One item that really started a rumpus was when somebody offered 6 kittens to good homes, actually I asked for one myself mods had to work overtime to cope with all the hate e.mails from animal lovers who said the guy should give them to a cat's home and not offer them to strangers who were apparently going to do goodnessknowswhat with them, all a bit silly imho. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfYaffle Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I offered our cat through Freecycle and had no problems. She went to a lovely home, all our local cats homes were full and horribley judgemental when i called. The alternative would have been to put her to sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy&cake Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 Im a sucker for cats, i LOVE them. We have a local cats protection league, i tried to book an appointment about 6 months ago. The woman was so rude. '' i cant do this day, or that, next week im going to |Majorca for 3 weeks, sorry you will have to wait or not bother'' I was so angry, to top it off they charge you £60 a cat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfYaffle Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 £60! Sadly, our cat had been freaked out by a new cat in the neighbourhood and starting pooing indoors and I mean really pooing - in the kitchen sink, in the bath, all over the shop. I was pregnant at the time and worried about toxoplasmosis as well as my toddler getting hold of it. One lady at a cats' home I called (can't remember which one) told me to get my gloves on and clean it up Obviously not familiar with the effect of toxoplasmosis on the unborn .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I've had generally good experiences of freecycle. I've got rid of loads of stuff including all the units/worktops from our old kitchen, the appliances and sofa. I have got much in return just an old rabbit run (been great for keeping new chooks seperate) and also a child's drawing easel. Just this week I managed to rehome a load of plastic platters after having the food for a buffet delivered by Sainsburys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I've just freecycled a cot bed (you might have seen the ad, Boris!) which was damaged. In a fit of rage I pushed it against the wall a bit too hard and the leg broke Still, better that than take it out on the child who'd caused the rage (and who wasn't in the bed at the time!). I used it in this state for about a year and it was perfectly usable with care. We've just bought ds2 a Big Boy Bed so this one was no longer needed. I was open about the damage (although not the cause!) and a lady came yesterday and took it, thinking her oh could probably fix it. My oh was all for taking it to the dump so I am very glad that someone has taken it and may be able to use it. A very encouraging experience. However, I'm a bit of a meanie and would only ever Freecycle stuff that I couldn't sell through the Freeads/eBay or Forums. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
