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Hints, Tips and Solutions (Do NOT post requests for help here) If you have any useful general hints and tips for vintage technology repair and restoration, please share them here. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
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16th Jan 2010, 9:09 pm | #1 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 5,737
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"Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
Occasionally forum members post messages offering things for free, such as printers, monitors etc, saying "if not taken it will go to the tip". Sometimes, though mild interest may arise, there's the hassle of distance involved, which may militate against the item being collected.
Similarly, you may need such an item, but the same problems arise - few members in your locality if anywhere on the forum who have what you want. From time to time freecycle is mentioned, and I don't know to what extent forum members may understand how such groups work. I'm not of course suggesting that forum members divert their offerings/wants to freecycle in the first instance, but rather than take something to the tip with a heavy heart which could be useful, or to have a wanted posting not prove fruitful, it might be worth thinking about offering/seeking it on the local freecycle group. In fact many "freecycle" groups in the UK have become "freagle" groups, for reasons which are irrelevant. fact is, that there's a local freagle group in most parts of the UK, with almost a million members in total. (The local group in Hull/East Yorks of which Im a member has more than 4,000). So if you have an aversion to chucking stuff away - and I think by nature, most forum members do have such an aversion - it might be worth considering joining your local group. It doesn't obligate you in any way. In my experience, certainly the local group, is extremely well moderated. People can't just be freeloaders who take, take, take all the time - you can't have anything unless you've donated something. The messages fall into three categories - Wanted/Offered/Taken. Lots of electrical stuff such as PCs, monitors, TVs Hi-Fi, microwaves etc, end up on these groups as most charity shops (not all) won't take them. If you'd like to know more about freagle groups and find out where your nearest one is, just go to this link: http://www.ilovefreegle.org/groups/ Hope that's of interest and relevance to the forum. Mods: I hope this is the right section in which to post this, but if not, do please shunt it! regards, David, G4EBT |
16th Jan 2010, 10:12 pm | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 1,477
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
Freecycle( or its derivative) in my area is very lightly moderated and is populated by givers, takers, and everyone in between. You can offer something one day, only to see it for sale at a car boot sale a few days later. It is common for someone to be very interested in something you've offered, arrange to collect it, and then never to be heard of again. If you offer something on freecycle you have to remember it's not charitable giving, you have no say in what happens to it. Which is quite correct according to the Freecycle ethos, which is to keep stuff out of landfill, not necessarily to give it to a deserving cause.
Having said that, I've got rid of a lot of stuff on freecycle and acquired quite a few nice items as well.
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Regards, Richard, BVWS member |
16th Jan 2010, 11:23 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,814
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
There you have the two sides of the arguement [in a way]. We've extracted a metal filing cabinet from a hut in a field, after a coat of paint it looks brand new within a newly painted office. A young couple were
desperate for my old rusty woodburner and could not believe their luck! I've given and recieved 78's etc. At the end of the day any altruistic idea is always up against human nature and unprincipled individuals from the bottom of the pond but in general, tis better to give than to recieve-so I hear! If somebody takes advantage that's no reason to despair. Ironically I've yet to pick up any electrical kit but it is amazing how the most trivial items can be so usefull eg cardboard legal document boxes that might otherwise be binned, are not that cheap to purchase and that someone takes the trouble to offer. Generally speaking, it's a win win. Dave W |
16th Jan 2010, 11:35 pm | #4 | |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
Quote:
In general, people will find that they have either a Freecycle or Freagle group locally, but not both. In practical terms it makes little difference. Like David, I would encourage people to use Freecycle rather than dump stuff. If you live in an area with a large group, practically anything will find a taker. http://www.uk.freecycle.org/ Paul |
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16th Jan 2010, 11:35 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,484
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
I'm a member of two groups in two countries, one well moderated the other a shambles. The good experiences outnumber the bad by far. You'd be amazed what people are prepared to come and get, so don't hesistate to put stuff on there. In the last 6 months I got shut of a load of old CD covers, inkless inkjet printers, even a grotty old electric oven, and got a nice amp and an AIWA 3 head tape deck. I even got my Akai 4000DB from there in the early days when group was not so well known.
And you can have a laugh at the occasional chancer asking for playstations, gold or even cars!
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Regards, Ben. |
17th Jan 2010, 12:13 am | #6 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Lichfield, UK
Posts: 141
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
I use Freecycle a lot, both for getting stuff and giving things away. I've given away printers, digital cordless phones, furniture and some electrical items and received a colour laser printer (albeit with a broken paper tray!), laptop (needed repair but got it working) and of course my Pioneer tuner/amp, (broken) cassette deck and Mission speakers, sounds great and even sweeter knowing they were free! Like many on here, I hate throwing things away and offer all manner of stuff on there as I hate the thought of it going to the tip, especially if it still has plenty of life left in it.
Sadly on my local Freecycle there isn't many vintage radios coming up apart from the odd radiogram, there's currently a '70s Sony amp and tuner along with some Wharfedale speakers on there but think my wife would kill me if I got any more audio gear! |
17th Jan 2010, 12:26 am | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,484
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
Another thing that I forgot to mention earlier: I think the freecycle thing works best with relatively small or medium size groups, you tend to find on the bigger ones, stuff (especially electricals) gets snapped up the moment it is posted. I think I have got less as the groups have got larger, but even then you still get lucky.
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Regards, Ben. |
17th Jan 2010, 2:35 am | #8 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,787
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
Quote:
Paul |
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17th Jan 2010, 9:47 am | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
Posts: 4,609
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
I've been using freecycle for a few years now, as there are five groups in locations within ten miles of me.
Generally I've given more than I've taken but as far as radio stuff went, I collected a car-boot full of components from one guy, R, C, relays, chokes, LEDs, zeners, all in those RS clear plastic drawers. Enough there to cost £££'s.
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Mike. |
18th Jan 2010, 9:17 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,637
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
You don't have to give it to the first reply if you don't want to. I usually wait a day or so, then if there are a few replies decide who to give first refusal to, usually based on the politeness of the request. I find that a polite and readable request often works for me too.
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18th Jan 2010, 11:32 pm | #11 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,484
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
I was commenting more on general freecycle tendencies. Personally, when it's me offering stuff, I do tend to wait a bit as you say, then decide.
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Regards, Ben. |
19th Jan 2010, 11:52 am | #12 | ||
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 5,737
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
Quote:
Quote:
The items invariably been greatly appreciated by recipients, who've often given me something such as a bottle of wine as a "thank you". Often, on the local group, decent clothing is offered, such as little worn school uniforms, or good quality toys such as Fisher Price, which I'm sure can be helpful to anyone who is down on their luck. I'm sure that some of these groups will attract a seedy element of car booters and sundry scroungers, but the local one doesn't have that feel to it at all. Anyone who is a taker - not a giver, or who offers worthless items and takes only valauable ones would soon show up in the postings and would be put on notice or shown the door. As we've seen with this forum, the key to success is good moderation! After a while, posters get the flavour of things, so moderation only needs a light touch as people self-moderate within the rules, and when they stray, it tends to be from ignorance rather than intent. At which point, maybe the forum moderators will feel that this topic has run its distance! The bottom line is: only take stuff to the tip as a last resort - whatever the item. I think most of us by nature, are alrerady signed onto that concept. Regards, David, G4EBT |
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19th Jan 2010, 2:22 pm | #13 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 1,967
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Re: "Freecycle" ("Freegle") Groups
i am in one of each Freecycle and Freagle as i live/work in an overlap i use it to colect all sorts of electronic to fix and always put a disclamer on the bottom saying most item cost to repair so may be sold on to cover repair cost (some goes back on to one or the other group fixed)
i have had load of tv's the odd good bit of hifi and the odd old radio the repair side keeps me in pocket money vince |