I am addicted to Freecycle. I have been on it for two days, and I have given away many things. I am meeting someone tomorrow to hand off a box of books.
So, I may not see you guys for a while. I will be busy giving away everything I own.
It feels so good! It feels so much better than dumping stuff in the Salvation Army box, knowing most of it will be thrown away.
Does anyone else have this nonproblem?
[ June 14, 2005, 01:46 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Sucker.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
What the heck is freecycle?
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
That's what I was wondering...
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
i know what it is. Do you, by any chance have a fedora you want to give away? Or old medical books? Or really cool marbles? Or a 128 mb video card, nvidia? Posted by Lanfear (Member # 7776) on :
ITs this program that you sign up for.. and you find a group that lives near your house. And when you have something u want to give away you post a message saying I dont need this anymore. Does anyone want it? And then u give it to them. Its kind of odd. I just googled it
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
It is an email list where you give stuff away, or get stuff for free.
OFFERED: Box of Books
TAKEN: Box of Books
RECEIVED: Box of Books
Sign up for a group near where you live, And give and give and give.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
It is kind of like Ebay. But free. And I don' really see what is odd about it, I think it is cool. (obviously. part of the addiction and all)
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
Interesting. I sort of use craigslist for the same thing but maybe I'll use this instead.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
I'm a moderator in our local group - haven't given anything away yet, but I should be getting a working sewing machine next week. Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I know now that I am not alone. Thank you, Elizabeth.
I click on Freecycle 1,000 times a day. I can't stop giving things away.
We need a support group.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I signed up for freecycle, but have been NOT reading the emails -- I'm moving soon (I hope, at least), and can't be accumulating more stuff.
I can't believe I hadn't thought of getting RID of certain things through it! *smacks forehead* I know one thing I'll be doing in July! (Some of the stuff needs to be sorted, etc.) Much better than trying to get over to Goodwill.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Where are you moving, rivka?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Out of my parents' house.
Off to go bowling! 'Night!
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Thank you for sharing this! I just joined for both my own town and my mother's town (maybe I can get her to start unloading too...)
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Valentine014,
I think some people do ned a support group! I guess it is not bad to be addicted to giving, right? Right? I do not want a single thing right now, because we are in a major purge mode. I think I am even getting rid of a broken riding mower.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
My wife is addicted to this stuff. I myself refuse to endorse it.
Sure, we've cleaned out a lot of junk from our house, including a 12 year old AM car radio that came with my wife's first new car, which we kept since installing a better one in that car. We just couldn't throw it away even after we sold the car because someday it could have been useful. Now some car-geek has it installed in his hand made work bench that resembles a car dashboard.
Sure, a Physical Therapist suggested we buy a mini-trampoline to help Sasha's leg strength. Instead of spending big bucks for one my wife found one for free.
Sure there are many not so good books given away, and many pretty good books added to my collection.
But the cost...the terrible dangerous cost.
I was the one that was sent to the deepest darkest woods, with actual wolves/coyotes howling in the distance, to pick up a bunch of stuff. I was given only the most rudimentary of directions, including "Go 2 miles down Highway O". No address. No working Odometer on the vehicle. No last name of the donator.
I was given a phone number to call. Too bad there was no reception in that part of the booneys.
I stopped at three different houses and asked them if they were the person I was looking for.
Three times I was met with people who looked like they were going to shoot first and give directions later. After a hurried explanation I read in there eyes I was no longer considered a threat. A clueless schmuck yes, but not a threat.
When I found the right house I passed it. I slowed and turned around and debated if it was the right house.
A couple of girls walking down the road at the time thought I was stalking them and ran to the house to find yet one more country marksman with a gun.
I survived. I even got 8 boxes of chicken themed stuff that we gave to a friend. But folks, I have to warn you. Sometimes the free stuff just isn't worth the price.
(I don't even want to tell you about the heavy, very heavy, gas drinking heavy antique stove I have sitting in the back of my van)
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
*checks website*
*sees Bloomington group has 960 members*
o_O
Maybe I'll try it...
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Heh, I'm one of the members.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I'm a member of the Rockland Freecycle group. I really, really want old clock parts.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
We have a bureau we need to get rid of.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Cool. I have almost no furniture... my place looks like a rat's nest and I should do something about that using free and cheap furniture.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Well, I dropped off the books at a house with the most anally kept, beautiful garden I have seen in a while. They left me two heirloom tomato plants. Some Polish sauce tomato.
So I'm feeling pretty good.
Dan, I laughed very hard when i read "chicken themed stuff."
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
OK, this is getting bad. I just extended my freecycling range to a larger radius.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Oh wow, thanks Elizabeth! Ithaca's group posts over a thousand messages a month! I can't wait to get started! Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Hey! I want to be in Ithaca's group!
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
(By the way, Z, DtB will be on a float in the parade!)
Posted by Tater (Member # 7035) on :
O_O
what if they give you crap, though?
--forever negative
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Well, that is a risk you have to take, Tater. You can just re-gift it.
I did just pick up a full bottle of Hugo perfume and it was labeled "TESTER". I wonder if it wasn't stolen.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Tater, you don't have to take it. I got a bunch of moving boxes, and took all of them, but only needed a few. I gave some away, and we took the rest to recyling. I was thinking they were going to be uniformly shaped boxes that you pay for in a store, but they were just a bunch of boxes.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
I love Freecycle too. About every two months I go on a purge cycle and get rid of boxes and bags... I got rid of two broken mowers that way (yes I advertised them as broken)! But somehow no one wanted the sing and annot Elmo my aunt got Andrew for Christmas.
I have gotten a few cool things too....a crock pot, some Rubbermaid storage things, a math book.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Neat, I have my first pickup coming out today! He's getting six wooden crates and two tall ceramic lamps. Hope he shows up and takes them! Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Zeugma, the groupie in me is thinking I should move to Ithaca just so maybe one of my beloved musicians would stop by top pick up some junk.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Lol! See, what's not to like about Ithaca? Great people, great food, great parades involving a Volvo Ballet, and the possibility that one of your favorite musicians might come by to pick up your collection of TV Guides! Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I didn't think Ithacans watched TV, Zeugma. ha ha. But I would subscribe to Vegetarian Times just to offer them in the hopes that Tara Nevins called. I am that pathetic. Volvo Ballet, and there are some other funky things in the parade, too.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
[ May 30, 2005, 04:31 PM: Message edited by: Zeugma ]
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Marching Tai Chi, that was it!
I would be there, but it is my daughter's birthday week.
Don't miss Crow Greenspun, on the Common, I think.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
*checks site*
Hey, there's a group in my city!
Hmmm....
*eyes off bulky speakers gathering dust in corner of room*
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Someone asked for a turntable. I said, "Steve, Steve, someone needs a turntable!"
He informd me that he knew this, which was why he would be selling it.
How ruuuude.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
So, I put our chain link fence up on Freecycle about an hour ago, and I have four offers already.
One is for a woman who is in the hospital, who has a dog grooming business. Her daughter wants to surprise her with it when she gets home.
Another is a name I recognize, a local dj whom I have been trying to get to play one of my favorite musicians, but who never writes me back.
So, I am going with the woman in the hospital.
At first, I would offer to the first person who responded, thinking that was the fair thing. But then there was a discussion that it is better to wait a bit, so the same people do not always get first dobs just because they are on their computer all the time.
So, it is getting more complicated to give!
Posted by Architraz Warden (Member # 4285) on :
Whoa, Phoenix and all its subsidiaries probably constitute over 20,000 registered members.
I may have to look into this.
Feyd Baron, DoC
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
My mother has forbidden me to tell my retired-in-two-days father about this, afraid he will give away all her good stuff. (which he probably would)(like the time he sold all of my sister's new school clothes that she had bought on sale the year before)
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Dang, I want a chain link fence!
My pickup went great yesterday; he even took this weird Chinese box that we got for our wedding that we don't have room for. Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Well, if it is for your dog, forget it. Our mostly Malamute blew thre it in the first day we got it. (We never could contain him, and eventually stopped trying) That is what I told the woman whose mom is in the hospital. I want her to have it, but I explained about the baby gate-reinforced section. We'll see.
(He actually pulled the links straight, he was so strong, and so intent to escape)
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Yesterday I got rid of a big bag full of kids' clothes, and Saturday someone's picking up a couple patio chairs from me!
Posted by arevoj (Member # 7347) on :
We are in this as well. Last month, my husband found a taker for an almost brand new motorcycle helmet.
I also heard him in the office a couple of mornings ago fussing that someone had offered a welder overnight and he missed it. When I asked why he wanted a welder - you guessed it: "So I can weld things, of course."
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Ach!
I was rejected from posting to another Freecycle group because I am out of their area. How rude. It is OK that I TAKE from them, but not give to them?
Oh well.
Our chain link fence is coming down today, I think. But I just realized that my clematis and trumpet vine will have to come down as well! Ouch.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
I joined a couple of freecycle groups in the Phoenix area a couple of weeks ago and did my first offer last week. Now, to just gradually continue to go through my stuff and get rid of it. First - the lights I took down, tomorrow - the world!
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
I got that message too, Elizabeth. So I had to withdraw from Brookfield.
And actually, I think your comment about "it's okay for me to take but not give to them" is kind of where the problem came in that caused them to demand the home group only thing. Theoretically, you'd be expecting people to drive out of their own town to your house to pick-up, which would make it unfair to the people that do live in that group's area to pick up from a "foreigner".
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
True, Goody S, except that we aren;t really that far. It's the old "gotta draw the line somewhere" thing.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
woohooo, third pickup just walked away.... I have a patio again!!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
There's no one in Sri Lanka. Not in the entire country.
Why am I not surprised?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Man, I have so many people coming to get things I had to make a chart. We are cleaning out the garage(and doing a general house purge befpre new carpets come tomorrow)
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Grrr. The people came to take down the chain link fence. I said they could have it if they took it down. They did. And they left a mess behind. A tangle of wire was in the grass, away from where the fence was, and my husband ran over it with his brand new riding mower. Nothing I can do, I just thought it was rude not to clean up the mess.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
*grins*
Well, it was - but should you have the opportunity to advertise again, include "cleanup of any mess made during removal expected" clause.
-Trevor
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
That would tick me off too.
What drives me nuts are the fold who post "WANTED: Working SUV" or "WANTED: Hot Tub".
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Oh, I know!
I am not interested in getting a thing. i just want to get rid of stuff. And the fence being gone is really great.
The woman who contacted me first told a friend about it. It is really bugging me, but I can't decide to say something or ignore it. There is no benefit to saying anything, other than getting it off my chest. It is already cleaned up, and I don't really want them calling to apologize. It is just an annoyance.
"Let it go, Mom." That is what my daughter would say.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Here's one, Romanylass!
"Would really love a hot tub. If you have one ,or know of someone who may have for me it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you"
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
I just joined ours last week! We're going to be moving in the next month, so we'll have stuff to get rid of as well as stuff we need. What a great idea.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
It is amazing what people take. I am so glad, because so much of it would go to the dump.
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