I've finally joined Freecycle

your so right Jane, if your polite & friendly they're much more likely to respond in the same way...i know i would

 

We have problems with some messages off people asking for stuff we've offered going into the spam folder, not all the time but fairly regularly, so worth keeping an eye on. I'm sure it must happen the other way too, when we ask for something sometimes I feel our messages aren't getting through because they're going into someone else's spam folder??!!

 

Did Jane give you the massive Rhubarb crown then?

 

No. Am still attempting to pick someone out of the potential candidates. One person wants to take it home on the bus with them

 

I have actually got something I need off freecycle , a dog guard for the car, Maddie is not used to cars, only vans, so as I have an estate decided it would be prudent to get one, have you seen the price,,,. So placed a wanted ad on all my local freecycles last week, not holding out much hope, somebody responded last night, , an RAC adjustable guard, off to collect at 9-30,

 

happy days Pam, you certainly scored there

 

I gave away oodles of watercress on freecycle a few years ago as it was choking my pond .. oddly enough what was left which was quite a lot died over the next winter so now I have none ah well we never ate it anyway as we are not keen

 

I've given up on Freecycle. So far my experience of it is:

* When giving something away, I got messed about quite a lot before someone eventually turned up without practical means to collect when I'd offered, so I had to deliver it for him (well, didn't have to, but don't tell anyone but I don't like to see people stuck so I offered).

* Asked for something, got offered it, agreed a time to go and collect it, got there after using about £10 of petrol, bloke wasn't in and the stuff was nowt like as he described anyway.

* Most people simply don't even do the common courtesy of a quick reply.

I think the software is flawed too. You get no way of tracking messages you've sent or ads you've replied to. I think its unfortunate. While it obviously works for some, its clear why some 10 years on (or more), the tip is still a very busy place. If I had the energy, I'd set up a rival system that actually worked.

 

Don't be disheartened by it so far. The trouble with most ideas, freecycle, gumtree, ebay etc is the people who use them are beyond the control of the site.

Was this the hardcore you were trying to get rid of then?

 

i use Adverts.ie myself but not sure if thats only Ireland though

 

I've had a truly heart warming experience of Freecycle today.

Way back in January, I responded to an add offering stone pots. Unfortunately, someone got there before me and I dipped out.

However, she also had some flint stones on offer and gave me first refusal. Well, I accepted her kind offer. Despite having to alter the collection date, due to unforeseen circumstances, the lady was very accommodating.

Well, fast forward to last night: I received an email from the lady, reminding me that I had collected (8) bags of flint stones and she now has another 3 bags full, which she wanted to offer to me *before* putting them up on Freecycle!!!! How very thoughtful and kind is that!?

I emailed her back and asked when it would be convenient to collect and she responded today with several options of dates/times.

I wanted to post my experience, simply because, well - life sort of creeps up behind you and gives you the most unexpected surprises in human nature, when you least expect it and, possibly, when you most need it (?)

 

I've met some lovely generous people via Freecycle/Freegle - though, on occasions, I've also had some awfully 'rude and curt' replies to my offers.

If people aren't prepared to say 'Please' or 'Thank You for considering me', they don't even get a look in where I'm concerned.

 

Made a few friends, also had the rude emails.

Always report rude replies and no shows to the mods, 2 no shows and you're banned.

 

How very true.

 

Right, that's it, I'm reporting

No rude emails have been sent my way! (Shuffles off feeling somewhat "marginalised" )