using freecycle questions/concerns

**perSue** · 08-29-2008, 05:20 PM

so i've signed up for a member of my local freecycle.
i've heard a lot of scary stories from people where some ppl don't show up, they bother you about the stuff, ask you to pay when you arrive or refuse to give you the stuff or have given it away.

i'm not too keen on meeting ppl i dont know or going to their house to pick things up. nor do i want ppl coming to where i live.

i know all areas are different, but what experiences and advice do you have for me?

**Lady_V** · 08-29-2008, 05:33 PM

Well, when I get things, they are usually left outside for me. I pick them up on the way back from bringing DD to school, so most people are at work. I never had a problem with them asking for money. If they do that, they are in violation and will be banned from Freecycle.

My neighbor was giving away baby things and she didn't want someone coming to her house because we live in a condo complex and didn't want someone walking off with it. She arrainged to meet the person at the Kmart parking lot, in front of the doors.

**perSue** · 08-29-2008, 05:35 PM

that's a great idea about meeting at kmart! (there are cameras there!)

i didnt know you were allowed to just leave it on your porch & let 'em come & get it. but that's something i could do.

i guess i'm such a hermit, i'm afraid to leave my house, let alone my shell! lol

thanks

**Lady_V** · 08-29-2008, 05:41 PM

Ya, you can tell them "I will leave it on my porch at (address) tonight/today." Most people ask me when I can come because they don't want the stuff getting rained on.

**monkeywrangler71** · 08-29-2008, 05:41 PM

When I give things they are usually picked up off my doorstep, when I pick up things I usually pick them up from other people's doorsteps. You seldom see the other person, and the few I have met have all been lovely.

Sometimes people don't show up, sometimes someone else accidentally or intentionally takes things that were left out for you. Neither situation is scary, just inconvenient. I've never had anyone bother me about stuff, if they did it's just email and I would ignore it. I've certainly never heard of anyone trying to get paid for their stuff, if they did they would be immediately banned.

**itsahumanzoo** · 08-29-2008, 05:46 PM

I am pretty paranoid about people coming to my house, but I've left stuff outside my door and the people quietly pick it up without bothering us. Also, most of the time when I pick items up, they are left out on the porch for me.

**bumplett** · 08-29-2008, 05:55 PM

I love freecycle.

never had a negative experience other than people not showing up to pick up stuff when they say - but I also leave stuff on the porch, or I will meet someone if it's on the way I was going anyway -

Freecycle seems to be most of the same people again and again, so you get to know some of them online as well -

good luck, I hope you have good experiences.

**fernykins** · 08-29-2008, 06:06 PM

I usually leave it outside the gate around the time they say they are coming. I have never felt threathened.....freecycle is great....
Fern

**Texasgirl** · 08-29-2008, 06:18 PM

We have used freecycle to get rid of stuff and we meet the people and talked with them.
Also went and picked up some stuff and same thing.

I guess it just depends on where you live. I live in a rural area and thats just how its done out here.

**perSue** · 08-29-2008, 07:32 PM

thanks everyone! i feel a lot more comfy about doing this.

i'll keep ya posted.

**cheapskate 49** · 08-29-2008, 09:24 PM

I love freecycle...the folk who have come to pick up from me have always been on time and really friendly we can chat for half an hour sometimes it's always been a positive experience

**momof2joys** · 08-30-2008, 10:53 AM

I have always wanted to do this, but I have been kind of leary about the whole deal!!

THANKS for easing my mind!!!

**Holly** · 08-30-2008, 06:46 PM

never had a bad experience with freecycle.
met some very nice people.

**GiddyMoon** · 08-30-2008, 10:42 PM

I belonged to like 10 different freecycles due to how they are broken up into the different areas around here..and I GOT SO TIRED of want ads! All of them, filled with " I want for FREE" and then when I would post an add giving something away, I would get like 50 emails BEGGING for the item witha sob story..it was really freaky and scary...so I stopped.

Freecycle depends on the area I guess.....craigslist can be filled with flakes too....unfortunately free usually doesn't come string free. lol