Freecycle Folks: How do you "make the drop"?

[Blue-Jay]

After being stood up twice, I was finally able to get rid of some stuff that we didn't need. The guy was 15 minutes late, BTW. x(

So what do the rest of you do? My lovely wife, prolesunited, is a bit reluctant to invite strangers to our house to get free stuff. (I'm inclined to agree with her, in case you were wondering)

Still....it's a pain in the ass to schedule a meeting, only to be stood up by someone who you are trying to help.

What do you do?

EDIT: OK - I'm going to reply to all of the posts here. Not because I'm an attention whore (as most of you realize), but because I don't want this to sink into oblivion without additional input. I'm actually interested in hearing your thoughts & opinions.

[idgiehkt]

1. I've only done it once

and it was at a place close to where we both lived. I don't think it's safe to tell strangers where you live.

[Blue-Jay]

4. I tend to agree.

[Taverner]

2. Leave it on the porch

I've done it several times where the stuff is just sitting on the porch, and the person comes by and either takes it, or no sweat because you never had to be there.

[Blue-Jay]

5. In the future, I'm leaning towards that solution.

Still, I don't like strangers knowing where I live.

[sbj405]

3. I leave it on the porch.

But I have two big dogs that go bonkers when anyone comes near.

[Blue-Jay]

7. I just have a small dog.

She makes a ruckus, but ultimately will roll over for a belly rub.

HOLY CRAP! I think I just caught another squirrel in the attic! Time to relocate!

[greatauntoftriplets]

8. Did you find and fix where the squirrels are getting in???

The weather sucks and they probably want out of the snow.

Squirrels can eat their way into a house very quickly. They are relentless.

[Blue-Jay]

11. I think I know where they're getting in.

I need to borrow an extension ladder before I can seal it up. Thankfully, BIL & FIL each have one that I can use.

You wanna hear some shit? My previous notion that I caught one is wrong. The sneaky little bastard ate the bait, but didn't spring the trap, so it's back to square one.

A question: Is it OK to threadjack your own thread? Fuckin' critters....

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. Back at the house...

they would come into the space above the front half of the living room. Years ago, we also had them in the attic for a time.

Damn pests.

I think it is quite all right to hijack your own thread. It does keep it kicked, after all.

[ikojo]

6. The last time I did some serious freecycling I left stuff

outside my apartment door and by the end of the day it was picked up. If people didn't pick it up, I e mailed them and gave them one more chance. If I was still stood up I reposted the item.

[boston bean]

9. what is "freecycling"? nt

[Blue-Jay]

13. "Freecycle" is giving away shit you don't need to other people.

http://www.freecycle.org/

Also, you can receive shit that other people don't need.

[boston bean]

16. kool, thanks!.. nt

[LeftyMom]

10. I always just have people come to my house, but I call them first

so that

1. I have their number- I figure people who are up to no good will try to avoid that

2. I can come up with a mythical person who already got it if I get a bad feeling about the person

3. I can arrange for them to come over at a time somebody else will be home

As a practical matter, I usually have people come to my house because I'm freecycling things too big to move easily in my car. Smaller things I usually just toss in the wagon and drive to Goodwill because it's less headache.

[Blue-Jay]

14. Well....

1. I have their number- I figure people who are up to no good will try to avoid that

Don't care. If you want it, you can have it. I just don't want the no-good-nicks knowing where I live.

2. I can come up with a mythical person who already got it if I get a bad feeling about the person

I don't really want to bring "feelings" into this. I have some stuff I don't need. If you want it, it's yours.

3. I can arrange for them to come over at a time somebody else will be home

I think I'd rather meet someone in a well-lit parking lot. I'd rather strangers NOT know when people aren't home.



All that said, it sure would be more convenient for folks to just come over and pick stuff up.

[LeftyMom]

15. Yeah, that's the thing

For me, I'd have to load the junk up in my car, load the kid up, go somewhere, wait and maybe get stood up. Once the crap's in my car, it's faster and less of a pain just to take it to Goodwill.

[Blue-Jay]

17. I'm not sure what's better, to be honest.

We give lots of stuff to Goodwill (or other similar places). Still...when the young father from freecycle FINALLY showed up, I felt pretty good. He was a nice guy, and I'm glad that we could get rid of some stuff that his family could use. It's kind of nice to be able to cut out the "middle man" and just help out some ordinary folks without some douchebag taking a cut.

[Nicole]

18. I meet them at Goodwill

I give them time I will be there & tell them if I have to wait too long for them, I'm taking it inside. I've never been left waiting for very long.

Goodwill is not that far from me so it's a convenient meeting place. I live alone & don't care to invite strangers over.

[stuntcat]

20. good idea

that is.
There's a Goodwill close to me too.

[Nicole]

25. Thanks n/t

[Blue-Jay]

22. Ah. I like the way you think.

In fact, you win the thread.

[Nicole]

26. I win?

go me!!!! :woohoo:

It really works well for me.

[stuntcat]

19. I'm in Freecycle too!

I joined the Yahoo group last month. I've never been to that site though I have to check it out.
I haven't yet taken part, I just read the bulletins, and it seems 'active' here in Arlington.

[Courtesy Flush]

21. My two experiences

I gave away a software CD (Chessmaster. Great, but not for XP) and the guy picked it up at my house.

Second time I offered free charcoal portraits, and went to a senior center and drew people (I needed models).

No problems.

[Redstone]

23. Thanks for the reminder. I signed up with them, but never gave any stuff away. I need

to get to that.

Redstone

[prolesunited]

24. I'm in the process of decluttering the house

I started looking around and thinking, "Why do we need all this shit?"

I did a garage sale once. It was a major pain in the ass for very little return. After that, I decided to just start giving stuff away. This is the first time we tried Freecycle, though.