Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

I'm a firm believer in sharing one's pain so allow me to share with all of you the treat I found in my Inbox today.

From one individual, these OFFERs were posted one immediately after the other, the only delay being the average time it takes to type and post for someone who is possibly a bit insane (It's not likely but I still wouldn't rule it out):

OFFER: stuffed animals
OFFER: one eyed, one horned, flying purple people eater
OFFER: penguin
OFFER: dress up clothes for girl
OFFER: box of assorted boys stuff
OFFER: box of assorted girls stuff
OFFER: vicks vaporizer
OFFER: junior tops
OFFER: junior bottoms
OFFER: teen bras
OFFER: junior belts
OFFER: ladies shoes size 7-8
OFFER: box of misc items

This is a wonderful lady for freecycling so much instead of donating it to a charity that will price it to sell. This way people get what they may actually need or desire without pay any cost beyond going to pick it up. It's fantastic. But...

Oh My Fracking God You Have Got To Be Kidding Me With A Separate Post For Each Type Of Thing.

Here's an idea:
OFFER: Kids Toys - this is all the stuffed animal, purple people eaters, and penguins.
OFFER: Misc Kid Items - stuff that's not toys, ie. the "assorted", and the dress up clothes
OFFER: Junior size clothes - believe it or not, you can put the tops, bottoms, belts and bras in one offer
OFFER: Box of misc items - this includes the vaporizer
OFFER: Ladies shoes size 7-8

That's five down from thirteen and you'll still attract the attention of the people who'll be responding to pick-up these offers.

As Always,
Me

Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

If you want seven different items and your local list requests that you keep or outright requires you to keep a 1:1 ratio with WANTED and OFFER posts, do not for the love of all that is good and decent in this world, pick out seven paperback books from your bookcase and create an OFFER post for each individual book.

That old John Grisham bestseller might have been made into a movie but it's not really on par with asking for a new carpet shampooer and you know it. Not only is it bad manners to flood the list, it's blatant that you're being cute to get what you want.

Control yourself, please.

As Always,
Me.

Dear Fellow Freecyclers,

Hi again. Do you have a dozen things that you'd like to give away after Christmas? Things you cannot exchange or things that are being replaced by a new gift? Freecycle is a great place to give these things a new home with someone who could use it or would appreciate it.

When you have multiple items, here's a tip, please don't create a separate post for each item. The art set and the vase and the briefcase and the rubberband ball and the old ceiling fan and the bucket and the random figurine can all be listed in a single post. You just think of a summarizing subject, like, Office and Household Items and then list them in the post. People will respond to which ones they want or you can even dictate that one person take all. Then they have to freecycle what they don't want from it and it's all out of your home at once.

I know you're thinking that it's not really fair because there could be a separate person for each individual item. Well, let me put it this way: How earth-friendly is it to have seven separate people driving to your home for one thing each when one person could take both the art set and the rubberband ball? The point of Freecycle is to save items from the landfill, not increase pollution and not waste time, money or resources. This is why we set an exact time for someone to take something instead of just setting stuff out at the curb and telling the whole group blankly to come and get it. So, by grouping items, you're being earth-friendly and saving people time and money.

You will also stop irritating me because I received yet another long list of emails from you via the freecycle list because you need to make sure that rubberband ball goes to someone special.

As Always,
Me.