Freecycle Etiquette

When I decided I wanted to try and do an art car with  wine theme,  I finally signed up for Freecycle.  This is the website where people can post what they WANT for free, and people who have things to offer can post what they have to GIVE AWAY for free.

It is amazing what I am seeing on the two Freecycle sites I have subscribed to.  People in need of maternity clothes and baby clothes (a part of me thinks this is so sad; a part of me thinks -- "damn, what poor planning"), computer parts, exercise equipment, clothing, furniture, a bicycle.  Someone even posted in hopes of getting a free CAR for God sake.  And people give away some pretty amazing stuff too -- a complete compact kitchen set up (I wanted this one), TVs, furniture,  plants, kitty litter, baby food.

So I have snagged a few things on Freecycle -- an Ab Lounge(!), a two-drawer wooden filing cabinet, a massaging chair pad (for Rod's office chair), some bricks.  And I have given stuff away too -- a dish drainer, curtains, sheets, two bags of fabric scraps, planting pots, a big rolling composter, etc.

So during all of this I have developed what I think should be guidelines of etiquette  for Freecycle users.  To me they are just iommon sense, but I have come to realize that people are pretty clueless in the main, and need rules or all is just chaos.

So here is my suggestions for Freecycle Etiquette:

1. If you subscribe to Freecycle, read the OFFERS and the WANTEDS.  So many times I see posts for people who want something that has already been posted as something someone else is giving away.  C'mon people --- DUHHHHH.

2. Expand the area to get the best range of stuff.  I am subscribed for both Napa an Fairfield/Vacaville.  I should check and see if there is a Vallejo Group, too.

3.  If someone asks you about the stuff you have offered , please RESPOND. A couple of times I have emailed someone who had something I wanted and I never heard back from them at all, and then the thing was later posted as TAKEN. Once I even got a reply form someone who said something was available, and when  I replied with the time I could come get it, the next thing I saw was a post that it had been TAKEN.  How rude.

4. If you offer something, give the first responder first dibs by asking for a time and date to pick up.  Then tell the second person who wants it they can have it if "X" hasn' t picked it up by "Y".  If you don't hear back from the first person, then offer it to the next.

5. I never give someone my address until they have committed to a time and date to pick up.  Then I tell them where it will be (on my porch or in the driveway if it is big).  Some people just put stuff out in the driveway and put your name on it.  That works, too, unless someone else decides to help themselves to the stuff that was promised top you!

6. It's always nice when you get something that you email a "thank you!".

7. Keep your posts up to date!!!!!  If something has been taken, REMOVE IT!!!  There was this food dehydrator posted for the longest time.  I kept sending emails, and the person who had it NEVER got back to me and NEVER removed it.  How frustrating.

8.  If someone offers you something, and you already got it, please let the person offering know.

9. Don't email and say you want to come and "take a look at it" or "check it out".  Either you want it or you don't. Period.  Jeez, people -- it's FREE .

There.  I got that off my chest!

Now come on, Freecyclers, BE POLITE!!!!!