Does anyone use freecycle?
By mommaj
@mommaj (23112)
United States
August 1, 2009 8:45am CST
I've been a member of freecycle for over 6 years. I joined in different states when we lived there. The biggest difference I noticed is people are more giving when they don't need anything. It's odd that the people that have been offering stuff are people that are buying new or just tired of whatever they are giving. Do you freecycle? How is it where you live?
5 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
12 Aug 09
I always forget about freecycle but if I have to be concerned with logging in to check for interest or deal with even more emails it would become yet one more thing for me to manage. It would be easier for me to take something to thrift store or try and sell it at the flea market.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
19 Aug 09
I guess that is a good way to look at it. I see how many page views I make a day and although it doesn't average out 1 per article yet, I am hopeful. LOL I do decent on the page views and I have never promoted my articles yet. Although, I am going to have to start making an appearance in the forum. There just isn't many topics I want to comment on in ac. LOL
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
13 Aug 09
I never get to all the ones regarding comments from AC. That is just too much for me to deal with. My article on the French Quarter festival got over 200 views without me promoting it. I know that as long as I post articles on certain topics they will get traffic I just decided to conentrate on helium for a while and build it up so I could see some fruit for my labor.
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
1 Aug 09
i have joined this group some years ago, but have not liked it... some members there are just there and putting in their wishlist, which is really annoying. i have offered my old books there, because someone needs them for a donation at some provinces, but they never picked-up what i have offered. i have also replied to someone who was giving away something, i know somebody close to her place that would really need it, when i sent an sms message i got a reply, of ok. after that no more.
others would ask like, if you have something like this, i need it please but it should be in working condition... wt
.
.@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
1 Aug 09
some people are just rude.
i think here in my place, some of those that collect things in free cycle are selling them too, its not like they are not allowed to do that... but...there are still other people that would really need it. others are just there for profit, this is just my opinion.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
1 Aug 09
The freecycle is set up that if you know people are selling the stuff you report it to the site administrator. Freecycle is about gifting. Not profiting. All the freecycles I belonged to had a disclosure about that. The member found selling the items get kicked off the site.
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
1 Aug 09
oh really...? i do not remember if the one i was in had that kind of disclosure. but, that would be really hard to prove if someone is doing that even if we had an idea. because most of them are from different places (far) and would just pick up the things especially if they are of good value. anyway like i said above these are just my opinions, it could be true or it could be not true.
i just dont like what i have joined here because of the wishlist thing. and they are many huh, not just one. i can understand those that wants old clothes and old toys, but those that asks for videocams? cellphones? and the likes... 
@imlovingit (72)
• United States
1 Aug 09
god, 6 long years, you've been very faithful to that site.
I've only been a member there for about a couple of days.
I heard about it from a friend of mine that you could get
free stuff. and that's gr8 that you can get free stuff there.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
1 Aug 09
I've been on it for six years in three different states. Alabama was the worst. I liked the one in VA because I never had any problems with the people offering or picking up. The one in Fl you get the no-shows and the forgetful ones that promise things to everybody and whoever shows up first wins. It's okay though. The stuff is free and you don't have to deal with the people again. LOL
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
2 Aug 09
I've been a member of freecycle for about 5 years. Ours here is pretty decent. There are the fair number of people that offer specific things and then there are the people that post wish lists. I think that would be the case everywhere, there are always the people who think they can get something for free.
The main problem that I've noticed with Freecycle in our area is that there is also CheapCycle. Which is an online yard sale. There is much more traffic in CheapCycle than with FreeCycle. The good thing is I haven't had to throw things that I just didn't like anymore into the trash and I've also gotten some decent things in return.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
3 Aug 09
I think the admin is what makes freecycle. In VA and in Fl they specifically state No more than 2 wants a week and you should offer something. It's not for bartering... The admin is pretty good about reading the wants and offers. I guess it's how much time they have. LOL I've had to edit offers before but then sometimes they slip things through without looking.
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Aug 09
I love Freecycle. I love the idea of giving and receiving, while keeping things out of the landfills.
I am in an area where I can belong to several Freecycle groups. Lately I've only concentrated on my particular area because I don't drive out to the other areas as much as I used to. It does seem the groups are bigger in the "nicer" areas.
For the most part, everyone has been considerate and friendly. There is a slight problem with flakes here and there. And my pet peeve is when someone does not thank me for a picked up item. When I do receive an item that I have been needing, I cannot make any complaints at all.
Freecycle has given me a reason to unload my pack rat tendencies. :)
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
19 Aug 09
I find that some areas are better than others as well. Every group has its clique and I have noticed it with Freecycle as well. They have turned ours into a donation site where you can now ask for basic necessities. I guess with the economy it is good that can be allowed. Although, that's not what freecycle was meant to be for, but hey, if you are part of the clique, you can put anything on freecycle.
