8:53 AM
I'm really annoyed with the people on Freecycle.
For anyone that doesn't know what that is, it's an email list in YahooGroups for offering or requesting items to and from people in your community in an effort to minimize waste. On Saturdays the list blows up with people cleaning out their closets and garages. And things go fast. I think it's a great idea because coordinating yard sales for three things is not very appealing and I'm the complete opposite of a pack-rat so I love getting useless things out of my house.
I've had several very excellent experiences with Freecycle. Mostly giving things away but I've received a few milk crates that I'm using to store my CDs in and out of the way in the attic since they're all imported in iTunes. My favorite experiences are from some people who are way too friendly and email more than they should. Like this woman I gave cast-iron skillets to:
Woman: Hi Cristin, I will use the Lodge Skillet for Fried Chicken & the Country Cabin for Corn Bread..... Thanks
I found this sweet. And HI-larious. So I decided to have fun with it and reply to see how long she would carry on a conversation, hahaha:
Me: I'm so glad they could be of use to you! I suppose the little one is only good for eggs;)
Woman: Or Pancakes one at a time.....caught my friend doing this when her Doc gave her too strong of medicine..haha
Me: [thinking: WHAT??!?! bwahahahaaha!!!] That's a great idea. But when sober;)
Then, this weekend, I requested that milk crate and I got this response:
Woman: Hi I have one as we speak in the back of my house. [Then she proceeds to give her home address and her schedule for the day. Ya know. In case I want to break in and take more than her milk crate.]
Me: Thanks! I had an offer before yours and have already arranged to get it. Thanks for the help, though.
Woman: You can have this one also if you want it?
Me: I just need one. Thanks so much, though!
Woman: Alright. I tried...............
Me: [baleet!]
That was just minorly annoying. And sad. Like. She's probably just lonely or something. However, I have grown incredibly fed up with others lack of home training. I mean, honestly, do I really need to include "serious inquiries only" with my offer? WHY would anyone want to go through the trouble to arrange a pick-up with someone to wait around to have them not show? This after waiting 24 hours in between responses because these people can't answer emails in a timely fashion. Even though a lot of their emails are "sent from my iPhone" so I know they're wireless and thus, constantly available. I'm doing you a FAVOR. It's just rude.
Last night I waited in the rain for 20 minutes for a woman to take a bunch of stuff off my hands. I waited exactly where we agreed and I called her phone number several times. It was working the day before but all of a sudden was disconnected last night. Ghetto!!! Perfect end to a perfect day, let me tell you.
Then this morning I checked my email and she's all "I could only wait for ten minutes and I saw no one go in or out." Bullshit. Either you weren't there or you didn't carry your happy ass out of the car to meet me like you said you would cuz I was. right. there. holding. bags. of. stuff. And your phone was off and you didn't bother to call me, so shut up.
That's actually the worst case I've had. Probably cuz I had to actually go somewhere to meet her and she didn't show. Normally people just say they'll come by the house and don't but at least I'm there with my stuff doing my things and, for the most part, not inconvenienced.
Whatever. People are rude and self-serving and Freecycle is not free. It costs way too much of my time and energy and most people don't put the same amount in. Freecycle makes me want to throw things away and fill up the landfill, which I'm positive is not their point. And it really sucks because the organization itself is really awesome and has a great idea and they monitor the posts and everything. But damn. All this mess is going to Goodwill.
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