Problems with FreeCycle? Issues with FreeCycle Moderators? You’re Not Alone.   - 12,447 Views, 183 Comments

183 Comments »

1. Oh you want to read more than just surf our url and you will find out just how freecycle really operates http://freecycled.blogspot.com

   Comment by freecycled — 5/2/2006 @ 8:56 pm

2. When you refer to someone as a “housewife bitch” you instantly brand yourself as well. I’m a mod. I work hard,long, and free to keep our board free of spam, multiple requests, and editorial comments.

   You might want to look at the bigger picture instead of focusing on your own little gripes.

   Comment by celia — 5/2/2006 @ 9:54 pm

3. Too bad you didn’t have one of our residential waste exchanges in your neighbourhood.

   Rules are clearly posted, and there’s no limit on the number of items you can post or ask for. That’s because we run on real software, not on Yahoo Groups software adapted to the purpose of a waste exchange.

   Have a look at http://www.2good2toss.com or http://www.madisonstuffexchange.com or http://www.surreyreuses.com to see the system working.

   Almost 30,000 people using the system with few complaints can’t be wrong.

   :-)

   Comment by Norm Ruttan — 5/3/2006 @ 4:40 am

4. Thanks for that very amusing article.
   For those frustrated with Freecycle, there is also FreeSharing.org which lists over 450 independent Free Recycling groups.
   The problem of ‘Feifdom’ that you describe has been resoloved by allowing multiple groups per area so if one mod turns into a tyrant, any member of the group can form a new group and share equall billing in the directory. Freecycle currently enforces a ‘one group per area’ policy which unfortunately encourages some mods to act like Tom.

   Best Regards,
   Eric Burke
   http://FreeSharing.org
   http://GreenRibbon.us

   Comment by Eric Burke — 5/3/2006 @ 6:23 am

5. There was a young girl from Madras

   Who had a magnificent ass,

   Not rounded and pink

   As you possibly think,

   It was gray, had long ears, and ate grass.

   I wonder if she named it Tom.

   Comment by EDWARD SCHWARZMANN — 5/3/2006 @ 1:35 pm

6. What do their list guidelines say about wanted posts?
   If it is stated there, you are responsible for reading and following them. If not, he has no business making up rules that aren’t publicly posted.

   Comment by bill keiser — 5/3/2006 @ 2:06 pm

7. Also, asking for a Vitamix, a heavy duty blender that normally sells for over $300 would be considered extravagant on many lists. Asking for expensive items is a waste of time and tends to strike many members as greedy.

   Comment by bill keiser — 5/3/2006 @ 3:02 pm

8. Sorry, I’ve looked at some of the other sites you posted, and you seem to just be a bunch of malcontents. I’ve been active on 3 different freecyles. They each have slightly different rules, and varying levels of enforcement. Yours seem to be the strictest I’ve seen for WANTED posts, but that may just be due to the part of the country you’re in.

   Comment by Roger — 5/3/2006 @ 3:34 pm

9. I have just find out an alternative in I-recycle. Based in the UK, it is an alternative re-giving group that aim to not use yahoo!groups to be in a better position to evolve in line with community requirements.

   Try it at http://irecycle.conceptuel.co.uk

   Comment by Guy Secretan — 5/4/2006 @ 8:28 am

10. Unfortunately I just went through something similar to what the first poster experienced — over a request for WINDCHIMES, of all stupid things. The mods “opinion” was that I was making an extravagant request. Thats funny, I gave away a SWINGSET in response to a WANT post. Arbitrary at best. Spiteful at worst. On a previous occasion, when I politely asked this particular mod to take care not to CHANGE THE MEANING of my posts by editing (another incessant annoyance on this particular list) I received an IRATE PHONE CALL. Can we say obsessive control freak?

    Comment by Sandy — 5/6/2006 @ 6:46 am

11. Craigslist. ‘Nuff said!

    Comment by ronan hyde — 5/8/2006 @ 8:39 am

12. Obviously strict moderation leads to frustrated users. Good thing is that there are alternatives to freecycle emerging.

    Check out http://www.favorville.com. This community is much more open and member friendly.

    Here’s another example of frustration w/freecycle
    http://technomom.livejournal.com/831529.html

    Comment by Roger — 5/12/2006 @ 5:12 am

13. I actually experienced the same thing from the same moderator - except that I specifically asked if I could re-post ONE of the items, or even if he would EDIT the post to have one item, and he absolutely refused, effectively banning me from the group being useful for a month.

    How discouraging :(

    Comment by Tom — 5/13/2006 @ 2:56 pm

14. In the Suburban Maryland area outside of Wash.DC, we have a direct violation of the freecycle rules which states:

    http://www.freecycle.org/manual/moderator_dos.htm

    “Being an owner of more than one group is not allowed.”

    There are 3 seperate Freecycle lists which are owned by the same woman (Susanne Brunhart-Wiggins) and heavy handedly moderated by the same moderator (Max Handelsman)- who also “owns” one of the local lists.

    Handelsman has recently been reported to Gmail for “phishing” (seeking email addresses!)

    This duo bans and places members on moderation for the slightest errors they might make.

    Again their actions are in direct violation of the FC Moderator manaul: ” DON’T BE A DICTATOR. If we mods act like dictators, we can only lose. mods act like dictators, we can only lose.”

    Comment by woody — 7/15/2006 @ 8:23 am

15. Please feel free to help test out GigoIt.org.

    Comment by GigoIt — 8/2/2006 @ 1:30 am

16. I think you need to take some prozac and chill out. For one, not all groups operate the way you are making it sound like. Without mods these groups would just turn into one huge orgy fest of a mess! Get a grip, get a life and deal with it.

    Comment by Freecycle Mod — 10/17/2006 @ 6:24 am

17. LOL, I was just banned from the San Jose Group for the exact same reason- Putting two wanteds in one post. Well now, when I posted two OFFER posts in one day I was reprimanded for clogging up the list, so when I wanted these two items, I thought that it only made sense to put them both in one post. One was a basket and the other was some stuffing for the basket. Well apparently, it made no difference that I had given away over 100 items in the last month, those 100 items were not a fair trade for the two paltry little things that I wanted. Are the items that I give away crap, well, I don’t know, a complete wooden train set with over 60 tracks & trains plus a wooden train table doesn’t seem too crappy to me. Nor does a Little Tykes play kitchen (retail over $100)seem like crap. How about the giant boxes of children’s clothing, strollers, car seats, or the DVD player? hmmmm. Well, now I am completely disgusted with Tom and his crappy list. I have met soooo many people that hate him. So, know that we are not alone.

    Comment by Lynn — 1/18/2007 @ 11:24 pm

18. I was also just banned from the San Jose Freecycle group because I asked for building supplies for a nonprofit group to build safe feral cat enclosures for cats living on the streets. Playgroundsuper is an asshole.

    Comment by Tarrycats — 2/3/2007 @ 3:52 pm

19. I was just banned by San Jose Freecycle group for 1) asked for bicycle 2) asked for working laptop, and 3) made the dumb mistake of identifying myself as a homeless student. Kinda’ defeats the whole purpose. Playgroundsuper is an asshole.

    Comment by dragonfly99 — 2/3/2007 @ 4:35 pm

20. I have had problems with SJfreecycle and PlaygroundSuper… first, I just want to say that it would be helpful if all freecycle groups would follow the SAME rules. My posts don’t get approved when I’m crossposting to sj and Campbell, and I’m not allowed to post “PROMISED”, in turn, I get tons of e-mails asking for items I’m making arrangements to be picked up….
    It is really annoying, and playgroundsuper keeps telling me to read the rules, when I have tired to clearly point out that I’m visually impaired and sitting and reading a bunch of RULES isn’t that easy. So then he (it?) told me that posting on Campbell would be better, and pointed out that everyone is everywhere anyway. Not necessarily the case. Since I don’t drive, it would be beneficial for me maybe to post in ONE AREA if I was LOOKING for something… So I am debating wether or not to drop my sj subscription. They told me to post on campbell but I can stay on sj just not post on san jose……

    Comment by Diane Wetzel — 3/6/2007 @ 4:48 pm

21. Rather then frustrate oneself by arguing with someone unreasonable request a mediator at info@freecycle.org to handle the situation for you.

    Comment by freecyclemod — 3/10/2007 @ 1:50 pm

22. Beautifully written. The Freecycle in my area (65802) operates by manipulation and by a seemingly fascist system of making members who accidentally post incorrectly feel like political outcasts. They do it by pitting other members (who are no doubt in fear that they’ll screw up and be ousted) against anyone who stands up and complains against the system.

    Comment by Mark — 4/9/2007 @ 11:41 am

23. Oh, and notice how it’s only the mods who are coming in defense of Freecycle?

    Comment by Mark — 4/9/2007 @ 11:43 am

24. Hello, Mark. I am in 65803 and I agree that the local Freecycle list is awful. How I wish there were an alternative.

    Comment by Free Person — 4/21/2007 @ 5:57 pm

25. A mediator from Freecycle? HA!! that is the biggest joke of all. My ex-wife (a complete control freak if ever there was one!) is the “moderator” of the group I was on. Guess what? She got pissed and banned me for no reason. The response from Freecycle? “Sorry, the moderators are independent and have ultimate control over who is on their lists.”

    talk about stupid. Freecycle ‘approves’ the lists, but then has NO control over the nut-jobs that end up running them.

    I had been a freecycler (in San Jose, no less) since 2005 until I relocated and had this experience.

    One bad Mod can, indeed, spoil the whole thing.

    Comment by david — 5/21/2007 @ 2:35 pm

26. Part of the problem is that The Freecycle Network runs a “two strikes and you are out” policy which means that it is very easy to run foul and gives a license to moderators to get rid of you.

    The other part is that there is no complaints process in The Freecycle Network. If there had been one you could have used it and if others complained then the said moderator might not be running the group now.

    Comment by andyswarbs — 10/8/2007 @ 1:11 pm

27. People who are disillusioned with FreeCycle should check out http://www.freeswapper.org. I believe FreeSwapper is what FreeCycle should have been. In fact, I wrote Deron back a few years ago about taking FreeCycle to the next level and making it a real website to eliminate the pain. He wasn’t interested. I went ahead with the site anyway.

    http://www.freeswapper.org

    Comment by Chris Adler — 10/24/2007 @ 12:41 pm

28. I must thank everybody for info on other groups like freecyling. I’m totally turned off my group after receiving this message from a moderator:
    “Wish lists such as this are strictly prohibited and you are being placed back on moderation. We’ve never seen an offer from you and will expect your next post to be an offer.

    My wish list- new carpet left-overs as narrow a 9 inches, Wood and styrofoam, any size. I basicly asked for garbage! Nobody would think anybody would want this stuff but
    I do. Some have lost sight that the point is to keep things out of the landfill and common sense should be used. She also told me to review the rules and there is nothing in there about being put on “moderation”.
    Hopefully I can find another group.

    Comment by L Pjak — 11/18/2007 @ 4:41 pm

29. I HATE Freecycle. I love the idea behind it. In the Westminster MD one, the group owner Patricia Lawrence, well, we call her the Freecycle Nazi. She is so petty and the biggest control freak I have ever met. She is the reason I decided to start my own website, MarylandFreeTrade and WestminsterFreeTrade to help people without being harrassed.

    Comment by Jeni Williams — 1/1/2008 @ 5:30 pm

30. I’ve been a member in several different Freecycle groups and have found that while they all vary on some of the smaller, piddly rules, they tend to be very consistent with the “big picture” stuff.

    If I goof and do something disallowed by a group…well, it’s really my own fault for either forgetting or not reading that specific group’s rules. Some allow 3 WANTEDs per week, some only one per month. But if I’m going to use different groups, it’s my responsibility to know their rules, not for them to change to what I think they should do.

    I certainly don’t think mods should be arbitrarily inventing rules on the spot, but it also isn’t their fault if you don’t read easily found information.

    Maybe they could improve some of the issues by making all their rules mandatory instead of leaving some up to each mods discretion?

    Comment by Bob — 1/6/2008 @ 8:40 pm

31. maybe people should folow rules but they certainly should not be insulted and demeaned for missing one.
    I tried to post something. I read it 3 times with screaming kids in the room. So I could have missed one. But this Karen woman came back at me with a million backtalking emails. Basically they all stated how stupid I was that i could not find the rule i was breaking. She insulted my charachter by assuming i was going to pocket money from donated items. When I in reality was looking for donations to sell for 100% proceed to dying children(really, this is what i do). In return to her knowing this she then told me i was manipulating the freecycle members into supporting my fudraiser. Basically she spent 2 hours of insulting me by email and yet could not take 2 minutes to answer my question as to what i was doing wrong. Then put put a cherry on top she revoked my membership. Never seen anything so unproffesional in my life!
    And it all started because i thought freecycle was a great idea. And once I asked for help i was answered with a don’t waste my time attitude.

    Comment by jaime — 1/16/2008 @ 1:18 pm

32. I just got booted off of the freecycle group in Barrie and was told to not try and come back. Such grave offenses as using all caps on one or two occasions in the subject line and blatantly leaving out my location in the city the final straw that got me banned for life, from the moderator
    “I sent out an Admin Notice Yesterday, asking please, we need to know what your doing with your item, you today, send this “IN OUR SUBJECT LINE. “”"taken ppu Offer: pair of tickets to the Bridal Show in Alliston Sunday”"”.

    Comment by Alan Amon — 3/1/2008 @ 11:14 am

33. accidentally gave away another mods entire household goods with a pick up ad that was not correct.
    Complaints about wanting to put out “on the curb take what you want” ads (when you are giving away tons of misc. plants pulled out of the ground, that’s the only way to do it!), gripes about wanting us to wait 24 hours to give to charities first (micro managing is fine for your hamster cage, not 20,000 members!) and bitches about damned near every single post some made while ignoring blatant problems with others…
    I wrote Freecycle owners, and joined other local cities instead, where the whiney 20 somethings who think they are allowed to be such bitches cause they got the freecycle name first are more mature, responsible, and not nearly as overbearing. I find it amazing that 99% of the freecycle sites have NO problems at all, yet the SJ freecyclers act like everyone else on the planet must be at fault and not them.
    I do wish they would join the Peace Corps and go do good elsewhere– all they are doing here in town in blackening the name Freecycle for the SJ bunch
    Oh- The Campbell people? WONDERFUL list.

    Comment by sharon — 3/9/2008 @ 4:24 pm

34. Well the first part of THAT reply got cut off (my fault).. I was saying that I agree with the SJ Freecycle issue– control freaks with no patience and lots of power issues, demanding that the thousands of members wait while they review every post so that they can control the list to their satisfaction rather than implimenting a yahoo group where neighbors can trade stuff and clean out their homes. They are outrageous power hungry twerps. I do hope that each of them someday gets what they deserve– misery at a job under the power of a micromanaging boss who hates their every breath.

    Comment by sharon — 3/9/2008 @ 4:30 pm

35. The sexism in your post is just idiotic. Stop it. Surely, you are bright enough to formulate the sentences necessary to communicate the essence of how stupid Tom is without resorting to tired and insulting gender slams.

    Having said that, I agree that your local Freecycle moderator is an assclown. But, not as much of assclown (apparently) as the Oakland moderator who simply decided to blow up our list with no notice.

    Comment by Floozie — 3/30/2008 @ 7:32 pm

36. Instead of talking about it here, why didn’t you go to Freecycle.org and take up your concerns about the moderator you had trouble with. All you had to do was send complete headers and forward the emails you found offensive. If these events really did take place, you would have been able to get alot further than wasting your time griping about it. Ya know. All Freecycle moderators aren’t bad, mine aren’t, they’re great.

    Comment by Delilah — 5/3/2008 @ 7:43 pm

37. Anytime you have trouble with your moderator, you can go to http://www.freecycle.org and click on FAQ or email info@freecycle.org

    Comment by Delilah — 5/8/2008 @ 11:23 am

38. All of these “suggestions” to contact Freecycle.org are pointless and silly. I’ve tried several times to bring attention to playgroundsuper to no avail. The organization has lost its way and completely trashed its original intent with lax consistency (pun intended).

    Comment by An — 6/29/2008 @ 5:30 pm

39. I don’t see any discussions at ihatefreecycle.com.

    It’s just a page full of ads.
    Does anyone see a discussion there?

    I just got “banned” from the San Jose freecycle for supposedly getting complaints about giving away trash, which of course is untrue. There’s a dumpster in the townhome complex where I live so I can easily dump trash. Why post these items, arrange for pickups, and waste my time? I wanted to help someone and I get slapped in the face. What an insult. I’ll give another local freecyle a try.

    I got this email from the playground super:
    “We have had complaints about your recent offer.
    Freecycle is not about giving away trash. Your
    posting status has been changed to no post.
    MOD”
    As for the complaints about giving away trash, I wrote back to the playground super asking for clarifications, but haven’t gotten a response. If I don’t know what the complaint is about, how am I going to learn from this experience?

    It’s a great concept of recycling, but it’s very frustrating when the moderator makes it hard to give things away.

    Comment by AnSJ — 7/11/2008 @ 8:45 am

40. The GOA’s can be reached like this. If you live in Arizona, then it would be Arizona@freecycle.org If you live in Oklahoma, then it’s Oklahoma@freecycle.org

    There are other contacts to go through that are helpful. I think everyone is missing the point. If you have a bad moderator, discuss your concerns with the GOA of that state.

    Comment by Destiny — 7/11/2008 @ 11:34 am

41. I just quit SJ Freecycle today because of this exact same moderator. Other FC groups have MUCH better mods. This one is just ridiculous.

    Comment by JFreeeman — 7/28/2008 @ 9:11 pm

42. SJ Freecycle is lifting its ban on me, so I assume. The posting emails have now resumed in the form of a daily digest. I haven’t tried posting yet, but I think I’ll pass. If I have anything to give away, I’ll post on the other group in my area.

    Comment by AnSJ — 7/28/2008 @ 10:03 pm

43. hi i dont know why i keep getting taken off of freecycle i dont sell the things i get i want you to put me back on please

    Comment by angela casey — 8/9/2008 @ 1:55 am

44. I haven’t had trouble with the mods in my area, but I’ve just found giving things away to be a headache. More often than not, people don’t show. And I’ve never been fortunate enough to get anything. One time someone told me that if I could pick it up today, the item would be mine. But unfortunately, she never told me where she lived…

    Comment by emily — 8/24/2008 @ 11:41 am

45. Interesting that I search the internet about FreeCycle complaints about moderators, and this page talks about the same moderator/dictator at the San Jose group. The moderator under Yahoo! ID playgroundsuper is a control freak. In the spirit of giving, the first post I made was an “offer.” He didn’t approve of the message because of one line, which he misunderstood. I guess he doesn’t have a good understanding of English. My wanted post was rejected because I used the plural form instead of the singular form of the wanted word. Even after I changed it, he still didn’t like anything in the message body and just posted my message with only the title. This guy gives FreeCycle a poor reputation. It’s just too frustrating to deal with FreeCycle.

    Comment by PoorFreeCycle — 10/4/2008 @ 9:06 am

46. Mods, here like the last word, she banned me, I banned her from my inbox, she was continually going on and on with her power trip. Freecycle central is useless, bunch of whimps. Even after I said fine. I now have 5 new connections in via other email addresses and vpn’s plus remote desktops. There is apparently a clause somehwere in the tos of yahoo about not rejoining a group after being banned, but that directly conflicts with in your eyes marketing yahoo sells its advertisers. Looking at all the sites on the web with complaints and banned members I would say there are at least 10,000 pairs of eyes being denied access to yahoo advertisers. Which if strectched out by, you’ll tell 2 friends and they’ll tell 2 friends and so on and so on, well marketers beware you dollars are not being wisely spent on yahoo.

    Comment by Alex G. Bell :) — 10/4/2008 @ 3:16 pm

47. I too was banned from freecycle for asking if anyone was an attorney that could help us help a young lady that had been living with us with some pressing legal issues. I received an email from our Coeur d’Alene Idaho mod. stating that I had broken policy and that my posting had been removed…that people could not be given away on freecycle.

    I responded to this email and asked for a specific area of the policy that I had breached as I knew of several posters who searched for free “services” on freecycle and we had actually been the givers of people searching for the service of a mechanic.

    I did not receive a response from the mod–nobadwolf– to my question if offering or requesting services on freecycle was prohibited, but was banned for asking this question in a personal email to the moderator! As of yet I have received no reason as to why I was banned from this group.

    This is really just an inconvenience…if I really wanted to be on this group, it is just not that hard to get back on the list. However, what irritates me is that this moderator, nobadwolf is certainly a VERY bad wolf. I still do not know if it is prohibited to offer or request “services” like mechanic, law, or the like on freecycle.

    Wit

    Comment by Wit — 10/12/2008 @ 1:22 pm

48. I knew I couldn’t be the only one. While my experiences have been just as bad as the ones posted, I don’t feel like delving into them right now. Suffice it to say, the mods pretty much ARE a bunch of disgruntled, freaky, controlling weirdos. And when you get those types of people into a setting that was designed to assist others and be a GOOD thing, well, of course, they ruin it and leave bad tastes in the mouths of everyone. What makes perfect common sense is suddenly thrown out the window (such as offering of asking about free services, advice, etc..I mean, honestly people…do we really think members are going to get MAD about seeing those posts?? Come the hell on). I’ve been a “member” for oh, about 5 years, I think. And I’ve only been off moderation for maybe 6 months of that. Because I guess I’m just such a bad girl. God. More like we’ve got some women with a tiny bit of power and no lives that probably got the crap kicked out of them in school just RELISHING in the fact that they have a tiny bit of control. If I were a bigger person, I’d feel sorry for them. But more often than not, they just disgust me. I’m pretty sure I hope the scandel of freecycle causes them to go down the tubes. And I’m even more sure that I’m going to find a better site to donate my pricey items too. They’re a bunch of freaks, people. Leave em.

    Comment by Charity — 10/17/2008 @ 5:26 pm

49. I am just about to quit my local Freecycle group in New York State too. I have had it with the uneven moderation–we have several folks who post repeated WANTEDs, for example, some using different email addresses but some using the same address everytime (identical posts, identical contact info) but the mods jump on me any time I break one of the piddly rules. Again, it depends on which group you belong to. One list I belong to allows PROMISED posts, this one doesn’t, and I’ve gotten my butt jumped on a couple of times for forgetting that. One of our moderators is nice about it, but the other one is the Moderator from Hell, and she apparently has more free time to devote to the list than the nice one. Even though I can point out the PROMISED posts that slip through on this list; it, apparently, is more evil when I do it. Also, I have gotten really disgusted at the greedy nature of several of the members. We have one member who repeatedly posts (uh oh, apparently the one time per month rule doesn’t apply to her) for high end digital cameras, among other things. NYGIRL,do you recognize yourself here? Or the parent who says the big screen TV in Little Jonny’s room just blew out and Little Jonny will throw a massive temper tantrum if he doesn’t get at least a 50 inch screen, or the request for a NEW, NOT USED LAPTOP WITH NO LESS THAN XP!!!!!!! Or the people that want cars. Absolutely disgusting. I rarely see “pleases” and “thank yous” and I am tired of posting my own OFFERs and getting nasty greedy replies with entitlement oozing out between the lines. So it’s not just the moderators who are ticking me off, although I suspect they could control some of this if they wanted to. And if they don’t want to, or don’t have time, don’t be a moderator, ok?

    Comment by JustMe — 10/22/2008 @ 12:52 pm

50. I have a similar tale to tell about Playgroundsuper at San Jose FreeCycle.
    I once asked for a twinsized bed and specified frame AND mattress and was told that I could not ask for TWO things at the same time. I tried to explain that I needed a whole bed not part of the bed but he/she wouldn’t listen. I also once asked for a computer monitor and was told that it was too high end of an item. My LORD they are desperate to keep those things out of the land fill and that moderator is telling me that it was too high end of an item to ask for? I didn’t only ask for things — I frequently gave good things away too but that didn’t seem to help. That moderator needs to be kicked off the list — what a NAZI!

    Comment by Cathy — 10/27/2008 @ 2:08 pm

51. Freecycle is rapidly becoming adictatorship in the UK, not so much from the mods, but the GOA’s and higher up. There are multiple recycling groups springing up in my area of the UK in defiance of Freecycle. Taking the basic good idea and doing it correctly. lol

    Comment by Seamus — 11/13/2008 @ 2:04 am

52. A moderator of our local group in the UK spammed the list with a link to his personal business. He spoofed the reply-to address to be that of one of the other members. I called him on it, but now I feel reluctant to have anything more to do with the group. Very bad feeling seeing this kind of abuse of such a good idea.

    Comment by Carol — 11/24/2008 @ 10:10 am

53. Playgroundsuper the San Jose moderator is a punk and gives Freecycle a bad reputation. I’m surprised this guy is still moderating. Everyone with a complaint about this guy please e-mail info@freecycle.org.

    Comment by David — 11/25/2008 @ 8:04 pm

54. http://www.gigoit.org is way better

    Comment by Peter — 11/29/2008 @ 12:54 pm

55. This is in response to the person who wrote on March 30 that Tom of SJ Freecycle was nowhere near as bad as the Oakland moderator who deleted that group of over 5,000 members.

    Well, guess what? The Oakland moderator in question was none other than Tom, Playground Super. He was a moderator on both groups.

    Surprise, surprise!!

    Comment by Jennifer — 12/5/2008 @ 7:17 pm

56. At least now I know I’m not the only one. I joined SJFC because I was moving to a smaller home and had a lot of stuff to give away. After giving away several things to happy recipients, I got on the wrong side of Tom by posting two offers on the same day for different items - one in the early morning and another in the late afternoon. Today I made the mistake of offering VHS movies and got a stern email that I was on permanent moderation. I’ve looked at the rules on the Freecycle site, both the central and local sites, and the email I got when I joined, and nowhere can I find a rule saying that this is not OK. Maybe I should know that it’s illegal to give away videos, but I don’t.

    I love the idea of freecycle, but I feel like I’ve been slapped in the face for trying to give good things to people who can use them instead of dumping them in the landfill.

    Comment by Terra — 12/28/2008 @ 9:59 pm

57. Nicole from Freecycle Milwaukee left me several e-mails that had all the tact of a snotty little 13 year-old. Remember, it’s THEIR LIST and if you have anything to say about it you will be BANNED! Wait ’till I contact my buds over at FOX 6 news, and let them know that if you post a want-ad for items for an ELDERLY COUPLE with a SPECIAL NEEDS KID that got BURNED OUT OF THEIR HOME 8 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS…you don’t have a hope in HELL of getting it on freecycle.
    However, craigslist was more than accomodating. Fock Freecycle!

    Comment by Eddie — 12/31/2008 @ 9:15 pm

58. In response to previous comment. Person was NEVER told he could NOT post, we explained to him to leave out the explanation of why he needed said items. Being as we stopped allowing stories to go with Wanteds, being as members would get in competition with why they need something more then the previous poster and sometimes the original post would get overlooked.

    But seeing all these previous comments, some of these problems could have been avoided by reading the guidelines, the others, I have a feeling there was miscommunication on both ends.

    And in regards to comment #57. He was not banned. However, has been now for posting a mod’s personal information publicly.

    Comment by Sara — 1/5/2009 @ 3:46 pm

59. I have many run ins with FreeCycle Mods who have the God complex. I post offers all the time and still my wanteds get rejected for some reason or another. I recently got my request for a bathroom scale denied because “people have been using freecycle as their own person shopping site”

    Then told me only one wanted per month…well am I mistaken or is December and January 2 different months?

    They think they are God and can do whatever they like. Its sickening.

    Comment by Kristen — 1/6/2009 @ 7:36 am

60. It seems like this is a recurring theme with Freecycle and, while their initial idea was amazing, the continued lack of addressing these issues is very concerning. That’s why we’ve started taking steps to correct the problems that constantly arise concerning Freecycle: 1) poor moderation, 2) excessive emails, 3) lack of following the posting format and 4) ratio of wants to offers. Freebootr.com offers a geo-located, browsable and highly searchable listing of free stuff in your area. Check us out and let us know how we’re doing and how we can improve!

    Comment by Curtis — 1/6/2009 @ 11:14 am

61. I’ll bet some of the FreeCycle MODS (gods) have the BEST rummage sales in town according to the photos. Not that I’m insinuating that there ARE any photos online.
    Gee…I wonder…
    How DOES one accumulate 4 coffeemakers and a huge garage full of stuff?
    And don’t say it’s because your mom passed away and you have to clean out the rental properties.

    Comment by Eddie — 1/9/2009 @ 10:41 pm

62. Dear Sara F. - How could anybody post an address on here unless it was completely by accident.

    Comment by Eddie — 1/9/2009 @ 11:01 pm

63. Eddie, believe what you want to believe. But my Mom passed away Jan 31st 2008, my husband’s mother passed away Jan 1st, 2004 and those items that were accumulated were from both houses. PLUS my sister in law brought some of her items. Hence WHY it was called a family of 4 rummage, me, my Mom, my mother in law, and my sister in law.

    I NEVER mentioned rental properties. The upper my Mom lived in, has NOT been rented nor have I ever said the items in my rummage was from that.

    You are crossing lines. And I will be looking into see what action I MAY take myself. Contact who you want, the news, everyone in the Freecycle realm, it will not save you from the lines you have crossed now.

    Comment by Sara — 1/10/2009 @ 10:08 am

64. I just had a horrible experience with freecycle. The freecycle.org will NOT even respond to my plea to work the problem out. Some nutbar complained that I was rude to her (not true) and got me thrown out of the group. Then proceeded to send me extremely vulgar e mails. I have no one who will listen to me to resolve this. It’s nuts. I believe in freecycle. But the moderators are their own worst enemy. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    Comment by Elana — 1/10/2009 @ 5:37 pm

65. Freecycle is an online recycling group with set guidelines or rules. We all receive those when we join. If we do not agree, we should leave. Otherwise, we should not think that complaining about the rules will make them change. And printing anyone’s email address or name is just wrong. Those moderators are volunteers trying to do what is best for the groups. Bottom line is enjoy the group if you like the rules and go elsewhere if you don’t like them.

    Comment by Clutter Queen — 1/12/2009 @ 2:08 pm

66. You are giving them what they actually want. These are sad and miserable people who unconsciously want to make sure we are all as miserable as they.

    I feel sorry for them. Be better than they, move on. Or really piss them off and wish them a good day and then move on.

    Comment by Blessed — 1/13/2009 @ 8:55 am

67. People!! U can’t complain if moderators enforce the guidelines! As 4 the people u SEE posting against the guidelines. Ever stop 2 think they are off moderation?

    WAH, WAH WAH, I didn’t get 2 post my Wanted. Did any of u stop 2 think about posting an Offer?

    And someone who mentioned that Dec and Jan are 2 different months. It doesn’t work that way, 30 days is 30 days. Not u post on the 29th and then u get 2 post another Wanted on the 1st of the following month. It’s EVERY 30 days!

    And many people went WAY out of line posting their grievance with Freecycle. A lot of u do not know ANYTHING about Internet Harrasement/Abuse. Look it up, because the ones who have posted personal information. You can get into BIG TIME trouble!

    Comment by Jake — 1/13/2009 @ 11:06 am

68. I joined the Freecycle San Jose group in December 2008. Several times I have emailed for an item that is offered and it is always given to someone else, no matter how quickly I respond. Some of the members are obviously resellers who turn around and eBay or Craigslist the items. I asked the moderator (PlaygroundSuper) about this and he said that yes, there are resellers who subscribe to the group. Either that, or PlaygroundSuper gives preference to his friends. Who has nothing to do but drive around town and pick up Freecycle items?

    Comment by Emzee — 2/6/2009 @ 6:15 pm

69. love your comment, it unfortunately happens too often so I gave up freecycling and just dump my stuff, great idea though any alternatives?

    Comment by iando8 — 2/17/2009 @ 7:32 pm

70. Ms Mitchell you had me in splits; up untill I saw your rendition of contact with this little Hitler Tom who like the one in Milton Keynes UK likes to live in small recycling hole close to the lower end of their bodies - I honestly thought I was the only one to have come into contact with a mindless beligerant bunch of freaks - I too went through the same motions like yourself and felt I was laughing only in private and alone at the shear rude slanderous boneheads but thank gad for others with humour, after all these guys actually get off on this stuff and you gotta see the funny side of dumb ignorance - right.

    Comment by Bunny — 2/19/2009 @ 4:57 pm

71. I, too, was a victim of Tom - he took a disliking to me and banned me from the group a while back. My experiences were eerily similar to most of what I’ve read. Never have I so heartily disliked a person I’d never even met. And those of you who keep blithely recommending that we go to the GOAs, etc. with our complaints - I have a folder full of e-mails back and forth, all of which simply shrug and tell me the list belongs to Tom, and mods can do and say whatever the hell they want. (I actually had one of Tom’s minions end a vicious Freecycle e-mail to me with “BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA.”) And to those of you self-righteously advising us to “read the guidelines,” or just quit if we can’t hack it: how did you get that far down the string and still miss the entire point? This is not about guidelines - it’s about a small man who wields absurd power over people who are trying to do good with a good idea, and should not be hampered in that by a petty dictator. Freecycle groups all over the country operate smoothly and peacefully, run by excellent mods who treat their members like people. Tom and his ilk don’t get that. So here’s the latest: someone finally listened, and Mr. Playgroundsuper was finally asked by the California GOA to STEP DOWN. He pulled his final, grandly immature, vindictive stunt - rather than actually admit to the error of his ways, he deleted the entire group. If he can’t have it, nobody can!

    Comment by Heidi — 2/20/2009 @ 1:42 am

72. Yes, Playground Super deleted the Oakland group. But he was never asked to step down by Freecycle, as far as I know. I am a Freecycle moderator and I have never been able to understand how he has gotten away with his rude, condescending (actually mean!) treatment of members. As far as I know, he is still moderating a group…it is either Sunnyvale or San Jose.

    Comment by Jennifer — 2/20/2009 @ 7:03 pm

73. Oh, I forgot to mention…when he deleted the Oakland group, the Freecycle Network worked with Yahoo! to restore the group in its entirety.

    Comment by Jennifer — 2/20/2009 @ 7:05 pm

74. I have an e-mail directly from the California GOA (I don’t want to mention his name, because I’m not sure if that’s allowed?) - it states that Tom, aka Playgroundsuper, “was asked to step down; his response was to delete the group.” The San Jose Freecycle group is no longer on Yahoo. I hope someone sane starts it up again - there were a lot of good people on there!

    Comment by Heidi — 2/20/2009 @ 9:18 pm

75. OMG that’s one in the eye for bully boy’s or girl’s as some moderators go - wish they would do something about the Milton Keynes Morerators and group owners there just as bad!

    Guy’s ever thought of using freeuseit much nicer service just not many people know about it.

    Comment by Bunny — 2/21/2009 @ 3:49 am

76. Oooooops sorry just checked it out they only seem to cover the UK but you could put a request in for your country and city’s they would probably like to branch out maybe.

    The nice thing is there is no haggleing about placing wanted posts because you pay a small fee of a few pence for every wanted post and it get’s the same pride of place as your offer posts pictures can easily be added too with the posting.

    Comment by Bunny — 2/21/2009 @ 4:00 am

77. Yes, he deleted the group, but he then went on to become the Sunnyvale FC Moderator. He had moderated that group before going on to the Oakland group. I know the CA GOA. If they had asked him to “step down”, then why was he allowed to moderate another FC group?

    If the San Jose group no longer exists, that is probably because they have moved over to the new My Freecycle (Freecycle’s new independent website).

    Some FC groups have moved over completely, thereby closing their Yahoo! groups. Other FC groups are staying with Yahoo! And some groups are presently both on My Freecycle and on Yahoo!

    Comment by Jennifer — 2/21/2009 @ 10:27 am

78. I just heard back from the state freecycle folks that San Jose Freecycle has moved to the new My Freecycle website. I checked it out, and it is there! The person said that the beta test was recently completed and SJ is now one of several groups that has moved off of Yahoo and to the new My Freecycle website.

    Comment by Sue — 2/24/2009 @ 3:36 pm

79. MyFreecycle is still beta and has many problems. The only groups that have moved there are the ones sent by force (Interim or IMod groups). Any normal person would never move willingly. In my state, people are flocking to other groups as their home groups have moved to this MyFreecycle site. It’s not going well at all.

    Comment by Clutter Queen — 2/25/2009 @ 11:44 am

80. It’s not true that the groups that have gone over to the new site have been forced to do so. It IS true that most groups have not moved over yet.

    I know this for a fact because I am a Freecycle moderator.

    And the new group is still Beta.

    Comment by Jennifer — 2/25/2009 @ 1:20 pm

81. Jennifer I find it a little strange that your so interested in this site/complaints about FC Moderators if you in fact are one. Are you here just to harrang us and wind us up further. Go make your own site and find a willing audience of equally blinkered Bods or are you lonely!

    Comment by Bunny — 2/27/2009 @ 9:19 am

82. Bunny, take a long look at how many posts you have made and how many people “use” the name bunny. Whereas Jennifer is an EXTEMELY common name and if you knew how to READ, you’d see the last one to post was different than the other Jennifers that posted.

    Looks like someone’s life revolves around the internet while they’re busy pointing fingers at other people.

    Get a life! Or does it just revolve around complaining about anything and everything?

    I feel so sorry for people such as yourself.

    Comment by Sally — 2/27/2009 @ 1:54 pm

83. Sally, thank you for sticking up for me, I appreciate it.

    However, I must say that I am the same Jennifer that posted previously.

    I didn’t realize that this site was only good for you if you want to bash Freecycle, which is what I think Bunny was trying to do.

    I admit Freecycle has its problems, but I still think it is great! And I feel I have a right to express that opinion. I have been a moderator for 3 1/2 years now and my group has over 7,000 members.

    I don’t feel that anyone has a right to tell me I can’t post here, other than maybe the moderators of this group!

    Thank you.

    Comment by Jennifer — 2/28/2009 @ 6:54 am

84. I was really hoping that this string wasn’t going to degenerate into the kind of negative personal back-and-forth that deters so many people from participating in online discussions. In response to Jennifer: the very title of this page makes it clear that this page is a forum for people who have had “Problems with Freecycle” and/or “Issues with Freecycle Moderators.” Not necessarily bashing, as you put it, but rather venting - sharing common problems, maybe even looking for solutions. The intent is obvious in this note:
    [Note: If you've been disaffected by FreeCycle or their moderators, check out the comments below and add to the discussion!]
    Many of us posting here are not anti-Freecycle; we’re just anti-tyrannical mods, as, I believe, are you. I understand your wish to defend Freecycle, which is a great concept and an eminently defensible one; but hopefully you can also understand that your dissenting comments - on a discussion board specifically created to air legitimate Freecycle grievances - can be alienating. For example, your response to me regarding the fact that I have here, in my In box, an e-mail from the California GOA regarding the moderator of the San Jose group. I respect the fact that you’re a mod yourself, and therefore have the inside track; but I also mildly resent being told that what I’m looking at is not what I’m looking at. I’m not on this board to attack you, or argue with anyone; I’m just here to share my vexing experiences, read about other experiences, tell what I know, and possibly figure out where to go from here. Bunny’s post was, in my opinion, uncalled for - but then so was Sally’s. As I understand it, this discussion is not about Me VS You, or Her VS Him; it’s just about Freecycle Frustrations. I thank everyone who continues to post both the good and the bad about Freecycle; it reminds me I’m not alone in my mixed feelings. :-)

    Comment by Heidi Delgros — 2/28/2009 @ 12:00 pm

85. Errm nope can’t say that “I’m the one having problems reading” further going by the number of comments; as you pointed out I have made here - clearly it’s not my life revolving around the internet and complaining as I found it amusing to find this internet patrol page whilst I was fired up about Moderators in Milton Keynes - it broke the rage and turned it to laughter, oh and by the way my life is just dandy if not a little busy compared with yours judging by the timing of comments. Sally if it helps you go ahead and feel sorry for me because I am the product of the FC moderators victim! OK Sally shall we just say I understand how you would want to stand with your pal Jennifer but I did not refer in any way to you now did I.

    Jennifer I did not say you should not express your opinions just wondered why you picked this site to do it if you were a moderator - you came on this site it seemed to challange what was being said and now to pick yet more arguements through your pal Sally with me for asking why were you here if not to harrang us!

    I don’t dislike FC just the treatment I have received at the hands of those local to me and further happen to think there are better web sites available that actually have far more to offer by way of hospitable conduct towards their members such as for example Freeuseit - oh and by the way got it wrong they don’t charge for wanted items and nither do they make a fuss over this like freecycle.

    Heidi your right this is what I felt I was doing here venting how I feel and Sally had no right to attack me with abuse when I had not addressed her!

    I don’t view this as a closed sight to anyone but I can question the motives of someone who represents the very behaviour one is disacussing, I mean it’s a free country right but we can be kicked out of FC at a whim of the moderators with no come back on them but we may not question their motives for being here and the line of their challange!

    I too do not see this as a discussion about Me VS You, or Her VS Him; it’s just about Freecycle Frustrations which is why I find it interesting that asking why a moderator from FC should come here and challange our comments and get her friend to further attack verbally without first reading that which she felt I had not read properly altogether very normal behaviour of the FC team of moderators who are in a legue of their own.

    Nuf said, end of.

    Comment by Bunny — 3/1/2009 @ 4:53 pm

86. Trust me and my statement about the groups moving to MyFreecycle. I know more than Jennifer, and for my own safety, cannot reveal who I am or how I know what I know.

    Comment by Clutter Queen — 3/4/2009 @ 11:06 am

87. Clutter Queen “your safety”?? you make them sound like the Mafia LOL.

    How many of the comments on this page would you say in your opinion were made by FC moderators under very invisible cover - I have just one thing to say about that; if anyone on here is a moderator for FC then say so don’t be scared and tell us why your here and let’s discuss your challanging reputation’s if that’s what your objecting to “being labled as in your opinion” - otherwise at the very least try to understand that in every warp of your life you need to lighten up, laughter is a great way for life to run smoothly and what’s more if we “the normal” give a lot then there is nothing wrong with us receiving as well - so if your gonna take the damn job on then do it with dignity and throw away the silly bitching whilst wearing your control freak hat, sun gogg’s and baggy short’s. If you wanna be loved take note or maybe you just like being unloved.

    Comment by Bunny — 3/4/2009 @ 4:24 pm

88. Yes I think your right it’s possible that Jake and Jennifer are Moderators for freecycle and poss. one other but can’t be bothered to read through again. I too have had a few run-ins with the Milton Keynes branch and have found theres no point complaining as they seem to be a law onto themselves because they are “volunteers”.

    The Freeuseit.com and Fruggler forum seems to have been started by someone who was also not happy with FC and it seems he/she is getting a lot of nasty comments since starting up this website.

    Comment by Raggie — 3/9/2009 @ 1:49 am

89. Bunny, I’m not going to make claims on who is whom on this site. You sound like someone with a strong negative motive. My motive is to speak the truth. And at the same time help my community. I’m not out to hurt anyone. Sorry I cannot help you with this.

    Comment by Clutter Queen — 3/9/2009 @ 1:58 pm

90. Clutter Queen if I didn’t know better I’d say you just insulted me when I didn’t challenge your honesty just your perseption of reality LOL.

    You need not worry though your help is not being asked for nor required - this is a place for speaking your mind openly and without fear of your own shadow.

    Comment by Bunny — 3/9/2009 @ 4:06 pm

91. Bedford UK freecycle group’s moderator Jackie is now making a name for herself as a message was posted by one of her members on the cafe message board; calling dog owners “idiots” and that the fields should not be used by any dog only her and others children, this she says she had to rant somewhere about as she asked a dog owner to pick up his dog mess and he retorted with so called abuse but she hasn’t said what the abuse was; she seemed to get a few messages of suporting comments and when I wrote a message saying she should pick a kids only place to exercise her children as dogs need to live also and well it stands to reason that if you try telling a grown man how he should behave when your a stranger as if he were a child then what did she expect, if she spoke to me like that I too would tell her to mind her own business and take her kids to a kids only playground oh and by the way that is not classed as abuse unlike her comment. I was told by the Bedford moderator that I was attacking the other member and my comment would be removed?? I have asked if she hadn’t understood the fact that being called an idiot was abusive and being attacked also trying to gather support for her bullying cause was also classed as an attack on a particular type of society, still waiting for a reply but whilst waiting I have closed my membership of this group and of the cafe too!

    Comment by Raggie — 3/19/2009 @ 1:25 am

92. As a Freecycle moderator I found this group by accident and may not visit it again.
    However I can assure you that moderators have moved their groups over to freecycle.org of their own volition including my group.
    Groups which are closed down on Yahoo by the owners or by Freecycle are usually migrated to freecycle.org as the team that has to run it until a new owner is found; has many groups to cover and it is easier. (other reasons as well)
    It is important to complain with evidence to info@freecycle.org and although nothing may appear to be done, if enough complaints are received wheels will start to turn.
    Yahoo groups belong to the owners and freecycle cannot close down any groups unless the owner gives them the authority, or they can convince Yahoo it is in their interest.(Lots of spammers etc.) The alternative is to cut the links to freecycle org and get them to change their name, sometimes resorting to threatening legal action.

    Comment by Dorothy — 3/27/2009 @ 11:49 am

93. Dorothy thank you indeed for that very informative comment though I was not the one involved in this debate and had no idea about the politics of freecycle; as for example when I complained about my group Mod. and owner’s lack of ability to understand simple sentances and then as if to add fuel to fire become belligerant and rude with me, I complained to a so called freecycle complaints woman who said in an email that she had a life outside freecycle and did not have the time to deal with this and further that I should remember that the owner of the Milton Keynes Group is a volunteer as is his side kick Mod. woman? So then it seems that perhaps I was being missled from what you say; that he the owner is exactly that and not a volunteer as she would have me belive.

    So would you say that the MK group has moved to over to .org and if so is there something to stop for example anyone else starting up another MK group for freecycle on yahoo?

    You at least sound like one of the balanced normal Moderators of which I had no doubt there must be some on board at freecycle.

    Comment by Raggie — 3/28/2009 @ 2:02 am

94. I read a few of the posts & am glad others have experienced problems. I am very new to the Chesapeake, VA FC site. I read the many rules & on 3/21/09 posted 2 offers, they were picked up, then posted 2 taken. All 4 ads went through a Moderator. Today 3/29/09 I posted a Wanted ad for a weed eater. I was sent a snippy reply telling me to reread the rules, you must submit 1 offer ad first. I replied saying I posted 2 offer ads. And looked up on their database, found my ads, got the ad# for one, then wrote back with this info. I then received an e-mail saying that the understood my frustration ??? I then started to think I must be on some reality TV show where everyone is in on the joke…but ME! I replied back basically saying look, you’re the Moderator, why are you not able to see the ads in your database like I did. I was then sent an e-mail, the last one of the day so far, this was copied & pasted here: “also we do have all the posts for itsmevickieb@cox.net. If you are using multiple email addresses, your posts from itsmevickieb are still on the site, if you are posting from another email address, it does not show us that you are the same person as itsmevickieb. in order to prevent your posts from being rejected, please post from the same email address each time.” ??? What are these people/person smoking??? It’s now become a joke between family & friends…Will Vickie’s ad EVER get posted. I don’t want to associate myself with so much incompetence. I’m not even going to proof this post for errors before submitting because I feel I’ve devoted far too much of my time to this “event”.

    Comment by V. Birch — 3/28/2009 @ 5:06 pm

95. OFFER!! large amounts of snow and Ice!!! PENDING!!! large amounts of snow and Ice!! E-Mail from FC Owner- GOODBYE!!

    FC used to have a purpose!
    CraigsList for me!!!

    Comment by Wichita — 3/30/2009 @ 9:18 am

96. Wichita, your not making clear comment here, who the hell is Craig and what does his list have to do with anything, I’m guessing you got a lot of snow and ice where you reside poor you, hire a blow torch and melt the bugger.

    By the way if your message was intended as spam then guess you must be a fc owner LOL.

    Comment by Raggie — 3/31/2009 @ 5:24 am

97. V. Birch, your so right to laugh about it with your family you know what comes to mind is that those chosen few are what is known as F…ed in the head and mentally subnormal and what the heck can anyone do about that, nothing apart from laugh.

    Comment by Raggie — 3/31/2009 @ 5:37 am

98. I was banned from the Elk Grove, California freecycle today for posting this add: Hi everyone,
    I have a chair if your interested. It is older but in good condition. It has paisley material and is a family room or living room chair. The price tag on the bottom says $250.00 but like I said it’s older. Still lot’s of life in it. You could even put a cover over it! Thanks!
    Now, instead of the OWNER Mary kindly emailing me to say that she felt it needed to be written again as it MIGHT look like I was trying to sell the chair, she emailed me this: I’m sorry, what part of “FREE”Cycle did you not understand? This site is for FREE Items, not listing things for sale. Your post is being rejected and you are now banned as a Member.

    Mary
    Owner- ELk Grove Freecycle

    What the !!!! I have given away so many nice things to great people through freecycle and rarely ask for anything! I just posted a free tv right before that post. Our Elk Grove rules state CLEARLY that you have a 3 strike policy. I never even got 1 strike. I’m so sick of bullies like Mary! She obviously has a super reactive personality! I emailed her a few times politely to explain but still have not heard a word and I’m still banned. Can you say CONTROL FREAK! If she thinks she won this one, she better think again! Freecycle is a corporation now and can be held liable for their owners and moderators! All this for trying to give away a chair….and yes, I even had it listed under OFFER…go figure
    Shellie Spence

    Comment by Shellie — 4/6/2009 @ 8:56 pm

99. I’ve been on ‘moderation’ at wake freecycle (nc) for over a year for the cardinal sin of posting the same ad on two unrelated groups - one freecycle and one e-cycle. I wrote the freecycle moderator today after having a ‘wanted’ (which almost never post, always offers) not show up, and asked if I’m still being moderated for the same ‘offense’, and when I can expect the modeation to end. The response I got, word for word:
    “Yes you are still on moderation, for the same reason.
    Moderator”

    Notice the lack of response to the question of when moderation of my posts will be lifted.

    I wrote back, pointing out that they neglected to answer the question, and also that my ‘moderation’ looks more like a ban since they are not approving my posts at all.

    Anyway, I know where this is going. There’s long been a feeling in this freecycle group that our esteemed moderators are on a bit of a power trip. Arguing with them will do no good, and I am under no illusions that they will drop the attitude and reinstate me fully. A damn shame, because of a one-time honest mistake (cross-posting, according to them), I have essentially been locked out of a group that I was an active part of for probably a couple of years previous to this.

    Freecycle is a great idea that works when run properly. Unfortunately moderators like this ruin it for everyone, and are people like me once again dumping my crap at the curb rather than go through the hassle of trying to reason with a petty dictator. Oh well.

    Comment by bfs — 4/16/2009 @ 6:58 pm

100. Hey do you think Freecycle owns the monopoly of Yahoo Groups, well, NO THEY DO NOT.

     There is absolutely nothing stopping you from creating your own recycling group and call it whatever you like for your area, then send invites to all the people in your mail box to come join you, making sure you offer your stuff on there to members only and there you go, freecycle is history along with it’s Control Trolls who have nothing in their lives and are little educated.

     I can’t understand why Yahoo allow these people to bully and discriminate!

     Comment by Susan — 4/17/2009 @ 12:57 am

101. If you think it’s hard to set up your own local group let me tell you it’s not, just type in to your google search bar “Yahoo Groups” then click on create your own Groups the rest is history as Yahoo takes you through all the steps and the group is run on their software all you need to do is name it type in the blurb you want displayed and update it as often as you want send invitations to 50 email addresses all at the same time and you must have plenty of those from fc and to all your friends and family. Bingo your done! Freecycle Shmeecycle can go straight to hell.

     Comment by Sunny — 4/19/2009 @ 12:17 am

102. Actually a member of our local area in Milton Keynes has done just that and the group is called “Milton Keynes Cafe Sale & Wanted Items” it’s so popular because there are no stupid childish rules that in just 3 days it picked up 50 members.

     It certainly beats FC treating us like we’re bad kids that need to be punished for something we didn’t do!

     Comment by J. Morris — 4/20/2009 @ 3:05 pm

103. Thank you to everyone who has given me insight on how to handle this control freak Mary Bell from Elk Grove Freecycle! I will definitely either start my own or join one of the other great sites. Thanks again, Shellie

     Comment by Shellie Spence — 4/20/2009 @ 7:16 pm

104. I had heard great things about the San Francisco freecycle program so I decided to try to join my local San Mateo freecycle list on yahoo. Unfortunately I was assaulted by a cold, unwelcoming quiz that included a fifth trick question that confused me and I got wrong. The moderator Christopher F implied that I was a lemming because I could not figure out the answer to his cute trick question. I run a local non-profit as well as give away tons of stuff on craigslist free section every month, and I think I’ll continue to do that because I don’t want to have anything to do with a control freak like this guy.

     Comment by Paul D — 4/25/2009 @ 12:30 am

105. Hi Paul,
     I agree with you! I think most of the freecycle moderators are control freaks! That’s really sick that he actually would put questions you have to answer in order to give away your stuff for FREE…how sad for all of them! I know that there are a few good moderators out there like the ones in Tracy, Ca. They need to rename freecycle. It should be called controlcycle…what do you think? I’m getting ready to start my own. I will only have your typical common courtesy rules :-) You should do the same. Even better, do what some of the others have suggested and bring all the freecyclers you know with you. Maybe we can teach the nasty moderators they aren’t God’s! Good luck :-)

     Comment by Shellie — 4/25/2009 @ 2:36 pm

106. My 2 year old daughter just fell into a swimming pool today and my cell phone was in my pocket when I jumped in after her. I tried posting a request for a cheap Verizon cell phone and the Tracy, CA moderators rejected it because cell phones are expensive and they don’t wind up in landfills. Her suggestion to me was to keep an eye on the posts and hopefully someone will post a cell phone. That’s not an option for me so I posted my request on the SanJoaquinValleyCafe yahoo group and they posted it immediately. I’m thinking that maybe the Tracy, CA freecycle group might just be a waste of my time.

     Comment by Kim — 5/22/2009 @ 8:15 pm

107. If you want to see the sucess of someone who has set up a group of their own in Milton Keynes UK go to search groups MIlton Keynes and on page 10 you will find recycleMiltonKeynes then join this group to work out how to set your own group up and ask for tips as the owner Paula is a wonderful person and full of ideas of help.

     Comment by Rupert — 5/26/2009 @ 3:10 pm

108. tried to sign up with four groups, two in Maryland and two in Pennsylvania. I live in Minnesota…my sister lives in Pennsylvania.

     This is the situation.

     My sister who lives in the Pennsylvania group’s area and the near the other group (within 12 miles) does not have internet access. I planned on calling her when some item came up while searching these groups. Actually look while on the phone with her. She in turn could post (however without images) anything that she wanted to offer.

     I asked permission to join and I was denied by the Waynesboro, Pennsylvania (my sister’s town) group for this reason….the moderator said that because she was not online at the same time she would not be able to pickup the item because I don’t live there. According to him, it doesn’t make sense to him how this could be done. He also stated because I don’t live there, Freecycle rules state a person must live within 50 miles of the location to participate. He knows the system and talking to my sister while on line would not work.

     Washington County/Hagerstown, Maryland denied because I don’t live there and my sister lives 12 miles away and the purpose of the group is environmental and that Freecycle doesn’t want people driving all over the place to pick up items because of the waste of fuel. My sister works in Hagerstown and can pick up in the area. Also, since Waynesboro has its own group…you can’t belong to one that is in the same geographically area. The Washington County base is bigger than Waynesboro’s…more opportunity for items to be offered.

     Now to illustrate inconsistencies…Chambersburg, Pennsylvania…with the explanation that I gave Waynesboro and Washington County/Hagerstown; allowed me to participate. Chambersburg is 20 miles from Waynesboro.

     Western Maryland (which I dropped out of because of the distance) didn’t even ask questions, allowed joining without any pre-requisites. That area is 70 miles away.

     Jessica the Moderator’s Washington County/Hagerstown, Maryland, Freecycle. In response again to my rejection

     We don’t cover Waynesboro PA. They have their own group. So unless I’m missing something, I don’t see the relevance of her living in Waynesboro to applying to a Hagerstown/ Washington County group. You need to join the Waynesboro group.

     People without internet access CAN have others join the group for them but both parties need to be within the boundaries we’ve established. Since there are groups that cover all areas surrounding Washington County and Freecycle is primarily an environmental site, it really doesn’t make much sense to have people driving from all over the place increasing pollution and wasting gas (which is directly against the Freecycle mission) to pick up items.

     —————————————————————————

     Steven the Moderator’s Waynesboro, Pennsylvania Freecycle — his first message (in response to my reply on his rejection).

     I’m sorry I’m not going to argue about the situation. The Freecycle Network requires you live within 50 miles of the location.

     Just because two other groups allowed you to join doesn’t mean its correct.

     You’re going to call your sister every time there is something being offered and think by the time you call her, get her approval, respond to the offering, it will be available? I’ve been doing this for several years, I know how the process works.

     There are many things I can think beyond the box about.

     Second message from Stephen….
     I suggest you get out a map and look up Wayensboro PA and Hagerstown MD, they are only 15 miles apart.

     You can argue and put me and my group down all you like. I denied your request to join. I’ve given ample reasons why. (then further said I was being nasty). He called me stupid and I explained the situation. AND he blocked me from responses and said I’m harrassing him…I reported him to Freecycle. (along with Jessica).

     I stated that Freecycle, I would think, would rather people be able to recycle regardless of financial means (lack of money to pay for internet access) or work schedules (my sister works odd hours and can’t get to a library)

     Jessica’s last email…stated both people need to live in the area.

     Comment by Pennagirl — 6/8/2009 @ 1:45 pm

109. If you go to http://www.freecycle.org/ you can find all the information about Freecycle. Under Member FAQ you should find the rules and guidelines. There are mandatory and discretionary ones. You can also probably get access to the moderators rules.
     All the policies and procedures are open for perusal by moderators although from some comments on here many of them obviously fail to read them.
     Dorothy

     Comment by Dorothy — 6/10/2009 @ 9:45 am

110. I have problems with some Freecycle groups too but two things I definitely agree with them on is people being in the area of the group they’re joining and limitng the wanted ads. One of the groups I’m a member of has so many wanted ads it’s ridiculous. It’s not for little things either, it’s bit stuff like TVs, RVs, cars, boats, laptops, etc. Funny thing is, the stupid moderators then reject the requests for old socks or margarine containers. WTF???

     Pennagirl- I used to be a Freecycle moderator (got out of that when the network started some practices I don’t necessarily agree with). I have never seen anywhere that TFN said that the location boundaries were 50 miles from the group. That may just be that group’s guidelines. That actually doesn’t make much sense if the other town is only 15 miles away. Why would TFN have 2 overlapping groups? There’s a city near me that someone wanted to start a group in but TFN said no because a county-wide group already covered that area. Freecycle groups used to be regional. That didn’t work very well so they broke them up into smaller more local groups.

     Also, when I moderated we had people that would complain that they were a member of x group but had people from a neighboring group posting. It got too confusing for them. Apparently the moderators aren’t the only dim bulbs in the box.

     Comment by The Sock — 6/11/2009 @ 9:59 am

111. The facts are, freecycle is one of the biggest network of twits running it, their either ageing old farts who enjoy the only bit of control they have in their lives or their out of work sit at home and mind everyone else’s business and enjoy mixing it to cause bad feeling.
     There is no control over this lot as they are individuals that own their own groups and yahoo courteousness is extended only to their baby “freecycle” they allow them pride of place in their directories and if you look there anyone who competes with their baby is functioning at a speed determined by yahoo.
     So I would say the best way to end their monopoly is to start your very own group web site as individuals for your own areas called “Freecycle” also on a seperate web server maybe ask gmail if they can help or hotmail or google as they will take care of the software and virus protection. The other way would be to just start your own web site for free not hard but watch out for those peskie mods they do love mixing it and sending you viruses.

     Comment by Rupert — 6/20/2009 @ 2:15 am

112. You want to here the latest odd ball story about the Milton Keynes Group owner……………
     I placed 2 wanted posts the other day after some months of not bothering with Freecycle Milton Keynes because of the discriminating ways employed with my membership, so anyway, one was for a Cat transporters box and the other for a Mobility scooter for my old folk friends who are no longer able to get around and the husband is now too frail to push his wife around in a wheel chair; I found that my cat box post went in and two other people asking for mobility scooters were allowed to post wanted adds but mine was deleted without a word as to why before it ever got published - so I didn’t argue as I have been here many times with this owner and his moderator, so I placed it with the new, unconnected group Recycle Milton Keynes Group and subsequently when the item was received, I posted a received add also - likewise then posted a received add on Freecycle also saying it was no longer needed as another group had now provided the item and as my post was omitted I was feeling discriminated against, I mean at the time I was in the dark as to why it had not been published by him as he often says he’s too busy and I must wait, though I had a pretty good idea he was not going to publish it as per normal with a lot of my posts, well guess what, it too was deleted by the owner who wrote back to me saying he deleted this because I may not post on two sites within 48 hours implying to me that the two sites were connected in some way - which they are not, I checked with the Recycle MK site. He also offered me the opportunity to leave if I wished to, and gave me the link to so do?

     So I wrote back saying I failed to see why he was discriminating against me and asking me not to post to another group that is not connected with Freecycle, since I had first posted to his group and he had contradicted himself anyway, by publishing one post for the cat box but not the one for the mobility scooter - because both had also been placed on the Recycle site anyway and what’s more his members did this all the time but he had no problems with them since he said I was the ONLY member he had stupid comments from? I also asked why he was asking me again if I would like to leave the group.

     He wrote back saying; I was stupid for making stupid comments and he and his moderators were giving me an ultimatum to read their etiquette file, and write back within the next few hours agreeing to uphold the rules or I would be removed as a member in the morning?

     So I told him again I have read the file he spoke of and that I had not broken any rules but that it seemed clear he liked to bully me for reasons that are still not clear and that he should grow up in no uncertain terms, as the only stupid comments seemed to be coming from him.

     No prizes for guessing what came next before the next morning; he was sorry that I had removed myself from the group? Actually I had not he did that all by himself, poor old man, no life huh. LOL

     Oh and by the way I forgot to mention he insists that he has been discriminated against; wait for it, he says: “I could not get past the front door of “YOUR” group.”

     So it seems, not only have I been wronged and harassed all along since I joined but now I was being harassed for either reason that he thought I owned the new Recycle group and would not let him in or because I lived in a more suburban part of the town - I’m not altogether sure which if not both.

     There are many types of troll in the world are there not maybe one day they will actually get a life.

     *******
     By the way Dorothy you failed to answer my question to you earlier about us all starting a group of our own called “Freecycle”? Guess the answer must be in that case that there is no reason why we can’t all do that then.

     Comment by Raggie — 6/22/2009 @ 11:34 am

113. copied from the Freecycle Manual.

     8.8 Distance - how far away is it acceptable for a member to live?

     A member does not have to live anywhere near a particular Freecycle® group in order to be a member of that group: if, for example, they regularly work or visit family or friends in a town that is several hundred miles away from their home address, they can still participate fully in that town’s group.

     Comment by bubbles — 7/15/2009 @ 3:35 am

114. I rarely log into this group so have just seen the comment from Raggie. Freecycle is a registered trademark. If you use it you are open to being sued. They do pursue people for this and Yahoo for one will delete your group.
     Dorothy.

     Comment by Dorothy — 7/15/2009 @ 7:40 am

115. Oh Dorothy ;) now you have me smiling, how could freecycle sue anyone, where do they get their funds from since no trading for the ole pennies is allowed by their very own comandment. Oh yes I know it must be that pesskie yahoo chappie with the loot who set up freecycle as the original owner before .org of late hu. Wonder who actually paid for .org and set it up? Oh I know it must have been freecycle, silly me! Yahoo certainly want publicly to disown them, yet privately hold a favoured place in their bossom LOL.

     Well Dorothy hope your not gonna take this the wrong way but do you not get email reminders whenever comments are placed on here - I know I do.

     By the way if everyone in every state and town - for as many freecycles there are - matched it by starting identical groups with the same name, it would take “freecycle” forever and a day to pay for legal fees to persue everyone and as for the number of people who would stand up and say how the so called FAQ rules and guidelines of freecycle are missused by some of their moderators and owners and frankly infringe on consumer rights in the UK anyway hardly gives them the right to own an idea name outright that the entire planet is going to be into one day. That’s like saying Refuse Collection is trade marked and no one may call their business the same name? It’s not an exclusive club it’s recycling.

     Oh and by the way guy’s recycle Milton Keynes in two months has now at last count 113 members.

     Got to go now as I’m begining to ramble.

     Comment by Raggie — 7/15/2009 @ 2:49 pm

116. I do get the posts but they usually go into spam. I have so many things go in this Yahoo one and I use it for non important stuff I tend to mass delete . I was assuming this was my post and it nearly went but I decided to check.
     Yes there are cases going on the the US courts. Yahoo have also gone to court I believe to defend their right to delete unofficial groups.
     With 10,000 volunteers some of them will be lawyers as we have seen on here so maybe the costs aren’t too high.
     There are plenty of recycle sites that are forming groups and which if you wanted to start one of your own up you could join.
     We do have to recycling companies which give us some sponsorship also the new websites will get revenue from the google ads whereas the Yahoo ones Yahoo gets the money.
     With 7,000,000 members and 10,000 volunteers we are bound to get some jobsworths but most are very nice and very hardworking and doing it for the right reasons.

     Comment by Dorothy — 7/16/2009 @ 12:06 am

117. Dorothy what you have just said begs the question; what exactly is the intention of yahoo/freecycle in the first place for setting up such organisation of recycling? Wonder if it was intended to be a money generating idea based on what your telling us here and that is why they would intend to guard their trademark, whilst we like lambs; give and receive so generously to keep “freecycle” alive and kicking and in some cases kicking us the good guy’s around verbally and walking all over our right to be treated fairly and with respect for providing freecycle with seven million customers and ten million volunteers who are hardworking sometimes without monetary pay.

     So who in the long run of things receives payment from these revenues?? Not you or I, then who exactly is this person or persons and why would they spend money on any litigation against the very people who are merely doing that which yahoo/freecycle thought to be something we would want to volunteer our goods and time too for “free”!

     As for lawyers running freecycle - I’m sorry I can’t see that unless there was some money in it for them to be freely volunteering their time in a busy money making world. Unless you’re talking of retired lawyers but I would indeed be interested to know of at least one that does indulge in this pastime.

     Dorothy I am already part of another group that is in fact run by it’s owner who receives no money from anyone and has impeccable up-front manners, I also belong to a freecycle group which has an alright owner so far but when it comes to the freecycle Milton Keynes group I can only say that my treatment there has been bizarre and discriminating - and - if you or the powers that “may be” within freecycle or yahoo take a look at the complaint’s here and from thousands not here they might find that the bubble of content is a little misshapen and in need of sorting out. They also need to stop the trademark crap because they don’t have even with the yahoo backing enough money to fight 7 million cases in court.

     I could go on and on but I think it only fair to stop here for now, as you are, at the end of the day standing here as an unpaid volunteer (moderator) and couldn’t possibly answer questions of the nature above as your not in the driving seat.

     Comment by Raggie — 7/16/2009 @ 8:30 am

118. Raggie, I may be wrong but it was my understanding that Freecycle just began using Yahoo groups because it was what was most commonly available back in 2004 when this idea started. TFN now has it’s own (crappy) website. I’m in a couple of the groups that have switched over to “their” website and each one has faltered at best. These were groups that averaged 100-150 posts per day and now it’s MAYBE 20-30. It stinks.

     I also I believe the answer to your question of “So who in the long run of things receives payment from these revenues??” would be none other than the Freecycle head honcho himself, Deron Beal.

     The money comes from the gov’t, TFN’s sponsor Waste Management (can someone explain that one to me???), and tax-deductible contributions from regular joes.

     You can see their tax forms here:
     http://tinyurl.com/ncemjv

     You will notice that Deron is the only one paid. Although on another page, it says something about 3 contractors that are being paid. One is the one who was developing their own (crappy) site. Two are contractors “responsible for the current web community”.

     Comment by Clem — 7/22/2009 @ 8:28 pm

119. Deron is not the only one paid and all figures are published.
     The 9000 unpaid volunteers have no quibble with it so why should you?
     If your two groups posts went down drastically then I suggest it was because the old groups were either closed down by Freecycle or taken out of TFN by the owners.
     I am on several My Freecycle Groups. The one next to me is now doing better than ever it did on Yahoo, having had two owners just abandon it. My own groups posts have fallen off slightly but that may be down to the recession. My Friends group in 4months is now two thirds bigger than it was on Yahoo and the posts have grown in proportion.
     I do not find it a crappy system, I use it and find it better on the whole that Yahoo, and we do have direct feed back to the IT people.
     I may try to set things straight but I am not going to get involved in any disputes or general knocking, of what is a after all a much needed and world wide resource.

     Comment by Dorothy — 7/23/2009 @ 1:44 am

120. Quibble Dorothy? I don’t think anyone said anything about a quibble with it, just that we the contributors should be placed firmly in the picture openly giving us this information on every freecycle group home page that money is received for our contributions by Deron and whom so ever else there may be on the payrole, then give us the choice of joining and contributing if we wish to and whilst Deron is about it we want exact running tally of how much each month or week he and the others receive on each freecycle group!

     Dorothy first you mentioned 10,000 volunteers now your saying 9,000, how and where did you drop 1,000 volunteers? Have they unvolunteered themselves.

     If you personally have no quibble with that then that’s up to you but do the other 9 or 10 thousand voulunteers even know about this and where do you get off speaking for them?

     Since the topic with you was about the use of the word freecycle and it being made a trademark by Deron I must deduce from this talk and you say it is a much needed service then I still ask why should everyone not start their own group called freecycle as it is much needed or is it that freecycle is worried they may have to share the loot made out of us the contributors to their enjoying an exclusive business, and I ask this of you now because I am now convinced that you must have more knowledge of this business than a mere volunteer I’m guessing?

     Oh and by the way which branch of freecycle groups are you a owner or moderator of?

     Comment by Raggie — 7/23/2009 @ 10:30 am

121. Clem, thanks for the information that I had no knowledge of previously, good on ya.

     Clem forgive me in my ignorance but who the hell is TFN? I popped it into google search and it comes up with a whole bunch of stuff to do with Texas ={ and is Deron the head honcho in the uk freecycle too then therefore does he also get mulah from our councils locally too do you known.

     I will say that the group I now belong too which is an independant from the “trade marked” company freecycle does not make any money out of it’s service and maybe they need to tell everyone this fact that perhaps otherwise seemed assumed by us that they were all unaided financially!

     I know they say there’s money in trash but what a bloody nerve that I was unaware of my giving away some 1000+ items for the sake that someone else may as well have them since I’m not using them for free meant that Deron is the likely recipent of money from this. =[

     Comment by Raggie — 7/24/2009 @ 5:00 am

122. TFN stands for “The Freecycle Network”. It’s the everything behind all of the “lcoal” groups.

     I really don’t know much about the uk groups but Deron is the one that came up with the whole idea of Freecycle to begin with and is the “Executive Director”, so I think it would be a reasonable guess that, yes, he is the head honcho of the uk as well.

     You can find all of this information on the Freecycle.org website. Look under FAQ and look at the “mod manual”. It even has a search box :)

     Dorothy, if Deron isn’t the only one getting paid, please correct me and tell me, who else is? Aside from the contractors I mentioned.

     Comment by Clem — 7/24/2009 @ 11:09 am

123. Oh and Dorothy, when it comes to My Freecycle, you have your opinion and I have mine, k?

     I’m glad that you like it and your groups are flourishing. The groups I’ve seen are not. No, they weren’t taken off TFN. They were removed from Yahoo but that’s because they switched.

     Sure, the My Freecycle has it’s perks. The Message Maker is awesome. It makes posting messages pretty much idiot-proof. I’m sure that helps the moderators immensely. The rest of it though, in MY opinion, is rough at best.

     And as for posts falling off due to the recession? I don’t really think that would be the case as the increase in wanted posts would even out the drop in offers.

     Comment by Clem — 7/24/2009 @ 11:19 am

124. Clem & Raggie, from lookin into the faq files and the 9oo tax return statement it seems that the only fincial records on display is the many thousands being made by Deron in Tucson Arizona and that he has set the internet business up as a charity so that he can be exempt from taxes and having done that he then as a charity had to put together a comitee panel and it seems the panel consists of one secretary unpaid and one vice chair unpaid and him self Deron who is the only one paid other items covered in this report is that he has some running expenses a phone bill and such like, oh and he has had in the one year some $11000 Legal expenses and minimal accounting expenses but the entire kit some $300,000 + apart from any running cost of sitting at home and running a one room office; goes to Deron. This by the way is just the Tax return for one country and there seems not to be one for the UK or any other country?

     So Dorothy I think you need to read more carefully Deron is the only receipent of the lolly my dear for all your “hard” work and support!

     Comment by Bunny — 7/27/2009 @ 12:52 am

125. Yes I had a look too and found that the other expenses to so called people paid are not that clear on the tax return in the main it seems to go to Deron.

     By the way I came across this on their freecycle site:
     ………………
     FundsThe Freecycle Network’s current annual budget is running at about $140,000 in income. The funding comes from corporate underwriting, on-site advertising (in the form of a Google sponsor bar), grants and individual donations. Approximately 90% of these funds are used directly for program expenses. The remaining 10% is split evenly between membership, fundraising and other administrative expenses. Our IRS 990s are posted at the hotlink below as well as on Guidestar.com. We are delighted to report that we have now received our 501(c)3 status from the IRS (11/06) and that donations to The Freecycle Network are tax-deductible! We likewise are a charity in the UK. Further, we are registered as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Arizona. Tax deductibility is retroactive to our application date in July of 2004.

     Our expenses of about $130,000 are mainly in the paying of four individuals and the maintenance of our current website and design of the new community. These individuals include the executive director, two contractors responsible for the current web community and one contractor for the new website design project. We have several servers to this end, coding expense and related site-design expenses. We also are incurring substantial legal expense, primarily in defending our trademark.

     Our model is much like that of PBS. We seek to provide a free public forum for our members, and seek grants, underwriting and voluntary donations to fund these efforts. It’s a rather unique model for a website, but The Freecycle Network is a unique organization. As we further develop community reuse and recycling on a globally local scale in over 70 countries we are creating a global gift economy in the process. Simply beautiful how one can change the world, one gift at a time.
     Most recent Form 990
     ………………

     I’m guessing this is what Dorothy belives because she can’t make sense of the tax return form.

     But there are no records as you say Bunny for the UK on display - guess it’s time to ask the local council how much he gets maybe that will give a more direct answer.

     Comment by Raggie — 7/27/2009 @ 1:07 am

126. There is a lot going on in my private life and on Freeycle uK at the moment and I do not have time to answer all the points raised since my last visit.
     None of the volunteers are in Freecycle for the money so who get paid what does not bother the majority of us. Maybe you are looking at old accounts? We have have breakdowns of where the money is spent. I personally know one IT person who gets paid I also know we have to pay to rent space or storage or something on other networks to run the groups on MF.
     I am pretty sure there are two people who work on Admin full time in America who get paid also. One of them is around for us to contact so I assume one does the USA and the other the rest of the world.
     Most of the legal costs are incurred on protecting the trademark and whether this is a good use of resources may be questioned I suppose.
     UK money that I am aware of is only for use in the UK for specific purposes. The grants I know of have been held in a fund and administered scrupiously by UK volunteers.
     It has always been earmarked to spend only in the area covered by the authority who has granted it so none has come my way as yet.

     Comment by Dorothy — 7/27/2009 @ 7:31 am

127. OK Dorothy your busy and probably not able to look into what is said in the financial report for 2008 on the site Clem mentioned but unless I’m blind all I can see is on page 5 where it says: List of Officers, Directors, Trustees and employees it shows the hours worked for the Vice chair Jenifer Columbus total number of hours worked per week 2 hours compensation if not paid 0. and for Secretary Jolie Sibert total number of hours worked per week 2 hours compensation if not paid 0. and for the third and final person it says Chairperson Deron Beal total number of hours worked per week is 40 hours per week compensation if not paid 42,691 Also Contributions to employee benefit plans and deferred compensation plans 10,171.
     Now as it says hours per week do you suppose this means he is compensated by these ammounts per week - how much per year is that 42,691 x 52 weeks so that’s many $$$$$$$? WOW!

     I guess if in the UK he functions his freecycle with grants and is a registered charity then yes he would have to disclose his outgoings and incomings to the grant makers but then does he get compensation or a salary for services rendered also weekly?

     I’m pretty sure if anyone has to lend IT help they would be paid but there is only so much IT one needs to do for a site that basically runs OK through software.

     Dorothy no one says that your paid because Volunteers are just that and are not paid unless it is declared as paid volunteers.

     Comment by Raggie — 7/27/2009 @ 8:59 am

128. I am surprised at the amount of greedy talk that is going on here. Ok, so you guys are angry that Deron gets paid. Then what should Deron get paid if he puts in more than 40 hours a week for this great cause that he created and has been there since day one? Apparently not one of you can even phantom the amount of work that is involved that Deron does. I think I see your points more justified IF he wasn’t involved and instead off on vacation letting someone else do the work. I do not see how anyone can point fingers, when he needs to live, he needs to eat, he needs a roof over his head and certainly he has bills to pay. You may all sit there and think he has a cushy job, oh he only sits on the computer, um, Deron is WAY more involved than just that, and yes, most of his time will be spent on the computer, BECAUSE Freecycle is online, on the Internet, on the computer.

     And yes for the Vice Chair and Secretary they are paid Zero and have been since 2005, since Freecycle’s creation. They work at best 2 hours a week. Why should someone who works so little be paid anything and honestly, if anyone should have a problem with it, it should be them and not you. Because IF they had a problem, they wouldn’t have been volunteering for Deron / Freecycle for 4 years.

     And what do you guys have to say about American Red Cross? Even though it’s a non-profit organization, there are people who still get paid that work 40 hrs/week. You can not expect someone to put in that kind of time and not need money in order to survive. What about Goodwill? I donate MY items to them for FREE, but they turn around and sell it for PROFIT to pay disabled workers, president of Goodwill and on down the line.

     Oh and non-profit lawyers, they still get paid. And they work a lot more then 40 hours a week for their clients.

     As for the UK, Freecycle is established in the United States, while there may be groups in the UK. Is just that and nothing more. IF it costs him anything for advertising overseas, it still gets reported on the US taxes, being as the main office is here in the US. (I could really get into political issues here, that tie in with this whole can of worms you guys have opened about overseas versus here in the states.) And the UK would not donate anything, being as it started here in the states and it’s here that Freecycle receives it’s funding.

     And you’re right/wrong, an IT person sets up the site, but from time to time has to do routine maintenance, being as sometimes stuff will stop working, people might hack into the site, there might be updates to make the site better and run smoother. And right now, My Freecycle is in beta testing. So, it’s still a work in progress while they figure out all the bugs, kinks, etc., it runs on it’s own.

     And funny you mention Deron makes $42,691. Do you realize that is BEFORE taxes, that is BEFORE he pays for his OWN health care out of pocket? When you take all that away, it’s not much. (And the tax papers that are online are FREECYCLE’s tax papers, not Deron’s personal tax papers.)

     But it all comes down to this, people are just jealous that he came up with such an easy idea, and is making money off of it. Some of you think he shouldn’t, but I know the amount of work he puts into this idea and he deserves it, even more so he quit his full time job to dedicate himself fully to this cause. (A full time job that he made MUCH more than what he makes for this cause.)

     As for me, I volunteer for Freecycle because I whole heartedly believe in making this planet better for my children and creating awareness about reducing waste. Which also brings me to the reason why Waste Management is a big contributor to Freecycle. With this in place, it’s giving people an option to give their stuff away versus creating more waste in an already overcrowded landfill. I have seen people give plastic bags to broken toys to packing peanuts to a boat come thru Freecycle. EVERYTHING has a use, to the person who owns it, it’s junk, it’s garbage. But there are people out there that can have a use for it. (Broken toys was for a local artist.)
     So, you would think Waste Management would fully grasp and help contribute to a cause that is SAVING them money. You may not think so, but when it comes to the man power to pick up the trash, down to the crews that work at the landfill. It’s trickles down the line and it adds up, whether you like to believe it or not, it does.

     Comment by Sara — 7/27/2009 @ 12:45 pm

129. well.. i was amazed that there are so many problems with freecycle all over the world and not just here in very rural wales uk.. my issue is this,, some months ago i placed an advert on freecycle offering kittens as a stray cat had come to my house for the 2nd time in 6 months and given birth to a 2nd lot of kittens we kept the first lot but as that took our lot of cats to 6 ( and then the stray making 7) we decided to post an ad early offering the kittens to allow us time to vet the homes for them etc… to make sure they were going to be safe, i had a vile email from a woman who demanded i give her my 4 week old kittens, it didnt matter that they were so young, she had nursing mothers and could just find my kittens new mothers then rehome them, i declined i had 4 more emails basically saying i was selfish for not giving them to her she told me she had a waiting list of homes for my kittens etc etc… i sent her emails with a detailed complaint to the moderators of my locaL GROUP, ha what a waste of time nothing was done, so when people started offering kittens for good homes i sent them emails warning them about this woman who by now we had investigated and didnt just rehome cats but she was actually a breeder, one of the women i sent a warning email to sent me the email she had received from this woman which told her that the rspca and cats protection league had no kittens and were actually referring people to her!!!! i was horrified this is the middle of kitten season these charities are over run with animals desperate for a new home she was doing them danger, so i continued to warn people who advertised their kittens for new homes the general response i got was amazing, i was thanked and had eails sent that this woman sent in all cases just demanding kittens even when they were far too tiny to leave theor mother, tonight i had an email from freecycle removing me from their group because someone i sent this email too sent it to the moderators but apparently my behaviour was against their rules, yet this woman who is endangering genuine needy charities is allowed to continue to demand peoples kittens she NEVER says she breeds cats just that she is a rescue home and has a huge waiting list yet she keeps decent females to breed, so now i am the bad guy and the power crazy moderator thinks it is ok for a crazy woman to demand baby kittens now when i look online there is no where for me to pass my complaint on apart from the paper which i shall be doing…. so if anyone has any ideas where i can take my complaint to id be grateful because i believe my complaint is serious i was up to today an extremely active member of freecycle by offering many many items and also answering adverts for things we needed when advertised and posting wanted notices too ( well i did when they were authorised and not refused for some stupid reason or other)

     so please can soemone help with a complaints contact details that would be great my email address is cinders_skivvy@hotmail.co.uk and my name is liz thanks all xx

     Comment by liz — 7/30/2009 @ 2:30 pm

130. Jealous? No one gives a flying …. about who has which idea first and you Madame seem to be someone with a good deal of inside knowledge of what goes on in the life of Deron so might one ask are you related, understand what we are saying, anyone who becomes a member is not aware of money being made by anyone since we have it rammed down our throats that we must not make any money from this enterprise? I was not aware that there was a Deron and that he earned money out of our exchange of junk so put your sword back in your scabbard woman because if any of us could make this amount of money from an idea we would all be on the gravy train too. It’s just the fact that we are bullied and bounced about by a small bunch of half wits and there is no person to bring them into line when we give generously and are regularly pushed around for it whilst the man at the top quit his job to rake in the lolly and then to boot trademarked the name to do with recycling as if no one else may do the same. One word, silly, considering the whole lot of us have become more aware of global issues and want to do something about it, so why do you feel we should be jealous of Deron and why should the name of recycling be trademarked? That’s like saying Greenpeace came up with the idea first of global issues and then went about making the public at large aware of it so they should trademark their idea! Come on now lady grow up please $42 thousands of bucks a week would buy Deron and many others living expenses and many people private health care for many decades to come, so why are you so up in arms about it if we get to known about this and discuss it openly, not trying to put us off the subject are you, because frankly if I were the owner of this and made all this dosh I would pay attention to the fact that there are those in my organisation who are abusing my members and need to get the push, period. Or are you one of those people? I mean who are you, what are you?

     Oh and by the way I wasn’t aware that charities had to pay taxes, so are you saying that he does and if so why if he is registered as a charity? I mean you seem to have a truck load of presumed knowledge.

     The point you seemed to have missed Sara is that, we would like the fact that the groups we all belong to freecycle to run a weekly or monthly tally up front at the top of the home page of how much money each group or country of groups is making so that we know exactly what it is we are contributing to. Now do you think that would be to much to ask? Why the hell as members do you think we should not be clearly in the picture of who or whom is making dosh out of us and how much and how when we actually join without having to comb through the pages of jargon to find it?

     Either state who exactly you are within the freecycle network if you want your word read or why bother frankly since we have stated who we are?

     Comment by Bunny — 7/30/2009 @ 2:54 pm

131. Animals are always emotive subjects, and in my opinion not suitable for freecycle. I will not allow them at all on my group.
     However if your are guilty of harassment that is a two strikes and you are out offence which is part of the freecycle rules.
     Charity accounts can be found at the addy below. No money leaves Britain for foreign shores nor for wages, I can assure you.
     Freecycle does try to be as open and honest as it can, there is nothing to hide I am sure as we have an army of very intelligent volunteers, accountants and lawyers amongst them who sift and bisect everything.
     http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/SHOWCHARITY/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWith\
     outPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1118148&SubsidiaryNumber=0

     Comment by Dorothy — 7/31/2009 @ 12:20 am

132. Bunny, this will be the last time I address you, being as you seem to swarm around this board replying to people’s posts and not one word you say shows that you have read what the person has said. OR that somehow we are thinking outside the box that you seem to trap yourself inside of all the time.

     1. I am a volunteer moderator for Freecycle. You need to know nothing more. Why am I go to tell you which group I moderate? I am not an IDIOT to open doors of problems that would come from you and whatever flock you send my way. I do not need to prove my standing within Freecycle. It does not prove anything to you, nor anyone else. I could tell you I’m God and that’s just it. It’s what I say whether you choose to believe me or not, is your own choice.

     2. Freecycle is a charity and they NEED to report to the IRS to show where their money is going. (Which if they didn’t, they why are there forms to show they have reported to the IRS?) Deron on the other hand, has to REPORT individual taxes like anyone else. Just because you run a charity, you earn money as a paid employee that needs to be reported. Everyone who MAKES money on an individual basis, reports 1040’s. No matter where the money came from, be it from Freecycle, self employment, etc. He is a PAID employee of Freecycle and he reports his taxes just like you and me and his personal taxes are SEPERATE from Freecycle.

     3. You have no idea what you are talking about. Greenpeace is about creating awareness and providing information about making the planet better. Freecycle is about reducing waste from a landfill. I did not realize the two are just too much to wrap your head around. OH and btw, Greenpeace is trademarked.

     4. Each group does not generate ANY money. As it says on Freecycle.org’s website. Monies that ARE donated come from Waste Management , King & Spaulding (pro-bono services for legal action) and Cal Max (web design). If you are too lazy to read the tax forms that are posted on Freecycle.org’s website, I am not going to sit here and do the work for you. The forms are there, they are PUBLIC to show you and anyone else who questions the funds where the money goes. And honestly, if Deron was being shady, why would he have this open for everyone to view.
     5. I don’t go running around pretending I know things. Someone with basic common sense and able to review the information in front of them on freecycle.org would know these things.

     Comment by Sara — 7/31/2009 @ 7:56 am

133. Liz, I am sorry you were harrased by a member and am unsure why the mod would not do anything in regards to your complaint, but each group varies on these topics. Some groups allow pets, while some don’t. But from what I hear, it seems like she just sent an email demanding the kittens and honestly, there isn’t anything I or other mods would be able to do about that, being as you can choose to ignore people like that and block them from sending you anymore emails.

     Emailing the members on the other hand to warn them about this member, is what our group would call spamming. This is listed in the guidelines, while you feel vindicated in informing other members about this person, it’s again up to the member themselves if they choose to acknowledge that person or not. See and what it means by spamming, is you’re not replying to accept their offer for a kitten, you’re sending them an email to warn them about a member. It becomes a situation that no one should put themselves in. And sadly, it resulted in you being removed from the board.

     I know if I was approached with this, I would not be able to do anything unless the member used foul language or if you could within good cause show that she had sent you numerous emails, but again, it’s a rather iffy subject and there are so many factors involved before I could say what I would do.

     Comment by Sara — 7/31/2009 @ 3:12 pm

134. Sara your semi literate abuse and comments to me made me laugh I have to say, never mind your paranoia in thinking that if I ask you to justify your comments by saying how you came about the knowledge of the subject you deem, your business, to fight about here by insults and abuse to me and let us know which part of the organisation you belong to if we are to take you seriously. For you to then say that you are not an IDIOT and that I may attack you in some way is one of the most absurd paranoid ideas yet. Out of 133 and after this one 134 comments on this board I have made at most about half a dozen comments in reply to another, and you have made 3 so far. This page is open to all and not limited to big mouths, please take note J
     You have just come across as yet another belligerent Moderator with a loose grasp on reality thinking the world is against you. Sorry, who did you say is trapped mentally in a box and incapable of thinking outside of it ;)!

     I would ask that if your going to make silly comments like that and before you run at the frothy mouth, you actually take time to read what is being said, understand and digest it.
     Let me make it clear for you: if we are members of freecycle then what I am saying again is, that it would be nice, on each homepage of every group, there be a clear indication or perhaps a link to click on right up front, in the most prominent part of that page what exactly is being earned or received in grants sponsorships or received finances through adverts and who is earning any salaries and who was paid for any service. The nominal rendition should be in a format even IDIOT’S can understand. Now do you find that hard to get your fuzzy little head around?

     Dorothy you have taken you pills to I hope dear, as you’re rambling about something unconnected with this conversation but then again perhaps it’s a backward way evading the issue.

     Comment by Bunny — 8/1/2009 @ 6:05 am

135. Sara if your a volunteer, working for the so called charity that can afford to pay $42 thousands per week plus to the man that brought this organisation about and has declared himself an employee rather conveniently and not shadely, then if you are here today speaking for them as a charity I think you will find the rule book says in it’s entirety that you must declare your identity to said members, US!

     The fact that you say you will not speak to Bunny again is just plain childish, she has put across a valid argument and you have tried to shut her up but you have failed.

     You are also just like the controll freaks that we have been talking about on here, why does it bug you if we ask questions and seek answers about something that you say is so open to everyone even an idiot like you.

     Comment by Peter — 8/1/2009 @ 8:02 am

136. What’s going on where is Bunny’s latest comment gone?!

     By the way Dorothy the link address you provided does not work.

     Comment by Peter — 8/1/2009 @ 8:56 am

137. Sorry about the last comment because it seemed to be gone and then came back is there a ghost around here?

     Comment by Peter — 8/1/2009 @ 8:58 am

138. Hi sorry that was everything to get to the correct page Go to
     http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/
     and put freecycle in the search.
     And if you want people to participate I suggest you stop the rudeness and aggression. You would surely make the worst Freecycle Moderators.

     Comment by Dorothy — 8/1/2009 @ 10:59 am

139. Was that pointed at Sara because she has been rude and should be taken in hand by you since your a good freecycle moderator clearly though maybe your just a BIT biased?

     Comment by Peter — 8/1/2009 @ 12:51 pm

140. That’s funny Dorothy, went to the UK link you mentioned and it shows exactly nill in and outs? I’m guessing because this is below £10,000. and so does not need to be declared to the charities commissions in accounts, but, as far as I am aware to register as a charity you need to have incoming of at least £1000. All this does not mean that grants or sponsorships or whatever below that bench mark is not to be kept in records which in turn would need to be accounted for in records to the givers so those records need to be reported to that charity’s members also. I mean it can’t be that the records of each section of the country i.e. north south east and west England etc. are taken as individual charity’s and therefore receiving grants from each taxpayer’s council? These would be interesting to know however since you came to comment on here I was actually interested but as for Sara she is just plain hormonal and thinks she has cornered the market on her yappity yap yap and is very defensive about Deron and his dosh, wonder why? At the end of the day up front records of nominal accounts need to be available to it’s members and yes we are not silly and do know that even charities have earning staff members and therefore this is then disclosed as expenses for the running of said charity and therefore may well be then deemed not to be making a profit I guess, yes we all know accountants can earn their wage too.

     Your right that the aggression needs to stop it seems to be coming from a few people on here who have already been slammed for their part in bad attitude’s toward their members and consider themselves to be a law unto themselves.

     Comment by Bunny — 8/1/2009 @ 3:22 pm

141. I don’t have time to go into it but maybe it was the figures for the first year of our charitable status. This current one is due to be lodged shortly and will be different as we have seen it.
     Unless people click the donate button and I don’t think then we know where they live, I am guessing that yes, councils who give grants keep control of the money and just pay the bills. I know that London
     area gets grants but usually it pays for putting on local events and printing and distribution. I belieive if we don’t use it we lose it.
     We have been assured that no money raised in Britain goes to USA or pays any part of anyone’s salary. Therefore who earns what is not my business, however I am sure that someone putting in the time and commitment that Deron does to Freecycle would generally be earning far more than he.

     Comment by Dorothy — 8/2/2009 @ 1:01 am

142. Hang on a minute!

     Something is not adding up here how can the accounts displayed as a tax return persuadably show on form 990 that Deron the only recipient to be receiving some $42691. Per week in wages for 40 hours per week work time as the founder of freecycle and only wage earner. Legal expenses are around $11,000. Per annum with very minimal running expenses.

     However, on the flip side; when you go to the freecycle web site and you get a message saying the income at $140,000. And the following message:

     “FundsThe Freecycle Network’s current annual budget is running at about $140,000 in income. The funding comes from corporate underwriting, on-site advertising (in the form of a Google sponsor bar), grants and individual donations. Approximately 90% of these funds are used directly for program expenses. The remaining 10% is split evenly between membership, fundraising and other administrative expenses. Our IRS 990s are posted at the hotlink below as well as on Guidestar.com. We are delighted to report that we have now received our 501(c)3 status from the IRS (11/06) and that donations to The Freecycle Network are tax-deductible! We likewise are a charity in the UK. Further, we are registered as a non-profit corporation in the State of Arizona. Tax deductibility is retroactive to our application date in July of 2004.
     Our expenses of about $130,000 are mainly in the paying of four individuals and the maintenance of our current website and design of the new community. These individuals include the executive director, two contractors responsible for the current web community and one contractor for the new website design project. We have several servers to this end, coding expense and related site-design expenses. We also are incurring substantial legal expense, primarily in defending our trademark.
     Our model is much like that of PBS. We seek to provide a free public forum for our members, and seek grants, underwriting and voluntary donations to fund these efforts. It’s a rather unique model for a website, but The Freecycle Network is a unique organization. As we further develop community reuse and recycling on a globally local scale in over 70 countries we are creating a global gift economy in the process. Simply beautiful how one can change the world, one gift at a time.
     Most recent Form 990”

     Now that’s just a bit different to the other information on the 990 form? May be it’s for a different country do you think!

     Now when you visit the Charity accounts published in the UK or the site that Dorothy recommended to drop in on there is nothing to declare because it’s income is below £10,000.?

     I am confused. Is the freecycle network only linked by name but actually functioning as individual business/charity group’s then, no that can‘t be. Are they then as individual groups for each area claiming grants and sponsorship from our councils or do they receive only £0. From anywhere in the UK and so who pays then for any minimal expenses here Deron, that‘s not on the 990 form though? Who can answer these questions, maybe someone like watchdog because the representatives’ here Dorothy and Sara are just a bit hostile with their comments over the everyday running matters.

     By the way Sara and Dorothy; we are not greedy and are asking for nothing but the facts here that’s all as members of the network freecycle, try to remember we are the ones giving to make it all work for freecycle, we are the generous ones keeping your idle brain occupied. We do not begrudge someone earning his spoils from his idea at all good luck to him, as one would also say to someone on the other end of the scale like Bill Gates.

     What we are saying is that some freecycle group owners and moderators and complaints charges are rude, abusive and out of their tree mentally and academically void that’s all, and, that we require full information where to complain by phone to someone with a balanced brain, but, when we do it falls on yet more arrogance and by the way Deron has no phone number to contact him anywhere, no there is no office phone number so can I ask who it is you have spoken to on the phone that you say answers calls, however the freecycle network is registered to him and 2 others here at their home in Wellingborough on the charity forms as the freecycle network address?

     I would say this to Deron; well done for having a brilliant idea but your organisation and control over it is pathetic since there are so many unhappy members and so many bad owners and moderators running it with members left hanging and no where to complain!

     There is also a good deal of unethical behaviour against similar groups setting up on their own due to their unhappiness with the freecycle network and this comes directly from local group owners and moderators, one question, why?

     Comment by Robert — 8/2/2009 @ 1:46 am

143. Charity status in Britain is only for the British end of things. Accounts have to be kept separately and cannot be transferred.(Think I have this correct)
     The address on them is for legal reasons only. Someone living in the UK has to give proof of residence.
     The person is an unpaid volunteer who no longer does the accounts and is not available for comments.

     I think we had to have charitable status for councils to be able to allocate any money.
     This current year shows £1000 expenses which are for materials used to advertise local freecycle events. They have to go in at the end of July and will be available shortly.
     Although one person in Britain is paid by TFN to work full time on the new website they are paid from TFN donations and will be in that figure you quote for wages paid.
     I don’t know if you have two years mixed up as he was not on the accounts I looked at a few months ago, but was on those published by Deron to the moderators recently.
     Most of us are not interested in them but they are published for openness and accountability.
     I think Freecycle has never tried to hide anything moneywise and that if anyone wishes to find a problem that is not the way to go.
     There are now over 9000 moderators (okay exact figures are not known by anyone and change daily) But Yahoo did a quick check and came up with this many separate email addresses last year. Of course there are going to be some who act as the complaints here state.
     However I have met more nice, helpful and trustworthy people in Freecycle in the last 3 years than I have in my lifetime. Most do it for the right reasons and are kind, considerate and easy to get on with. Even these can have a bad day. Maybe try asking for reasons for decisions and be polite. Number one rule is show respect. If you show respect then you are more likely to get it in return.
     Tough if you have one you don’t get on with, send your complaints in to info@freeycle.org to be dealt with. And start a recycling group up yourself there are plenty out there.

     Comment by Dorothy — 8/2/2009 @ 8:36 am

144. PS Some of these groups setting out on their own will be run by the type of moderators you complain about who have left TFN or had their groups removed because of number of complaints received!
     Maybe a bigger % than in TFN

     Comment by Dorothy — 8/2/2009 @ 8:39 am

145. Dorothy you do not need to have a charity status for councils to give you grants on a yearly basis as far as I am aware, it’s there for most proven new enterprizes and it’s a lottery as to whom may be selected each year of of the cash pot which comes out of our taxes. You only need to register if your business is making more then already said amount £10,000. providing you still want to get money from the council in grants out of the taxpayers pocket. If you do not then you need to submit a tax return to Inland Revenue.

     So far all the information looked at does not show the person in the UK you say is the only paid earner but it will be interesting to see some published accounts to do with the UK.

     Dorothy as the legal expenses in the 990 forms show that legal expenses for 2007 were $11,000. in Arizona on the tax return for Deron, I would hazzard a guess that is only for that country and not the UK. So who would pay for the legal expenses for freecycle UK as they are a non-profit organisation according to the Milton Keynes freecycle then, Deron?

     “”I think Freecycle has never tried to hide anything moneywise and that if anyone wishes to find a problem that is not the way to go.”"

     EXPLAIN please?

     Dorothy we are polite when we ask questions but what you guys seem to have a problem understanding is that your moderators are not polite and even abusive! I have no doubt that there are those moderators who are polite and balanced but it’s the bad ones we speak of here with no hope in hell of getting freecycle to deal with them, and it’s no good you saying go to info@freeycle.org to have your complaint dealt with because the woman who I came into contact with was not that interested and sided with the owner and moderator with a very much closed attitude of mind saying she did have a life outside freecycle and was not very well?

     SHOW RESPECT? WE HAVE BUT WE DON’T GET IT!

     I do not belive for one minute that the bad owner/moderators that have left freecycle are the ones running their own new named groups, that’s a bit of an insult to those who are genuinely fed up with freecycle or feel they want to strike out on their own and start their own group only to find they are hounded by freecycle moderators bad mouthing them.

     If you consider the complaint I made and asked if this group could be split up into sections of 4 i.e. North South East and West as it’s according to the owner a high volume group and this makes him and his moderator a very irratable pair and what’s more he displayed the George flag on his hope page for several months on end as far as I can recall, now as far as I know this is usually the pass time of those in England who wish to make a particular type of patriotic statement (usually associated with the National Front)and if your a non resident of England then you would not understand that but I belive you must be a UK resident also, this is not the same statement as say a US flag in the US. Yet he is continuing to rule the MK freecycle and there is no hope of having anyone else with a more pleasant attitude to run things or even have a choice of group to join!

     Comment by Raggie — 8/4/2009 @ 2:11 am

146. Wow, I see how this all is going. People can speak to others however they deem fit, but the minute that person replies in the same manner, it’s all wrong. As for me, I have no problems showing respect but the minute someone shows disrespect, better expect that person to reply in the same. (as the saying goes, if you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen.) I have no problems finding out where everyone’s information has gone wrong and explaining information further, but when you start to judge me, is way out of line. EVEN more so with the original post that started this all was basically stating facts from me. And why on earth would Bunny tell Dorothy to take her pills? Why would she tell Dorothy that she doesn’t know how to read tax forms or even begin to comprehend them? Dorothy has been nothing but nice and respectful to Bunny and not once have I seen Bunny show her any sort of respect, which that is why I am tired of responding to anything she directs towards me.

     Raggie, please do not lump yourself with everyone else on this board as for showing respect. You have been decent in your replies and have stayed on topic. But I strongly recommend reading the other replies on here, being as to say others have been showing respect is a far cry from your posts.

     Raggie, I’ve had the GOA contact me in regards to a members complaint. Only once so far (out of 4 years, and really, that person was not even a member). I can not speak for all the GOA’s in the area. But I know if you have a complaint, to have the emails to back up your complaint. Whereas just sending an email, leaves it to your word against the mod and if the mod has the emails, perfect, if they don’t, it becomes your word against theirs. (We have a board set up so all communication comes to us is archived and we can show exactly verbatim what was said, being as once there is a post on that board, you can not edit it. BUT this is my area and am not sure if every group is set up that way.) But as with the saying goes, there are two sides to every story and depending on who has what to back up their claims is what the GOA goes off of. BUT enough complaints come through for the board you had a problem with, they will take action.

     OH and Deron does pay attention to Freecycle. In fact in my area. He himself, personally asked the moderator of our group to step down. She would remove members at the drop of a hat for posting incorrectly (rummage sales) while she would post her own. She removed a members posting ability for typing in caps, but failed to contact the member and ask her why. When I met the member, I was dropping off one of my offers. Come to find out she’s blind and has her screen magnified but can only read caps. That is just a snippet, really, like 5% of what she did but when it came time for the mod to hand over the board, she renamed it and failed to tell the members the group was no longer under Freecycle. And when they did ask her about it, she lied. Which in turn she created approximately 30 groups, all using Freecycle in the name. Yahoo can only do so much, they did close down the groups, but she kept sprouting more. Where it came to the point where Deron was almost seeking legal action. She was the worse mod anyone has ever seen, so she set the bar for the other mods that members have problems with.

     How on earth is anyone getting that Deron is paid $42,000/week. When miraculously the 990 forms says he is only paid that a year. He reports that he works 40 hours a week, but when the amount reported is what he earned for the year. You don’t report the total number of hours worked for the year, they just want an idea of the amount of hours put in for the week for the amount you are declaring you get paid. IF he made $42,000/week, he would then have to report $2,148,000 on the tax forms, being as Freecycle needs to report where their donations and funds are going. How on earth can you phantom someone being paid $2 million a year when the organization doesn’t even generate that amount of money?

     Here is an explanation of the section of that tax form : http://www.irs.gov/instructions/i990-ez/ar02.html#d0e7297

     Column (B)
     In column (B), a numerical estimate of the average hours per week devoted to the position is required for a complete answer. Statements such as “as needed,” “as required,” or “40+” are unacceptable.

     Column (C)
     For each person listed, report salary, fees, bonuses, and severance payments paid. Include “current-year payments” of amounts reported or reportable as deferred compensation in any prior reporting period.

     And if this still doesn’t make sense, I strongly recommend calling the IRS or H&R Block and they will explain this to you. And if for some reason I am wrong, then report it. But the IRS watches these forms like a hawk and they scrutinize every detail. (I understand tax forms, being as I have been doing tax forms for over 12 years now. I’ve never filed non-profit, but it all makes clear sense to me.)

     At the beginning, the very very first page of the 990 form, shows exactly how much money Freecycle received in grants, donations, etc. That total is $146,164. (An in reality, when it comes to the math. Deron, himself is only paid $42,000 a year. He can not make more then what Freecycle actually receives in funding.)

     And I guess I could see your points. Deron created this non-profit organization, it’s not for profit. And you’re all mad that the money that is donated, part of it goes to pay him. There are paid employees of non-profit organizations, every single one of them down the line, whether you like to believe it or not. And the money that is donated to those organizations, pays those employees. And yes there are volunteers, who do not seek compensation, being as the time they offer is minimal. BUT the services the non-profit organization offer, are doing this for free. You don’t get a bill from American Red Cross 2 months later for the money they gave you to buy new clothing, or for the hotel they paid for you to stay in. BUT they do suggest you donate when you get back on your feet.

     Either way, people are not going to be happy that Deron makes money. But to me it is 100% well deserved for as much dedication and work he puts into this great cause.

     Comment by Sara — 8/4/2009 @ 10:57 am

147. Sara it’s clear by what your busy little sticky fingers typing away on here that your simply here for a bitch fight and you have picked on on one person Bunny as the main topic of your fight with us generally in the background as her followers?

     Let’s put it another way to you, you, if you can’t take the heat then you get out of the kitchen, since Bunny has clearly given as good as she got from you and Dorothy.

     You come on here and patronise as though your some kind of loud noise in the freecycle world and only you must be listened to, well lady this is the news for you, if you care so much then listen to what’s being said and get off your frigging pedestal your no authority here or anywhere either use the respect or stop claiming you are when your not.

     As for Raggie it’s clear that the problems encountered there with the frecycle network are all valid and the correct paths were taken but it is freecycle that has again been a let down in it’s attitude here.

     Oh yes one more thing, no one here has mentioned anything about being disgruntled at Deron earning from this just you, all everyone is asking for is facts about the freecycle that we belonged to so get your facts right.

     Comment by Peter — 8/6/2009 @ 1:38 am

148. Hey Bunny, why not own up to using your own name and stop hiding as Peter.

     But thanks, you have showed me that the reason this whole topic started in the first place, you have nothing to say in regards to that. Instead attack why I choose to defend Freecycle, I have stayed on topic. I have provided proof/facts etc. Not one of you have provided me anything for the claims of Deron making $2 million a year.

     Thanks, even though you haven’t said it, since you have not acknowledged anything I have provided to show Deron DOES NOT make $2 million. You choose to instead attack my integrity. I have nothing more to say on this, being as you haven’t mentioned anything Freecycle related except for my standing within or how you think I am a control freak. Which I find amusing.

     OH, BTW…here’s some facts from comments above that provide there is/was an issue with how much Deron earned and this would be YOUR comment :

     #135. Sara if your a volunteer, working for the so called charity that can afford to pay $42 thousands per week plus to the man that brought this organisation about and has declared himself an employee rather conveniently

     And you’re right. I am not an authority here. I’m just here to set the record straight with people who claim Deron makes $2 million a year.

     I’m not here to tell you what problems you have had with whichever board you belonged to that you were wrong or that you were right. Again, I am here to set the RECORD straight on how much you think Deron is paid.

     Comment by Sara — 8/6/2009 @ 5:12 pm

149. Sara get real will ya, I’m Peter and am not known to suffer the pains of PMT that you so obviously are prone to, whilst hiding behind the name of Dorothy when it suits you when no one belives a word that you say here whilst wageing your half a brain attack, while you claim to set the broken record straight.

     What does your shrink say about your latest pastime, PASS….

     Comment by Peter — 8/7/2009 @ 2:53 pm

150. HI I am Dorothy and no one has pretended to be me. I have not replied lately as I feel that people who are so rude and obnoxious do not deserve answering and I am leaving this group as of now.

     Comment by Dorothy — 8/7/2009 @ 3:18 pm

151. LOL, Dorothy and I are two separate people, you can rest assured about that one.

     And one last thing Bunny, next time, don’t misspell the same words and at least change up how you type/speak if you’re going to pretend to be someone else.

     Your personal attacks, no matter how much you think they bother me, they don’t.

     Comment by Sara — 8/7/2009 @ 9:52 pm

152. Sara thanks for your praise but frankly I find you to be one very patronising woman and you have been dominating this page for some time now. Your comment to Bunny about not giving your identity away is crazy, since on this very page some time back (58) you made a very pointed statement which makes it very obvious that you are from freecycle Milwaukee and you and Nicole are indeed one and the same person complained about in comment (57) and the ones before too! It is just a guess but I would say that judging by the style of your comments you and Sally on this page are also one and the same person too.
     I would not have placed you and Dorothy in the same boat however but I would say that Dorothy and Jennifer is one and the same person.
     When it comes to Bunny and Peter I think you have got that a bit out of sink, as there may be some typing errors but their style is not the same, you just decided to attack them because Peter stuck up for Bunny. Next you will be saying I am the same person too because I am making this comment to you.

     Now that we have all this out of the way, I have all the emails sent back and forth betwixt myself and the Milton Keynes group along with the ones from the person that I was asked to contact about my complaint and as you have already said I am very polite until anyone pushes me past the pale and then watch out. Freecycle’s complaint procedure sucks and frankly your behaviour as a representative on here as a freecycle moderator from Milwaukee sucks too threatening those who dare to challenge you on anything and when that doesn’t work you react with playground taunts that which would be better suited to a sassy 13 year old.

     You seem to be obsessed with this site and Deron wonder why? Do you actually go out to work every day apart from your voluntary work for Deron and his freecycle. I can not see why your on here if only to prove everyone right to feel aggrieved about their experiences with freecycle if you are an example of it’s control troll’s moderators and here I have to say, not all are the same, so I will not tar them with the same brush. It has been interesting to find out so much about freecycle through this board, but hopefully, as you are rather boring with the comments you have made to others you will get the hint and find a paid job instead of a voluntary one, where perhaps you will find others are not going to be so tolerant with your ranting.

     That’s it now either stop the silliness or be ignored by all when Dorothy has been polite she has received polite comments when she has not the same have followed. Learn from it and live a better life because without us you will not have a freecycle. Am I making myself clear Sara.

     Comment by Raggie — 8/10/2009 @ 4:26 pm

153. Dorothy I am sorry you feel you need to leave this board of comments as you have been polite untill Sara entered into battle but if you must then we can’t stop you. Thank you though for your help so far.

     Comment by Raggie — 8/10/2009 @ 4:35 pm

154. Raggie, I appreciate your valiant efforts to weed through all the comments on here to point out who you think who is who and who has sounded the same. But as much as you think I have that kind of time on my hands, I don’t and really, it’s funny you question my time, while you’re making this debacle worse when it could have been just left alone. Move on, just drop it. There is absolutely nothing positive coming out of this and it seems everyone is hell bent on bringing me down a notch or two, and I refuse to step down to that level, it’s really silly for me to reply right now, but again, you are making accusations about me and I do not know how I am such the point for discussion since you say my comments are boring.

     As for me being from Milwaukee, no that would not be me. But upon looking at those comments, the one that started was #57, there are none before that in relation to Milwaukee/Sara/Nicole. And comment #57 mentioned a problem with Nicole and it looks as if Sara came on to defend the board. (Groups usually have at best 3 mods up to 6 mods) And I really can not help it if Sara is a popular name. Do you realize just how popular that name is??? Heck there is 1 Sara in my neighborhood across the street from me. I can’t go to a store without hearing my name being called at least ONCE a week.

     My first post started #128. Total of 6 posts. Raggie, whereas you top off at 16. (I used the word find feature in my browser where I typed in your name, so that took me at best 30 secs.)

     As for me working outside the home. I am a photographer and I run my own business. And I have been doing this for 3 years. Before that I was a family photographer for 5 years for a company, so my people skills are impeccable. Which I also held a management position before that for 3 years.

     And while everyone is entitled to their opinion, it’s just that. If you choose to agree or disagree, fine, but do not choose to take it to the next step of making it personal. My post #128, it didn’t pick you out, it didn’t pick Bunny out, it didn’t pick Peter out, it was about the discussion as a whole and how I saw it.

     But not once, did anyone reply back to say, wait a minute, this is what I had meant or attempt to clear up the misunderstanding, instead BUNNY replied back saying how I need to “grow up” and that I have “presumed knowledge.” But when I reply back to her the same way, then everyone acts shocked and surprised where that came from. So Raggie, then why do you choose to defend Bunny? If you don’t understand why I defend Freecycle. To me at least Freecycle is a great cause that I have volunteered for 5 years, done countless newspaper/radio/TV appearances to create awareness and is doing something to make this planet better. Bunny? I’m not quite sure your stance on being behind her, but at least mine serves a purpose.

     Comment by Sara — 8/11/2009 @ 5:04 am

155. Now look, it’s not that I am behind anyone I just don’t like a lynch mob attitude from anyone or for that matter ostracising of the complainant, do you see where I’m coming from now; the only time Bunny started to make her comments stronger in character is when you openly attacked her, now you can not deny that can you. Bunny has had bad experiences with the freecycle network obviously like the rest of us here, that does not make her a bad person, and the whole purpose for us being here is because there is no outlet to deal and I almost typed Beal, to complain about the rotten apples so to speak, well at least not to anyone who want’s to listen without first pointing that finger at us and then again pointing that finger at us. We are the foundation of freecycle which is an OK concept and oh by the way keeps Deron in a very well paid living not us, and no I don’t think it has anything to do with the bloody planet, because sooner or latter the stuff is still going to wind up in landfill anyway, that which comes out of the soil goes back to the soil it’s not going to increase the size of the planet is it, it’s been like that for billions of years.

     The header on this site says “Problems with FreeCycle? Issues with FreeCycle Moderators? You’re Not Alone.” this does not say anything about carrying on battles with those complaining on here about the troubles they have encountered and you really need to understand that, Dorothy has been helpful though rude also in content sometimes and some of your comments are helpful too but if you want to represent the freecycle group in a good way, you are letting the side down by attacking the commenter’s here calling them jealous, greedy and the rest.

     I am sure Sara is a popular name but the style is much the same as yours and if I am wrong I stand corrected.

     Now I think it’s time to stop this and give the site back to those for whom it was designed unless you have some positive help to give here as a representative of the freecycle group.

     Comment by Raggie — 8/11/2009 @ 7:36 am

156. Just today My Freecycle group in Knoxville Tn had many ISO posts for things such as working major appliances, expensive building materials, furniture and antique collectibles. There were two offers–both for junk mail coupons! I ask, how much space does a coupon take up in a landfill? There are over 8,000 members of Knoxville Freecycle and that’s the best any one has to offer? The other day I offered a children’s musical activity gym in good condition w/batteries and the man that came to pick it up had a pick-up loaded down w/ items and was unconcerned with the workings of the toy. He was obviously not picking it up for his own child. It is my belief this group is a scam! The moderator must be working the posts to seem on the up and up with a team of people & scimming the gifts for themselves, possibly to resale for profit.

     Comment by Sara — 8/12/2009 @ 10:40 am

157. The above comment, which was left 8/12/09, was left by me, Sara Frazier-not the same “Sara” who posted earlier.

     Comment by Sara Frazier — 8/12/2009 @ 10:45 am

158. Most recent issue w/the “Owner”(this gets me everytime - What does she own?) of the Matteson/Richton Park(IL) group is she refuses to allow non-specific postings for coupons. i.e. She just allowed a posting for a Chase Bank checking coupon, but would not allow my request for Sunday coupons stating the following in our most recent correspondence:

     “We do NOT allow postings for coupons in general. I stated before, that if you are looking for a specific coupon that is fine. As stated the member was looking for a Chase bank coupon, not ALL of the coupons from the Sunday paper,etc….This was explained to you at the time your post was denied. Thank you,

     MRP Freecycle Owner”

     First off, she never explained the whole coupon thing in the intial denial. She simple stated coupon postings are not allowed & this was after two e-mails asking if I should repost as I did not see my Wanted post come up on the board. After seeing the Chase bank coupon pop up, I e-mailed her asking what the deal was & if she could clarify this whole coupon thing. Two e-mails later, she responded with the above.

     It should be further noted, that you can offer ALL your Sunday coupons as one member did once which I happily picked up from her.

     I’ve always the idea behind Freecycle, but seeing it in action is a whole other animal.

     So remember, you can ask for a TV just not ALL the TVs, ok?

     Comment by Marie — 8/13/2009 @ 6:31 am

159. Check out http://bluebin.org. It is a site that just launched that aims to overcome some of the issues with freecycle. There are not any rules or terms of use yet, so you will have an opportunity to participate in forming them.

     Comment by Brandon — 8/18/2009 @ 4:02 am

160. The trouble is that most of the people running freecycle need have no experience and lack the basic education needs too, and here I don’t mean “all” the owner/moderators by any means, it’s always the ones that have very little going on in their lives, and, when given the smallest drop of responsibility, they tend to show their belligerent nature especially, when they feel secure in the thought that no one is actually watching them and even if they were, they would get away with it.

     I think Deron started freecycle in 2005 but couldn’t care less as to what goes on as long as he gets his earnings of freecycle, further I feel sickened by the fact that he gives himself earnings, but we may not sell on freecycle or seen to be making money out of our own trash, only those actually running freecycle may earn at the top end, that is to say, not the non earning moderators who are drunk on the only bit of power in their lives.

     The Milton Keynes Group is a particularly good example of bad management by one Michael Hoeben he advertises on his freecycle home page (which by the way I have no doubt he will change before anyone gets to read it) “Changing the world one gift at a time. One constraint: No item is too big or too small, but ALL items posted must be 100% FREE – no money, swapping, trading, bartering no strings attached!”
     Yet when I placed a wanted add for a particular item he told me by return that I was being greedy and stupid to ask for a high value item? I reminded him that his motto said no item is too big or too small, he didn’t reply. Now how arrogant is that.
     A friend of mine picked up a sailing boat of freecycle but that was allowed by him yet I wanted something which was a fraction of the price if new but I wanted a used one and it was refused publication?
     Then we have his moderator Sunny who seems to have so much to give away on a daily to weekly basis that one would imagine she lived in a mansion with a vast warehouse of goods but no she lives in just a small house, so where does she get all the stuff, it’s puzzling. Then there are those “members” who offer many expensive large and popular items on a regular timely basis but never actually reply to any takers and there is no evidence of takers either and yes we all know who you are locally.

     Personally I think that when a member offers something unless the takers give their landline number which would clear up to some extent who they actually are by isolating if this is someone that always asks for everything you offer on a regular basis, or is truly a needy person. Just a thought.

     I have found the moderator and owner of freecycle Milton Keynes to be particularly aggressive, rude, lacking in manners and belligerent, the other groups have been very pleasant so what’s the problem with freecycle why do they allow this man and his partner in bad behaviour to carry on working for them.

     I have been wanting to have a say about freecycle Milton Keynes and so now I have.

     Oh and by the way freecycle in his Files of the group he mentions his other group as belonging to freecycle when it’s his own café group as is his market place group where he encourages selling the goods received so freecycle why say one thing and then do another. LMAO : ]

     Comment by Phill — 8/20/2009 @ 8:45 am

161. I have had a bad experience with the livermorefreecycle moderator. I posted two seperate posts, one for a wagon and the second for a shop vac. This moderator shot back that it was bad etiquette to ask for more than one item and the site is not for charity. She also explained to me that asking for high price items is not allowed. I didnt realize that a used wagon and a used shop vac were high priced items. Anyway I was quite shocked to find the very next day two seperate wanted posts from this very same moderator. As a matter of fact she has over five wanted posts this week alone. When I emailed her with her bad etiquette response she told me it was her mistake. But she then posted more wanted posts. She wouldnt even post one of my wanted posts. I told her I read the freecycle rules and didnt see where I was not allowed to ask for an item. She told me she has her own set of rules for the group. She then invited me to leave the group and has blocked my email. I wish there was a way to control these abusers of the groups.

     Comment by Gina — 8/20/2009 @ 1:48 pm

162. I just had to say that I dislike the fact that you are painting us all with the same brush.
     Yes, there are moderators who get a little too serious with enforcing the rules. But why sink the whole organization with one personal experience?
     I am a moderator and I don’t feel that I’ve ever power tripped. I like to believe that there are other mods out there like myself who still see the initial goal of the group - to keep items out of the landfill.
     I’m sorry you had a bad experience. Alas, Freecycle groups are run by volunteers. We are (for the most part) doing our part to save the world, so to speak.
     If you’re upset with your one group, that’s fine. But what your experience has to do with the group I run in Canada, I have no idea.
     Why would you punish our membership like this?

     Comment by Jen — 8/27/2009 @ 8:19 am

163. Your experience, unfortunately, is not that unusual. Freecycle has mutated from a wonderful grassroots organization, to one of control and rules and look-a-like.

     The groups are no longer owned by their communities- they are owned by one man, his wife and best friend.

     The groups are not allowed to do the things their communities want. They are not allowed to do a lot of things that my independent group does.

     Freecycle claims that one should not request expensive items. Yet, who states what is expensive? To one person $100 is expensive and to another person $1000 is expensive. Some TFN moderators won’t allow wanted postings for dehydrators, stating they are expensive ($300), while they will think nothing of allowing a wanted for a couch (also $300). It makes no sense.

     How the group is run ought to be determined by the community it serves. The rules ought to be locally generated through votes taken by the membership. It ought not be reflection of the person who volunteers to run it, but a reflection of what will serve the community.

     We promote that way at The ReUseIt Network. A 100% purely grassroots network of online ecycling groups.

     We promote community creating community oriented groups!!

     It’s wonderful to see how the groups flourish when they truly serve the community.

     Comment by Karyne Bailey — 8/27/2009 @ 8:22 am

164. if you scroll through these comments, the belligerent nature of what i’ve personally dealt with on freecycle is glowing through.

     Comment by lilmissinsanity — 8/27/2009 @ 4:51 pm

165. Jen you make freecycle sound like a Sect or something “Our goal is to keep things out of landfill”?

     Do tell us Jen, if you keep an old TV that has seen better days from landfill because no one can sell the thing, how much space that takes up compared to a car for example and what is the difference in cost here then as expensive items go?

     No one here is slaming any good moderators as we are here because we have not met one yet!!!

     Funny isn’t it how you moderators use various id’s and email addresses so that members have no idea who they are dealing with, do tell what is the cloak and dagger act for with these so called moderators who “volunteer” their “valuable” time, why is it the very same moderators seem to have so much to give away that never makes any sense as to how they have 5 steam irons boats campers etc. etc. and yet they live in a tiny little two up two down and there is no evidence to show they actually give anything away but they do seem to be clearly in to kleptomania yet will get very upset about people asking for things with the “Wanted” could this be because they then don’t get first pick before they launch it on the members, I’m sure your going to try to defend this but please think about what your saying, your not dealing with abunch of kids.

     Comment by Phill — 8/28/2009 @ 1:47 pm

166. I had my ‘Taken’ posts rejected and deleted by MH in Freecycle Milton Keynes, he said it had no area description on it? Now why do you need an area on a taken post, I mean nobody want’s to know where it was taken from do they? What a Nerd!

     Raggie I share your sentiments about the freecycleMK group odd ball, I too wondered why the George flag for so many months then realised he is obviously a lowlife and devoid of brain by the way this started of being displayed when the new Recycle MK group was set up as I remember, and he and his best friend also moderator Sunny were going around with Chinese whispers about you on his cafe group and saying you had set it up and refusing them entry, well the rest is history because he decided to play silly games like the George flag, he’s a very sad man and clearly racism plays a big part in his life and his moderators are just as bad for going along with his racist slights.
     As you know he then went on to set up a rival group called Marketplace in retaliation because he and his buddies were refused membership to Recycle MK, his Marketplace seems to have only his buddies to frequent there, the same crowd from his café group, yet Recycle MK is fast becoming very popular despite him bullying it’s members if they place posts on there and belong to his group as well, . So some have decided to change their email id’s for the new group so that he can’t pin point who’s who. The lengths you have to go to in order to avoid the jealous tyranny of some bone heads.

     Comment by Timbo — 9/3/2009 @ 2:26 am

167. My local is terrific. Sorry the one you’ve been involved with was so bad. I know how listservs of any kind can get, with moderators acting like little emperors. Annoying.

     I’m not surprised the moderator turned out to be male. I’m more surprised at your initial characterization. Mine was of a young male of college age, but too busy gaming and running listservs and “finding himself” to actually be in college. In my world, not all rude, illogical people are female, not all housewives are frustrated, and unfortunately, not all mysogynists are men.

     Comment by mejaka — 9/16/2009 @ 6:14 am

168. HI,
     I am back. If your are in the UK there has been a breakaway group
     http: // http://www. ilovefreegle. org/
     (squish)
     about 240 groups so far so you should start to get a choice. If you want to start a group in another country just ask them? Only started last weekend and over 600,000 members, so very busy with groups still deciding to move or stay. Those leaving will be replaced with a my.freecycle.org group.

     Comment by Dorothy — 9/16/2009 @ 7:52 am

169. mejaka that’s nice for you, having such a perfect world and perfect freecycle, stick around and you may learn that this board is here to share our problems with freecycle, and yes, we’re not entirely blinkered about the fact that it takes all sorts to make the world go round!

     Dorothy so from what your saying guess freecycle is branching out in new guise?

     Comment by Timbo — 9/20/2009 @ 10:22 am

170. info@ typically addresses complaints within a timely manner. I recommend backing up your complaint with any proof you have instead of making just a general complaint, wait until you’ve calmed down before writing the message - in the heat of the moment we all tend not to come across as people with our heads on straight.

     And don’t do what some crazy did and strip the email down to one statement out of context. Mods are asked for all correspondence and it looks bad when emails don’t match.

     Many moderators use “canned messages” to send out for typical errors. It’s usually nothing personal, we just see something and click. However, a good mod will accept they’ve made a mistake. Like when I was so tired I rejected a post for not including something, but there it was… I ate some shoes for that.

     Freecycle groups are given a base of rules to follow and then everything else is open to interpretation, which is usually spurred from user complaint. That’s why you find restrictions on # of Wanteds, Sob Stories, Pets, Coupons, etc. It’s often very difficult to find a balance with the members, so Moderators have to make decisions and wind up pissing off nearly half the members b/c they can no longer write how the economy is so bad and little johnny needs all this stuff for Christmas to be happy, won’t you help? [An extreme example, I admit.] Mods with sense will often put it to a Poll to let members decide and go with that. Unfortunately that is not an option with the MF groups - no Poll option exists.

     Someone made a reference to the “A person may own only one Freecycle group” rule. It is correct, however, the rule specifies “owner”. It does not limit how many groups one may be a co-Moderator. I would suspect that despite that area being dense, very few volunteer to be Mods, resulting in Mods from neighboring groups needing to assist others.

     Right now I’m somewhat frustrated with the My Freecycle site. My group is on it and there are somewhat long delays on receiving posts. Other people do not have the same problem, so it doesn’t -appear- to be MF itself, just from MF to my email provider.

     So today when someone made some complaint that really didn’t make sense, I tried to “cover all of the bases” of what she was actually asking, trying to be too helpful and dropped into a lot of Tech-Babble, asking her to be patient with MF as it continues to grow, blah blah blah. The response I received called my reply “rude and condescending” and stated that I was so wrong, she’d done research, and another mod had told her differently and she’d forward me the post, and don’t ever contact her again.

     She fowarded me the email, which had been from me, and stated pretty much the same thing I’d said in tonight’s post, but in fewer words, telling me that I “forgot so soon”. I just kinda sat here and contemplated what invisible text she was able to read in that email.

     The gist of it? She was basically upset because other people were beating her to items she wanted - the fact that by the time she read her inbox the item was taken was “very frustrating and a waste of time”.

     Welcome to Freecycle with 3000 other people who want free stuff too… Clearly I should have just gone to bed with DH instead of taking 10 to reply to her post then, instead of tomorrow.

     -Another MF Mod trying to stick it out

     Comment by Clara — 9/22/2009 @ 1:32 am

171. Clara whilst I see what you mean about some complaints but mine has lots of proof and it’s not worth squat frankly from experience.

     Comment by Raggie — 9/26/2009 @ 3:11 pm

172. Hi all,

     All the comments are very interesting. I agree with most of them.

     I’am a moderator of an european Freecycle group. The day FC USA will start to mess with us, I’ll probably join the Freegle (UK) new network. So far they didn’t, at least at the group moderator/owner level. My guess is that they don’t mess with us because they can’t read our language.

     At the GOA/NGA (or whatever they like to call themselves) level that’s another story, and I must say I’m not happy with it. If they start messing with me or the group, I’ll join Freegle UK, period. I don’t think the members want to be affiliated to a network which displays Google ads on their home page, sell thirts, and has “sponsors”. This whole /business/ starts looking as a pyramid or MLM scheme, which are illegal in most countries anyway. The good thing is that this kind of scheme doesn’t work well on the long term (see Madoff’s case ;-) ).

     Also, the creation of new groups is a VERY slow and PAINFUL process, which sometimes takes months (up to a year!), while a new group should only probably take a few days to be created.

     I doubt FC USA will listen to our voice, so… well, see above ;-)

     Comment by Europe — 9/27/2009 @ 4:50 pm

173. I am a mod for a group in MA and I am far from a housewife bitch. I think you need to take a look in the mirror honey! If more people knew how to read rules & guidelines and/or had sociopathic issues-you wouldn’t need ANY of us moderators!

     Comment by Tara — 10/5/2009 @ 5:17 pm

174. If more people knew how to read rules & guidelines and *DIDN’T* have sociopathic issues-you wouldn’t need ANY of us moderators!

     Comment by Tara — 10/5/2009 @ 5:21 pm

175. Lee the moderator has been banning people for sticking up for one particular member. This member was told that her post for wanting toys in good condition to give to her kids for Christmas was greedy and begging. Several member, including myself all said that what she posted was not wrong. She didn’t ask for people to buy er kids toys, she simply explained why she wanted to toys. I’ve read several posts with people explain why they are wanting or offering items. This moderator has abused her position and should be the one banned rather than the rest of us. The moderator also continued to say that group messages are not allowed in which I don’t disagree with but that should have resolved in a warning, not banning. Lee herself has continued to send group messages regarding these issues. In addition, it has been brought to attention that another member was banned for posting a solution to get rid of skunk smell from pets. They were banned because such a solution is not a landfill item and should not be on Freecycle. It wasn’t that long ago that I put up a post wanting Aeroplan points if no one was going to use them. Aeroplan points are not a landfill item and I was not banned or cautioned for it. This moderator - Lee is out of control, and acting selfish and inconsiderate and should be removed from the group.

     Comment by Pamela — 10/14/2009 @ 7:08 am

176. My wonderfull experiance i sent something to info@freecycle.org to see if I get a response. See below:
     I would like to report complete and utter disrespect from a moderator for the Reading Pa freecycle site! I had forgotten my user name and password so I had to set up a new account and I got this nasty gram from the moderator:

     From: ReadingFreecycle Owner
     Subject: Message not approved: WANTED ELECTRIC DRYER
     To: “aryah1113″
     Date: Monday, October 19, 2009, 2:58 PM

     PLEASE GO BACK AND READ OUR RULES! We have them for a reason!

     According to Yahoo, you joined our ReadingFreecycle group
     within the last 7 days.

     Obviously you did not even bother to read our Home page or Welcome
     email, where we say, “If you try to do something STUPID (like
     submitting a WANTED post in the first 7 days after you join our
     group) it will be very obvious that you did not read our rules.”

     We’re NOT necessarily saying that YOU are stupid, but there is
     no arguing the fact that you made a STUPID mistake!

     As Forrest Gump said “Stupid is as stupid does.”

     We make two things VERY, VERY clear on our Home page - we say:

     “Don’t try to post until you have read our rules, understand
     our posting formats, and know what items and actions are not
     permitted.”

     and

     “New members may NOT make a WANTED post until they have been
     a member for at least 7 days! There are exceptions to the
     “new member 7 day” policy for WANTED posts - they’re in the
     rules! We’re OFFENDED when someone joins and immediately tries
     to make a WANTED post, because they obviously did not bother
     to read our rules. PLEASE don’t make that STUPID mistake!

     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

     Also, you should have received an email when you joined our group
     - and in that “Welcome” email we ask every new member to
     “PLEASE READ OUR RULES BEFORE YOU TRY TO POST!”

     No one can join our group and immediately make a WANTED post!

     We are offended when anyone joins the group and immediately submits
     a WANTED post, and it shows their disrespect for us by not even
     reading our rules when we have (1) asked them nicely and politely
     SEVERAL TIMES to please read the rules, and (2) when we have gone
     to so much time and trouble to write and publish our rules, and
     make them easily available to everyone.

     New members may immediately make OFFER posts or respond to OFFER
     posts that other members have made - there is no “waiting period”
     for OFFERing an item, or for responding to a member’s OFFER of an
     item.

     However, there IS a 7 day “waiting period” before a new member can
     make a WANTED post!

     We waive the “WANTED” posting 7 day rule for new members who have
     already made an “OFFER” posting in their first 7 days - it’s our
     way of saying “thank you” for OFFERing your item to the group.

     If you believe that we rejected this post in error, and you believe
     you are a member who is eligible to make “WANTED” posts, please
     reply to this email. Tell us what you think our error is, and we
     will happily investigate the facts.

     Otherwise, read our rules - it will keep you from making STUPID
     mistakes!

     Sincerely,
     The Owner and Moderators at ReadingFreecycle

     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
     You may read our policies and rules at: http://www.ReadingPaFreecycle.com
     - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

     > In need of a electric dryer since mine died over the weekend.
     >
     > Thanks

     I then responded:

     Let me start by saying capitalizing words make it sound like your yelling at someone and last time I checked you’re not my parent! Lastly I thought this site is to help people out not to make people feel like there a burden. So if you could kindly post this request I would greatly appreciate it being as it was for a friend!

     If you would like to discuss further my # is 484-824-8184!

     Thanks ever so kindly,

     Melissa

     And lastly there response:

     — On Tue, 10/20/09, Owner, Reading Freecycle wrote:

     From: Owner, Reading Freecycle
     Subject: Re: Message not approved: WANTED ELECTRIC DRYER
     To: “aryah1113″
     Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 4:44 PM

     We WERE yelling! It was a STUPID mistake! You did not read the very clear instructions on our Home page, or on the email we sent you right after you joined - and now it’s MY fault because I did not let you get away with making a STUPID mistake?????????

     I never said I was your parent - what a STUPID thing for you to say!

     That was a form letter - it took me all of 5 seconds to view the date you joined our group and click “Send the STUPID letter because this New Member is trying to make a Wanted post.”

     And now you insult me by saying, “Maybe you should see someone about your attitude or learn how to respond to people in a more professional manner.”

     Where is the apology for your STUPID mistake and wasting of my time because YOU “forgot my user name and password b/c it has been a while” - where is the apology for YOUR actions and for wasting my time?

     I absolutely HATE it when people refuse to accept responsibility for THEIR actions and try to throw around blame.

     You are wasting my time!

     Goodbye - for your disrespect, you have been banned.

     Owner,
     Reading Freecycle

     I am hoping you can address this matter or tell me who can b/c people like this should not have this sort of control! I have posted several items for people and helped local families with this site. If I can not get this resolved I will be contacting my local newspaper and news stations.

     Comment by Melissa — 10/21/2009 @ 4:02 am

177. I’d contact the media anyway. sounds like a little hitler and and that’s NO way to run any kind of group. IMO

     Comment by Seamus — 10/21/2009 @ 7:27 am

178. It is disgusting. Can you confirm it is Reading in the UK and is the email sent from the new my.freecycle group or the old group which is now a freegle group please? Can I have permission to reprint part of this,(not your personal details) on another website please?
     Dorathy

     Comment by Dorothy — 10/21/2009 @ 7:28 am

179. Oops sorry I have just clicked on the link and found it is a US group. Cannot help sorry but I do commiserate with you. deron@freecycle.org may be the place to go if info don’t help. I would expect though that you will get an email from the GOA for Pennsylvania. I would still like to use some of this for a lesson on how not to treat your members though please? It is supposed to be all about respect we were told!

     co
     commiserate e s

     Comment by Dorothy — 10/21/2009 @ 7:33 am

180. Yes you may use this as an example. I would hate to have anyone else be treated the way I was. As noted above this site is ” Recycling with organizations such as FreeCycle is supposed to be a positive experience. Everybody involved is (presumably) doing something for a good reason, and for a good cause.”

     Comment by Melissa — 10/21/2009 @ 7:38 am

181. In July 2006, I tried to join the South San Jose group (Northern California). The insufferable mod, Scarlet Riley, denied me. Bemused, I politely asked why - and the conversation degenerated from there (she denied me based on a problem I’d had with another jackass mod, which I posted about on this thread some time ago). This was her final, official e-mail to me, which should make everyone very proud to have her representing Freecycle:

     “Bwahahahaha GRTBR”

     (In case you’re not aware, that stands for “Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish.”)

     How can rational, reasonable adults be expected to help a group function when it’s run by absurdly rude and stupid dictators? After literally years of trying, I finally left Freecycle in the dust - I’m a loyal craiglister now, and I couldn’t be happier.

     Comment by Heidi Delgros — 10/21/2009 @ 10:50 am

182. I have been a member of this group for two years. Over the last week, I have not been receiving any correspondence. I do not understand why, since I am used to receiving correspondence on a daily basis.

     PLEASE REPLY TO THE E-MAIL ADDRESS
     I HAVE INCLUDED AT THE TOP OF THIS CORRESPONDENCE.

     THANK YOU VERY MUCH
     BARBARA E. GRENIER

     Comment by barb — 10/31/2009 @ 9:42 am

183. I wanted to join the Ft Myers FLA Freecycle group and when I applied I was refused membership and told to change my screen name because of trademark issues? Well I told the moderator there that no other group has a problem with my screen name and no one else has ever asked me to change it. I want all my emails to go to this one screen name and I don’t want to have multiple names for my Freecycle email. A witch named Jo sent me this when I was questioning why NO OTHER Moderator has EVER asked me to change my screen name but HER and this is the end result. BEWARE of the FT MYERS FLA group!

     “Yes, please do not email me again either. It’s too exhaustive to have a battle of wits with someone that is so discernibly unarmed.

     Jo
     Co-moderator, Ft. Myers Freecycle

     (nice lady huh?)

     Comment by Tara — 11/5/2009 @ 7:17 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Leave a comment

Warning! All comments which contain URLs and are clearly just spam to generate a link back to the URL will be deleted on sight. Don't bother wasting your time!

If you are going to include a URL in your comment,
please keep it under 25 characters in length,
or use TinyURL to shorten it before including it in your comment.

Line and paragraph breaks are automatic, your email address is never displayed.
HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>