I joined a while back, but, because the amount of spam I receive ridiculously skyrockets anytime I have to setup a Yahoo account (Free-Cycle's former domain), I canceled almost immediately out of sheer irritation.

I think it's a smart program and will probably give it another try now that it's on its own. Often, the profit I'd make selling something on Cragislist is so negligible that I'd prefer to just give it away, but I hate putting something in the alley to just be picked up by the dudes in trucks who scavenge for scrap metal and such.

I have been on the yahoo group for a couple years. There are many posts every day, which makes it hard for me to see if there's something I want. Therefore, I've only given things away, not picked anything up--even when I see something I want, it's usually already claimed.
Over the course of starting co-habitation and getting married I've freecycled a desk, a couple bookshelves, some ugly old chairs, a computer, an irreperably broken iphone, and millions of books. It's worked well for that, although the number and promptness of responses of course varies by item.

I only use Chicago Freecycle to give (not get) and I'm a BIG fan. I used the web-only option on Yahoo and would post my stuff to give away through the Yahoo group page. Very simple. Only get emails from interested parties.

I've had great luck with nice folks picking up items on time. Minimal flakiness. BUT I've noticed more people who email their sob stories. I ignore them. I used to always chose person #1, now I'll wait for a few folks and chose within the first few responses the ones who live close sound on top of it. I'm amazed by the folks who reply rudely, or brusquely, like "I want the item." That's it. [shakes head]

Aside from those social gaffs, I find it to be a GREAT way to give stuff away. Makes a huge difference when I'm in Apartment Purge Mode.