apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I joined Freecycle a while back, and while the concept is really good, there are lots of rules, and it's heavily moderated (you need permission to join, to post, etc). One of the policies is that you can't publish your phone number, so if you give away something popular, you will have to sift through like a hundred emails, calling each person until you find someone ('cause a lot of people can be flakes) who can meet you to pick up the item.

The "Free stuff" section on CraigsList is pretty good. Anyone can post anything, so it's got some crazy ads, but it has a great selection.

I've had good experiences on Freecycle, and recommend it to everyone. Once I found myself unexpectedly rescuing a large dog who needed to be crated when I left the house. I requested a large dog crate one morning and had what had to be a $100 dog crate by the evening, absolutely free. When I was done with it, I donated it to someone else who did dog rescue. When I needed a backpacking frame to build a big silly TiVo Guy costume around for Halloween, I got one. Buying such a frame--even second hand--would likely have been more expensive than I wanted, and searching for a thrift store that just happened to have one would have taken forever!

The only slight downside is that some people do say they want things you offer, and then flake on following up. But then I just move on to the next person. It feels good to help other people out, and to be helped out yourself. I say try it!

I love Freecycle, everything I've been imagining for my new art studio has been posted, and even though I read only the digest version I've been fortunate enough to be chosen to receive items. The trestle table I'd thought of for the space (better quality than what I'd planned to purchase), the artist easel (amazingly even the brand I'd been thinking of), seating, lighting, shelving. It's truly been astonishing.

Also I got rid of my entire VHS video collection by donating them to a local hospital who'd requested videos for their patient library.

On the other hand, there are definitely some flakes when you offer things, I spent 2 weeks sorting through my craft and fabric supplies for a local theater's request only to have the guy flake completely. I posted it, with a 'must take it now' message, and someone was at my place within 2 hours. And, perhaps my least favorite thing, are the 'me first' people who respond to anything and everything. I like to wait for the digesters to have a chance to catch up, before I choose someone, because it doesn't bother me to delete emails, and everyone knows that once it's taken there'll be a post on the group site. The great thing is that Freecycle people are far more flexible, about what they'll take, than my local charities so now I employ both methods to help declutter my house.

It's a great concept, I love that things get used, rather than taken to landfills! and I love that Freecycle has spread around the World.

I was a member of Freecycle for a while, and I never actually attained one thing from the group. I mean, I love the idea, but I think there are people who are online every minute of the day and can get the emails from Freecycle the moment they come up, call in and go get it immediately. Whenever I saw something useful, by the time I called it was always gone. I guess "first come, first served" is the whole point, but for me...too much effort on the whole. I think it's a great resource for handy people...electricians, mechanics etc. who can take non-working blenders, dryers, computers and use them for parts or fix them!