Freestyle
When we upgraded to our new organic mattress this week, it left us with a spare queen mattress that we had no use for. We considered a few options for getting rid of it – selling it on craigslist, donating it to Goodwill, etc. But in the end we decided it was the perfect opportunity to give Freecycle a try.
Freecycle is a system you guys actually taught us about. It’s a network of locally run message boards where people can exchange unwanted items for free. It’s a pretty simple concept, but it seems to work very well at keeping unwanted items out of landfills. Heck, the Richmond chapter alone has over 150,000 listings posted (you can find the closest chapter to your hometown right here). We joined the Richmond list months ago to learn the ropes, but hadn’t actively participated until this past weekend (thanks to our mattress situation). Here’s how our first adventure in Freecycling went down:
On Sunday afternoon I posted this simple message on the Richmond Freecycle board based on the guidelines of the group: “OFFER: Queen Mattress, Bon Air. Queen mattress (Sealy brand) in fair condition, just upgraded to organic mattress and don’t need it anymore…” It’s a super easy formula to follow. Just lead with the word “OFFER” if you have something to give or “WANTED” if you’re seeking something to receive. After that it’s just a quick description of the item and your location.
Lucky us, our offer of a free queen-sized mattress tickled someone’s fancy almost immediately. It took just one hour for someone to respond to my listing (via Yahoo! Chat, oh technology).
Now, it’s worth mentioning that it’s smart to exercise a bit of caution when arranging meet-ups with strangers (need we mention the recent horror stories about craiglist?). Some people may prefer to meet in a public place, but with a mattress and a small car it didn’t really make sense for us (but we were certain to coordinate the exchange for a time when Sherry and I were both home during daylight hours. And we of course kept our loud-mouthed guard dog nearby). So we gave our free-mattress-hunter some quick directions to our house and got his free gift ready for pick up on the porch.
The guy arrived about 20 minutes later with his wife, son and truck. We learned that they had been put in a tight spot because their landlord had defaulted on his payments, giving them almost zero notice that there were being kicked out. They barely had enough time to pack more than a few bags before they were essentially homeless (and completely bedless). This free mattress meant they no longer had to sleep on the hard floor of their new place. You can imagine how happy we were to watch it ride away with a family in need, absolutely no money exchanged. We smiled for the rest of the day.
Then all that was left to do was to post our follow-up “TAKEN” message (meaning the previously offered item is no longer available). It felt almost unreal that we were doing it a mere 90 minutes after posting our “OFFER.” So what’s our take on Freecycle after our first swap session? Quick, simple, and win-win. It’s all about people coming together to help each other out (strangers no less) while keeping things out of landfills. What’s not to like about that?
Have any of you had good experiences with Freecyle in your area - either giving or receiving something for zero, zilch, nada? We can’t wait to keep an eye out for a free item that we might need (perhaps one that needs a makeover…) – after all, we figure we’ve earned a few good karma points towards something, right?
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Awwh- you guys are awesome! That leaves a much better feeling than just dropping stuff off at Goodwill. PS- I love your site, reading it really is the highlight of my day!
I taught my parents about this—we used the “free” listing on Craigslist, but same concept. They had a somewhat functional snow blower from 1987 living in their garage and taking up space. They upgraded to a better one but didn’t want to put the old one in a landfill and weren’t really interested in trying to sell it. I showed them how to do the listing and 45 minutes later it was out of their garage! My mom was amazed.
I love freecycle! I have been able to find new homes for tons of great things. My mom got me started on it after she used it to get rid of a lot of things from my grandparents house after they passed. The best thing we’ve been able to freecycle was a whole bunch of large landscaping rocks from an old fishpond. The pond has sprung a leak, we wanted a new deck, and after 3 people each took the rocks (it was a lot!) they were at new good homes.
Ok, I have to tell you that my first thought on this was ewww! You did mention a few posts ago about how old that mattress was! :-) But what a great story about helping someone in need. And I guess the “eww” isn’t on your end, but on the taker’s end, so nice job.
I have done freecycle in the past, but never ended up exchanging anything.
My one and only experience with Freecycle is not a good one – but it’s not Freecycle’s fault. My senior year of college I drove with a friend out to the middle-of-nowhere rural Kansas to pick up a free washer and dryer that I needed for my new apartment. I had an old Saab and the plan was to drive out there, make sure it’s what I wanted, then have my friend (who had a truck) come out to load it up. Well, right after I shut off the engine, I spilled my 32 ounce soda right into the ignition (in Saabs the ignition is located on middle console of the car). Then my car wouldn’t start again. Needless to say, I did not end up getting the washer/dryer AND I got stuck with the bill to tow the car and pay for my car to be fixed, which cost a lot too. So….this was my first experience with Freecycle -I hope that we’ll have better luck when we put our mattress on there this weekend. :)
I use freecycle all the time to get props for my theater kids. The department doesn’t have much money, and the props are usually pretty common things, so it’s a win-win.
I got rid of a cat scratch stand on Freecycle once. Posted the offer at 10:30 at night and had some crazy cat lady picking it up from my driveway at 10:50. SO WEIRD! I guess she REALLY needed it.
we recently scored a sweet Ikea sectional couch (the kind that has the one section pull out to make the whole thing a bed from the free section on craigslist. Not freecycle, but pretty much the same thing!
I’ll send you some pictures soon!
What a fantastic idea!
Oooh, I used to Freecycle in Indianapolis a few years ago. I ended up leaving the group after I felt inundated with so many emails for things I didn’t need and requests that did not follow the Freecycle guidelines. However, if you set your email prefs or have something specific in mind it is definitely a great group!! Glad more people have found Freecycle! : )
OH, what a wonderful story. It feels good to help someone out. I have not had the opportunity to go “public” with a niece and a nephew recently moving out for the first time.
Great advice you guys, I was inspired to join Freecycle! They even had a board for my town in Sweden!
I’m ready to freecycle!
When I graduated from college, my friend’s older sister was getting rid of some things in preparation for a cross-country move. She gave me her kitchen table w/ a leaf and 6 chairs for free, and wouldn’t take any money, only telling me to pay it forward.
So when I moved last year into a house that already had a (much nicer) kitchen table, I posted mine on free cycle and it eventually found its way to a family who needed a bigger table for everyone to be able to eat together. It felt really good to know that someone who needed it could have it for free!
My company has a small space on our intranet homepage where we can post items we’re giving away or selling, or even ask for advice. I’ve given away multiple old furtiture items (including a mattress!) and also found a dentist, house painter, and an extra body to go to a Coldplay concert when a friend bailed. How convenient!
I’ve used FreeCycle several times…for moving boxes and once when I really wanted to sew some cute curtains for my kitchen, using an amazing Amy Butler Lotus Flower pattern. However, I had no sewing machine. I posted a “WANTED” ad on my local Santa Monica FreeCycle, and had one in my hands within 24 hours! Awesome!
Love Freecycle!! In fact, I just was looking at my Freecycle messages b4 I moseyed over to your page! I’ve gotten a Christmas tree, a box spring for my daughter’s bed, and when I went to pick up fabric from a sweet lady, she offered me free sewing lessons! I’ve also been able to give away a lot of stuff, too…from old Cooking Light magazines to our broken LCD TV. Freecyle rocks!
LOVE freecycle! The first time I used it was in search of a box spring for a queen mattress after my BF and I moved in together. After a trip to pick up the box spring, in chatting with the posters, I found out she knew my grandmother! They worked together! What are the odds that answering a totally random freecycle post (in another county no less!) would result in knowing the same person!
My mother is slightly obsessed with the site. I believe she ended up with 3 computer monitors at one point, and had to give them away to family and friends. I, on the other hand, haven’t been able to find what I’m looking for when I search. Everything always seems to be taken. But to get rid of things & clear space, I definitely see how it could be a wonderful site.
We used Craig’s list ‘free’ section to get rid of our old mattress too. But we had a no-show first, and then a person who didn’t call back, before we finally got the 3rd taker to come and pick it up.
We need to freecycle a bunch of packing material. We get a lot of stuff shipped to us b/c it’s just easier out here, and I hate to throw away bagfuls of packing peanuts, but I don’t want them decorating my living room either.
Wow that is great. Isn’t it just the best feeling to help someone out? I just signed up for freecycle thanks to you. We just moved from out of state and are still learning where everything is so freecycle I hope will help us set up home and get rid of things we don’t need.
i haven’t yet used freecycle – but have used the free section on craigslist a few times. it still amazes my husband that people want this stuff that we can’t wait to get rid of – and all without having to borrow a truck, load up to take to the dump, pay for the dump, etc.
the best was an old huge trashcan that was left at our house when we moved in (we used a different company who brought us a new can). for months i was too lazy to get that thing to the dump, then craigslist dawned on me. someone drove 45 mins (i don’t know why!) to come get it. i didn’t have to lift a finger!
I love Freecycle & use it often. I use it only to donate, so I only go into the group when I have something to give. (Otherwise, as someone else noted, it can be incredibly overwhelming.) I love it b/c it helps me get rid of stuff that is not acceptable for donation, or just too big for me to move. I hate wasting things, & I hate filling up landfills. And it’s amazing what people will take!
Unless it’s something big, I just leave it on the porch, so I have no direct contact with the person. If it’s big, I set up a time when my husband is home.
I have found, however, that I get a lot of no-shows–an issue to consider if you need to be home to meet someone. Our group advises a couple of exchanges before setting up a pickup, as a way to weed out people who aren’t serious. I also wish people had better manners! I’m amazed at the way people write to me, considering I am offering to give them something they need FREE. If I have a choice, I always try to give to someone who bothers to write a civilized email.
All I can say is what blessing!
I was a part of Richmond Freecycle when it first started up about 4 or so years ago. It has grown SO much since then! It was a great community of folks, and I was able to give and receive on there as well!
I freecycle in Appleton, Wi and just love it! I’ve been able to take advantage of the giving and receiving and couldn’t be happier.
Not to be a downer…
I love the idea of FreeCycle and have used it to get a lawn mower, but as an ex-mattress-sales-person I know that used mattresses are not supposed to be donated or sold. At least in my state. A used mattress is extremely dirty. Throwing them out is the only option. If you put them on the curb and they “disappear” that is one thing, but you aren’t supposed to list them online or donate them. Most charities know this and won’t take them anyway.
The people who got your old mattress are happy so that is what matters.
Bio-degradable and all natural mattresses are the best option, so you can throw them away in 20 years with a lot less guilt!
I use freecycle all of the time. I used to just drop off at Goodwill, but freecyclers come to you! I’ve had a few flakes and some people who got a little tmi in their emails, but all in all its been a really great thing for me!
wow! I’ve never heard about Freecycle but I am SO going to check it out. what an amazing resource. thanks and I’m so please you were able to help some one out! :D
Speaking of free stuff…glidden is giving away free quarts of paint. (just saw it on another blog and thought I’d share!)
https://www.glidden.com/promotions/free-paint-giveaway.do
P.S. I love your site!
that was so nice! thanks for posting this! =)
I try to tell everyone about Freecycle! We did a cross country move last summer and we really wanted to downsize, so we gave away a ton of stuff. We had nothing but great experiences. The only thing I would recommend is to watch your responses and take off your item as soon as it is spoken for. I used to get dozens of replies within minutes of posting something, especially if it was a “hot commodity” like tools or appliances. I learned people will take anything; we even had someone come with a chainsaw and truck and haul away dead logs that had been stacked by the side of our driveway!
What a good deed, Youngsters!
When I was leaving Boston for Cville, I posted a load of shoes I no longer wore on Freecycle. Later that afternoon, the wife of a medical student was in my house, crying as she packed up the first “new” shoes she had gotten since her husband started school. That was the first of many postings for me. I’ve been lucky…all my interactions have been positive.
Be careful, though. You’ll find yourselves looking through drawers, thinking about what you want to shed next. It’s addictive!
We have used Freecycle to get rid of unworkable things that others could fix and wanted – old road racing bike for example.
If it is something that I think the local Habitat Home Reuse place can sell and help build another house, we take the stuff there.
I’ve used freecycle to get a free tv (a big one, too), a bunch of cookbooks and cooking magazines, and a bunch of cups, mugs, and dishes. I’m in college, so I will take all the free stuff I can get my hands on! It’s great!
I love Freecycle, we have been using it for years. Everytime the Navy moves us we shower the locals with gifts a plenty! lol. I love knowing our things are going to people who need them and will love them like we did. We used to donate to the thrift stores, but after seeing the markup on some of our things to where actually needy people wouldn’t be able to get them anyway (in one case more than what WE paid for it) we stopped donating and started going through Freecycle exclusively. We still shop the charity stores, but feel better about using FC to dispose of our things.
I’m glad it worked out. A mattress is the last thing I would take from someone, even someone I know. I’m skittish that way, I guess. But this was a fairy tale story and I will stop putting my squeamish damper on it. You guys are super cool, and I’m heading to the Freecycle site right now.
I finally took the plunge to join my local freecycle (Mechanicsburg, PA) right before we moved into our new house, and over just my first month so far, I’ve successfully rid myself of two hideous cement seagull lawn ornaments, a huge, heavy bird bath collecting toxic water on the side of the house, and scored a free 40″ round glass telescope patio table. Freecycle is awesome so far! Very glad to hear you two had a good first experience!
I haven’t used Freecycle, but I have used the Craiglist free section to foist off, er, give away some older electronics components including a 32″ JVC TV that a parent was REALLY HAPPY to have for her kids. My son Chris (you know him, Jon) uses Freecycle in Pasadena all the time and has the Free Craigslist RSS feed going all the time! It’s a great way to recycle and repurpose perfectly good stuff that you don’t happen to need or want anymore.
We’ve been using Freecycle for years, and most recently the free section on Craigslist. On the whole, we’ve had mainly positive experiences. We’ve donated more stuff than we’ve received, but the best thing we got for trade on Craigslist was a ride-on lawn mower (bartered for two bicycles we never used. score!) The only negatives we’ve experienced are the many ‘no-shows’ and sometimes, the rude emails. We actually had a situation a while back in which we received rude and angry emails from one particular person for over 24 hours. I posted about it on my blog: http://amyhogan.com/blog/renovation/?p=600
Yeay for you guys success! That’s the way freecycle is supposed to work.
I just recently sent a message to a person needing a vacuum cleaner but I got a really oogie feeling from their response. All they wanted was my contact info. It seemed dangerous. So be careful out there!
I’ve had no bad experiences with freecycle, only the control freak woman that moderated my local freecycle while it was still a yahoo group. She was quite horrible and completely removed listings that didn’t match her very exacting (dare I say, OCD-like) protocol. I hate to think that lots of objects ended up in landfills because new freecyclers didn’t even realize their listings were taken down.
I scored a Christmas tree, ornaments, clothes, a toaster and SO much more on freecycle. It’s awesome!
I am a freecycler!! I recently scored a silver two-tiered stand that I absolutley adore! Good Job John and Sherry!!
In my experience, things come and go VERY quickly on freecycle. I posted a list of 5 items one day and by that evening, they were all gone including a bag of old towels. You would be surprised… things I’d never thought of that are useful to people.
For example, old towels and blankets are collected by people for animal shelters. A friend got rid of his loud chicken on freecycle and another her entire fish tank (fish included!). It’s great… never a bad experience except when I’m just too late to get an item that sounds good.
It feels much better to see things get passed on and used as opposed to going in the trash.
I told my soon to be husband about Freecycle when it first hit the St Louis area 5 years ago. he had just moved into a house and was able to completely furnish it…to my dismay, he furnished it with NINE couches in the living room of a 1000 sq ft house. Stadium seating. Combined with his 72 inch TV and sword racks (yeah…plural), it was/is a bachelor pad to the max!! He has cut down to just one sofa in the living room, but a few are still lurking in his basement… Thankfully, my very generous big bro just bought us a couch as a wedding present (Crate and Barrel’s Camden! I am stoked!). T minus 4 weeks to the wedding, so we have a little time to establish a LR we can BOTH love!
Good for you guys!! I’ve heard a lot about freecycle, but for some reason I’ve never gotten around to actually using it. I’ll have to try it out.
Love Freecycle. I got rid of a bunch of baby stuff using freecycle, and the people who got the things were so happy. Like you, I was just happy to see it all drive away. I’ve also given away books, scrap wood, and plants.
Glad to see you giving Freecycle a shoutout – everyone should know about it!
I love freecycle too! A couple months ago I gathered up a bunch of electronics (disc man, old laptop, walk man, etc.) and listed them. I got a ton of responses and they ended up going to a lady whose husband LOVES to take things apart and see how they work. She was going to give them to him for his birthday. I thought that was great and a heck of a lot better than ending up in a landfill.
We got a lot of furniture when I was in college from the Massachusetts free section of craigslist and freecycle. My suggestion is to add “Will deliver within a reasonable distance for $5 extra” when you are offering something. I commute an hour each way every day and many times I have found that it isn’t too far out of my way to deliver something.
Since we moved to Maryland, I have mostly been offering things on these services. The previous owners left a lot of the things their kids outgrew in the house we bought, so we put that online. My favorite was when we offered a girl’s bike with training wheels – it went to a little girl whose brother had gotten a bike for Christmas, but her parents couldn’t afford one for her too. We dropped it off at her house and she was THRILLED.
What a great program! I think I will check this out for myself. I am moving next week and have a few items that I don’t want anymore but don’t know what to do with them and I would feel horrible about just throwing them away. This would be the perfect solution. Thanks for the tip!
We are long-time freecyclers! When we moved from N. America to the other side of the world last year, we advertised our moving sale to our freecycle group and told them that anything left unsold after 2pm would be FREE. Needless to say, we were very happy at the end of the day to know that everything had gone to good homes.
I have scored countless treasures on freecycle, and have given away even more than I have taken. It’s a FAB system, and I am happy to see you giving it a shout out.
We are now happy freecyclers in Sydney, Australia!