Help me with Freecycle?

[pnault17]

I live in a major metro area.

I posted an offer for a box of clothes, and the first contact said she'd take them, but that they could go to anyone who needed them more.

The second reply says "I'll take them."

:hectic1:

I'm new (brand new) to this. How am I supposed to gauge "need"? I'm not interested in interrogating people, and I don't want to seem like I'm giving to the best "sell", KWIM???

Gr. What to do?

Reps to experienced freecyclers who can help me! And soon!

[map332]

I would give it to the 2nd person - the 1st one did say it was ok. Just send her an email telling her what you did. If the 2nd person does not pick up reoffer to the 1st. Hope this helps. I get freecycle emails but I have never offered or received anything as yet.

[tmotley]

I usually just give to the first person who not only responds, but then follows through and completes with a pick up time/date. This is mostly because I just want to get rid of the stuff. Unless it's a response like "I'll take them". There are people who just sit and respond that same message to everything that comes along. And in my personal opinion, that just sounds rude. (just my opinion)
If you want to give them to someone you think needs them, then your best bet is to wait a while to allow enough responses to come in. (a few hours at least) Then you can pick the one that you like the best. This gives people who are not sitting in front of the computer all day a chance too.

[Savndough]

I try to give to the person who replies first.

[CoveredinGrace]

I started and ran a local freecycle for a couple of years before moving. In that smaller group, I always went with "first to email, first to receive", but now I, too, live in a metro area, and now I go with "first to contact me with a date/time of pickup" if I'm in any doubt whatsoever. Usually the one that says, "I'll pick it up tonight at 6pm" or "I'll pick up tomorrow at noon" are the ones who will actually show up, and show up on time! Hope that helps.

In your current situation, I would give to the 2nd, since the 1st indicated that they weren't in need of the items, really. Also, don't get too into trying to figure out who needs it the worst, b/c it will drive you nuts, and truth be told, the most manipulative ones that are trying to seem needy are often the ones who are off on Ebay or Craigslist reselling what you gave them anyway. I look at it this way:
I'm not going to get upset no matter what happens to whatever I give, because truth be told, my house is less cluttered, and my heart was in the right place. Personally, as a devoutly religious person, I pray before I post an item that the Lord will guide the item to the right person who needs it, but I realize that is a deeply personal thing and won't work for everyone, it's just what I do.

[loladooder99]

First off its first come first serve. The first person to email you who wants them is who you give it too to be fair. I always leave mine on the doorstep so they don't ring the door bell and ask for a time when they are coming over. I also never give my address out till they tell me an exact time they are coming because sometimes they don't show up.

[tmsmalley]

In this case I'd go with the second. The first sounds like a flake and you want this stuff gone.

TEss

[Debbieomi]

Our local freecycle tries to encourage people to NOT give to the first responder. They ask that we wait at least 24 hours and then see where there is a real need for the item. Especially in metro areas, there are people who live on their computers for no other reason that to be the first responder and then they sell the items. It gets very discouraging to constantly be told that the first responder got the items. Good luck to you!

[sindy9002]

I would give to the one who seems to be honest, leave the details of contact massage.

[Lmnde]

I second the 24 hr rule. There are indeed ppl just waiting for stuff to come online so they can snag it - for example my neighbors in front of my house, who use their backyard [who coincidently ends 30 feet in front of my front door] as a junk storing yard for freecycle finds, until they have 2-3 truckloads to make it worth their time to take to the scrap heap. None of the things they come home with are being used by them [though some does stock their yardsales], but most goes to the scrap yard for $$$.

In the meantime I'm looking at heaps and piles of furniture, appliances etc that was most likley given in good heart to someone who the donor thought could actually get some use out off.

I wait 24 hrs until I decide to gift it, and this often gets me someone sincere who I feel will actually get some honest use and enjoyment out of the items.