FreecycleReviews of freecycle.org

Great idea to give and receive unwanted effects. Lately, there are worrying 'redirect' pop-up ads to suspicious 'Congratulations you have won' blah blah! sites, via mobile/ios Safari or Chrome (McAfee Chrome browser warning!!) Doesn't happen on other websites

I just learned about this site not too long ago. As someone concerned about our “throwaway” society and environmentally conscious, I think it’s a great idea. So far I’ve only responded to one offer (twice, over about 5 days time, I may add) and just asked if I could be informed whether it was still available. I have YET to receive any kind of an answer. I noticed today the posting was finally gone. It’s put a bad taste in my mouth and I doubt I’ll even try anymore. All you have to do is hit “reply” on the email, it only takes seconds. Extremely inconsiderate and not really worth the hassle.

I have used freecycle for years, happy in the knowledge that my unwanted stuff is being taken by someone who can put it to good use. The other advantage is that it's quick and easy - or it used to be!!!!!!! It now suffers with untrained, overzealous, power hungry moderators who block posts. Not because they are unsuitable or inappropriate but because you have not posted in your 'home group'. What?? Why?? Who cares!!! I was posting a 4 x 3 piece of left over plasterboard!!! I have also had a post refused before for not posting on my 'home group' for long enough??? When we freecyclers post, we are doing it because we care about the planet and want to be responsible. We also want to get rid of stuff quickly. You get to learn which areas are best to post certain things that will go quickly - and they may not be in your 'home group'. The unnecessary rules are ridiculous and will stop people posting.

I used to LOVE Freecycle - what a great idea - the opportunity to give rather than sell stuff you don't need or want any longer - it's a nice thing to do to give someone something the might need or want but can't afford, and then the other side of the coin is that stuff does not end up in landfill. But now, after a few years, I find the vast majority of people on Freecycle seem to be professional resellers - they are rude; send you emails that say "yes want it", often don't show up to pick things up after you have given your address (very concerning), and many many people just show up, take what is offered and then not even a word of thanks. It is rather soul-destroying, and much harder work that just taking to the dump or organising the council to come and take stuff away. We have given away items worth thousands of pounds (a 4 oven working AGA for example) (yep!) because we wanted to share our good luck around...but I honestly find that most people now are so ungrateful on free cycle, and although I hate the idea of contributing to landfill, I also fear for the number of times we have given our address / phone number out to people who have no manners, no shame and no ethics it would appear. Perhaps a rating system of members would help - if something is not done I will have to revert to using the local tips and council to dispose of things and that is a shame. It was a lovely idea originally. Too bad it has been corrupted and there is no way or no will to manage this.

Tried to swap an item, which would have saved two items going to landfill. Over zealous management don't allow swaps. Site is poorly constructed and overwhelmed with pop ups which they appear to encourage. Overall the site is cumbersome and slow,

I recently unsubscribed from Freecycle after being on their list for a couple of years. I found it hard to unsubscribe (the normal "Leave Group" function on Yahoo was disabled by the admin), and had to beg the snotty, unhelpful, ineffectual dictator who owned the list to take me off. Why won't they let people unsubscribe of their own free will? Mind-boggling. I never once saw anything on Freecycle that I would be interested in. Twice, I posted about furniture and used items that I didn't want, carefully following every one of the many ridiculous rules for posting, but received absolutely no responses. When I posted the same items on Craigslist, they were out of my house within 24 hours, and I got to choose from dozens of interested responders. Freecycle seemed to have a lot of rules that they selectively enforce: for example, we had a couple of "single welfare mommy of too many kids" type members who would use the list to beg for free electronics and clothes for their large and varied broods. Because of the wide age ranges plus genders of children they begged for, members suspected these posters were eBay resellers, not genuine freecyclers. This was against the rules, but the mods did nothing to stop it, even though other members responded that they were sick of seeing this type of begging spam. The mods also continually allowed people to post offers of free pets, (especially guinea pigs), even though this, too, was against the rules. Craigslist is far more effective and doesn't spam me.

Not a lot of items, but the idea is good! :)