Do You Freecycle?
Written: Nov 09 '09
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What does it mean to Freecycle?
Freecycle is a combination of the words "free" and "recycle". The goal is to give or get usable items for free as a means of keeping those items out of the landfills. In short, we are recycling our household items to others who can use them, and it is all free.
What do I need to do?
The first step is to go to Freecycle.org and join your local Freecycle group. There are individual groups based on geographic location. I live on Long Island, and the groups are broken up by counties. When I joined I had to fill out a small questionnaire. Other groups may require this as well, and it is only a means to keep out spammers. My group and the others in my vicinity are run through Yahoo groups, and messages are distributed and displayed through e-mail and in the message boards. Once you are accepted into the group you are ready to begin Freecycling. The group owner or moderator will probably send you the group guidelines and rules.
What do I do now that I am a part of Freecycle?
Now that you are a member of Freecycle, you can now "offer" items you want to give away, search for items that others are offering, or post for an item that you "want".
Offers
If you have an item you want to give away, post your offer on the group message board and it will also be distributed to all group members who subscribe to the group e-mails. The format for offers will appear on the group message boards and will probably be given to you by your moderator, but here's an example. Let's say you have some books you are willing to give away. The subject line would read "Offer: Books - (Your town here)'. Everyone that looks at the message boards and sees the e-mail will easily see that you are giving away books and the town that you live in. If you want to give more information about the books simply put it in the body of the e-mail. Once you submit the information all members can see your offer and will respond to you via e-mail. You may get one response, or you may get 50 responses. It is then up to you to decide who will receive the item you are offering. Contact that person by e-mail and you can make further arrangements for pick up of the item. Unless you decide otherwise, that person is responsible for coming to you to get the item you are giving away. If this makes you nervous, don't worry. I, as do most of the other Freecylers, are willing to leave the item on their front step for the "taker". I never have to deal with anyone face to face that has come to my home. Give that person your address, arange a time, then just leave it outside. Once you have confirmed that the item will get picked up, you should post on the message board that the item has been "Taken". This will let others know that it is being picked up and you won't keep getting e-mails responding to your offer.
Responding to an Offer
What if someone's offer appeals to you? You then respond by e-mail directly to the person who posted the offer. The best thing to do is politely let that person know you are interested in their item, and let them know when you are able to pick it up. Remember that you may not be the only person that wants the item, so just because you have responded, that doesn't mean you are going to get it. If you are chosen to get the item, the person making the offer will make arrangements with you so you can go pick up the item. You are responsible for picking up the item. As mentioned earlier, the item will probably be left out for you.
Wants
You can also post a "Want". If there is particular item you need, post a "Want". The format is the same as posting an offer. If anyone in your Freecycle group has that item and is willing to give it away, they will contact you. You are responsible for picking up the item.
What can I give or get?
You can Freecycle nearly anything. Items like coupons and show tickets are not allowed to be Freecycled. But almost anything else you have around your house can be given away. Baby items are very popular in my area. I have seen food and drinks offered. I have even seen dirt and compost offered. I was able to get about six pots of lilies for my garden from a generous person that split their own flowers and grew more. I have Freecycled magazines that I have read. Almost anything can be Freecycled. If you have a question about something you would like to offer or an item that you want, contact your group owner or moderator.
My Experience with Freecycle
I have been in my Freecycle group for the last four years, and I have had a 90% positive experience.
The Good
I have been able to get and get rid of many items. I have gotten clothes for my children, maternity clothes, books, a paper shredder, a fishing pole ... the list goes on. I have also been able to get rid of items around my house ranging from small things like a mouse pad up to large things like a non-working lawnmower. Someone posted a "want" for a non-working lawnmower. The previous owner of my house left one here. Someone came to my home and picked it up. It was a win-win situation for everyone.
You have an opportunity to meet people in your own neighborhood. There is someone right in my own vicinity that often Freecylces. We have a sort of established trust with one another now. If I am giving something away and she responds, I will give it to her, and vice versa. It also turns out that my daughter and her son are the same age and will be going to school together next year.
The Bad
One of the biggest complaints of Freecyclers is "no-shows". These are people who respond to an offer. You make arrangements for that person to come pick up an item from you, and they don't show up. Luckily I have only had a handful of no-shows, but it is frustrating.
Another complaint is an overload of e-mail. If you subscribe to get all the group e-mails, you may find yourself with 60 e-mails a day just from Freecycle. I know some people that set up an e-mail account just for Freecycle e-mails. Since I work online all day, I skim over the e-mails as they come in and delete what I don't need. You can also turn on or off your e-mail alerts through the website. The result of turning off your alerts is that you will not immediately see when an item is offered. If you do not see the offers as they come in, offered items will often get grabbed up as soon as the item is posted for the group.
Overall
Being a part of Freecycle has been a wonderful experience for me. The few no-shows have not been a deterrent for me. I can get rid of usable items without the guilt of throwing them in the garbage. I have gotten things for free that I can use for my family. Freecycle is a great thing to do for yourself, your neighborhood and your environment.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ldon526
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Member: Lisa
Location: Long Island, NY
Reviews written: 109
Trusted by: 25 members
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