The Cost of your Personal Items
@cookiecrumbles (629)
United States
September 27, 2009 10:16am CST
I belong to two online groups that give away and sell things from people like you and me. And I was flipping threw the 100 or so email ads of what is for sale and being given away and I came up with a interesting observation. I just want your point of view on. The sites are called freecycle and cheapcycle. On freecycle you put up things you are offering for free or asking for because you are in dire need of something. I have been blessed by this site they had a almost brand new bathroom mirror a lady was giving away because she was remodeling her home. It was in beautiful condition. I looked it up at Lowe's and for me to have bought that very same cabinet new would have cost 119 dollars! It's so pretty. But I have it in my bedroom instead because it is wood and 3 mirrors. I got a 2 drawer metal filing cabinet it had some rust but I spray painted it back with car spray paint and it looks brand new-again Free. Then I have seen people put thing they have just bought on cheapcycle for dirt cheat like a nice living outfit with love-seat and and 1 chair for 200 dollars and I wonder why not return the items? Then weeks latter to see the same items on free cycle for free. Why does the cost of something brand new go down to free in just a few weeks? Is there actually something your not telling us?Why do valued items with price tags one week turn into free-be's in a matter of weeks? I'm confused?
4 people like this
9 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
27 Sep 09
On something like that I would really be careful as atthe first price was way to cheap for being brand new and then free . they might not even have itat all just want your money.
LIke that pic of something that was to be real cost the people $400 and it was just a pic nott he real thing!
2 people like this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
28 Sep 09
[b]Nonono--they don't get money from you; the stuff if free for the asking! Thus the title, free-cycle. Anyway, no-one can force you to take an item if it turns out not to be what you expected or wanted.
No, this is truly one of our nicest boons. Everybuddy loves freebies! 
Maggiepie
"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"[/b]
Maggiepie
"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"[/b]1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
27 Sep 09
I suppose that they were not able to sell them and decided to give them away for free instead.
I belong to freecycle as well, but I never really used it for myself so far.
And since now Toronto has been cursed with so many bed bugs, I am a bit weary of even looking because in some places the infestation is not only in the beds or even bedrooms but allover the house/apartment.
I find that often people try to sell something, but then loose patience and just want to get rid of it. That's when they offer it for free. It doesn't mean that it's always the case, but there are many like so.
You can't return items in freecycle, so if the person got it from freecycle, they wouldn't be able to return it. Maybe they thought it would be what they were looking for and then realized it wasn't. There are also some - few thankfully - that intend to get free things in freecycle and then sell them .
But yeah, it's confusing sometimes. It's often hard to understand what exactly goes on people's minds.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
4 Oct 09
First let me say I've never heard of cheapcycle - am going to have to check into that one... I can't imagine why someone would go from a price to free so quickly unless maybe they had to move quickly so couldn't wait for a sale possibly. Sounds like you got some great things - my experience has been I haven't seen anything I needed on freecycle and pretty much gave up even looking. I did give away a tent at one time and now wish I had it as the one I had got distroyed :(
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
12 Oct 09
things usually drop down to free when they have to move them fast and they haven't sold.
that's like my mom used to work for a salvation army store,and at change of season (say summer to winter)the snooty high priced stores would dump off a whole bunch of absolutely brand new clothes they just couldn't sell.so,something that was $350 uptown the week before,is now at the S.A. for $10.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
27 Sep 09
The reason, cookiecrumbles, is because once an item has been purchased the value starts to decline. These items are usually considered "used" unless they are still in the original packaging. I used to belong to Freecycle a few years ago, and your discussion drew my attention because I just this morning went to the site to re-register. While I never was on the receiving end of any of the great giveaways, I got rid of a bunch of books through Freecycle.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
27 Sep 09
Hey cookie! I have heard of these sites before, but never have
checked them out before! I am always wary about anything that
someone wants to give away "free"! You know what they say about
nothing in life being "free"! I just have trouble believing
that things that are so great being just given away with no
strings attached! I'm sure you have to pay the shipping costs
and in some cases I'm sure that adds up and when you do get
the item if it isn't what you thought it was supposed to be
you are stuck with it and out the shipping fee! I feel the
same way about things that are sold from other sites that
are sold "as is"! That is another thing that I refuse to buy!
I am willing to pay more money for something so that I am
sure I have the option to return it just in case! I am just
not that trusting a person!
1 person likes this
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
28 Sep 09
[b]In my case, the site is "Free-cycle Austin," where I live, so one may just go pick the items up. It works!
I'll bet they're making a dent in pawn shops' sales, though. Such shops in a nearby military base town (Killeen) made a boatload of money from soldiers (who have to transfer out a lot). They can't take all their radios, TVs, CD players & guitars with them, so the pawn shops make money hand over fist--but people who used to go there from Austin to shop for great bargains can now get the same things here for free! 
Maggiepie
"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"[/b]
I'll bet they're making a dent in pawn shops' sales, though. Such shops in a nearby military base town (Killeen) made a boatload of money from soldiers (who have to transfer out a lot). They can't take all their radios, TVs, CD players & guitars with them, so the pawn shops make money hand over fist--but people who used to go there from Austin to shop for great bargains can now get the same things here for free!
Maggiepie
"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"[/b]
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
28 Sep 09
I guess it's just the nature of the beast. Maybe there is a slight flaw in the item. Or someone discovers they do really like it and just wants to get rid of it.
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
28 Sep 09
[b]There may be many reasons why. Did you ask? I would've. I get stuff from Freecycle quite a bit, including (among other items) a good color TV & some big fluffy bath towels. I love it, & maybe I shouldn't look this gift horse in the mouth, but I'm just a curious sort.
Maggiepie
"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"[/b]
Maggiepie
"WHERE'S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?"[/b]
@harmonee (1228)
• United States
29 Sep 09
My husband and I just had a baby and we got almost all of his nursery stuff for free off such websites. I don't know why you would spend thousands of dollars when you can be thrifty and get it for cheaper if not free. I don't know why brand new things get given away. Maybe the people giving it didn't have to pay for it either. All I know is it saved us a bunch of money and I totally appreciate it.
