The Dogmother Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 What is it about Freecycle? Sometimes it works like a dream and others are just .... well, they take your breath away! Earlier this week I 'won' some firewood on Freecycle, having been caught out with this before, I was careful to ask what it was like and how big... 'will it fit in an estate car?' I asked. 'Yup' she said 'no problem' Well, I arrived there - to a houseful of screaming ankle biters and fag smoke, and the Freecycle poster shouting to me from somewhere in the depths of the house. Her OH came to the door and took me out to the garage and there it was... great shed panels, in their entirety and not broken down at all. Luckily he wasn't too bothered when I explained that I'd been expecting something I could fit in the back of my van, not need a Luton truck for! I managed to take a few smaller bits, but it really was outsized and rotten - due for the tip I think. What a disappointment I have Freecycled a few items that I am looking to get shot of and had a gratifying string of responses... I opened the first email (usually the one that I'd give them to) and then the next one; they were all curt and impolite responses. 'yeah, I'll take them' and 'Can I have them' the last email I opened was pleasant and polite, and even though he can't collect them until next week I've let them got to that chap, pending confirmation of course. The other rabble can wait. Must be something in the planets! Like I said; when it's good, it's very, very good. And when it's bad... it's ...well... disappointing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 How infuriating. I've never had a good experience yet, so don't bother anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 So far the good ones outweigh the bad, so I carry on. I have no doubt that the balance will change though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I've only "given away" twice - both very nice people and "received" once, again very nice chap who was very accommodating when I had to keep changing the plans. I'm sure if I did it more, I'd have more problem ones . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 18, 2009 Author Share Posted June 18, 2009 Don't get me wrong.. I've met some very nice people through freecycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Like you Claret, I think the good outweigh the bad, but it is frustrating ... the woman who emailed me several times 'yes, I'll collect it today' ... 'sorry, I'll be there within the hour' ... none of which was true. If she'd said 'I can't get it till next week' I wouldn't have minded! Like you, I select the most polite and courteous poster and usually they turn up. I also favour people who post regularly, because I reckon they are more likely to turn up. I will be freecycling some spare plants this weekend, I still think it's a great way to avoid waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 The thing I find most frustrating about freecycle are the different rules in adjoining groups. Due to where I live there are 3 possible groups so I'm on all and each of them has different rule regarding grouping of items into single emails or not and how long between cross posting items and when I was actively giving away things I was for ever getting told off by mods - which as I was giving away things made me I never seemed to get anything either as I was on the daily digest so too late everytime. I felt the rules were biased towards those who grab everything not those who give things away. But the other week I got 'as new' riding helmet and jodhpus for my eldest son which given how expensive lessons are was much appreciated. No one else wanted it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I have had a lady having me wait ages (well it seems it, but it's definately over a week) for a book I put on freecycle, again like you said clare she wasn't the first responce but she was the most polite so I offered it to her.. I have had to email her 4 times now to check if she is still collecting which I am told yes she will, well I am a patient person, so I didn't minf waiting a little bit, but I have now offered it elsewhere... My chicken poop flys out of here! They must all be in their gardens and not reading I guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 "Ooops, word censored!"ody mention Feng Shui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 I asked for a waffle maker a while ago and had given up hope, a lady mailed me the other day to say she had a brand new one (never out of the box) and would I like it? They have even just dropped it off at the door just now! We got a compost bin the other week (I gave the lady some eggs), I would have given the waffle person some but they didn't knock, they just left it at the door. we've had a greenhouse from freecycle, demijohns, a beer making kit (just drinking some of that now actually) and loads of other good stuff. we've given away a chiminea, 2 guitars, a cple of budgie cages, a sofa and an arm chair and various other bits. I've had the odd no-show but can only really say positive things about our freecycle experiences, I think it's wonderful sorry if you're having trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 "Ooops, word censored!"ody mention Feng Shui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 closed that toilet seat yet? It seems to me that freecycle can be a bit hit and miss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted June 19, 2009 Share Posted June 19, 2009 the feng shui one went eventually... it's the horses and ponies one that still here now... try and do a good thing and you end up waiting for people... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 I've only ever bothered to trawl through the notices a couple of times (whilst figuring out how to post offers), and what is being offered in Birmingham appears to be utter rubbish. There's always a glut of candle votives I did spot a great offer though from someone in one of the nicer areas who had demolished a front wall to create a parking space and was offering the whole stone wall I have the toilet pan, cistern and basin from the old utility room, in the back garden and want to get round to putting it all on freecycle as well as some boxes of unused tiles, so must fight my way round the system again shortly. If so many folk didn't mess you around it would work a treat, but as soon as you add humans into the equation, it all has the capacity to go pear shaped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
