Freecycle Groups, are they fair???

Question

Ive been a freecycler for over a month now & everything half decent was always gone even imm after it was posted. Yest i posted a few really good things as i had no use for it. The Wireless keyboard i posted i noticed i had an offer even b4 the post became visible? It wasn't until i had an email from Admin asking for another of my posts be edited i noticed the exact same email address! This obviously has really annoyed me as now it seems to me its not a fair site! Whats the point of posting if Admin get all the best stuff while they are going through the posts to see if they are acceptable to be posted, when they are also checking for the things they want to keep for themselves! It seems to me if you are going to use freecycle you should not post offers, and only respond to wanted ads with your things or bring them to charity shops so the people who really need the stuff get them and dont make the fat cats fatter! I am really peed of,has anybody else noticed this or is it just my group

Answer 1

I haven't noticed, but maybe you should complain to your administrator directly. However, the aim of freecycle is to keep things out of landfill sites, it is actually an environmentally friendly recycling scheme, so it doesn't matter who or where your item goes to as long as it doesn't go in the bin.

Answer 2

Sounds like you might have an administrator who is abusing the system. Our local group seems to be working fine. I've got rid of loads of stuff that was junk or clutter to me, and each time it's been to a different person.

That said, I do use Freecycle as a last resort - I prefer to give stuff to the Oxfam shop first. We also have a community group who take unwanted furniture and give it to people referred to them by social services, so I tend to use them as well.

Princess - I guess Freecycling is, by its nature going to be a bit "middle class", really poor people aren't going to have access to the internet for a start. The way I look at it is, if I can't get rid of it to anywhere else, and I think someone might have a use for it, then better them have it, than it do into landfill.

Answer 3

I've recently got rid of quite a bit of stuff using freecycle, things that charity shops often dont take, ie electrical items. I dont really mind who has them, the whole point is to avoid sending them to a landfill site.
I understand you want your bits to go to deserving people but at least you are doing good by making sure they have an extended life.

Answer 4

It has happened in groups that I have tried as well. Possibly, though, there was a genuine need by admin, but probably greed. I would rather share with those whom I know personally. That seems to work much better for important things. Little things, or things I can't find a home for otherwise--those I don't care who gets them.

--That Cheeky Lad

Answer 5

what really annoys me about freecycle is that you choose someone to give the item to and you email them your details and you never hear anything back from them, so you go through the process of offering again and the same thing happens again ahhh

Answer 6

im a bit annoyed by freecycle. Ive just set up home im a single mum and have had lots nice things off there BUT ive also given a lot away and the people who turn up to collect are in Jeeps, sports cars and expensive people carrier cars!!! They so do not bneed free stufff. I wanted to help people like myself single mums, or who have just got a home and need the stuff not the greedy gits in jeeps i have had||! i think many are dealers/ebayers who sell stuff on. its a shame.