Freecycle? It’s a fantastic idea and it works. You give stuff away instead of landfilling it. I’ve managed to give away stereo systems, speakers, computers, lights, ironing boards, you name it. I have also picked up loads of stuff for the scout radio group, like TVs, computers, monitors and cables. Find a Freecycle in your area here: http://www.freecycle.org/.
Basically, the deal is that you offer something and some accepts it. You end up in a private dialogue vie email to work out the finer points of the item and to work out if the item is suitable for you. And just like in life, some experiences can be better than others. On the one hand you have very polite and magnanimous individuals – and on the other, the occasional rude one. The “rude” Freecycler has been discussed a number of times all over the internet. I call it the “curse of the freecycler”. An innocent email from one party is misinterpreted by another. Before you know it, they’re at each others throat. I replied to one lady once that the item I was offering had already gone – I had already posted the fact on the Yahoo group. Because it was a top-of-the-range Pioneer car CD player, I had a lot of interest. I gave it to the first respondent – then had lots of emails over the following few hours. I replied to them all; “Gone – see post in group.” I had this in my clipboard and replied to everyone the same. One lady just went mad at me saying what a horrible experience this Freecycling was. I told her to have a holiday. She was terribly upset. I just couldn’t fathom it and I felt terrible afterwards.
My real gripe though is those people that give away genuine rubbish. I answered a post from a gent that was Freecycling a ladies bicycle. It was described as needing some TLC. On collection, I didn’t have the heart to tell him, but this 50 year old cycle was completely rotten through. Not even the frame was salvageable. Instead I thanked him very much and took it to the tip for him (into the steel recycling bin!).
Over the past six months, I’ve been after six 17 inch monitors for the Radio Scout contest team. I have 5 but I need one more. This has been a hard project because most monitors on Freecycle are awful; either the focus has gone, the colours are all out or they’re not the size advertised, we need good quality 17 inchers and we drive them at 1280 x 1024 (or is it 1024 x 768? I can’t remember right now) so that N1MM and the other stuff we need works for the real estate on the CRT. Some brands are better than others and from experience. I learned to ask before jumping in with both feet and picking up something we didn’t want. My advice: For the recipient, check with the freecycler that what they’re offering is what you want. For the Offerer; Don’t Freecycle when you should actually be “Recycling”.
Anyway, back to our Curse problem. Graeme recently wanted some computer parts to give computers to local schools. Tescos do this with brand new ones, however someone’s clearly given him loads of monitors and now he’s trying to get rid of them. In the process, he’s now got PMT 🙂 It goes like this (in reverse order).
—–Original Message—–
From: Graeme Bromley [mailto:gb012h5803@blueyonder.co.uk] Sent: 30 November 2007 16:31
To: Callum M0MCX
Subject: Re: monitorsActually, pompus gits like you need to take a holiday, as far away as
you possibly go would be best.Regards.
Graeme Bromley.
—–Original Message—–
From: Callum M0MCX [mailto:callum@uk.com] Sent: 30 November 2007 16:19
To: ‘Graeme Bromley’
Subject: RE: monitorsGraeme,
I have collected about 10 monitors in the last year from well meaning individuals. Unfortunately, the majority needed breaking / recycling, because either the focus was completely b*ggered or they were 14 inch, scratched glass affairs that not even charities wanted.
Lord, I just read your message again. You need a holiday mate!Callum McCormick
M0MCX
https://www.m0mcx.co.uk/
—–Original Message—–
From: Graeme Bromley [mailto:gb012h5803@blueyonder.co.uk] Sent: 30 November 2007 14:56
To: Callum M0MCX
Subject: monitorsHi Calllam,
At the risk of sounding rude, if you are so fussy, go and buy some, then
you can choose to be fussy cant you?.Freecycle is about giving items away that are still useable which these
monitors are.The items i have listed are free to collector, i really cant be bothered
with sorting all of the information out for you!.
—–Original Message—–
From: Callum M0MCX
Sent: 30 November 2007 14:41
To: ‘brommas@blueyonder.co.uk’
Subject: Re: Offer: 17 ” crt monitor(s) – ShirleyHello Graham,
I acquire monitors for our radio group but I’m dead fussy(!)
If you have any of these left, may I ask you to tell me model number / brand etc – I don’t want to waste anyone’s time?
Thanks a lot.
Callum McCormick
M0MCX
https://www.m0mcx.co.uk/
Graeme loves this blog! He wrote to me today encouraging me to send him the link and then he said that really, he actually was a nice guy after all – he said so! Hey! Let me clip you his sincere words since he’s really coming out now:
(We’ll go in the “wrong” order to make a change:)
—–Original Message—–
From: Graeme Bromley [mailto:gb012h5803@blueyonder.co.uk] Sent: 01 December 2007 11:06
To: Callum M0MCX
Subject: monitors
Anyway, i hope that you may possibly re-evaluate your initial thoughts about me, as i am actually a fairly “nice guy” oh and at the same time, i am disabled and i put myself out as much as my condition will allow to actually help other people.
Duh. Thanks Graeme!
—–Original Message—–
From: Callum M0MCX [mailto:callum@uk.com] Sent: 01 December 2007 17:58
To: ‘Graeme Bromley’
Subject: RE: monitors
>>> i am actually a fairly “nice guy”
Oh great, Graeme is a nice guy. He said so!
And what about the rest of us?
He falls for the “Curse” of the Freecycler, here it comes:
—–Original Message—–
From: Graeme Bromley [mailto:gb012h5803@blueyonder.co.uk] Sent: 01 December 2007 19:20
To: Callum M0MCX
Subject: Re: monitors please read me thanks.Just carry on being a twat then buddy, knock yourself out!
Enjoy
Regards.
Graeme Bromley.
Graeme, you win a holiday. Call me.
Callum.