Finding Contentment

The good & the bad of Freecycle

I think I am developing a love/hate relationship with Freecycle. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Freecycle is an organization that has moderator in about 4,000 communities across the U.S. People post things they no longer need and can also post things they are in need of obtaining. Nobody is allowed to sell anything – it’s all free, legal and appropriate.

I have only been a Freecycler for about a month now. But I have had several experiences, both good and bad. First I received some homeschooling texts, which was great. Then I gave the Left Behind series, which went fine. Then I gave a closetful of clothes (see the post “Has anyone seen my new jeans”).

Everything went fine up until that point. But now I am on a downward slide. Last week I posted that I had a series of Bible-based children’s books to give away. I made an appointment with a woman who was supposed to pick them up, but she never showed. Then she sent an e-mail saying I hadn’t showed up! Since the front door was open and the dogs bark if anyone so much as comes in the driveway, I’m pretty sure she never came. But I decided to chalk it up to miscommunication and offer them to somewhere else.

Then I had another no-show for the same Bible books, before - on my third try - someone came when they said they would and picked them up.

Somebody else posted that they had some plants they wanted to give away. I made an appointment, and I guess I just assumed they were in pots, or where bulbs or something. Never assume! I got there and they were big scraggly hedges along the side of her house. She actually told me she just wanted the free labor of somebody to dig them up! Since I had brought my brother with me, we dug three of them up for her while she stood back and watched. But I had no need for the hedges, which she instructed us to throw in her ditch. We went home feeling used and with a couple of blisters.

Earlier this week, I posted that I was need of some mason jars for canning purposes. Two ladies e-mailed with their addresses and said they would leave the jars on their porches for me to pick up today.

The first house I went to was another disappointment… no jars and nobody at home. But at the second one I hit the jackpot. The kind lady had left several boxes of jars, which will save me a lot of money!

Anyway, I think setting an appointment up with an individual and then not showing up or calling is quit rude and even dishonest, in a way.

But I keep telling myself that anything I get is free, and anything I am giving away will go to whoever God thinks needs it most.

So even though everybody in the world is not responsible, I still recommend Freecycle as a frugal way to get what you need and a good way to give to those in need. It’s also a great way to reduce those things that end up in our landfills. You can find a Freecycle near you by going to this link:  www.freecylce.org

Now I’m starting to feel bad for complaining. I should be grateful an organization like this is available. And I sure am glad to have those mason jars!

Freecycle...

09:19 AM, Friday, September 7, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

Oh my I could easily have written up the same post. I am a regular freecycle where I live. I am the type that gives the benefit of the doubt with several attempts to contact when not having shown up.....not anymore....

I make it clear when they respond that they want it, they need to leave me a specific day and as close a time as possible and if they do not show, I repost...

it is sad that some do not feel the need to be as courteous in their keeping appointments and telling you they can't make it etc.