For those who do freecycle..do you think its right if somebody picks up stuff from you, only to turn around and sell it???
I know people will vary on opinions on this. I know the concept of freecycle is to keep things out of the dump/landfill. In my mind, I like to be able to help people. When my kids outgrow their clothes, it is nice to pass them along to somebody who could really use them for their kids.(I will say, Ive kept the really nice stuff from" my kids", hopefully trying to sell this summer).
Some people feel its no big deal to sell the stuff they get from freecycle. I just think that is wrong.
What are your ideas/opinions on this??

By Kate on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 09:02 am:

I would PREFER it went to needy folk and was actually used, however we have no control over that. If you want to help someone, then donate your items to charity AND get a tax write off.

My opinion is that no, it's not wrong. It may not be what you want to happen, but as you said, the point is to keep it out of landfills and someone turning around and selling the item is keeping it out of landfills.

You can state you want it to go to someone who will really use it and not sell it and then you just have to use your best judgment when reading the replies and try and pick someone sincere.

By Jackie on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 09:20 am:

I can honestly say Ive never sold anything from Freecycle. If it is clothes, my kids wear them. After they outgrow them, then I pass them along on freecycle as well.
I know we have no control over it when the stuff leaves our house.

By Marcia on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 09:52 am:

I don't think it's right. I think that if you have a member doing that, they should be removed. I run our local freecycle list, and I know that there are some very needy families who are benefitting from hand me downs. I guess there's really know way to know what most people are doing with the stuff, though. If you know that someone is doing that and you're not the list owner, just don't pass things along to that person.

By Colette on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 11:35 am:

I dont care as long as they take whatever it is I am freecycling. I am usually putting stuff on freecycle to get rid of it and if someone is taking stuff and then selling it, they probably need the $.

By Jtsmom on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 02:07 pm:

I don't like for people to do that. I would prefer my stuff to go to someone that could really use it, but I guess if they need the money that should be o.k. with me.

By Bea on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 04:52 pm:

I simply want it gone. I really don't care if they use it, share it with friends, give it away again or sell it.

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 07:31 pm:

I thought i was an abuse of the freecycle system. Our moderators are adamantly against it since someone in need could have used it instead.

By Hol on Thursday, January 18, 2007 - 11:18 pm:

I, too, would like to see it go to someone needy, for free. However, we have no control of what happens to it once it leaves us. When you give something away, it isn't yours anymore.

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

By Unschoolmom on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 05:04 am:

I don't mind if they're up front about it. As was said, the primary aim is to keep stuff out of landfills and that fits the bill.

Besides, sometimes selling this stuff is what a needy family might do to make some extra money.