Well THAT'S what I get for posting on Freecycle!

[Cataholic]

That's the way we have chosen to handle it, too, Karen, although sometimes a response comes along that makes you wish you had more to give away! When Scott and I advertised a set of bunk beds that we weren't using anymore, I had like 30 responses, all very quickly. The first people to respond were a couple with six children. They were very nice and we were happy they had them, but I wished for 29 more sets as each story was so touching.

Logan, I realize we come from different personality backgrounds: you are nice, and a believer, I am not nice, and a sceptic, so, consider this when you read my next thought.

I nearly got booted from our local freecycle when I responded, "some of you should take up fictional writing as your next career".

While I am sure there are some hard luck cases out there, I get the feeling alot of them are made up stories. I know, that is on them....I am just giving stuff away, but, sheesh. Just tell me, "hey, I want that item", and spare me the drama.

Sorry. Just my take.

[catnapper]

Hey, Johanna, I tend to agree with you.

This past summer, someone was giving away kittens. I wrote her to alert her ot the fact that a local guy preyed upon free kitten advertisements so he could feed the kittens ot his pet snake. Wow, her response was EVIL. She told me that her husband was a vet (oh really, then why wasn't the mama spayed? and why giving them away free instead of adopting them out to clients?) and she just lashed out to me telling me her husband's practice was thriving and he didn't have time to spay his own cats or adopt kittens to his clients. I was trying to help her keep an eye out for the jerk!

Anyway, a days later, she posted on Freecycle that her poor 22 month old daughter needed a window AC unit. They were too broke to afford a new one. Anything anyone was willing to give them would be appreciated (over a certain # of BTUs please) So the vet with his own "thriving" practice can't even afford a new AC unit? Puh-leeze!

[dragonfly]

Yah, I agree some people just make up sob stories to get free stuff. I try to weed them out. Most people on the Freecycle here seem to be more of the type who really just want to keep it out of the land fills and let the items bless someone else. It's my new policy to ask for any items I might be wanting but not in need of on freecycle so that whenever possible I can avoid buying new and keep stuff out of the land fill. I'm honest about it though and tell people exactly why I want an item. I try to not always give to the first responder so that other people have a chance to see the post too but then it makes it harder for me. Ooh and I hate it when people no show, if I say I'm going to pick it up I always do.

[Sevaede]

Yep, I'm with everyone.

I have gotten some responses and then when I respond back, I don't hear anything and it gets aggravating.

Laura, that is ironic! Maybe I should put some signs that say "Chairs, cozy and neat, fifty bucks apiece!"

[Logan]

Logan, I realize we come from different personality backgrounds: you are nice, and a believer, I am not nice, and a sceptic, so, consider this when you read my next thought.

I nearly got booted from our local freecycle when I responded, "some of you should take up fictional writing as your next career".

While I am sure there are some hard luck cases out there, I get the feeling alot of them are made up stories. I know, that is on them....I am just giving stuff away, but, sheesh. Just tell me, "hey, I want that item", and spare me the drama.

Sorry. Just my take.

No offense taken. I have had a similar reaction at times. I'm sure some of those people were pulling my leg, and I know that the family that ended up taking the bunk beds probably could have afforded to buy a set, themselves. They weren't a "hard luck" case, just a family that could use them and of course, "free" is better than buying, anytime! They drove up to our house in two vehicles, a van, and a limosine! They had bought a used limosine for safety reasons in transporting their big family! It was actually pretty cool and has been a neat freecycle story to tell! And yes, we met all six of the children!!!!