Newbury

Newbury Group Rules, Etiquette & Disclaimer - revised Aug 2023

Dear Freecycle.org® Newbury Group Member,

Thank you for being a part of The Freecycle Network®.

Freecycle puts people who have things they no longer need in contact with people who can use them. Freecycle’s goal is to keep usable items out of landfill. Also this encourages us to get rid of items that we no longer need and promotes community involvement in the process.

The following Freecycle rules, etiquette and disclaimer have been adapted to help the Group run smoothly and effectively for everyone's benefit.
RULES:

1.  KEEP IT FREE, LEGAL & APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES. This is the main Freecycle rule and it's a pretty easy one at that. This means, for example:

• No alcohol, tobacco, firearms or other weapons, profanity or sexual content, medications;

• Never send money for anything offered on Freecycle (this includes money for postage/couriers);

• All copyrighted material must be the original media; • Full disclosure of intent to resell must be disclosed up front;

• No unregistered waste carriers.

Three strikes & you're out, i.e. you will be unsubscribed by a moderator after two inappropriate postings.

2.  ONLY ONE WANTED POST EVERY TWO WEEKS/14 DAYs. Each member is limited to ONE Wanted post every 2 weeks/14 days and that post can include up to 2 separate requests for items. Also, the use of words such as “desperate” “need” and “ASAP” should not be used as they are automatically picked up by the system for moderation as are other emotive language and emotional appeals.

Please use WANTED posts sparingly and don't offer money. And please don't ask for extravagant items, like a diamond ring, which we'd all like to have, or the strike rule will kick in - see no. 1 above.

Why only ONE wanted post every 14 days/2 weeks? A while back, the number of Wanted posts was getting out of hand, causing the Group’s postings to become more of a “shopping list” for certain people rather than a way for members to pass on what they no longer needed. Following a Group poll a rule of one post per month (containing up to 3 items) was introduced. That rule had the desired effect and it was subsequently amended to one Wanted post every 14 days/2 weeks (containing up to 2 items).

3.  NO POLITICS, NO SPAM, NO PERSONAL ATTACKS/RUDENESS or PROSELYTISING. It's all about ‘Respect’.

4.  NO TRADING. On Freecycle there are no strings attached: FREE means FREE. That also means no borrowing, lending or swapping items.

5.  NO PERSONAL ADS. No postings about oneself or another person. There are many Internet sites better suited to this purpose.

6.  NO PERSONAL INFORMATION IN YOUR POST. Phone numbers, email addresses and any other personally identifying information is not allowed in the title and detail of a post for your protection.  This is because posts can be viewed, and therefore exploited, by anyone on the worldwide web.

7.  NO WANTED SCRAP METAL POSTS. You are welcome to offer scrap metal but not to ask for it. This is because in the UK all scrap metal dealers must be registered and the Group moderators do not have the time or experience to check this. So to avoid members breaking the law, we simply do not allow wanted scrap metal posts.

A BRIEF NOTE ON ETIQUETTE.

"Be nice." We've got a great little community here so when you arrange to pick up an item from another 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 want and asking nothing in return except that you will show up when you say you will.

Unless the offeror 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 the norm.

Also please only offer the item to one person at a time.  Including in a post “First come first served” or “it’s outside, the first one to arrive gets it” is unfair as it could mean someone travelling a distance only to find the item has already gone.

SAFETY.

Be aware! Please take reasonable measures to protect your safety and privacy when making Offer or Wanted posts or when completing a post. It is up to each individual member, both donor and recipient, when arranging for pickup of the item to be appropriately aware of the potential risk of having "a stranger" come to your home to pick something up. Our Group moderators don’t, can’t and won’t check people out, so please be careful! You may want to arrange to meet in a public place or leave the item on the front porch without mentioning whether or not you will be home at the arranged time of pickup.

DISCLAIMER.

Members use Freecycle at their own risk. Please take reasonable measures to protect your safety and privacy when making Offer or Wanted posts and participating in a communication or collection. By joining Freecycle, you agree to hold neither its owners, moderators nor anyone affiliated with Freecycle responsible or liable for any circumstance resulting from a Freecycle-related exchange or communication.

That should just about do it. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Have fun and thank you for being a part of The Freecycle Network®.

Kind Regards,
Your Freecycle Newbury Group Moderators

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