FreecycleReviews of freecycle.org

The moderators are terrible. Never have I met a group of people so hell-bent on executing their own rules and regulations, often without rhyme or reason. Tried to advertise something and was told that it wasn't 'pandemic essential' as per guidelines that the mods never appear to have published anywhere. Asking for an explanation, I got a very rude and very snappy response. These sites are all very well and good in concept but until they stop allowing individuals with control issues to act as moderators, then it's a no from me. The website itself could really do with modernising as well. It's not 1997 for gods' sake.

After many years of using Freecycle (and singing its praises to colleagues and friends), I decided to respond to a request for volunteer moderators. I have moderated listservs as part of my work for various non-profits and university-funded projects which I managed, so I thought I had some expertise that might prove helpful once I learned the culture of the organization and the local group. The "orientation" used a set of on-line resources which were thorough and easy to review; what was confusing were the intermittent emails from the state moderator who didn't follow through on her stated commitment to guide me "through Freecycle.org(R) orientation an...be [my] first point of contact for any issues [I] might have during and after orientation." Instead, I received snappish emails scolding me for behavioral expectations that were never articulated in the first place. What seemed like a smooth on-line orientation process was ruined by incivility and incoherence. There are other volunteer alternatives for me and some which offer community-based efforts to improve the environment similar to what FreeCycle initially espoused. Effective community building is grounded in respect; good training is based in clear expectations, positive reinforcement, patience, and humility. Since I've found none of these characteristics in my (very) brief stint as a moderator-in-training, I'll gladly move out of Freecycle altogether and advise others to do likewise. You can learn a great deal about the culture of an organization as a whole by how individuals who are new to it are treated by those who are deemed as having authority from experience.

Absolute joke, sign up and within days, unable to get back in. Day in day out login in issues. USELESS.

Waste of time and effort , correspondence non existence from members when wants or offers are posted, site moderators are a law to themselves, making rules up as they go along , example ( no posts or limited item with lockdown In some areas but in other areas no restrictions so still running normal. I dont mean local lockdown I mean now as in full lock down . Just take everything the tip as this site is as useful as a bucket with a hole in it freecycle RIP I have left now so not bothered as it cant be run with the same rules for one as another , rules should be for all to adhere

Websites crap and does not remember who I am when receiving emails and trying to login

Posted an offer ad then having borrowed a camera went back on the site to add pictures. I struggled to get the photos accepted- all stated to be too large. In my efforts I deleted my post by accident. I quickly reposted. Amazed to be then banned from the site - I messaged the moderator explaining what had happened- being elderly and not too dextrous -I assumed my sin would be forgiven. Oh no, stony silence - not even the courtesy of a reply. I fail to see how this rude behaviour meets the ethos of the site.

We had a lot of success with Freecycle a few years ago and decided to advertise an item this weekend. We waited for the moderator in the Bracknell area to approve the post, watched items with later code numbers come and go on the web site, but still no response from the moderator. Our offered post then disappeared without any communication or suggested reason. We've deleted out account.

Poor first experience. Listed three items nearly 4 days ago and still waiting for approval. The help pages say it should take a few hours, but up to 24hrs. Contacted the moderator with no response. It's like a ghost town. Plus the site is something out of the 90s. Thanks for the reply, this is for the Stoke-on-Trent group.