As a "frugal" (to be read, CHEAP) person, I enjoy a good bargain... I LOVE things that are free. In the spirit of karma, I decided that I would freecycle the remaining stuff we had sitting around that we didn't really want to pack, but it wasn't ready for the trash heap either....
Saturday morning, I posted a mess of stuff; small toy lots, small book lots, kitchen appliances, a television, stereo, etc... I should have first put in a revolving door. All day, I was running. Between answering emails, and answering the door... I was exhausted. I am not complaining, mind you. I DO have a gripe though.
When someone is offering you something... something of value, say, a television, or a CD tower... and you mention that you would love to have it, and its given to you... you would think the least you could do would be show up to pick it up... Sadly, many folks don't feel this way.
One of the first responses I received, was for about a 1/4 of what I posted. No problem. I want to rid my self of the mess, this person wants/needs the stuff. Deal is done. Right? Nope. All day, I had requests for said items, and had to tell many people that it was 'pending pickup'... Some of those people may have really needed it. Pickup never happened, and at the end of the day, I got a "please re post" email. ERRRRRG.
Fortunately, some of the items were taken, but now, I am stuck with it. I suppose it will go to the Rescue Workers or something... But it's just all so frustrating.
Anyway. Sorry for my rant. Thanks for "listening".
HAPPY NEW YEAR... I am off to party hearty!
-Ciao
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Monday, December 31, 2007
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3 comments:
Freecycle totally rock -- overall. But yeah, folks who don't show up suck. As a very active freecycler, one of the things I've experienced is that the folks who say that they want a huge amount of the stuff you're offering are often the least likely to show up, or at least to show up on time. Around here, folks who want "everything" most of the time plan to resell it, so it's actually not as much of a priority for them to come get it because it's not something they actually need. If I have a time limit and a popular item, what I'll actually write the next few runners up and ask if they'd like me to call them if the original person doesn't show up as planned, IF they think they can show up that same day. The other thing I've learned to do (but it only works if you're a regular) is not offer it to the first person who writes but instead wait a bit to see if someone I've dealt with before answers, either someone who has been reliable about picking things up in the past, or someone who has given me a number of things. And if no one familiar answers, I usually go with someone who right off sends me their phone number and tells me a time that they can be over to pick it up.
But freecycle totally saved my life when we moved. Not only were we able in three days to empty this house of something like 6-7 beds, several "archie bunker" style chairs and clunky sawdust computer desks, a console tv that took two very strong men to carry it, and all kinds of other stuff, but from our old house we actually had freecyclers who wanted a pile of busted up concrete block and the ashes from our bonfire pit. And it was a freecycler with a chainsaw, a big truck, and a very strong pre-teen daughter who saved me a fortune in tree-service fees when a very large oak fell that we had two days to remove.
If you have other stuff to get rid of in the future, another good source for giving away things that other people will come pick up are programs that help people who were homeless, and domestic violence shelters -- many will come pick things up, and they don't if it's something they can sell as many thrift stores are, they only care about it being at least basically usable by someone who has nothing.
Anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and yours!! Time for me to go upstairs and wake up Von!!
I had to laugh to myself when I found your blog today because you are in a similar situation as we are. We are waiting, very impatiently, to close on our new old house. In the middle of December, I also started a weblog to record the renovations.
Since we used to live in the Harrisburg area, still have friends there that we visit frequently, and will be following approximately the same path as far as renovations go, I will be keeping a close eye on your blog!
Good luck!
So, I'm dyin' over here!!! Are you moved in yet????
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