This winter I decided to sign-up for the local freecycle list since my mother had some friends who utilized their list frequently and really liked it. I thought it would be a good way to pick up some household items that needed to be replaced after my last move and maybe pick up some other stuff that I probably don’t need in my house. If you don’t know, freecycle is an organization working to “change the world one gift at a time”. Basically, they have groups set up in different areas and you can join your local group in order to donate or receive items. I’ve had some successes with freecycle, but I’ve also had some frustrations so I thought that I would outline them here for anyone else who may be thinking about using the program.

Once you sign up for your local group (they have a freecycle finder on their main page which directs you to your nearest group) you will start receiving emails. You can also view the posts through the web (I think it’s a forum), but I’ve never used it. I’ve created a separate email folder so I can keep an eye on what’s being listed, and keep my inbox a bit tidier.

Basically there are four main types of emails, that you can send/receive:

  • offer: these are posts were the user is offering one or most items for the taking. Sometimes if people are giving away a lot of items there will label their posts with titles such as offer:short list. If someone offers something that you want, you reply to their original post asking if it’s still available. People often respond quickly, so if you see something your interested in, go for it fast.
  • taken: once items are picked up, the original poster is responsible for informing the group that the item is no longer available. Sometimes people will label a post taken PPU, which translates to: the item is spoken for, but it has yet to be picked up.
  • wanted: if you are looking for an item and want to see if someone has one that they are willing to donate then this type of post is for you. There are rules governing how often you can ask for things and what type of items are permissible (asking for money is a big no, no).
  • found: if you received something that you wanted, let everyone know.

Sounds simple, huh? Well, I’ve discovered that there are a few catches. Here are some of things that make it a good lesson in patience.

  • There are a lot of people who want things. Some of the requests are for small items, others for larger accessories. Far be it for me to keep people from seeking their dreams, but if I had a spare car to give you, I don’t know that I would be running around town picking up people’s old bedding to use for craft projects. I might be, but it’s hard to say.
  • There are a lot of people who never show up. Seriously, people just don’t show up. They take the effort to reply to the poster, set up a meeting time and place, and then they don’t bother to actually pick up the free items that have been graciously donated by a complete stranger. No, I don’t get it either. Those caring benefactors who aren’t completely disillusioned at this point will generally post a re-offer. Showing up it not only respectful and courteous, it’s a good way to get more stuff in the future. I’ve noticed that there are people who frequently offer items, if people know that you are going to show up and not waste their time, it will probably work in your favor.
  • There are people who don’t follow the rules. Namely that you pick one person from the group of people who reply (first-come, most needed, local charity, etc.) and then arrange a meeting time with them, versus telling a whole bunch of strangers where you live and having them descend upon your lawn or garage. This is a bad idea for two reasons: (a) do you really want to give a whole bunch of strangers your address and access to your garage/home and (b) it often backfires because sometimes no one is willing to drive halfway across town to pickup a sometimes-working microwave, that might not even be there.
  • There are people who don’t follow through. Yeah, sometimes people never respond back to posts, or list an item as taken. Sometimes people give something to someone else, even though they told you, that you can have it. Then you call to come by, and oh, it’s already gone. Yeah, that’s not something that leaves you feeling happy inside.

Now after all of that, you might be saying to yourself, it’s not worth it. But I think it is. Here’s why: yes, you might have some let downs, and yes, you might interact with some people that you wouldn’t do a transaction with again, but you can meet some nice people in your community, save some money, and give/find something a new home. And from a green-minded perspective, that’s a win, win. Plus, you can actually find some really cool stuff: electronics, crafts, doors, and maybe you might find yourself a car.

If there’s anyone out there actually reading this, have you ever used freecycle? Gotten anything good? Had any interesting experiences? Any other tips to share?