More folks are finding the Net neat for getting and giving stuff gratis

By J.J. Jensen
Seattle Times staff reporter

JAMES BRANAMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES Sarah Brown, holding her 1-year-old daughter, Riley Brown, receives a scale from Harborview Medical Center nurse Karen Krikorian. The two contacted each other through FreecycleSeattle, a Web message board where people post items that they would like to give away or receive for free.

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A waffle iron, Weber grill, size 12 wedding dress or even a shoehorn. It could be there, right now, for you.

All of this — and more — was up for grabs recently on FreecycleSeattle, an Internet message board with a simple concept: Post something you want to get rid of, and someone who can use it will take it.

"We're keeping good, usable items out of landfills on the basis," said David Ruggiero, who moderates the FreecycleSeattle message board at . And the movement is accelerating like Atkins did.

Since Deron Beal, a 37-year-old recycling company manager, started the first Freecycle message board in his hometown of Tucson, Ariz. last May, copy-cat message boards have popped up in more than 1,100 communities around the world. Nearly 300,000 people are now Freecycling, according to Beal.

FreecycleSeattle started in October and already has 2,500 members, making it one of the largest Freecycle groups, Ruggiero said. Most members learned about it through word of mouth. Statewide, there's 28 Freecycle groups, with almost 9,000 people from Colville to Capitol Hill snatching up and giving away computers, toaster ovens and lawn mowers.

Many other Web sites, like seattle.craigs list.org/, and freebies.about.com, also lead people tofree stuff.

Finding free stuff www.freecycle.org : Members post on Internet message boards items they want to get rid of and things they could use. They then arrange a time and place to pick-up or give away the goods. www.seattle.craigslist.org: A message board with a free-item exchange similar to Freecycle's, but with additional options to search employment and housing ads, personals, and even barter for services. www.freebies.about.com: Lengthy list of free-product offers from companies. www.TimeBucks.org : Seattle-based time-exchange group where people swap services, giving and receiving time — not money — in exchange.

Why the Freecycle fever, in particular? "It's just so easy to do," said Beal.

People go to Freecycle's main Web site, www.freecycle.org, locate a group in their area, and fill out a short online registration. Membership is free.

Posts start with either "Offered" or "Wanted." When people see something they want, they e-mail the giver. The person parting with the item then decides who to give it to; typically, it's the first person who responds. The two parties then arrange a time for a pickup. After the transaction, they go back to their computer and report an article has been "Taken" or "Received."

The most important rule to follow, said Ruggiero, is to keep items free, legal and appropriate for all ages.

Too much stuff?

Freecycling can be addictive, avid users say.

"My husband is getting sick of all the things I'm picking up," said Sarah Brown, as she picked up a slightly rusted — but otherwise just fine — HealthOMeter scale from Karen Krikorian, a nurse at Harborview Medical Center.

The two women, who arranged to meet during a break in Krikorian's nursing shift, happily gabbed about Brown's toddler, Riley, during the exchange. Both said they believe Freecycle is a way for neighbors to help and get to know each other. Brown's old scale was consistently 10 pounds off. And the HealthOMeter belonged to Krikorian's mother-in-law, who passed away last year.

Brown, 26, a new mom and homeowner who's been Freecycling several months, says Freecycle's helped her save thousands of dollars on home furnishings and baby supplies.

A tour of her quaint Burien dwelling reveals a Freecycled item at practically every turn: plastic baby gates and a Mickey Mouse toy chest in the living room; an antique table in the dining room; tortilla press, high chair and espresso maker in the kitchen; double-decker washer and dryer in the laundry room; and a gas barbecue, stroller and bike in the back yard.

"I like going garage-saling but not since I've joined Freecycle," Brown said. "Now, I'm the deal queen."

Other Seattle Freecyclers are equally quick to share success stories. Bruce Wade and Suzanne Greive both scored hot tubs, and Aimee Gallo got a nice TV and Sealy mattress and box spring.

Suzanne Pierce, a lawyer and new mom from Magnolia, had eight years worth of pack-ratting in her basement and wanted to clear it out.

After finding takers for things like fireplace andirons, bricks and window screens, she came across 30 quarts of paint, a space heater and assorted toys on Freecycle and transformed her basement into a playroom for her daughter.

"I'm not somebody who wants to sell a bunch of stuff on eBay. I don't have the time," Pierce said. "And it's too much of a bother to go to the dump. If somebody wants to come and pick up my junk and be grateful for it, sure."

Make someone happy

Free-stuff etiquette Tact: Take only what you need. E-mail: Don't use your main e-mail address when navigating. Some sites with free offers exist to collect e-mail addresses for spam lists. Free e-mail accounts can be set up at sites like yahoo.com or hotmail.com. Safety: If you're apprehensive about exchanging free items with a stranger, arrange a time when a friend or partner can be with you. Meet in busy places, like a store parking lot. Or leave the free item on your front stoop. A word of caution: You should research any baby equipment before using it to be sure it meets current safety standards and has not been subject to a recall. A good place for guidance is www.cpsc.gov. And be especially wary of used car seats. Source: Lee Seats, About.com; Freecycle moderators

Freecyclers say they find just as much joy in giving as receiving. In fact, moderators prefer members to part with more than they take.

"The ulterior motive is we hope people realize there is no such thing as junk and something that is worthless," Ruggiero said. "It's very, very likely something useless to you someone else will find use for, either because they have different standards or imagination. You will help someone, help the Earth and your conscience and get a sense of having done a good thing."

Ruggiero said he's heard complaints that Freecycle siphons items that could've gone to charities or Goodwill.

Members also say it's annoying to see posts from kids asking for an Xbox, or others wanting new cars or boats. And, because items generally go to the first person to respond, people who are always online can cherry pick.

Lee Seats, who's run a freebie Web site for About.com since 1997, says many sites like his list free items from companies, such as shampoo, floss and magazine subscriptions. He said he finds most freebies through Google searches or going to company home pages.

"It's a great way to try something before you buy it," Seats said, but beware.

It's unwise to use your main e-mail address when scouting for stuff and stay away from offers that want additional money.

Finally, just use tact.

"I like to treat free offers really as a resource," he said. "You take what you need and leave the rest for somebody else."

J.J. Jensen: 425-745-7809 or jjensen@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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