Freecycle question

valve90210 · 13 Jun 2013 at 13:29

Hi All

I'm sure at least a few people here use Freecycle and as I just joined up with the Local groups Yahoo group I wanted to ask something...how does it work?

I figured it was simply a case of seeing an offered post in the yahoo group, hitting reply and stating your interest in the item?

However I have done exactly this on several items and have had no response of any sort. Would it be normal to get an email from the person offering the item or something of does it work differently?

I guess I could just have been unlucky and replied to people who haven't boethered to respond but I just wanted to check there wasn't something I'm missing?

Phoenix211 · 13 Jun 2013 at 13:51

When I used to do it at uni I would reply and then they would message me back and we would sort it out from there. Might just have had a few unlucky ones where they haven't bothered to tell you someone else got there first.

Zefan · 13 Jun 2013 at 13:52

You smell, so much so that they can tell from your emails.

InertProtocol · 13 Jun 2013 at 13:53

Normally first come, first served.

Sometimes people like to see who needs it most so you may need to 'state your case'.

dirtychinchilla · 13 Jun 2013 at 13:53

You have to be careful not to choose things that have been on there for a while. If an items decent, some eager eyed fellow will snap it up, so be quick. So, maybe check that you aren't asking for things likely long gone?

My experience is generally that people just reply to your message...if they have an email address on there maybe try that?

isonomicjedi · 13 Jun 2013 at 13:55

Very often you wont receive a reply if the person offering the item has had a lot of interest.

I use it quite a lot, especially for people giving away books.

Had nearly 200 books free this year.

[DOD]Asprilla · 13 Jun 2013 at 14:05

I get rid of a lot of stuff on freecycle; recently I've used it for laminate flooring I'd ripped up and a greenhouse I needed out of my garden.

I must have had 25 emails about each ranging from 'I'll have it' to massive sob stories about how you'll save their life if you give it to them. You can't reply to them because then you enter into converstation.

First come, first serve. If they can't collect on the terms you want then you move onto the next. Usually though I only respond to the first.

Edit: Books! Brilliant, I've got three 6'x5' book cases I've been slowly emptying to the charity shop. I'll freecycle them now. Don't know why I didn't think of that.

valve90210 · 13 Jun 2013 at 14:10

Guess must have just been unlucky with the ones I've replied to, I shall keep trying.

apeksdiver · 13 Jun 2013 at 14:12

More often than not a reply took several days, I gave up after a while.

anything I don't mind · 13 Jun 2013 at 14:42

I put an old mattress on there was still getting emails about it 2 weeks after it was collected.

[DOD]Asprilla · 13 Jun 2013 at 15:01

groen said:
I put an old mattress on there was still getting emails about it 2 weeks after it was collected.

On my local site you can go back on and mark stuff as taken which usually stops the emails. I think they actually sent a 'thank you for your interest but it's been taken' email to everyone who contact you as well.