Transition Towns Forum » TransitionGroup: International

Freecycle, Freegle, Freegive , Good news for polar bears....

(17 posts)
  • Started 10 months ago by vicky
  • Latest reply from SteveAtkins
  1. vicky
    Member

    Freegive is made up of groups with members across the world. Freegive connects people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills and, at the same time, helping someone in your community by gifting them the item you no longer need. Clear out your cupboards, attics, sheds and garages with minimal effort. Working or easily repairable goods, such as furniture, recycle toys, recycle car parts, recycle beds, recycle sofas anything that is taking up space can be passed on to someone else if you are upgrading your own. Best of all, it's completely free to join. http://www.freegive.co.uk

    Freegive group is active in 99 countries across the world, please find a group near you at http://www.freegive.co.uk/groups.htm

    Simply post details of your unwanted item on your local group and then arrange for whoever wants it to come and collect it. Another benefit of using Freegive is that it encourages us to get rid of junk that we no longer need and promote community involvement in the process. By using Freegive, not only are you able to get rid of your item with the minimum of fuss; you will also be doing your part in stopping another reusable item ending up in a landfill and, at the same time, helping someone in your community by gifting them the item you no longer need. The only rule is that everything posted are free. http://www.freegive.co.uk

    mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on landfills while enabling members to benefit from the strength of a larger community. The Freegive Network is open to all communities and to all individuals who want to participate. Freegive groups are moderated by local volunteers from across the globe who facilitate each local group - grassroots at its best! Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.

    SUGGESTION TO HELP FREEGIVE GROW :
    Please can you pass the word around to your friends, family, co-workers, classmates; Make an announcement at your professional or social organization, church members, workmates and help freegive grow bigger and stronger. http://www.freegive.co.uk

    Posted 10 months ago #
  2. Cliff
    Member

    This might be a good idea, but a little unreal (I discovered my 'local' group, but no-one has posted any messages)
    What's the relationship with freecycle and with freegle?
    ie, why create yet another copy, with advertising?

    Posted 10 months ago #
  3. Agree with Cliff - Freecycle is already very popular with loads of members, and it's free, why bother repeating?
    http://www.freecycle.org

    Posted 10 months ago #
  4. Ah, just read this:

    "...Anyone claiming to be an 'active freecycler', or to be in the process of 'freecycling some old stuff', would be guilty of trademark infringement...In 2006, groups on Yahoo using the word freecycle, or any similar sounding word, were targeted and told to shut down."

    As a result, it seems Freeccycle groups are gradually migrating over to Freegle

    Full article here:
    http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/329180/what_went_wrong_with_freecycle_in_the_uk.html

    Posted 10 months ago #
  5. There's also a new service called 'Good news for Polar Bears' which looks like a pretty handy mix of the best patterns from ebay and freecycle:

    http://www.goodnewsforpolarbears.org/

    Posted 9 months ago #
  6. Here are some differences between these. I should declare an interest, as I help run a Freegle group (formerly a Freecycle group).

    Freegive is basically a clone of Freecycle, right down to scraping the text from the webpages, then cosmetically rebranding it. It looks to me like it's a scam to get people to donate, or advertise, to make money.

    Freegle was set up by former-Freecycle volunteers in the UK who became unhappy at the way Freecycle was being run, in areas such as involving volunteers in how policy was formed and administered. Freecycle appears to be aiming to centralise members on a centrally controlled website, and in order to achieve this is quite ready to expel long-standing volunteers who challenge the way it's being run. A lot of UK volunteers wanted a more supportive and democratic umbrella organisation.

    Good news for Polar Bears is one I don't know much about - as edmittance says, it looks like an attempt to produce a "freebay".

    Posted 8 months ago #
  7. caz
    Member

    I've just stumbled across this and thought what a good idea, the more people who see what I have to offer, the better, because I've more chance of passing it on, but I joined the Freegive group to see what's what and there are 4 members including me, for the whole of our COUNTY!(that's a huge huge area) and no posts. I'm all for saving the polar bears, and the planet.
    I think I'll stick with Freegle!

    Posted 8 months ago #
  8. Yes, Freegle gets my wholehearted endorsement too (exactly the same as Freecycle but more ethically run). Freegive does appear to be just a ripoff, and is pretending to be something it's not. I don't know much about 'Good news for Polar Bears' either.

    Posted 8 months ago #
  9. ladyk
    Member

    ADMIN NOTE|-- Post deleted because of insulting content --|ADMIN NOTE

    Posted 6 months ago #
  10. note: I just had a double check on Freegive, my conclusion:

    In my area - the whole of Dorset, UK has a membership of nil (not a good sign)... the Freegive website appears to be coaxing people to either donate money, buy website advertising space and also encourages members to buy new consumer goods at their shop (which seems kinda ironic)!!

    Posted 6 months ago #
  11. jon
    Member

    California

    Activity within 7 days:
    (No Activity)

    Looks and quacks

    Posted 6 months ago #
  12. Quack survey!... (great idea Jon)

    The duck test — "if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck" — suggests that a person can identify an unknown subject by observing that subject's habitual characteristics.

    There are certain standards and terminology that are often used to judge assertions:
    1. Beyond a reasonable doubt
    2. Clear and convincing evidence
    3. Preponderance of the evidence
    4. Duck test (suspicion)

    Does anybody else's Freegive area quack?... http://www.freegive.co.uk/groups.htm

    Posted 6 months ago #
  13. Cliff
    Member

    Oxford is still actively freecycling - 33,000 members and about 100 posts per day.
    No Oxford freegle group at all, altho neighbouring Banbury and Henley have active freegle groups with 5,000 members between them
    Oxfordshire freegive group - 4 members and one message posted in May 2009...

    Posted 6 months ago #
  14. jon
    Member

    How did you do the bold Steve?

    The usual suspects <b> and </b> don't seem to work

    Posted 6 months ago #
  15. benbrangwyn

    John, I've updated your post so you can see the markup. Ben.

    Posted 6 months ago #
  16. jon
    Member

    Thanks Ben: I didn't get back in time to edit and see what's been done though

    Posted 6 months ago #
  17. Jon, to bold... replace your 'b' in <b> and </b> with 'strong' and it will work.

    You can also do other things, examples here:
    http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic/ubernongeek-seeks-transition-towns-forum-code

    Posted 6 months ago #

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