Disillusioned with Freegle/Freecycle

This morning on cheapcycle I was a bit concerned. There are lots of electrical items being offered quite cheaply by one person - and his site name is 'clink'!

So have contacted Admin to see what they think.

I know somebody who was 100% sure that somebody on freecycle was obtaining items and selling them on ebay. They always gave a sob story about being a carer and how the items would make their life so much better. My friend had a vintage item to give away and knew every scratch and mark on that item, which came with certain accessories. That item went for sale on ebay. My friend decided to catch them out and offered a similar item on freecycle which she did not actually have (she was sorry for everybody who replied of course) and the same person came back to her for this item. When the deceitful person realised she had already received a similar item she emailed back very quickly and said that she had given the original item to a relative, which she knew was untrue. With this evidence my friend was able to contact Freecycle and Freegle and the person was removed from both sites.

I advertised on Freecycle for a sewing machine some time ago, for my student GD who was very pleased to receive it. Albeit it's a bit old-fashioned, it does the job.

We built a teepee. I had loads of hazel branches, DBH sharpened them and drove them into the lawn and I covered it with lengths of that coated tablecloth stuff, with another bit on the ground. My old cushions go in there. They love it. Sometimes I use an old tent lining instead.

It would be something else to do outside when she comes to us each week.

That's what we do.

I never thought of going to the recycling centre, not sure if ours sells stuff. I will find out, thank you.

I could double up my Tesco vouchers and get a new one with them. However, have already bought the Christmas presents, but I could always keep it at this house for when DGD comes.

I did get a little bike three years ago rosequartz. I got it in advance for him to grow into, which he did last summer. I haven't seen another one since, I would like one for his little sister. However we went to our local recycling centre a few months ago and they had loads of bikes there, for only £5 each. If I hadn't managed to find homes for our old bikes eventually, they would have gone there.

I can't believe people were turning up and rejecting bikes that cost hundreds, were in good condition and just had split or cracked tyres. I had put it in the advert but they still turned up anyway, then changed their minds. People are weird.

I kept looking for a child's little bike for DGD to use at our house but have never seen one. (DH would service it and make sure it was safe!)

I knew someone who sold a child's bike at a car boot first thing in the morning, then she realised that the man who bought it had put it with his own things for sale at quite a bit more than he paid for it!

As a Freecycle moderator I have heard so may "no show" cases that I can only suggest you report to the moderators of the site. Moderators keep notes of persistent offenders and will remove members who do not follow the rules.
I have offered many items on Freecycle and I am appalled at the lack of manners shown. I will not consider anyone for an item if the word please is not in the email.
I have had many members turn up at the right time and are grateful for an item. I met a lady who works for the local women's refuge who was very grateful for all the household items I gave.
Some you win, some you lose!

When I am annoyed it does tend to come out as a rather twisted sense of humour.

That is really funny . I'll try that next time!

I still do it, although I have had quite a few people not turn up lately. Even a children's home said they didn't want three bikes because they needed new tyres!

We get rid of and rarely take in items. I have caught out a couple of people in lies, they tell dreadful sob stories to seem the most deserving and then turn up in amazing cars. However the vast majority of people have been really nice, and it has been a pleasure to meet them. I have no qualms about leaving items on my front lawn though, sometimes I would rather be out the back gardening and my garden is extremely long. It means that none of us have to stick to a set time.

I have on occasion bombarded people who haven't replied to my queries as to why they hadn't turned up, with sad in every way emails, guessing wildly as to why they haven't replied. I have offered to pay ransoms for their release, wondered if they are stuck on the M25 and can't find a way off (to people coming from 5 miles away) and presumed that they have a terminal illness. (felt a bit guilty about the last one!)

The excuses a few came back with were extraordinary, but I know that usually they simply found what they were looking for elsewhere and were done with me.

I can understand why you feel disillusioned but people like me rely on people like you

At least one of the really genuine Freeglers, has stopped and had a cup of coffee. but it is just sometime since I saw that kind. Seeing DH's violin at the auction sale, and the guy last weekend, wanting the goods but not wanting to make any contact with me were the last straw.

Which is how it should work, vq

I too am fed up with everything mentioned in previous posts. I only use it now to get rid of things which would be difficult for me to take somewhere else ie tip or charity shop.
On a positive note the people who use it as it should be used are generally lovely appreciative people.

If you suspect someone is selling or trading stuff off Freegle you need to report them.

I would have very little furniture if it wasn't for the generosity of fellow Freeglers. My sofas and dining table came from there. As did the dehumidifier and the children's beds.

Our Freecycle group was very good but we have given up looking or offering at the moment. When it first started DH offered some electronic equipment and the people who wanted it seemed genuine and brought me a lovely pot plant as a thank you.

When we offered some furniture a couple came in a large van and I was told that they have a second hand furniture shop in a large town not far away.

I had exactly your experience FlickertyB. When we moved house we had quite a few items which simply didn't have any space so I used Freecycle and was a bit taken aback at the piranha like response. I've used it at other times and again had the same response of someone instantly saying they want something and then not turning up. I suspect there are people who just say yes in order to get in first (as with sales in the shops) and then having reserved your item, they change their mind at their leisure.
I've also heard a few tales of people collecting things and then selling them on Ebay or similar so I'm afraid I've stopped using Freecycle now and I use charity shops instead.

I've had mixed experiences with Freecycle. I get fed up when people email to say they want something I've offered and then don't follow it up - if it's not what you want, tell me and I'll offer it to someone else!

On the positive side, I've picked up some useful items for the garden and I offered a nearly new mattress which was taken by a young couple with two small children (and not much money) who sent me a lovely thank you note.

I think you will find that freecycle was set up to help the environment, not people. Even dealers are serving the main purpose of avoiding adding to landfill. That said it is best to be clear that items are not for resale. This won't stop the resellers but it means they can be banned if caught at it. You can also check their history before donating. Someone who is always ' wanting' and never 'giving' is likely to be using for profit, especially if they ask for saleable items or particular brNds/ colours. You don't have to give to the first or the biggest sob story. Best to give to most local, more likely to turn up and more environmentally friendly too.
Some people are just plain weird, my sister sold stuff on eBay and people paid and didn't collect! (Confused)

It's a great shame if something which was set up to help people is being used by those out to make a quick profit. I wonder how common this is.

I refuse to give to the "gimmee brigade". Never a please or a thank you and I agree if they do bother to turn up one then gets the feeling that the item will be sold.

I remember a woman on Freecycle wanting an item that I was happy to give away. She made arrangements but did not bother to turn up. I could not understand it, because she was the one putting in the "wanted" advert. My local charity now takes in electrical goods as well as clothes etc. so that is where my items now go.

I also found that the person would arrange to come at eg 2pm and appear around 3 hours later, no email or apology. Please and thank you also appear to be archaic words.

I often think that bad behaviour can manage to seep into most things in life, and can ruin good ideas.