Heard about freecycle last summer and was cautioned about not giving out my addy or ph #. So we are going to try meeting at a nearby location to have the pick up done. Just so happends, we picked a place with wifi, in case there is a no show. Will let you know how it turns out.

Hope you have better luck!
GR

We do give out the address, but not our phone #.

It might be a false sense of security, but with all these dogs we're not too concerned about safety. People see the big ones and realize that getting to the house would mean wading through them all, and any thought they might have had about ripping us off go right out the window!

I was Freecycling several years ago during my home improvement period. Gave away a lot of furniture and other stuff. Most people showed up when they said they would; a couple of them didn't.

These days I have nothing to give away, but I've been selling stuff on Craigslist. Nice not to have to ship! Although when I listed new rototiller tines in Pennsylvania, the buyer was from Utah! He didn't mind paying the shipping, and since the tines were still in their shipping box I didn't mind sending.

I got tired of all the "I want, I need" posts. I trade on craiglist now.

Sold my king size bed frame and a digital camera lately.

Moni

I've given things away through Freecycle in the past...nothing lately though.

I do like to have people come when my DH is home, but it didn't always work out that way.

I do Craigslist because we usually are selling things. I have had to deal with a lot of flakes. It goes with the territory. I have never used Freecycle.

We sold a brand new tile saw that we used once for half price. DH is a perfectionist and made sure it was in perfect condition before he sold it. He demo it for the guy to show him how to use it. Next day the guy brought it back and said it didn't work and demanded his money back. Since there are so many crazies now a days with guns, DH gave him his money back. It turned out he had broke the mechanism that held the blade. How could we have demo it if it was broken. We should have called the cops. That is what I wanted to do.

So beware with both Craigslist and Freecycle.
Clare

So far, we've just done Free things on Craigslist, so everything they get is "as is."

I gave away a TV over the weekend on Freecycle. I had more than 20 people ask for it in just a few minutes. I didn't know if I should pick a person or go down the list. I decided the fair way would be to start with the first request. I offered it to the first person, but they couldn't pick it up so I went to the second person and they picked it up immediately.

We have sold a lot of things on Craig's list - including the kitchen sink!
For giving things away, we usually give to an established charity, but we had kitchen counters that we had removed and wanted to give away, rather than have them end up in a landfill. I posted for free on both Freecycle and Craig's list, and got immediate responses from both.
The first responder was from Freecycle and he came by and picked up one small portion, saying he would be back for the rest. After 5 e-mails and 5 days, I gave the rest to the first Craig's list responder, who was building an art studio in her garage (perfect use for lavendar laminate, if ya ask me!)
That was just one experience, but I get the feeling that there are people on Freecycle who respond to almost anything with "pick me". Seems like a hoarder's paradise.
Of course, the "free" section of CL could be the same thing.
I did respond to someone who was looking for white and yellow paint on Free Cycle. She came when she said she would and it worked out great. She was thrilled to get the paint and I was thrilled to get rid of it.

I do freecyle but there are alot of strange people out on that site! We had a huge swingset to give away. A couple of takers wanted to come get it with their mini van. WHAT the Heck??? I'm not the magic school bus lady!! They needed brains more than a swing set. Finally a nice couple with a flat bed came over and got it. They were so nice, thank goodness!

I love Freecycle, but I've always had people meet me in a public/neutral place when I gave them things.

I've given away crafting/scrapbooking supplies, wheel well trim from DH's truck, a huge mirror, kitchen items, a computer monitor, the living room rug from our house on base, etc. I've received a wonderful 1952 Pfaff sewing machine complete with walnut cabinet, a portable sewing machine, and three travel DVDs. I also received three pairs of almost new jeans that fit my oldest brother, and several sweaters and a coat that were perfect for my aunt who desperately needed them.

Again, I've always asked people meet me somewhere other than at my home. I think Freecycle is great, and it keeps many unwanted items out of the landfills. I do try to be cautious; I'm sure a lot of internet groups has their kooks...except for us, of course!!! LOL

I have gotten rid of alot of stuff via FreeCycle. Just the other day I gave away a bunch of DH's ties he didn't want anymore. If someone doesn;t pickup when they say, I just go on down the list. If it is something I know alot of people are going to want, like our Christmas tree, I just wait 24 hours and put all the names in a hat and draw one.

I tried to get Freecycle in my area and cannot. Have not tried Craig's list. But like many of you really don't want people coming to the house, especially in a small town. Just went thru a rash of small thefts, but know who it is but cannot find them This particular couple with 3 small toddlers come, pretend they are broke, work a bit, and get welfare, food stuff, then stuff starts disapprering and they leave bills all over. That is hard in a small town. If you want any more information email me.

Yes I freecycle, but after getting in touch with the person requesting the item, I tell them I'll deliver it, and what day I will do so. Then when we're out running errands, I drop the stuff off. That way no need to give either our telephone number or address. Has worked out very well for us. Once gave away a refrigerator, and in the posting I asked interested people to email with their telephone number and name. Then I checked our "411" directory the called them. Worked out fine. Anyone who is legitimate will give that informaton in a private email, if not, on to the next person. Reduce ~ Reuse ~ Recycle (it's a good thing).

Goodwill. Easter Seals. Salvation Army (Purple Heart). And probably more will come to your house to pick up large donations or multiple bags of small things. They may make a special pick-up if the donation is large, otherwise they tell you what day their truck is going to be in your ZIP and you can leave your item out even if it is just one tiny thing.

No email hassles. No scary vulgar phone calls. No meeting people who don't show. No driving around or killing or whole day waiting. No people who keep calling back even after you tell them the item is GONE.

Charities even leave a tax receipt if you need one.

I think I'm going to have to start wording my ads differently. So far, I haven't done an "open season" kind of ad which seems to be really popular around here. I figure that it's far enough out here I didn't want people driving all the way here just to find the item is gone. But it may come to that, and they'll just take their chances.

We live just far enough outside of city limits that none of the charities come out here. We tried that when we first moved here, and each one said ... NOPE.

I just can't figure out why peeps will go to the trouble of arranging a time to come out, and then never show. At least they should notify us if they can't make it.

Around our area we just put things out on the boulevard and passersby see them and take them. It doesn't take long before things are grabbed. Smaller things I take to the Big Sisters/Big Brothers for their store.

We've freecycled, but more often than not, we are left waiting as well. For about the last year we've just put whatever it is out at the curb with a sign saying that the item is free for the taking. If the item is less than perfect we will also leave a note stating what is wrong with the item. Every single time the item has been picked up. I know that one woman in our neighborhood sells at the flea market and we suspect that she probably gets most of the items, but I really don't care. It's gone. Good.

I used to do Freecycle but got tired of the greed. Some of these people think they are entitiled. I NEED a 42 inch TV...I might try craigslist soon for stuff to sell. I sold many thing years ago..and all the people were great. Only one said he'd be back and didn't come. But these days, I'd be leery.