jlo Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I am fairly new on Freecycle and only really started it after seeing some threads on here. I have been offering more than wanting. The only thing is that, how do you choose between all the people who reply?? I sometimes think that it is unfair going for the first one to reply - and some do reply really quickly! Do you think that some people take some stuff and then flog it on E-bay. I don't mind people doing that but not if they have put some story on about how the items would be great for their child or something. Am I being too cynical here?? Main query is - is there a good method of choosing the recipient? I will stop waffling now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Personally, I think that some people just sit on their computer glued to freecycle just to see what they can get. I'm a member of our local freecycle and by the time I get them appear in my in box, they've already gone!!! What I would do is type something along the lines of:- I will make my decision as to who receives (whatever goods) in a few days, once I've had an opportunity to read them all. And then after a few days make your decision on whatever one takes your fancy. I would certainly not take the first one that came through - unless I was absolutely desperate to get rid. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 i usually give it to whoever has got the best reason for needing it!! definatly do not give it just to the first person that replies, because it doesn't mean they need it the most!! good luck choosing! Kitbag xxxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I learnt to be a bit vague about sizes (doesn't work for everything obviously) and I get people to tell me what size they need (I offered a lot of curtain poles at one point) as those that say they aren't bothered are probably selling. I do weed out those that are demanding in their emails and people who are polite and friendly go to the topof the list. I tend not to go fir the first especially if they reply as soon as it's posted as that suggests they are sitting watching constantly and you only do that if you are reselling If anyone else has tips I'd love to hear them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I do weed out those that are demanding in their emails and people who are polite and friendly go to the topof the list. I tend not to go fir the first especially if they reply as soon as it's posted as that suggests they are sitting watching constantly and you only do that if you are reselling I am with patricia on this one - there are a few more demanding people on our local Freecycle, & they certainly don't get first dibs. There is one chap who just emails 'yes' - he gets ignored I tend to be a sucker for a polite email & a friendly manner. That is what Freecycle is all about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 I like Patricia's idea about being vague on sizes. I also agree that polite emails are more attractive. It is reassuring to know that I am not alone in my cynicism! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 On our Freecycle group some people use FOP (fair offer policy) and there is a standard wording for this along the lines of "I will wait for 48hrs to offer someone this item in order that those on daily digest and people with limited computer access a chance to reply" This seems to work well, and stops the people glued to their computer getting an unfair advantage. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 Thanks for that Tessa - it seems a good idea. Still not sure how I will choose after 48 hours though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 York operates a FOP too - we have a standard phrase on our website and i put it in posts. Of course you don't have to, some people need to get rid of things really quickly so they'll put something stating they want a commitment to collect by a certain date and time. I'm like the others and read the emails to get a feel for who needs it most: charities for example. My biggest freecycle complaint is the 'no shows' after you've offered them something: i tend to chase them up a couple of times in case of genuine problem then offer it to the next on the list. I have given something away only to see the exact item for sale in the local paper a few days later; i've also had someone turn up from Leeds to collect something when this is a local group. Both taking advantage of freecycle, but that's going to happen sometimes, isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I go by the tone of the email. If they are polite and friendly, i tend to pick the first of the polite ones. I always leave it a day or so, so that people have a fair chance. People who want me to phone rather than reply by email don't get a look-in i'm afraid as i'm chronically telephobic!! TBH, i'm not bothered what they do with the item afterwards, i'm just looking to get rid of it. I still give a lot of stuff to charity shops instead of Freecycle, i feel much better afterwards!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 If i reply to something i always add that i am a childminder and we will make good use of the item. people have offered me extra things because of this on pick up lolmind you did get a bag of toys thrown in with half the bits missing, now thats annoying, would never do that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I don't know how they do it but I reckon some resellers have some kind of automatic response generated by their email, so check if they actually refer to the actual item you are offering. You can also do a check on their username to see if they just take stuff or if they offer it too. I hate it when people just reply with "I'll have it. I'll pick it up on ...day!" - not blummin' well likely matey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I had one lady email to say she would take everything I was offering and I could deliver it to her house in a village about 5-6 miles away. I don't think so!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I usually leave it for a couple of days before I decide and I look on their profiles to see what sort of offers (if any) they have made in the past. I ignore anyone who wants me to deliver as I think that is a bit of a cheek but I suppose if "Ooops, word censored!"ody else wanted it and they had a good reason for not being able to collect I would deliver if not too far away. Checking profiles etc doesn't always work as I've just had a timewaster who didn't show, but have contacted someone else who will collect tomorrow (hopefully). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I go for polite, well written, not asking me to call them (Cheek!) and (Sorry to some of you here) NOT telling me a fabulous reason for wanting it (childminders, scout troops, church, granny etc etc etc) call me a cynic but I think many people say those things to pull on your heart strings and then sell your goods on. I know SOME will be genuine but I suspect more won't be. Oh and "I'll hve it pls let me no when i can pick up frm u" goes STRAIGHT to deleted. If you can't be bothered to type a reply properly then I can't be bothered to reply to you! And grabby? Forget it. Last weeks I offered 2 very different items (TV and a shower, shower tray and shower surround) following the rules I only used one post. Some people seemed to want both and went straight to deleted. I was actually going to post this one- entire reply here! "yes plz " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I tend to go to the first to respond, just because I'm usually keen to get rid of the item. I ALWAYS give it to the first polite answer, though - anyone who just answers 'yes I'll have it' is off the list. The more polite the reply, the more chance there is that they will turn up and collect it, yes it is nice to have a bit of 'human story' in there, i.e. 'this would be perfect for our son's bedroom' which was the (genuine) response last time I freecycled a bookcase, but like Pengy, I am very cynical about these. If I'm listing several items, I'll ignore anyone who just says 'I'll take the lot' because you can bet they're heading for a bootsale/eBay. I have had mostly good experiences through FreeCycle, and I love the fact that it's not going to landfill. I still take clothes and books to charity shops, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I prefer the people who say things like childminder/scout etc. I'm also not against givng the same person more than one thing if they are genuine. I had one lady who'd had something before email to ask for something I'd offered and reminding me she'd already had something from me previously in case I'd prefer to give it to someone who hadn't already had anything for me. I thought that was vey honest (and gave her the item) I rescued a piano a friend in the same village was going to put in a skip as I couldn't bear the idea of something like that going to landfill so it was on her drive - nothing special but a working piano that looked ok. I explained the background and that it wasn't mine and needed to go soon as it was on her drive and one person emailed insisting I check who'd made the piano I must admit I did send back a snooty reply telling her it was a free piano not a shop A lovely lady who emailed telling us she had recently started playing the piano for a local choir and please could she have it got the piano instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I have become very cynical of some of the I wanters on freecycle. The ones who just leave me speechless are the people who specify size, colour, size even the brands of what the want I recently posted an offer of a Rat cage when my DS pet passed away (old age) and received a response not asking but saying they would come to view it before deciding to accept or not. I cant post what my response to them was on here quite a few members of our Freecyle use the FOP (fair offer policy) Personally I now take to the Charity shop the BHF has a gift aid scheme if I put my number on a sticker on my donations they write every so often telling me what the goods have made and they reclaim tax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 Oh and "I'll hve it pls let me no when i can pick up frm u" goes STRAIGHT to deleted. If you can't be bothered to type a reply properly then I can't be bothered to reply to you! I am definitely with you on that one Pengy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Excuse the stupid question...... I would like to join Freecycle. The one for Birmingham seems to be a Yahoo group? Is this the case for all Freecycle groups or am I looking at the wrong thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 No, I think that is right medusa - they are Yahoo groups. We got rid of a bin bag full of cuddlies last week. Posted 3 times,with no takers,but the final time a lady who send toys & gifts to orphans in Romania called, so they have gone there. Can't think of a better place for them to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Thanks, Sarah. Off to join now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 By the way ,my local Freecycle has started a name & shame page on its forum,where you can have a gripe about bad Freecyclers & praise good ones. You can also post if you suspect a Freecycler of selling on, so others know who to avoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 OK I now have another top tip for you for bagging a brilliant freecycle. I just picked up a JAM PAN! Amazing really as I had actually tried to order one yesterday and the order bounced as I needed to enter new credit card details and I couldn't be bothered to get up and get another credit card. Then one one was offered on freecycle. The lady who offered it said she was amazed by the response she got - popular item but she chose me BECAUSE I WAS A FELLOW CHICKEN KEEPER! How did she know? My blog link is in my email signature - when I picked up the jam pan she said she had been enjoying reading the blog. Of course there is one person in our group (who a LOT of people have complained about!) who likes to think he is the frecycle police and has griped to me before that I am "advertising my services" in my email signature. He is a total numpty IMHO there are 2 links in that signature one to my ICT GCSE resources and one to the blog. There are amazon adverts on one site but I've NEVER made any money out of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 I am moving next week to a tiny house and have just put my Ikea oak effect lounge furniture on Freecycle as it won't fit in my new mini house! Its like a feeding frenzy its all nice stuff and not very old so I knew it would be popular but this is something else! Some replies are obviously computer generated and I have had them several times (like I wont notice the same reply!) Thanks to the advice here I have said that I will not contact anyone before Sunday eve so that everyone will have a chance to see the listings Thanks for the advice here! Hopefully my stuff will go to a nice home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
