General Forum

Re: Unlikely Freecycle Finds

Graham1982 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:59:18 GMT

Sorry I doubt I expalined properly. I do not go onto Freecycle to look for ways to make money. However, if something is on there that I like but perhaps is a bit broken or needs sorting out I will do that, play with it for a while and either give it to someone who wants it for free or sell it on Ebay. It could still be viewed as a bit of a sharp practice. However when I have offered "high value" or in the very least useable consumer electronics on Freecycle, it generally generates massive interest that is very difficult to manage, yet often the things are not picked up. Again, I guess this could be down to my not managing my Freecycle account effeciently and not down to the system itself.

I was considering setting up something simillar to Freecycle, (however I do not have access to mass storage) which would amass all these unwanted but decent electronic items for shipping out to less developed economies (for free). It would appear that there is a market for such stuff in Nigeria for example as I remember when I was in my teens I used to help in a freight forwarding company and a lot of Nigerians would buy old photocopiers and the like and ship them out (although for profit). I would like to do this to gain business experience I guess an to assist those less well off than ourselves but in a more direct manner.

Re: Unlikely Freecycle Finds

j0hnbarker — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:55:46 GMT

Fair play if you save something from landfill by using Freecycle, but can't you at least see why some people might not feel that was not exactly in the spirit of what the site was set up for and the principles that underpin it? As you've stated, you're not really too swayed by the reducing carbon footprint argument, so why go on Freecycle and take things for free then claim that at least you've saved them from landfill - unless you're just out for a rather cheap and easy (and nasty IMO) profit?

Re: Unlikely Freecycle Finds

Graham1982 — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:02:35 GMT

I agree that Freecycle is really good for environmental reasons. However, I think this is more of a pleasant added bonus for me, as although this maybe considered sheer ignorance by some, I really do not buy wholesale into this ethical consumerism/reduction of carbon foot print lifestyle that seems to be en vogue at the moment.

I mean sure, you really should not fill your bath up to the plug hole or leave taps running for no reason, but this is just common sense and consideration for the world's finite resources. However, the purposeful reduction of one's carbon or waste output in the hope that it will help the world is in my opinion a little silly if we consider that both great industrial powers and industry in general will naturally push such efforts into insignificance.

Someone (not related to Freecycle) had a pop at me for selling electronic stuff that I had got off of Freecycle as they considered so doing as not being in the spirit of Freecycle. I did not really bother getting into a debate with them about it. However, surely saving something from landfill, whether you sell it or not is beneficial?

The finds of others seem inspiring. However, I must admit that I am not really into LPs even though my parents were late adopters to most technology and we had and only very recently got rid of the vinyl player. Thus if any b&o vinyl related equipment comes up I will post about it here and collect it for anyone that wants it (so long as they collect it from me or pay the postage).

Does anyone collect older B&O television sets - I mean late 80s back as I have had at least one of these go through my hands as a result of house clearances. However, I checked on Ebay and they were selling for circa £30 so I disposed of it - this maybe sacrilege to some. However, if there is a market on here for them - I would be happy to retain or post at cost.

Re: Unlikely Freecycle Finds

j0hnbarker — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:58:42 GMT

I got a non-working but cosmetically mint Beolit 609 from a charity shop for a couple of quid. I did pay to get it fixed, but it's unlikely that this Beolit would have been found anywhere else but a charity shop, as it had clearly been stored in someone's cupboard after failing early on in its life. Still waiting to find something on a boot sale......didn't someone here once find a Beosystem 5000 at a car boot??

Re: Unlikely Freecycle Finds

Craig — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:35:19 GMT

Went to take some rubbish to local tip one day. Whilst unloading my van, I heard the lady at the car next to me ask where old turntables went. Looked round to see her holding a BG1200. Quickly asked why the were throwing it away. It runs slow her Husband replied. then asked if I would like it. Got it home and cleaned the motor after some expert advice from Martin. Worked perferct after that, In the end it went on Ebay. Think it sold for about £50 as well.

Craig

Re: Unlikely Freecycle Finds

kevinoils — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:55:48 GMT

Hi Ihave managed to find old B&O in fleemarkets, I found two Beolit radios within weeks of each other, so looking around rubbish tips or markets does pay off if you know what you are looking at/ for!

Kevin

Re: Unlikely Freecycle Finds

brunetto77 — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:04:54 GMT

Yes I was lucky to get a piece of B&O from freecycle. I had given lots of stuff through this site and one day I thought to try asking for a B&O radio. I wasn't expecting any reply but I got one almost immediately from a nice guy who lives near Edinburgh. I went to his home and this turned out to be a beautiful and in perfect working conditions Beomaster 3000-2. He said he was going to buy a digital radio and this item was too heavy as well. I then took it home, cleaned the exterior and plugged it in. All lights worked and I connected it to a CDX player with Beovox CX50. Wonderful sounds and great look! The treble control was missing but I managed to get one from a very nice guy found on this site. Now this set sits in my spare room where I give massage to my clients.

Re: Unlikely Freecycle Finds

Iconic-AV — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:53:04 GMT

about a year and a half ago i got a beocenter 2200 off freecycle, i couldnt believe it at the time, the lady said that the first guy that asked didnt even bother to show up and collect it so i was lucky enough to have it,

although working when i picked it up there were deep scratches all over the top from her cat running up and down on it, but it did have an unused mmc4

i knew of a guy who wanted a bc2200 for parts and didnt need the mmc so i gave him it and kept the cartridge

the concept of the site is wonderful and rather than filling the landfill there is always someone who can make use of things that we no-longer need,i count myself very lucky on that occasion, right place right time

wishing you all the very best graham

jay

Unlikely Freecycle Finds

Graham1982 — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:06:10 GMT

Was wondering if anyone who uses Freecycle has managed to get any B&O stuff for free? I have not but I live in Cambridge which I suppose (unlike me) is fairly affluent so some pretty decent "rubbish" does come up - old PCs, semi-decent pieces of HIFi equipment etc, but so far no B&O.

It is obviously really unlikely given the value connotations that the brand has associated with it. However, a friend of mie once said that he cleared out a farm for an elderly lady for free and she said that there was an "old car" in one of the barns he could have for payment. Thinking it was metro he was not too fussed, but upon investigation the old car turned out to be an Alvis!