Freecycle again: when is it not rude to ask?

[NotCinderell]

I joined our local freecycle, and the first thing I posted was a request.  I know, horrid and shocking.

Except my request was for a few of the plastic buckets that scoopable cat litter comes in.  I wash them out and use them for a variety of things, including scraps for composting, clean litter that came in a bag but stores more nicely in a bucket, and dry cat food.

If the item requested is something that people might otherwise regard as trash but someone might find useful, is it rude to make requests for such an item?  Incidentally, several people made offers to us promptly after we put up the request.

[Shoo]

I joined our local freecycle, and the first thing I posted was a request.  I know, horrid and shocking.

Except my request was for a few of the plastic buckets that scoopable cat litter comes in.  I wash them out and use them for a variety of things, including scraps for composting, clean litter that came in a bag but stores more nicely in a bucket, and dry cat food.

If the item requested is something that people might otherwise regard as trash but someone might find useful, is it rude to make requests for such an item?  Incidentally, several people made offers to us promptly after we put up the request.

Doesn't seem like there'd be anything wrong with that, IMO.  Your request is a perfect example of what Freecycle is (or should be) all about.  Making sure stuff stays out of our landfills.

Individual groups have their own sets of rules.  The one I belong to says you must post something to give before you can post something wanted.  I don't know if that's kosher or not, but our moderators enforce it.  Yours obviously don't, so I think you're good.

[drebay]

I would have no problem with that.  Those things are useful aren't they?  

[DottyG]

I joined our local freecycle, and the first thing I posted was a request.  I know, horrid and shocking.

Except my request was for a few of the plastic buckets that scoopable cat litter comes in.  I wash them out and use them for a variety of things, including scraps for composting, clean litter that came in a bag but stores more nicely in a bucket, and dry cat food.

If the item requested is something that people might otherwise regard as trash but someone might find useful, is it rude to make requests for such an item?  Incidentally, several people made offers to us promptly after we put up the request.

DANG!!!  I just threw out about 8 of those just the other day!  I didn't realize people might need them.

[Sophia]

yeah, those buckets were great when I ordered my wedding flowers from the internet.  I think I used a dozen of them.   

I think that type of request is perfect.  Have you gotten any? 

The type of requests I like, "Anyone have any wedding decorations leftover?  I am getting married on X date, and could use just about anything.  I promise to pass them on." 

The type of request I don't like, "Anyone have an iPhone?  I dropped mine in the toilet." 

[baglady]

A Freecycle mod on the other FC thread posted that FC has *no rule* against posting a "wanted" before you post an offer. In some groups, though, it is considered good manners, even if there's no official rule, to post an offer first, or at least to keep some balance between the offers and the wanteds that one posts. My group is no longer an official Freecycle group and has that rule, although I've never seen anyone banned because of it. I don't think anyone's really keeping score except in obvious cases of abuse.

OP, I think your request is perfectly fine. IMO it's not rude to ask for things on Freecycle unless you're doing the gratuitous heartstring-tug thing ("I'm an unemployed, disabled single mom on a fixed income ...") or implying the world owes you a free Whatever. My "wanted" posts generally read like this: "I'm looking for a Whatever. If anyone has a Whatever they're not using, I'd be glad to give it a home." A *little* background or reason for the request is OK ("My Whatever is broken beyond repair." "My doctor recommends I start using a Whatever for my health."), as long as it doesn't get into sob-story territory ("I need a Whatever but I can't affooooord one!")

And I'd offer you *my* kitty litter bucket, except it's where I store used litter between trash days! Can you use a giant popcorn tin with a Christmas light motif instead? No takers for that on my FC group!

[BettyDraper]

I don't think WANT posts are rude at all; sometimes they help others by taking languishing items off of their hands.

The general objection is to a barrage of wants, a one-way approach to Freecycling instead of a gentle give-and-take among people who don't want to see useful items trashed. It's the woe-is-me, manipulative sob stories that are rude.

And you're right, those kitty litter buckets have 1,000 uses. 

[POF]

Or one that wants you to furnish their house . I posted one last year ( don't know to link a thread sorry ) that started off as ding ding ding we have a winner. ( if you want to search for it )  A young family wanted nice matching furniture, designer baby stuff, a grill, patio set and they were specific about colors. Not rude per se - but offensive and guaranteed to make them look foolish.

I personally do not think any wants are really rude. What I found rude in my other post was a lady who insisted that because she had a disability - she should be able to come over and take things even though they were promised to others. She was yelling at us to give us her address..... of course she went to the delete bye bye folder.

[Alida]

I don't think your Wanted post was rude at all.  Not everyone can give right off the bat and it's not as if you were asking for (and what I have seen in the past): a computer, a car, furniture, etc...

[Amava]

I, too, think a "wanted" post like that is fine. And yes, recycled buckets come in very handy for all kinds of stuff.

[Harriet Jones]

I think that's a perfectly fine want.   We occasionally get posts like that on our group ...

[Slartibartfast]

A Freecycle mod on the other FC thread posted that FC has *no rule* against posting a "wanted" before you post an offer. In some groups, though, it is considered good manners, even if there's no official rule, to post an offer first, or at least to keep some balance between the offers and the wanteds that one posts. My group is no longer an official Freecycle group and has that rule, although I've never seen anyone banned because of it. I don't think anyone's really keeping score except in obvious cases of abuse.

OP, I think your request is perfectly fine. IMO it's not rude to ask for things on Freecycle unless you're doing the gratuitous heartstring-tug thing ("I'm an unemployed, disabled single mom on a fixed income ...") or implying the world owes you a free Whatever. My "wanted" posts generally read like this: "I'm looking for a Whatever. If anyone has a Whatever they're not using, I'd be glad to give it a home." A *little* background or reason for the request is OK ("My Whatever is broken beyond repair." "My doctor recommends I start using a Whatever for my health."), as long as it doesn't get into sob-story territory ("I need a Whatever but I can't affooooord one!")

And I'd offer you *my* kitty litter bucket, except it's where I store used litter between trash days! Can you use a giant popcorn tin with a Christmas light motif instead? No takers for that on my FC group!

According to the main Freecycle.org website, individual groups CAN have specific rules about requiring an offer before a wanted, but it's strongly discouraged.  Groups also may limit the number of wanted posts someone can do in a specific time frame, but they can't ban ALL wanted posts (even just for a day).

My own personal metric is, "Would someone conceivably be throwing this out?"  If it's an item that someone might not be using and would put out to the trash, it's fine to ask for it.  If it's something that nobody in their right mind would put out on the curb (a car and a Wii come to mind), it's unreasonable to ask for someone to donate it to you.  I have asked for a few things (fabric scraps for a girl scout troop badge, a bathroom scale, etc.) but I've given away a lot more.  That's the way I think Freecycle ought to operate.

[mikeylou]

According to the main Freecycle.org website, individual groups CAN have specific rules about requiring an offer before a wanted, but it's strongly discouraged.  Groups also may limit the number of wanted posts someone can do in a specific time frame, but they can't ban ALL wanted posts (even just for a day).

That's not entirely correct.

From Moderator's Dos and Don'ts
http://www.freecycle.org/faq/manual/mod_dos#dontofferfirst

"We can't require new members make a gift first as it endangers our charitable status. "

ETA:  Shoo, if you are concerned, you may either politely point your mods to this tidbit of info, or email info@freecycle.org so that the GOA may investigate and educate, or both.

[wolfie]

I would put that into a different category of wanted - you wanted something that most people think of as garbage. But I love them too - I use them to scoop the litter into - sealed top so no smell, hard plastic so I don't have to worry about a bag breaking or leaking and I can just shove the entire mess into the garbage can. I go through more used litter containers then new ones so I asked friends to give me their old ones if they don't need them. So far all of them have been more then happy to give them to me.

[VorFemme]

Personally, *I* felt better waiting to get something until after I had listed some things to give away.

Since I was unpacking after a move, I posted the empty moving boxes (all sizes from small book boxes [they get heavy fast] & mirror/picture boxes to dish packs & wardrobe boxes).  I included the wrapping paper that I had unwrapped from the various items as I unpacked the boxes.

An amazing number of people came to get as many as they could fit in their vehicle, as they were moving (or putting things in storafe) and good boxes are expensive!  A boy scout troop wanted just the boxes to build a "boat" for a float!  

I was happy to have cleared the space and the people getting them were very happy, too!

Reminds me - I still have things in the garage to unpack.......I've just run out of a flat space to put things on while I work out whether *the item* is going to be kept, trashed, or "recycled" somehow (garage sale, Craigslist, charity, or Freecycle).  The DS grew three inches that summer (thirteen year old boys do) and a lot of the stuff never got unpacked because it would no longer have any chance of fitting him!