Getting Rid Of (Good) Stuff

[Sheryl]

Originally Posted by TromboneAl

Here's another "thanks" for mentioning Freecycle.org.*

I love Freecycle! I got rid of a rusty old falling apart Webber grill this weekend. I thought I was going to have to pay to get the trash collectors to take it!

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I looked at freecycle for a minute, can someone thats used it explain it? Is it all just folks that give everything away for free (or with an exchange of goods or services)...no donation type/charitable type stuff?

I certainly have a heap o' stuff that would be worth something to somebody, but not worth the trouble to ebay, and I'd hate to throw it out.

Seems to me like something like freecycle would just get raided from someone with a junk shop or a standing yard sale who would just grab everything and sell it. I'd like it a lot better if it was more in the line of giving something to someone who really needs it and cant afford it. One of the first posts I saw on the group in my local area had to do with people being out of control and wanting to ban certain users... :P

Once I put an old grill by the street with a "FREE" sign.

This young couple comes along and stops. They take something out of the trunk to fit the grill in, and when they leave I see that they forgot to put whatever it was back in the trunk.

I go down to take a look, and it's some fancy industrial electrical saw, probably worth $500 or more. They came back for it at midnight -- woke us all up.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Hmm...I know someone who was moving and left their dresser in the driveway, only to have someone take it while they were in the house and leaving an old grill in its place...

Al, I have this funny feeling that if we should meet, that the universe as we know it would explode.

[Sheryl]

Originally Posted by Notth

I looked at freecycle for a minute, can someone thats used it explain it?* Is it all just folks that give everything away for free (or with an exchange of goods or services)...no donation type/charitable type stuff?

That's the gist of it.* I don't know how they keep the junk store people away, or maybe they don't care.* The one for my area seems to be filled with earnest do-gooders.* * Partly it's matching up someone who really wants something with someone who has it, and it's usually stuff that's not worth too much otherwise.* *I have given away old ski boots, an old aluminum frame backpack, a 13 year old non-cable-ready tv, all the spare apples that my tree produced last summer, a pile of three-ring binders with product names all over them, old computer equipment, and the aforementioned grill.*

It makes me feel good not to fill up the landfill with this junk.* *I just have to stop myself from claiming anything new!

[Nords]

Originally Posted by Notth

I looked at freecycle for a minute, can someone thats used it explain it?* Is it all just folks that give everything away for free (or with an exchange of goods or services)...no donation type/charitable type stuff?

Yup. It's totally free. No money changes hands (no bartering either). You make an offer, the moderator screens & posts it, a half-dozen people want to come to your place to pick it up, and the first two never get back to you for some unexplained reason. The third person comes & gets it an hour after you tell them they're up.

I've gotten rid of construction materials, an old kitchen sink, a solid wood door, and tons of mango wood this way.

You can't tell who you're dealing with until they show up. I'm sure that some people are eBaying old magazines & records, or fixing up the broken-down cars to sell them for a few hundred, or even carting your stuff to Goodwill for a tax deduction. The key here is that you got rid of something and it cost you NOTHING except a few e-mails/phone calls. Sometimes the dump fees would cost $35 or more.

Now if you're getting rid of photovoltaic cells, I'll pay $2/watt plus shipping.

I'm using it to get rid of stuff that I couldn't unload otherwise. This big heavy cement car stopper is something I thought I'd have to live with for the rest of my life until I found freecycle.

Next I'm going to use it for an old lava lamp.

Al, I have this funny feeling that if we should meet, that the universe as we know it would explode.

Or at least the people around us.

[KB]

Freecycle is a yahoo group, at least the Sacramento area one is.

You post an item you want to give away and put the item and your zip code in the title of the email (no selling or trying to trade - use Craig's list for that) and as Nords said, once the Moderator aproves the post and releases it to you will get emails from people who want your item. You can either have them call you and then give your address, or do it through email. Either way, you give an address. I've probably had 10 transactions successfully.

Some times people flake on you, so you need to keep all the emails from people who want your item. Some will give you their phone number which really works well. I've found that emailing back and forth can delay the transaction. When you have given away your item, you post again telling the others it is gone. I had about 50 responses for a treadmill recently.

It's a great way to get rid of your stuff.

[BUM]

Freecycle can be somewhat anonymous too, if you want. After scheduling pickup you can tell the person that the goods will be at the curb, on the porch, etc.

[BUM]

WOO HOO I'm Freecycling my home- office desk of 12 years tomorrow. Good riddance! So long HON. Hello LaZyBoy!

[MRGALT2U]

I sell everything, working or not. Believe me, if it got to a point
where I couldn't sell it somewhere/somehow, no one would want it

Right now I am selling an electronic typewriter (works at times),
a motorcycle tie down system, an old student size desk (got for free),
a riding mower (doesn't start) and an old boat trailer. Should pick up about $300 - $400. Easy money.

JG

[Eagle43]

Bum
I just love that avatar. I could watch it for hours. Mesmerizing! ...and a lot of truth.

[HFWR]

What's a typewriter?

[Sheryl]

Originally Posted by MRGALT2U

I sell everything, working or not.* Believe me, if it got to a point
where I couldn't sell it somewhere/somehow, no one would want it*

JG

JG, do you do this with an ad in the paper, or a garage sale, or what?

[MRGALT2U]

Originally Posted by Sheryl

JG, do you do this with an ad in the paper, or a garage sale, or what?*

All venues. If the item is under $100, the local paper lets you run up to 3 free ads once per month. I have been running 3 ads every month
for the last 3 years. We just finished our last garage sale (too much work). I have also used consignment auctions with mixed results.
Signs on free bulletin boards have not produced much either. For higher
ticket items I use a paid ad or park the item out by the highway.
Sold the boat trailer this morning for full price.

JG

[MRGALT2U]

Originally Posted by Have Funds, Will Retire

What's a typewriter?* *

This is interesting. I buy them for practically nothing and they sell
like hotcakes. Nothing I buy with any regularity is easier to sell
than an electronic typewriter. Bet I've sold 25 or so. Two women
each bought 2 from me.

JG

[MRGALT2U]

Originally Posted by Eagle43

Bum
I just love that avatar.* I could watch it for hours.* Mesmerizing! ...and a lot of truth.

I'm that way with work, i.e. "could watch it for hours"

JG

[Sheryl]

Originally Posted by MRGALT2U

All venues.* If the item is under $100, the local paper lets you run up to 3 free ads once per month.* I have been running 3 ads every month
for the last 3 years.* JG

Oh yeah... I recall our paper used to have something like that. Wonder if they still do. I give stuff away just to get it out of here, but often think, "I could've got a few bucks out of that" but until I'm retired it just takes too much time.

[haha]

Originally Posted by MRGALT2U

This is interesting.* I buy them for practically nothing and they sell
like hotcakes.* Nothing I buy with any regularity is easier to sell
than an electronic typewriter.* Bet I've sold 25 or so.* Two women
each bought 2 from* me.JG

What do they sell for John?

Ha

Originally Posted by MRGALT2U

This is interesting.* I buy them for practically nothing and they sell
like hotcakes.* Nothing I buy with any regularity is easier to sell
than an electronic typewriter.* Bet I've sold 25 or so.* Two women
each bought 2 from* me.

JG

This sounds like a job to me.