<p>I’ve used Freecycle a number of times, and I have to say I’m a skeptic about the sob stories–the longer and more elaborate the tale, the less I buy it. I just assume all the responders are going to sell the stuff at a tag sale or junk shop, and don’t let it bother me. I tell the first few responders that the item will be on my curb beginning at a specific time, and whoever gets there first can take it.</p>
<p>Wow, I never heard of this before. How does it work?</p>
<p>I just got home and responded to a freecycle of college textbooks. They are about five years old, and are actually in my son’s field! Five minutes away, on someone’s front porch, with my name on them. Easy peasy! </p>
<p>I visited the local animal rescue group’s thrift/gift shop on the way home, and found some items I just bought on Craigslist for a fraction of the cost! Why didn’t I look there first! Purchased them anyway, will keep the inexpensive ones for myself, and give the newly purchased one to my sister as a gift!</p>
<p>Waiting to hear from the reply for my pavers. If she doesn’t pick them up before trash day, they will go in the trash.</p>
<p>That’s going to be my attitude. If it doesn’t get picked up by trash day, the garbage man, or the curbside charity, will get it.</p>
<p>parentofpeople - Most communities have a “freecycle” website (do some googling to find one near you). It essential is a online want ad site, with everything free. </p>
<p>Anybody can read it, but you need yahoo id (very simple to get) to post ads - “wanted” or “offered”. You are required to do on “offered” ad before doing any “wanted” ads. With no money exchanged, you only need to leave things outside (not let a stranger in house)… so less risky than Craigslist.</p>
<p>thanks @colorado_mom I will check it out.</p>
<p>
Actually, I believe this requirement varies depending on the local Freecycle rules. I’ve joined 3 different groups in different communities and have never had this requirement. Each group has a volunteer moderator who admininsters the group. For the group in my summer community I had to write a few words about why I wanted to join – but didn’t have to do that in the other 2 groups. One group had a “no pets” rule – meaning, for example, you couldn’t advertise kittens to give away. If someone has multiple items to give away, one of my groups wants them all listed together; the other 2 want every item listed separately. Some groups also put a limit on the number of “wanted” listings you can do in a month.</p>
<p>So, while the specifics of each group may vary, the basic premise is the same. I tend to ignore the responses with big sob stories, but otherwise give an item to the first responder. If he/she doesn’t show, though, I move on. I had one responder basically ask me if I could deliver the item! I responded with an email that said, “Are you kidding? I’m offering this for free and you want it delivered?”</p>
<p>The details of freecycle probably do vary by community. I subscribe to daily email log of all entries… and once in a while we get the lonnnnng list of rules. The rules list makes freecycle look harder than it really is. Tis really pretty simple once you get in the swing of it. </p>
<p>“Are you kidding? I’m offering this for free and you want it delivered?” - I actually have delivered (several times), to a car-less and very appreciative family who lives along my route across town to church.</p>
<p>Bumping this thread to remind folks that Freecycle is a joyful way to declutter. I’ll add a recent example.</p>
<p>I picked up some free swag for Barefoot Wineries for DD, but she didn’t want it. So I did a freecycle Offer for the Tshirt (with “Merlot-ha!” on the back) and the cloth tote bag. Within 10 minutes I had 2 requests. I opted to give it to a Dad who wanted to mail as gift to his D in Hawaii. He lives less than a mile away. Looking back at my old emails from prior freecycling, he is a 59 year old man on disability. It feels good to help.</p>