Guidelines and Disclaimer

There will be slight variations from group to group, but there are two types of rules:

Mandatory Rules

Keep it free, legal and appropriate for all ages

This is the main Freecycle rule, and you must follow it, otherwise you might be removed from the group. This means, for example,

• No pornography,
• No alcohol,
• No tobacco,
• No drugs (of any kind, including all medicines, vitamins, creams, etc.),
• No firearms or other weapons.

Get the subject line right

Using the right subject makes it easy for others to decide whether to delete or view your mail.

First, the subject must contain the type of your post. These may vary from group to group, but the standard ones are:

1. OFFER, which means you have an item you'd like to give away.
2. TAKEN, which means that the item you previously sent an OFFER for has been picked up. You send this to let people know it's no longer available.
3. WANTED, which means that you're looking for something. Some groups may have limits on the number or frequency of WANTED mails.
4. RECEIVED, which means that you've now got something you previously sent a WANTED for. You use this to let people know you don't need another one.

Second, it must contain the item you're posting about. Use a short description of a few words.

Third, it must contain your location. This must be your own location - not locations you're prepared to collect from.

Here are some examples:

 OFFER: houseplants (Inverleith)
 TAKEN: houseplants (Inverleith)
 WANTED: deckchairs (Portobello)
 RECEIVED: deckchairs (Portobello)

You can put more information in the message itself - for example the condition and age.

No politics, no spam, no money, no personal attacks/rudeness, no proselytizing/religion

None of these are suitable - they don't keep things out of landfill. If you break this rule, you may be removed from the group.

No swaps/loans

There may be other local groups for this, but it's not Freecycle because it's not a no-strings-attached gift.

This also avoids problems when people don't return items, or damage them.

Don't respond to the whole group

If you respond to a post, please check that it's going to the person who posted the OFFER/WANTED, not to the whole group. It helps keep down the number of mails.

No offering yourself or your children

It's tempting, but posting oneself or another person from the human species is not allowed.

There are many fine internet dating sites better suited to this purpose.

Be Nice

When you arrange to pick up an item from another Freecycle member, it is basic good manners to accommodate them as much as possible in terms of scheduling, and then be punctual; they are, after all, giving you something you need and asking nothing in return except that you will show up when you say you will. Leaving someone hanging is never a nice thing.

Also, unless the giver tells you otherwise, assume that they would like you to come by as soon as you can to take away the item; no more than three days after the offer is made is usual.

Be nice to your group's moderators, too - remember they're volunteering their time.

Safety

Use common sense. If you're meeting someone you don't know, or telling them your address, then be sensible.
Freecycle Disclaimer

• You might prefer to meet in a public place.
• You might want to have a friend with you.
• You might want to leave an item outside.
• Don't tell people when you're going to be out.

Optional Rules

Repeat WANTEDs

Please do not post the same WANTED posting more than once a month. (There will be variations from group to group)

Crossposting

Crossposting is when you send the same message to multiple groups at the same time. This means that everyone gets lots more mail. Please try your local group first; if you have no luck, then it's fine to use groups further away, but please leave it a few days, and mention in your post which groups you've tried.

Approximate Location

Some groups do not require a location, and some groups require only a zip/postal code or the name of the town as the location.

Other groups require a more detailed location to include the town name and two major cross streets near you. This helps others to know just how far they would have to travel in mileage and/or time to pick up the item being offered.

Please read your local group's guidelines on their location requirements. Using a detailed location helps to keep the no shows at a minimum. If a member could quickly see from the subject line how much time and distance they would need to invest to pick up, they might choose to take a pass on requesting the item. Doing so would allow another member from that location to request the item and to make arrangements for a quick pick up to be exchanged by the two members.

Please do not put directions into the body of your offer post. Doing so will allow people to drive up unannounced to claim a item that you have not gifted to them. Share your personal information with only the member that you have selected to gift your item to.

Single or Multiple Mails?

Got more than one thing to give away?

• Some groups ask you to keep it all in one mail, and just number the items for your own clarity. This reduces the overall number of emails we all have to receive.
• Some groups ask you to list one item per mail. This cuts down on mails saying things like "these two items have gone but these thirteen are still available".

Pets

Whether a group allows posting for pets or not is up to that group. There are arguments on both sides, and people often have strong feelings one way or the other. Please respect the policy of your local group.

Phone numbers and contact details

Some groups don't allow phone numbers in posts to the group. Think carefully about whether you really want hundreds or thousands of people you don't know to have your personal information. Think about pranksters who have insomnia and have nothing better to do with their nights.