Are people getting pickier?
By breepeace
@breepeace (3014)
Canada
May 27, 2007 9:27pm CST
I've posted some great stuff on freecycle -- my old acoustic guitar, a beautiful CD rack, a bar stool I loved but that didn't fit in with my decorating scheme -- all stuff I probably could have got a few dollars for at least at a garage sale or through the classifieds. I'm starting to notice however, with the advent of the generous people who give away perfectly wonderful and usable items, things like bags of mismatched socks (for sock rugs), scraps of fabric or even shoes, clothing and household items have absolutely NO takers. I'm not the first freecycler in my group to have noticed this. I know when I was starting my own household years ago I would be absolutely blown away to recieve a whole set of matching coffee mugs for free!
So are people getting pickier about what they take for free?
3 people like this
3 responses
@breepeace (3014)
• Canada
28 May 07
Maybe that's what drives me a little nuts about it.. like the thing I'm offering for free is such a big burden, that they'll 'do the favour' of taking it from me.
Maybe I'm a little touchy about it, but if I have a good item to freecycle and someone says they'll take it off my hands for me, I likely won't give it to them. Makes me wonder if they really have a purpose for it, or if they just want it to resell it or something.
I much prefer when they tell me why they need my item. I'd be devastated if my old guitar got tossed in someone's garbage can because they just wanted it to have, and their grandkid jumped on it or something.
@kelly60 (4546)
• United States
30 May 07
There are many that are picky about what they will take, and others that are not. I offered an old computer, scanner, printer two monitors, and some computer accessories but said that whoever took them had to take it all and they could reoffer whatever they didn't want. I actually had people asking me what brand the scanner was, how big the hard drive was, or if an ink cartridge was included with the printer, or if cords were included. These aren't the type of people I wanted to give my things to.
On the other hand, I live in a rural area, nearly 40 miles from the nearest freecycle and I belong to several freecycle groups from surrounding counties. I see things all of the time that I could really use and would love to have. Sometimes I see them offered, and reoffered. I would love to go get them, but for me, the price of gas is to much to make it worth my drive so I often can't make the trip.
@breepeace (3014)
• Canada
30 May 07
*LOL* Too funny.. I offered a brand new hardcover edition of the book 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott, and someone actually asked me if it was the one published in 1987.
@rusty2rusty (6771)
• Defiance, Ohio
29 May 07
Oh,yes I do think the freecyclers are getting pickier. As I just had a garage sale and now dealing with trying to gtet rid of all the acccess through freecycle. I offered up some childrens clothing ranging from 18 to 6x in size. I stated that all would have to be taken. Because they were not sorted. I have many takers. But the first one that did show up wanted to go through the bag right then and there. I told her straight out. Take the whole bag or none at all. She left with nothing. Why she was so picky I don't know. But I have another lady will several kids that fit all sizes willing to pick it all up tomorrow evening.
