Freecycle needs a better website

Marcos · 18 Feb 2008 at 20:54

I thought they handled all the listings themselves but its all split up into groups, would be good if they made a nation-wide website that you could search from one place, so all the listings were on one database.

I think its a good idea though, i have an attic full of working things that i dont want anymore and arent worth the postage/hassle on auctions

[DOD]Asprilla · 18 Feb 2008 at 21:02

The point is though that no-one really administers it, and no money is involved so how are they going to fund a website?

At the moment it's mainly run on yahoo! groups and it seems to work well enough. I listed my greenhouse a couple of weeks ago and had 20 responses within 24hrs.

jamief · 18 Feb 2008 at 21:08

I think it's a great idea - gave away a 20" Belinea monitor, ended up going to a partially sighted girl who got great use out of it, also have given away DVD players etc, all gone to good homes

There is never money involved, so they couldn't fund a website unless it was done voluntarily or via advertising. I like the current format.

whitecrook · 18 Feb 2008 at 21:12

That's the point of freecycle. It's supposed to be local. I don't bother with the yahoo groups thing, I just subscribed to the mailing list and mange using normal tools.

Marcos · 18 Feb 2008 at 21:28

i know what you're saying about it being local, and it would be great if they had a central database that you could search both nationally or specify a locale.

Raumarik · 18 Feb 2008 at 21:32

The idea is it's given locally, not transported halfway down the country.

Burnsy2023 · 18 Feb 2008 at 21:45

whitecrook said:
That's the point of freecycle. It's supposed to be local. I don't bother with the yahoo groups thing, I just subscribed to the mailing list and mange using normal tools.

How do you just get the mailing list?

I agree, this really could be better organised and more accessible without having to have Yahoo! IDs etc

Burnsy

RobH · 18 Feb 2008 at 22:20

You know that was the first thing I said when I saw their website. I've joined the yahoo group and just filter all of the messages into a seperate folder in Windows Live Mail which seems to work fine. Their is a potential for a really nice website but the point of administration and cost comes into it.

whitecrook · 19 Feb 2008 at 00:08

Burnsy2023 said:
How do you just get the mailing list?

When I signed up (i have a yahoo id, for the rare occasion it's needed) It gave me the option of having a daily digest (few, larger emails), or a new mail eveyr time a new post (many many small emails).

I'm on the Glasgow freecycle, but the original split and became freeshare, so theres now 2, both with thousands of members and what seems like a ratio of wanted

ffered posts that's too high, far to many wanteds, (e.g. wanted : laptop PC etc) I know there's rules on wanteds, but I'd prefer to see less still.