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?
Elizabeth says
Freecycle is fabulous!! I have been using it for almost 5 years here in Atlanta and have freecycled everything from a couch to moving boxes to nicknacks.
To try to help avoid the fact that you really don’t know who is on the other end, I have an “internet only” email address I use that, while it is my real name, isn’t what I go by on a daily basis, nor does it reveal my true identity (and is the same address I post with here…) I also email/IM only, no phone calls. And finally, leave things outside on the porch for pickup so no one comes in my house. Never can be too careful.
armchairdesign says
organic mattress=straw?
YoungHouseLove says
Ha! Close, armchairdesign – but it’s actually latex and organic cotton/wool. Read all about it right here: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/06/time-for-a-new-bed/
Hilary says
I’ve had both good and bad experiences with freecycle. Primarily good, some no shows. And then there was the lady who started literally screaming at me in the Walmart parking lot because she wanted MORE free fabric (it wasn’t like I didn’t give her a lot of fabric nor did I specify a quantity nor did she ask what amount before meeting me.) I took a break from freecycle after that and was really glad she didn’t know where I lived.
Kristy says
That guy’s story is really b.s. Even if you are a tenant…you are given 30 day’s notice. Ask me…my husband is a mover and he’s always moving these people out on the last day and they always say that they had notice. Perhaps the law’s are different there…but that story is shady if you ask me.
Secondly….Kudo’s to you for helping someone out and recycling your mattress. They will not be sleeping on the floor now and that’s what really matters…not how they got bedless.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kristy,
We actually believed the guy’s story because he said that he was sub-leasing (basically renting a room from the actual tenant) so they were paying that person rent for their share of the house and apparently the tenant wasn’t passing along the rent to the landlord and was just keeping their payments knowing that they would soon get evicted. Sad situation! We totally felt for them. We’re so glad to get that old mattress off of our hands so quickly and it made us feel extra good that they were so sweet and thankful for a place to sleep.
xo,
s
Candied Fabrics says
I LOVE freecycle! I’ve probably passed on 20 different items in the past couple of years. Each time I feel happy that someone went home with something they wanted/needed, and my hubby is happy because it was something else he didn’t have to lug down to the GoodWill. The lesson I keep learning is to stay close to the computer after you post – if not you can end up with a lot of emails in just a little time if you’re offering something popular (and old computer chair – who knew how many people wanted one of these??)
This Yahoo chat thing you talk about – I’ve got to figure that out!
Lee says
I love the idea of Freecycle and I think I’m in the minority that I’ve had nothing but trouble. Everytime I post something, I get lots of email responses from people who say they are going to come and they never do.
ro says
I love freecycle! I have gotten some great finds on freecycle. And I have done a great deal of cleaning out of my home using freecycle. One large cleaning out of unwanted items helped four families, the lady that picked up the items divided them up with them. She sent me a really nice e-mail. I was glad to help! I believe the people also that came and picked up the mattress. There are alot of people in need right now! I post my items on freecycle instead of taking it to the Godwill, the store jacks the prices up so high sometimes. Welcome to freecycle!Have a great day you two!
tracy says
It’s funny you post this today! my sister told me about this wonderful service and I’ve “OFFER”ed several things this week and had great luck with great people coming to get my stuff. I had several gallons of good paint in colors that we no longer used that I was able to ‘share’ with someone else who wanted to paint her room. I was able to “share” one of those plastic kiddie pools with someone who had a dog who, get this…actually Likes water! lol….I have several boxes going out today. I Highly recommend this service, and as you’ve explained, it’s really quite simple to use. My one suggestion for people offering their items is when someone responds to your ad, put a time frame on the ‘gift’. I suggest saying that “such and such” will be on the porch from 10-7, or whatever, and then it will move to the curb. That way, you aren’t left holding said item and having to re-offer.
I’ve always been one to donate rather than yard-sale my stuff, and nowdays, with so many people running short on their luck and struggling, it’s just being a good citizen to share what you no longer can use. And, it Does make you smile when you can help someone. Whether the guy’s story was true or not, he obviously needed a mattress, and that’s the important thing.
thank you for Freecycling! have a great weekend you two!
~tracy
Lauren says
I love freecycle! There are a few no-shows every now and then but it’s been great. I have gotten many things and given away lots too.
Melinda says
I just joined Freecylce a couple of months ago and I was able to get two, very nice tricylces for my son and my nefew. The woman who posted them said that they were broken and couldn’t figure out how to fix them. My husband tightened some bolts and they were as good as new! I also got an entire box full of glass vases, which I love to fill with fresh flowers and give to a friend or family member!
Kim says
I was just getting ready to post about our own Freecycle experience. We took a cue from you when you got rid of your landscaping through Craigslist. We had a wooden fence we wanted removed. I posted it on Freecycle and had 45 emails the next morning. It was fast, easy and labor-free.
keri says
I have used Freecycle quite a bit but lately I have just been hauling things to Goodwill or a similar thrift store. I had a woman completely disregard my instructions of when to come to my house to pick up a pile or cooking magazines and she alter told me she fell and broke her arm. She walked to my house on the icy sidewalk, in the dark, much later than I had told her to come. I had set them out during the day and she never came. She then said she would come the next day, so I left then on the front porch for the morning. She came the next evening, after dark. My instructions had said to come during the daylight, and to walk on the grass just in case the bad weather we were having iced the sidewalks. I was worried she would sue when she emailed me, but I reminded her of all the instructions and warnings I had given her and she stopped emailing me… Probably about one out of the 50 successful Freecycles I have done though.
Leia says
Freecycle love – we’ve used it for a number of years now. Everything from a practically new washer (we were moving to an apartment; very sad to see it go!) to wardrobe boxes & art supplies. W’ve had one or two no shows, but nothing that wasn’t remedied by listing again.
… I don’t think we’ve picked up much from freecycle. Canning jars, that went to a friend who ended up listing them back on freecycle. It was fun to watch!
Tamisha says
I’ve had good and bad experiences with Freecycle, but nothing nightmarish. We got rid of an old rug that way, and some landscape plants. I’m guessing once we move, we’ll be using it to get rid of some other stuff. My fave Freecycle is scoring two used fridges for my work (a high school). Our two faculty fridges crapped out at the same time. I promptly asked for fridges and got two delivered inside a week!
Nicole RJ says
I love freecycle! I used it when we moved and was able to pass along so many items and saved myself a trip to Goodwill.
I’ve always offered everything via “Porch Pick-Up,” just leave your items on your porch to be picked-up – no need to meet the person if you’re uncomfortable in any way, or aren’t able to arrange for pick-up when you’re not home alone!
Sean R says
When we were getting our new couches we freecycled the old ones to two different people. I was home for one, but was late getting home from work for another, but the people were nice enough when dealing with Jenn alone. They picked them right up from our house. It’s a great program.
Amy says
I agree with the previous posters on having a pick-up time slot, i usually choose the people that are available during that time.
We recently moved from Juneau, Alaska where we had a Freecycle “sale” instead of a garage sale. True we didn’t make any money from our stuff, but there was very little left to deal with before we moved. talk about a stress reducer!
when we arrived in our new state, i couldn’t believe some of the stuff we did chose to bring with us! and the boxes! oh so many boxes, so now i am freecycling here as well!
i no longer bother trying to sell anything. i also shop freecycle first when i need something. people are amazingly generous and will give you something that they didn’t know they were done with until you asked.
Viv says
Last year we downsized from 6000 sq ft and moved cross-country to 1500 sq ft. After we got tired of selling stuff, I started FreeCycling. My goal was to do two FreeCycles a day for 30 days. In the end, we had two bags of garbage. Everything else had been given away or sold. I also scrapped Day 2 of my garage sale and advertised it as a FreeCycle free-for-all.
Two of my favourite stories:
-we FreeCycled our 1904 upright grand piano. It just couldn’t take another cross-country move and we had no bites on selling it. We said that the person taking it had to pay piano movers because we couldn’t take a chance on damage to our sold house. The woman taking it came over to meet the movers and started to weep when she saw the piano. She sat and played it and said she never thought she’d ever own anything so beautiful. I knew it had found its best home
-Someone made three separate trips to pick up various things I had. I never met them. One day I came home and they were sitting in the driveway. Their son had found a $20 US bill in an old suitcase we got rid of and they wanted to return it to me.
Courtney says
Hey guys, this is the first I have heard of FreeCycle! I just joined today, but I’m a little confused. Do they not have pictures of the items that are being given away? Because everytime I open one, it is just the description… Is there a way to view pictures?
I loooove the site so far! I have tons of furniture that I’m getting ready to FreeCycle! :) Much better than selling it :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Courtney – from our experience there aren’t any pictures on Freecycle. So while you can’t see the items, at least there isn’t much to lose if you show up for something that doesn’t quite fit your mental picture of it.. Though maybe you could request one if there’s a certain item you’re interested in?
-John
missy says
kristy…you’re right, the story was probably b.s. but not just HOW he got bedless but whether he was even bedless or not. A lot of people in my area get things from freecycle and then go sell them on Craigslist. Since people that offer things on freecycle are trying to do a good thing, (and there is sometimes competition for an item) they have learned that the best sob story gets the item… then it’s off to CL they go. I’m surprised this guy is bedless, but has an internet connection and computer to surf freecycle and yahoo chat….
Courtney says
Even if this man’s story was a lie, obviously he was in need of the mattress (or cash, if he decides to sell it) more so than John and Sherry. I’m sure they were just ready to get rid of the ol’ thing. :) And that is what Freecycle is all about! :) Let’s not be so quick to judge, this man may have just been in a tight spot, like many other people right now, in this economy. :/
catherine knapp says
If any one has fabric that they may no longer want I would take if off your hands.I’m making dresses for some famliys
that are in need. I have no money to buy fabric.I have been very ill, and unable to work.So I keep my self busy by making these dresses and giving them away.
Thank you !
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kathy says
I’m glad you’ve posted info about Freecycle because I’m also a HUGE fan of it here in Seattle. It’s so much easier than craigslist because if the stuff is free, the takers aren’t picky and they come and cart it away immediately. They’re happy and we’re happy–everyone’s a winner! In a single day this summer, I posted the clutter (really good stuff, actually, that I just didn’t have room for) of an entire room on freecycle and gained a home office!
haverwench says
We get as good as we give on Freecycle. We’ve managed to give away things I never imagined anyone would want (an obsolete computer, a damaged lawnmower) and acquire all sorts of useful stuff–toys for the nieces and nephews, pavers to build a new patio, and a kitchen sink complete with faucet (http://ecofrugality.blogspot.com/2010/06/score-another-for-freecycle.html). Freecycling is a three-fer: save money, save resources by buying used, and keep useful stuff out of landfills. Can’t beat that.
Melissa says
I have been using freecycle for a few years… had both good and bad. I just moved to a MUCH larger city, and it has been some good, mostly bad. I am getting incredibly sick of people who basically beg for an item, then don’t show up. Makes me INSANE. That being said, I have scored a few great things on there for my kids- a wagon, bike for my son, etc. Freecycle here, people don’t post much that is worth “real” money… they keep that stuff for kijiji. I had more luck in our old smallish town… people there were AWESOME.
Sean says
I’ve had great luck with finding new homes for no longer needed items on freestyle.
nelly rivera says
I need a new queen size bed please