Buy-nothing group or Freecycle

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking of starting either a Buy-nothing group or a Freecycle group in my neighborhood and I'm curious if people who have experience with either have thoughts to share. Buy-nothing seems to be organized around Facebook, which I think would limit its appeal as not everyone likes using Facebook. On the other hand, I was a member of a Freecycle group in another city and it seemed like it was all crazy people.

More broadly, I worry that these groups don't really help anyone. Specifically, that they just enable people who are hoarders to acquire more junk. I hate to throw usable things away but I worry that creating a mess that the heirs of the hoarder are going to have to pay to have carted to a landfill is even worse.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Buy Nothing can also be an app if you want to skip the Facebook aspect.

[Anonymous]

Yeah it’s mostly junk and hoarders claiming things. There’s no way around that.

[Anonymous]

We are active in the buy nothing. It's been a great way to get and give stuff. I've gotten some decent stuff and given some decent stuff. None of us are hoarders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are active in the buy nothing. It's been a great way to get and give stuff. I've gotten some decent stuff and given some decent stuff. None of us are hoarders.

Same here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are active in the buy nothing. It's been a great way to get and give stuff. I've gotten some decent stuff and given some decent stuff. None of us are hoarders.

Same here.

Same here. I mostly use it for kids clothing, acquiring stuff for my oldest and passing along stuff my youngest is done with. Young kids grow so quickly they don't usually wear things out so stuff is usually in really good condition. And I'm glad to know my old stuff is actually being used vs "donated" or "recycled" or whatever but actually trashed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are active in the buy nothing. It's been a great way to get and give stuff. I've gotten some decent stuff and given some decent stuff. None of us are hoarders.

Same here.

Same here. I mostly use it for kids clothing, acquiring stuff for my oldest and passing along stuff my youngest is done with. Young kids grow so quickly they don't usually wear things out so stuff is usually in really good condition. And I'm glad to know my old stuff is actually being used vs "donated" or "recycled" or whatever but actually trashed.

Same. Almost nothing give away seems like something hoarders would want. It's a lot of baby/kid and household stuff. Kid stuff is especially nice to give/get because their needs are always changing. I got a lot of good baby gear there, and then passed it along when I was done.

My favorite buy nothing score was some glass bowls that I use daily. My favorite buy nothing give was these IKEA spice racks I imagined installing in my baby's nursery, but were in the closet 1.5 years after she was born. Gave them to a dad who actually did install them in their babies nursery and put up a photo. I also gave away a VERY old-model iphone with a defunct battery for a specific project some guy had.

If you are using it to try to give away actual junk, then maybe a hoarder would want it?

[Anonymous]

I'm active in both. In my area both are on facebook and the main difference is that Freecycle takes several days to approve my post, while Buy Nothing lets me just post. As a result I use Buy Nothing more, even though I don't love the culture of "letting it simmer." I'd welcome a non-facebook option.

I mostly use these groups to get rid of things that can't be donated to organizations like Goodwill -- glass breakables; food; baby or pet things whose use is not obvious without context. Clothes and furniture I just donate to a regular charity and take the tax deduction. I never pick things up, only post/give.

I do not care about hoarders: we're all adults and I'm not going to tell them what to do with my (their) stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buy Nothing can also be an app if you want to skip the Facebook aspect.

But some people also don't like installing an app. And my understanding is each Buy-Nothing group has to be entirely on either Facebook or the app, there's no splitting between them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm active in both. In my area both are on facebook and the main difference is that Freecycle takes several days to approve my post, while Buy Nothing lets me just post. As a result I use Buy Nothing more, even though I don't love the culture of "letting it simmer." I'd welcome a non-facebook option.

I mostly use these groups to get rid of things that can't be donated to organizations like Goodwill -- glass breakables; food; baby or pet things whose use is not obvious without context. Clothes and furniture I just donate to a regular charity and take the tax deduction. I never pick things up, only post/give.

I do not care about hoarders: we're all adults and I'm not going to tell them what to do with my (their) stuff.

I hate the let it simmer as usually those who complain are the ones who ask for everything or the admin looking. I refuse to give stuff to someone constantly asking and never gives themselves.

[Anonymous]

What does let it simmer mean?

[Anonymous]

Let it simmer means don’t give it to the first taker; allow the post to sit a day or two then randomly select someone. Our Buy nothing group recently split (got too large so neighborhoods split) and the new one I’m in doesn’t do that. It’s annoying if you’re interested in an item and miss out, but as a giver it’s great to just get things moving.

I’ve had way better luck giving/getting stuff in buy nothing because it’s so hyper local. Freecycle is too much.

[Anonymous]

Give it to a thrift store. Don't feed hoarders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm active in both. In my area both are on facebook and the main difference is that Freecycle takes several days to approve my post, while Buy Nothing lets me just post. As a result I use Buy Nothing more, even though I don't love the culture of "letting it simmer." I'd welcome a non-facebook option.

I mostly use these groups to get rid of things that can't be donated to organizations like Goodwill -- glass breakables; food; baby or pet things whose use is not obvious without context. Clothes and furniture I just donate to a regular charity and take the tax deduction. I never pick things up, only post/give.

I do not care about hoarders: we're all adults and I'm not going to tell them what to do with my (their) stuff.

You should care about hoarding in your neighborhood. It's a blight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does let it simmer mean?

if it’s a popular item simmer means they will give time for several people to respond then pick one. I don’t simmer personally as it’s more work for me. I love our buy nothing group though.