***Please read this email completely before posting any messages to the group. It is each member's responsibility to know the rules for St Louis Freecycle. Messages that are not posted correctly may not be approved.***
Dear StLouis-Freecycle(TM) Member,
Welcome to Freecycle! We are glad you are here!
This amazing worldwide phenomenon known as Freecycle(TM) started in Tucson,
Arizona in 2003 by Deron Beal. Freecycle harnesses the power of the Internet to
connect people who have stuff to throw away with others in their area who would
like that stuff, so it doesn't wind up in a landfill. We ALL have things in our
garages, closets, attics, offices, etc., that we don't need. Freecycle lets you
connect with others who do need that item. No item is too big or too small but
ALL must be 100% FREE with NO strings attached. A perfect consumer/earth
friendly circle is no overhead, no money, no waste and no catch. After all,
there is no point in throwing something away when it still has good life in it
or it can be of use to someone else.
If you have been a member of a Freecycle group before then you already know the
basics. However, some rules/policies vary from group to group so please read the info below.
This group serves the St Louis Metro, in addition to the surrounding area.
St Louis Freecycle Etiquette
THE BASIC'S:
*KEEP IT FREE, LEGAL & APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES. This means, NO pornography, NO
alcohol, NO tobacco, NO drugs (of any kind, including all medicines, vitamins,
creams, etc.), NO firearms or other weapons can be OFFERed or WANTed. NO
advertising your yard sale, please, as this involves money. Free sales CAN be
posted and this will be addressed in a separate email.
*NO Spam is to be posted to the group OR sent privately to group members ever.
Offenders will be removed from the group.
*NO personal attacks or rudeness. NO money. NO Bartering.
*NO POLITICS, NO MONEY, NO PERSONAL ATTACKS/RUDENESS, NO PROSELYTIZING/RELIGION. It's all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Two strikes & you're out, i.e. you will be unsubscribed by the moderator after two inappropriate postings.
*NO TRADING. Go to your local trading organization for this. It can be quite fun. With Freecycle, though, there are no strings attached, just give it away nowThe rules above are strictly enforced and there will be *NO* exceptions.
St Louis Freecycle Group Basics:
1. All new members are moderated to prevent spam and/or harassing posts.
Members will stay moderated until it is clear that the rules/policies are
understood and will be respected. Sometimes we forget to remove members from
Moderation, so if you feel you should be UnModerated, just email us and let us know. Thank you in advance for your understanding on this matter.
2. E-mail Settings: We require that you have your delivery options set to
'Individual mail', 'Daily Digest' or 'Special Notices'. With Individual mail you will receive each post in a separate email message. With Daily Digest you will receive a group of messages once or twice a day. Using Special Notices will mean you need to read all the messages on the groups website, you will only receive important information from your Moderators in your in box. Web Only/No Email is not an option for this group, so please don't use it. Group Moderators reserve the right to make changes if you are not in compliance with this very basic email rule.
3. DO use the same email address for all your Freecycle posts. We match up
addresses when approving messages and it can be very confusing if your TAKEN
post comes from an address different than the OFFER post.
4. DO NOT use more than one email address in an attempt to post more wanted
messages and receive more items. That is dishonest and quite rude to the other
members and we *WILL* figure it out anyway. When we do, you WILL be removed
until you agree to follow the rules.
5. DO NOT use tag lines, signature lines and/or footers that are excessively
long or contain business information, addresses, or phone numbers. They WILL be
edited at the Moderator's discretion.
6. DO NOT EVER contact another member only to be rude or judgmental. If you
have opinions about what someone posts or says, we expect you to be mature
enough to keep them to yourself. Personal attacks towards others members
(including Moderators) WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!
HOW TO POST:
*When you respond to a post, the message should go to that person, not to the
group. Contact the individual directly at their private email address by hitting your reply button.
*To post via the web page, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StLouis-Freecycle and select Post on the Side
Bar.
*To post to the group via email, send your post to:
StLouis-Freecycle@yahoogroups.com
*Use correct headers for messages or they WILL be edited. The headers to use
are: OFFER, TAKEN, WANTED, RECEIVED. Examples of proper subject lines are:
OFFER: Couch (63122)
TAKEN: Couch (63122)
WANTED: Couch (63122) (2 WANT postings a week, 3 item limit per post)
RECEIVED: Couch (63122)
Please note: Blanket WANTEDS i.e. everything for a kitchen, bedroom furniture,
furnish my new apartment, baby stuff, craft supplies, party supplies etc. are
not permitted, please be specific.
*DO remember to put your zip code in the Subject line of all posts. You will
find you have less No Shows when you clearly state upfront where you are
located. Plus it will cut down on the 'where are you located' emails. Our
group covers a large area, so It is VERY important to do this so that you don't
get tons of replies from folks to far to come pick it up anyway.
*NO Cross-posting. Freecycle works best when kept at the local level. If you
belong to more than one group, POST TO ONLY ONE GROUP at a time. Due
to the amount of complaints received on this issue, we ARE enforcing this rule
more strictly now and messages cross-posted to several groups at once may be
deleted without notice at the Moderator's discretion.
To avoid cross-posting, please follow these simple suggestions. If you want to
Offer an old freezer (or anything), send your message to the group closest to
you first and consider that one your "home" group. If after a few days you don't get any takers for your item, move on to the next group. This is more for your benefit than anything else - if you send the Offer to 1000's of people across the area, you'll get more replies than you can answer and most of them too far away to make it worthwhile. The same goes for Wants - try your home group first and post to the other groups ONLY if you don't find it in the first group. We appreciate your cooperation.
*Don't post for the same item repeatedly. Once per 30 days for each item is what is allowed. Please be patient. Not every WANTED message can (or will be)
answered right away. Your messages remain in the archives, which are open to our members to browse at their leisure so they are still out there. If you are not getting replies to your WANTed messages, pay it forward and post some OFFERS. Many members give priority to those they have seen post OFFERS. Though not a requirement, we recommend posting an OFFER for every WANTed you post.
*Do follow the two WANTed postings per week, with a three item limit per
posting. Also, it is not necessary to go into great detail about why you need
or want something either. Just the request is all that is needed, and in
actuality, a long detailed story can do more harm than good. No sob stories
please.
WHAT TO POST AND WHAT NOT TO POST:
*DO post OFFERs for all the good stuff you don't need anymore. Furniture,
appliances, toys, clothes, lawnmowers, car parts, etc. If it's still good, then
someone probably could use it.
*DO post a TAKEN message when your OFFER is gone and a RECEIVED when your WANT
has been met. We cannot keep the archives up-to-date if you do not, and six
months later you will be receiving requests for items you posted.
*DO NOT post "generic" TAKEN messages, such as TAKEN: all the stuff I posted'
include the item names in your TAKEN message. Using the same wording in your
TAKEN as you did in your OFFER will insure members know exactly what item was
TAKEN.
*Please DO NOT write an entire message in capital letters. That is considered
screaming in Internet etiquette and it is very hard on most people's eyes. If
you use all caps because of medical conditions, please let us know and we will
work with you on it. Posts written in all caps will either be edited by a
moderator or returned to you for editing.
*DO NOT post your phone number or address directly to the group. Such
information WILL BE edited out of messages if you are Moderated and if not
Moderated, the message will be deleted from the board. Give this info ONLY to
the person willing to come pick up your item. Meet in a public place if you want or need to. We have over 5,000 members and add almost 100 new members weekly. We do NOT screen our members. Use common sense and stay safe.
*DO NOT submit free-for-all, or curb alert posts (such as "It's on the porch,
whoever gets here first can have it.') Posting in that manner encourages
hundreds of people to head that direction, and 99% of those people will walk
away disappointed and empty-handed, after having expended a great deal of time
and gasoline for nothing. Please pick out a few items, post them and set up a
specific time for folks to pick the items up. That approach may seem like more
work but if people are making unneeded trips for nothing it will sour them
towards you and towards Freecycle in general and that's not good for anyone.
Ultimately, these posts will be edited by a Moderator or returned to you for
editing.
The basic mission of Freecycle is to keep items out of landfills. A corollary of that is *environmentalism* which is best served by not having folks driving
around wasting fossil fuels unnecessarily for items that will be gone when they
get there anyway.
*NO requests for money EVER!
*NO requests for Frequent Flyer miles, phone cards or special events tickets
such as ball games or concerts. We are sorry and wish we could help but
Freecycle is just not the place for things like that. If anyone has something
like that to share they will post an OFFER/WANTed for that in the
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StLouis_FC_ChatCafe/ .
*NO requests for Sunday paper type of coupons - Use the Chat Cafe for that (link above). You may however OFFER these items on the list.
*DO NOT post an OFFER for prescription drugs or contact lenses. It is illegal to transfer a prescription to another person.
*DO NOT post an OFFER or request opened and/or partially used cosmetics or
personal care products (including breast pumps), as there could be sanitation
issues with those products. Offers of unopened cosmetics and personal care
products are welcome though.
*DO NOT post a TAKEN message in an attempt to claim someone else's OFFER. Only
the original poster can post the TAKEN message for their item after they have
picked a recipient. Also, please remember to post a RECEIVED when you have
received an item you have posted a WANTED for.
*NO advertising your garage sale unless it is to OFFER what is left over. Free
Sales are allowed and will be addressed in a separate email.
* No cars, or other motor vehicles are to be requested on this list.
*If you are an EBay seller, thrift store owner, or a reseller of any kind, FULL
DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INTENTION TO SELL ITEMS RECEIVED FROM FREECYCLE MEMBERS IS
REQUIRED UP FRONT. You MUST disclose your intent to sell either in your original WANTed post or when responding so the Gifter can make an informed decision with all the details and facts. Members have the right to inquire as to the intended use of any item they OFFER.
ANYONE FOUND SELLING ITEMS OBTAINED ON THIS LIST ON EBAY, THE CLASSIFIED OR
OTHER YAHOO GROUPS WILL BE REMOVED, BANNED AND REPORTED. (Yes, I meant to use
all caps) Now, if you receive an item and a few months later decide to sell it
at your garage sale that is different than turning right around and immediately
selling an item you just received.
*NO TRADING: Bartering has its own set of laws and regulations and such
transactions are taxable and reportable to the government. Freecycle is simply
not to be used for that sort of activity. We are a no strings attached
environmental group.
*Do NOT contact folks in response to a WANT they posted and OFFER to sell them
something. If you are not willing to give it for free at this time, please
don't bring it up. Repeat offenses on this rule will get you removed from the
group.
*DO NOT request money for your OFFERS or Charity receipts either. Freecycle
means FREE, no strings attached.
A FEW LAST THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
*Gifting does not have to be 1st responded, 1st served. It's been suggested
that the first person to reply to your OFFER may not always be the best person
to take your item, so consider the people who receive messages by Daily Digest
as opposed to Individual Messages. To simply choose the first responder every
time stops MANY people from ever having an opportunity of participate. Many
groups ask their members to wait 24 hours before deciding who will receive their item. This cannot really be enforced but sometimes it would be helpful to those that don't have as much computer access, so please consider it if your time and circumstances allow. The ultimate decision is up to the person giving the item and to choose the recipient as they see fit.
*If you have responded to an OFFER this is no guarantee the item is yours until
you hear from the OFFERer and they tell you it is. Give your personal
information (privately, not on the list) to one potential gifter / recipient at
a time, and ask for their phone number in return.
*Once you are set to give or receive an item, make arrangements as you like, but please practice common courtesy in accommodating people's schedules.
*Arrange pickup with only one person at a time. Often it is possible to gift an
item without having to rearrange your schedule by simply leaving the item in a
designated location, such as the porch or along side the garage, marked with
their name. Share this info only with the receiver, not with the entire group.
*DO NOT promise your items to one person and then give them to another. Again,
please treat others the way you would wish to be treated.
*DO NOT take more than you were promised. If someone agrees to leave an item on the porch for you, don't take advantage and take items that have been left for others. That is considered theft.
*Check the archived messages frequently and see what WANTs you can fulfill.
Maybe you forgot all about that old set of golf clubs sitting out there in the
garage but somebody could still use them, so give them away already! Consider
gifting to a person with an existing request rather than posting to the group.
Thank you all for being here and being a part of this movement. The generosity
and kindness we have seen since getting involved with Freecycle is quite
amazing. We are proud to be a part of it. Keep up the good work!
Thank You,
Your St Louis Freecycle Moderators
This message repeats at least once a month. Please reread often just to refresh
your memory!
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the
Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States
and/or other countries.
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Don't just Recycle, Freecycle!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StLouis-Freecycle
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The Freecycle.org logo is a trademark of The Freecycle Network
in the United States and/or other countries.
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