Am I just being weird? (Freecycle)

**lullaby80** · 11-17-2007, 12:12 PM

So I listed a bunch of stuff on Freecycle, a sservice I've been using for a few months now. First post was for baby clothes and the second for some baby toys. I get an email from this lady who wants both but someone had picked up the clothes already. I tell her this and she emails me back saying well she'll have any baby clothes I might still have available. Seems very desperate. Fastforward to this morning when she pick them up - she shows up in a pretty new looking Acura SUV. I mean, am I just being weird here? Someone who can "afford" a car like that ($40K+) sounding very desperate on getting clothes for her baby.

Anyway, just looking for assurance that I am indeed weird for thinking that this is funny.

**grneyegrl** · 11-17-2007, 12:21 PM

maybe,, i use free cycle and had to replace my car because the old one diesd.. i got a 2006 used for taurs and it looks really nice..

but i told the lady that i had to replace my car because my old engine blowup..or was about to and i was a full time student..also it my not have been her car, borrowed or rented

**Jamauk** · 11-17-2007, 12:29 PM

A lot of people in our area collect baby items on freecycle/yardsales and then put layette packages together to send to third world countries.....

A lot of people in our area also use freecycle just because they're looking for a "steal" too!

I can see how it may just look a little odd, but you never know what her exact circumstances are, either. Just be glad you got some things out of your house and not into a landfill!

**sdrjeolsen** · 11-17-2007, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Jamauk

A lot of people in our area collect baby items on freecycle/yardsales and then put layette packages together to send to third world countries.....

A lot of people in our area also use freecycle just because they're looking for a "steal" too!

I can see how it may just look a little odd, but you never know what her exact circumstances are, either. Just be glad you got some things out of your house and not into a landfill!

My first thought was maybe she resells on ebay or something. Who knows?? But I agree with pp, its out of your house and being used some where.

**lullaby80** · 11-17-2007, 01:05 PM

Hah, I figured I was just being weird. Or maybe I was just being envious, driving an old beat up car.

**stinkbug** · 11-17-2007, 01:42 PM

I always try to remember, in any situation, things are not always as they appear.
And, my dd drives a newer Acura SUV, and it was nowhere near 40K...not sure where you got that number from. She bought hers used and it was way cheaper than a comparible Honda Pilot.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 11-17-2007, 01:56 PM

I agree not to judge a book by its cover and its always better to put the items out there to be used by thers.

Laurie in bradenton

**monkeywrangler71** · 11-17-2007, 02:05 PM

Freecycle is not a charity, it is an environmental movement. The purpose of freecycle is to keep items out of the landfill and to reduce consumption. A person's financial situation really doesn't have anything to do with it. I use freecycle all the time, even though I can 'afford' to buy new, but I have other, non-financial reasons for my choice.

**lullaby80** · 11-17-2007, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by stinkbug

And, my dd drives a newer Acura SUV, and it was nowhere near 40K...not sure where you got that number from. She bought hers used and it was way cheaper than a comparible Honda Pilot.

Got the price from their web site. Acura MDX from $40,195. www.acura.com

The reason why I was thinking this was silly in the first place was that I got tons of inquiries and picked her because well.. she sounded desperate. And seing her like that made me think I could've picked someone else more in need. I've given all our stuff to people in need (teenager mom-to-be, single moms etc.). The reason why I use Freecycle is to give "stuff" to people who really need them.

Sure, things are never what they seem to be and my writing was more like a response to my initial reaction..

**lullaby80** · 11-17-2007, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by monkeywrangler71

Freecycle is not a charity

Thank you, I obviously did not realize that.

**mikandmari** · 11-17-2007, 02:14 PM

I worked really hard renovating a house and selling it, so I would have cash to purchase a new car. My final choice was between a brand new Toyota Camry or a 3 year old Lexus ES300 with 30K miles (this car is comparable to the Camry, even looks like it, but has the Lexus luxury features). I chose the Lexus, since I don't put many miles on a car anyway, only about 10K miles a year.

So I drive a sharp car (so does my husband) but we're cheap in almost every other way. I get stuff from FreeCycle, but I also give stuff away.

So I guess being frugal is about making choices of what is important to you. Remember Amy Dysycyn (sp?), author of the Tightwad Gazette? With the 6 kids and the big farmhouse? Nothing frugal about having a big family and a big house in New England! But she chose to be frugal in other ways so she could afford this.

Another possibility... the woman with the Acura SUV may need a nice vehicle for her job, or for her commute to her job. Endless possibilities!

But it was so nice of you to give her the clothes. Isn't FreeCycle great?

**stinkbug** · 11-17-2007, 02:29 PM

Okay..not to beat a dead horse here, but you said *newer looking* Acura, and you are pricing *new* on the website...big differance. My dd's looks pretty new too...it's a 2003. I guess my pet peeve is people who judge what others have, or what they should have. Would you know by looking at my 25 year old daugher that she earned the CASH to pay for her vehicle by serving a year in Iraq and getting herself blown up in a IED explosion?

**lullaby80** · 11-17-2007, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by stinkbug

Okay..not to beat a dead horse here, but you said *newer looking* Acura, and you are pricing *new* on the website...big differance. My dd's looks pretty new too...it's a 2003. I guess my pet peeve is people who judge what others have, or what they should have. Would you know by looking at my 25 year old daugher that she earned the CASH to pay for her vehicle by serving a year in Iraq and getting herself blown up in a IED explosion?

Yikes. Go take a breather. How on earth could my post make someone this upset. Wow.

**smk0817** · 11-17-2007, 02:42 PM

Hmm...it's starting to get a little touchy here.

**stinkbug** · 11-17-2007, 02:56 PM

Whoa..I'm touchy??? You offered something for free and then made a judgement on someone who YOU choose/agreed to give it to. Because she didn't appear to be *poor* enough by your standards?