I’ve kind of got addicted to Craigslist and Freecycle lately. Craigslist is a free buying and selling website. Freecycle is a mailing list where people give away their old stuff for free. Both are free to sign up to and use, and both have local sites to assist in finding local sales.
When I first signed up for Craig’s List, I got two great deals the first two weeks I began reading it. I got a 3 gigahertz computer complete with everything in great condition for $100, and I got a milk crate full of 100 music CDs for free. Looking back now it seems like that may have been a coincidence, as I haven’t found many great deals since then.
Earlier this week, I signed up for Freecycle. People watch it like a hawk — it’s not uncommon for items to get snatched up within minutes of being posted. I’ve seen a couple of computers posted (older machines like I’m looking for) that were both gone within an hour. A couple of days ago someone posted they were giving away some old Nintendo games for free. I replied back and the poster said she still had them, and they were still up for grabs. I told her I would like them and so we agreed that I would pick them up yesterday.
The poster sent me and e-mail and told me she was in Yukon. I replied and told her I was in Yukon as well. She then replied and told me she lived in the Woodrun housing edition. I replied and said I did too! She then finally gave me her address. Yesterday afternoon, Mason and I hopped in the truck, backed out of the driveway, and drove to the end of the street (one house away). We found ourselves staring at the address. We got out and walked up to the door. The lady asked us if we had any trouble finding it. I turned around and pointed to my driveway. “That’s my house,” I said. She then laughed, looked at me, and then looked at my truck. “I wouldn’t have driven if I’d had known it was this close,” I said.
Anyway, we got the games (3 of which I needed for my collection and 1 I already had) and went back home. I don’t know if this is a sign of things to come for Freecycle or if this is just “beginners luck” like it may have been with Craig’s List, but either way I got some free new (old) games. Woo woo!
Links: Craig’s List, Freecycle. (Note: You’ll want to find the craigslist and freecycle sites local to you)