Feedback - Anyone Use Freecycle.org?

madmatt · Post by **madmatt** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:51 pm

I was poking around Freecycle.org, a network where people can give or pick up old stuff, with nothing for sale. The point being it can keep a lot of shit out of landfills.

Just wondering if it's worthwhile for scavenging for theme camp deco and whatnot.

Your feedback?

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 7:53 pm

I've not found anything I want. but, it is a good idea.........

Oldguy · Post by **Oldguy** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:47 pm

Last week I scored 2 huge Pioneer box speakers for my Hitachi stereo, he gave me 3 smaller Pioneer surround sound speakers also. Mostly in my area, mothers are reusing child items or housewares.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:02 pm

It seems to vary a lot depending on which city you're in, since they're all independently run. In some you can get great stuff, others are overrun by people begging for expensive stuff and grabbing everything that's offered within seconds. Either way, it's definitely worth joining and trying it out.

SilverOrange · Post by **SilverOrange** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:11 pm

I've been a member of Freecycle for a while now. I've gotten rid of some things on there that I didn't know anyone who could use but didn't want to trash. Getting anything off of there has been another thing entirely. My reflexes must be getting slower as I get older, because I've never gotten any of the cool stuff that I was interested in. There must be a lot of people hopping on the goods as soon as they get posted. I just get daily digests, but you can get emails as things are posted. YMMV It must keep a lot of things with life in them out of the landfills, as I live in a relatively small city and there's at keast a hundred posts on there a day. Multiply that by all of the local chapters across the country and I would say it's a damn good service.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:21 pm

Is it an organization?
Someone recommended it, but never explained what it is.
We now have freecycle listings on craigslist.
Sometimes people list stuff put on the curb.

Anyone willing to explain the details of craigslist to me?
They seem to think everyone knows how to use the site, but no one here does.
I can't figure out how to access the help forums, for instance.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:33 pm

I find the best way to find stuff on Craigslist is to use the search feature..........

pick the area, the category (for sale, wanted, etc), and, type in a search term..........
I've found some pretty good stuff that way......and, when to slow, missed some, too.

Not sure what else you're asking.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:52 pm

I can't think of them.
I'll have to make a list.
The forum arrangement totally baffles me though.
I've never navigated that kind of setup before.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:54 pm

I'll help as I can, just let me know.......

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:06 pm

Thanks.

I can't figure out how the threads work on the help forum.
I don't know how to formulate a question.
I'm just lost.
I can't figure out if they are hard to use or I'm doing it wrong.

But I was on there trying to figure out other things.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:07 pm

I've not used the help forum, but, will check it out...........

Post by **Elderberry** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:17 pm

Craig's list is a piece of cake compared to freecycle.org

Everything on CL is in text format, so you select your city, then you select the category you are interested in, then you just type in key words--say I was looking for generators--I'd go to craigslist.org, then click on Los Angeles. There doesn't seem to be a category that fits, so I'll just click on the main for sale link. I then would type in generator in the search box--and every listing in for sale with the word generator in it comes up. You can narrow the search by adding words like 1200 watt generator or put in your maximum price, etc.

Now, maybe ygmir can add to that and then help me understand freecycle.org. You go to the site and it seems to take you to a yahoo group for listings? Is that right?

JK

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:32 pm

Freecycle is basically just a concept - start a mailing list for people to give away and ask for unwanted items. Each individual list is for a different city/metro area and is run independently - find the list for your area and join it. All the ones I've seen were done with Yahoo Groups, but there may be some using some other system.

Assuming it's a Yahoo group, you need to create an account on Yahoo if you don't have one already. Then you join the group and wait for your membership to be approved. When you join you have the option of getting individual emails or a daily digest. Individual emails are best, as by the time the digest comes out the stuff is usually gone.

If you don't want all the emails, select no emails and simply post a WANTED message when there's something specific you want. If someone wants to give you one of those things they'll reply to you directly.

Post by **Elderberry** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:42 pm

Thanks Dork. For some reason I was expecting it to be more like CL as they had their own domain name; so I was confused as to why they would be directing me to a Yahoo group.

JK

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:14 am

I'm on the Odgen freecycle, it is indeed run independently. There are moderators to enforce the few simple rules. One of ours is you must post an OFFER before you can post a WANT. The daily digest is the way to go. Our list is small, maybe 20 posts a day, rarely more.

Larry brings home things the truckers toss out .... I had a dozen replies when I offered a single mattress. I've gotten a lot of things into the hands of people who really needed stuff, although I've been certain resellers have hit me up once. Grrr. I've not taken anything off the list as I don't drive and can't go get things. The most annoying aspect is the people who promise and promise to pick things up and never show up.

If anyone needs a sleeping bag or a comforter to use as a tent topper, let me know NOW and if I can get one, you can pick it up on the playa from me. My camp is easy to find.

There is a playa trading post on Tribe, mostly costume items. Free stuff, but with a hint of barter and of course, shipping. Burner Yard sales get advertised now and then.

http://tribes.tribe.net/playatradinpost

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:27 am

AntiM wrote:The most annoying aspect is the people who promise and promise to pick things up and never show up.

Same thing with the Craig's List free listings; sometimes even with the paid ones. Lots of flakes out there.

You don't drive? Another thing I can now post on the "What I learned new today thread."

JK

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:54 am

Nope, I don't drive. I scraped through driver's ed as a teen and no one would let me practice driving. I walked a lot in my 20s, took buses and rode a bike. Then I joined the Navy and went overseas. They did try to teach me to drive, but after one practice session, my co-workers refused to go with me anymore. I did learn to move the High Ace van while we were in Japan, but I never got past the learner's permit. As I got older, I started having panic attacks whenever I try to drive or practice. This makes MyLarry nuts, as he can move anything with a power plant and a means of propulsion.

I can, however, ride a Harley if I stay in the low gears. But those riding carts in grocery stores? Nope, I run into things.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:03 pm

Somehow I got my driver's license despite driver's ed. and my dad and, to a lesser degree, my mom-- oh, and that one examiner who seemed to dislike me. I was very nervous behind the wheel, and I think what I really needed to do was relax...

Anyway, back to the topic.

Freecycle is a Yahoo group, or groups, like mentioned above. Technically, you are supposed to offer something before you ask for something, but that is pretty much on the honor system (I asked for stuff a few times before I found that out, and no one yelled at me, or even seemed to notice). I receive both the one for the Madison, Wisconsin area and the Baraboo, Wisconsin area. I get both in a digest format, and the Madison one puts out something like four to six digests per day on the average. The Baraboo one only puts out about one per day, sometimes none, and sometimes two.

Craig's List has categories (unlike Freecycle), making it easier to navigate, and a search engine.

That's about it for my knowledge. I picked up an old treadmill motor I eventually want to make into a wind generator as written up in Make magazine. (I am kind of curious about why the example motor in the magazine had two wires and the one I got has three...!?

) And got a recommendation of a local salvage yard to go to to look for a new passenger side outside mirror for my car. (I'd like the weather to improve before following up on that one.)

I've mostly just looked at stuff on Craig's List. If I had more money I might have bought an aluminum diesel delivery vehicle which was cheap due to a leak in its fuel tank-- I think it was only a couple thousand dollars or so, but that's a couple thousand more than I had at the time, so... (And the guy offering it didn't respond to my offer to swap my car for it, darn it!

)

Good luck finding stuff!

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:51 pm

AntiM wrote:Nope, I don't drive. I scraped through driver's ed as a teen and no one would let me practice driving. I walked a lot in my 20s, took buses and rode a bike. Then I joined the Navy and went overseas. They did try to teach me to drive, but after one practice session, my co-workers refused to go with me anymore. I did learn to move the High Ace van while we were in Japan, but I never got past the learner's permit. As I got older, I started having panic attacks whenever I try to drive or practice. This makes MyLarry nuts, as he can move anything with a power plant and a means of propulsion.

I can, however, ride a Harley if I stay in the low gears. But those riding carts in grocery stores? Nope, I run into things.

I find this very interesting. From your posts you struck me as such a busy/active person that I just figured you would be going from here to there getting things done and having to use a car to get it all done.

But I understand how you could easily have started getting the panic attacks. For several years here in L.A. after my little fiat was totaled, I decided to not get a new car and use public transportation. (I got used to taking the bus because the fiat was in the garage at least once a month. And since I lived and worked on the same bus line, it was not a problem.)

Anyway when I decided to get a new car again, I was a bit nervous myself after not driving for a couple of years.

So it's easy to see how people not being supportive about your driving in your early learning years could easily come back to haunt you later.

JK

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:44 pm

I was pushing thirty when I got my license. And now I don't drive at all, and I fear being very nervous when I start again.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:26 pm

AntiM wrote:Nope, I don't drive. I scraped through driver's ed as a teen and no one would let me practice driving. I walked a lot in my 20s, took buses and rode a bike. Then I joined the Navy and went overseas. They did try to teach me to drive, but after one practice session, my co-workers refused to go with me anymore. I did learn to move the High Ace van while we were in Japan, but I never got past the learner's permit. As I got older, I started having panic attacks whenever I try to drive or practice. This makes MyLarry nuts, as he can move anything with a power plant and a means of propulsion.

I can, however, ride a Harley if I stay in the low gears. But those riding carts in grocery stores? Nope, I run into things.

So Larry drives around with 40 tons and up and you don't drive even a one ton car?
Isn't a Harley harder to handle than a car?

I can teach you to drive.
I don't know what I can do about panic attacks, but it sounds like you just needed a lot more time to practice out of traffic.
The most crucial thing to do for everyone is not to ever panic.
Even germans are known to freeze in crash situations and secondary crashes are often much worse than the initial crash.
My favorite example of calm in training is a film from a fighter trainer.
The pilot has passed out from a high G maneuver and you can see him on a section of the screen- head to one side, mouth open- out.
As the plane slowly arcs lower at 800 mph, pointing lower and lower from the horizon, you can hear the trainer calmly saying "Check your horizon." about every thirty seconds until he realizes the pilot is no longer participating, then it's "Oh fuck!"
But he is so calm for such a long time while the plane curves toward vertical descent.

You typically have time for three to five maneuvers before contact.
Usually you can at least minimize injury.
There is even a high speed technique to reverse the car so you hit rear first.
That is for advanced skill levels only.

If you want to practice, after exodus is a great time to drive on the playa.
Then, there is nothing to hit except big art and dpw.

By the way, the handling of a car has a lot to do with ease of driving.
That may have something to do with some of it.
And those grocery carts are only supposed to fit three year olds and the handling is awful anyway.
I always loved riding on the bottom shelf myself.

Fishy, if you want some practice, some of the mvs already have some type of remote controls and they are always looking for sober, rested drivers.
Driving in crowds at burning man is very difficult though.
It's the hardest driving I've ever done, though it's certainly more fun at times than some things.
It's wonderful in the open playa sometimes too.
Just be very careful when you hit the streets the first time because you get used to that really slow speed.

Anyway, if I can help...

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:30 am

I think it may be genetic in part. Mom, and her mom, did not drive. But I also have an aunt in California who did not drive until her 30s, several female cousins in other states who do not drive, and several nieces who avoid driving unless they must. At least two complete non-drivers like myself. Some of my cousins medicate to avoid the panic attacks, but somehow taking drugs in order to drive seems so wrong. No, we weren't all raised near each other, I only found out about the scattered relations not driving in the last few years.

Gyre, there's more to this than handling. I can move a vehicle competently off road. And yeah, the Harley is easier for me. Two wheels rock, but you can't get a motorcycle endorsement unless you have a car license in Utah.

Anyway, I have stuff that I don't want to sell, but is too good for freecycle. Like Japanese claypots used to bake rice. Too heavy and fragile to ship. They may end their life as flowerpots.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:37 am

If an electric bike would work for you, most don't require licenses and some will handle mountains.
Up front cost is high but other than battery replacement, they cost almost nothing to run.
Good used ones are available now.
I've been researching pretty heavy lately if you want any info.
I'm especially interested in the geared models like the Panasonic and the Xtracycle Stokemonkey.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:43 am

For an electric bike you might want to check with your state's motor vehicle department-- I seem to recall that Wisconsin's rules and regulations get pretty tangled up with those. When I worked at our DMV, licensing things like that fell into the "you will probably never encounter this" category-- with the admission that the rules weren't easy to figure out. (Hopefully your state is better!)

madmatt · Post by **madmatt** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:02 pm

ygmir wrote:I find the best way to find stuff on Craigslist is to use the search feature..........

That's correct. I compared both, and the Craigslist listings were way better and the bulletin board and postings were not all weird and convoluted like freecycle.

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:13 pm

madmatt wrote:
That's correct. I compared both, and the Craigslist listings were way better and the bulletin board and postings were not all weird and convoluted like freecycle.

And I thought I must be doing something wrong! I thought freecycle was very hard to use too.

JK

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:56 am

If you think about it, it shouldn't be a surprise. Craigslist is a huge site, if they didn't have a good search feature, it would collapse under its own weight. Freecycle is just a reletively small group of people passing around notices and there's no central authority.

Feedback - Anyone Use Freecycle.org?

Feedback - Anyone Use Freecycle.org?

Like driving in Mumbai, except for not hitting pedestrians..