Freecycle, comes with a free laugh!

[Pumpkin Becki]

Excellent, your gamble has paid off! You do realise, if we all start employing your 'method' you could be up against some stiff competition.

[Joe]

I like this idea of poetry. The literacy level on my local Freecycle is abysmal. I also wonder if some people ever buy anything. "Can I hav a laptop pleez coz I need one for my sons schoolwork if yuv got one your not needin thanx", is typical despite the fact you aren't supposed to ask for expensive items such as laptops on Freecycle.

I've had a couple of decent items off Freecycle but I seldom list stuff for offer on there now, because of frequent non collection by those who say they want my item.

[OllieMartin]

Call me a capitalist pig, but i'd rather list it on ebay and get some cash for it.
Doesn't matter what it is, someone out there wants one.

[SlugLobber]

Only just seen this thread, but how brilliant. Wouldn't it be funny if it became all trendy, like and the whole of the Freecycle world became one big poetry forum?

[lettucegrow!]

Maybe if I'd used this poem technique I'd have that wormery that was on ours a few days ago-really funny-love it!!

[Two_Sheds]

Call me a capitalist pig, but i'd rather list it on ebay

I've had 11 old doors on freecycle for weeks and weeks. One taker, who didn't turn up.

So I put them on eBay for 9p each, and they sold
You get a wider audience with eBay, plus the winner actually bothers to turn up - and if they don't, you give them neg. feedback

[OllieMartin]

...you give them neg. feedback

I can't think of any reason why they couldn't have a feedback option on Freecycle. Would be pretty handy when choosing potential donors and donees.

[Hilary B]

I've had 11 old doors on freecycle for weeks and weeks. One taker, who didn't turn up.

So I put them on eBay for 9p each, and they sold
You get a wider audience with eBay, plus the winner actually bothers to turn up - and if they don't, you give them neg. feedback

There is a classic story of a sofa, left outside with a sign 'free to good home' for 3 weeks, no takers. Sign changed to "for sale £10" and it was nicked next day!

[Joe]

Maybe if I'd used this poem technique I'd have that wormery that was on ours a few days ago-really funny-love it!!

Me too! I asked for a wormery and got no response; a couple of days later someone offered a wormery and I asked for it but again no response. Got an exercise bike today though, without resorting to poetry!

[funstuie]

Yep the old "if you want something gone, put a chain on it" one.

Our local freecycle is rubbish it's just constant wanted ads and not even normal ones. People ask for car (with MOT), pianos, petrol strimmers, suspenders. Stuff that's really expensive. And their wanted ads are not even imaginative. Usually alongs the lines of I want it, give it to me.

I actually hate offering things on freecycle now as all I get is the sob stories most off which whiff of bullcrap.

If I got a poem that person would get it.

[OllieMartin]

...If I got a poem that person would get it.

I don't know what you're offering,
or even what you got,
here's the poem you wanted,
now please send me the lot.

[BumbleB]

There is a classic story of a sofa, left outside with a sign 'free to good home' for 3 weeks, no takers. Sign changed to "for sale £10" and it was nicked next day!

Lol, similar. When I lived in a block of flats many years ago people would often put their unwanted furniture in the lift. It would go up and down a few times then the lift would come back empty.

[muckdiva]

I've written my response:

Hi Mark, thanks for your rhyme,
I've mulled it over and taken my time,
The other requests we're boring and plain,
Giving sob stories over and over again,
About mothers and daughters and son's-in-law,
Who had no fridge or were terribly poor.

I posted them all on a forum I use,
For the other members to peruse,
And vote on who they thought should win,
I've counted them up, all votes are in,
They read your poem and loved it too,
So I'm happy to say, I'll give it to you.

I'm at home all week, each day,
So when you can, swing by my way,
But preferably before friday if you can,
I've got a pretty busy weekend planned,
I've left my details lower down below,
See you later, mind how you go.

Ollie

Respect. .... to all the poets on this thread, in fact!

[OllieMartin]

Just to update you on this story (if you still remember it and still care!)

After the guy's van broke, I didn't feel I could offer it to any of the other requestors after so much time had passed. So I put it on ebay.
It happened to be a free listings, free gallery day, so it didn't cost me anything.

It sold on Sunday for £10.50, they're coming to collect it tonight!

[Pumpkin Becki]

What a shame about your poet freecycler, but bonus for you Ollie.