Some Freecycle Safety Tips

The Freecycle is a great concept. The idea is to save trash by giving unwanted items to other people in need. The rules are pretty simple; everything must be given free and without obligation. I have used Freecycle for many years. In the past, it was a Godsend to help with my growing family that was living in poverty. Now, I use it mainly for giving away items that I no longer need and returning the favor to those that helped me in the past.

However, many that have heard of Freecycle have probably also heard the complaints. Every good thing has its bad points; every rose has it's thorn as the saying goes. While some complaints in regards to Freecycle have to do with "no-shows" and general lack of manners and courtesy of the people using it, there are unfortunately some other more serious dangers you need to keep in mind when using Freecycle.

The standard Freecycle disclaimer states:

Freecycle (R) Members use the list and site at their own risk.

Please take reasonable measures to protect your safety and privacy when posting to group lists or when completing a direct gifting with another member. By joining a Freecycle list, you agree to hold neither the list owners, moderators, nor anyone affiliated with The Freecycle Network responsible or liable for any circumstance resulting from a Freecycle-related gifting or communication.

In addition, each local group and Freecycle branch may have their own rules and safety guidelines. In addition to following the guidelines of your local Freecyle group, you may also set up these own rules or policies for yourself:

Never post your full address or your telephone number with a listing. You can give directions to your house in a private message if wanted later.

If you choose, you can communicate only by email and not give out your personal phone number. Other Freecyclers will need to respect this if they want to deal with you.

If you don't feel comfortable with meeting at a personal residence, arrange to meet in a public place such as the park or a local grocery store parking lot to make the exchange.