Etiquette file

Welcome to Wellingborough Freecycle®

-------------------------------------- Wellingborough Freecycle Rules & Etiquette --------------------------------------

1) Keep it FREE, LEGAL & APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES. This means, for example, no alcohol, tobacco, firearms or drugs, legal or otherwise. This is our main freecycle rule to live by and it's a pretty easy one.

2) In the spirit of the group, please try to ensure that your first message to the group is an OFFER, however trivial.

3) MESSAGE SUBJECT LINE - by going to the My Posts tab you will always be able to post perfect subject lines to the group. (Hover your mouse over the My Freecycle text in the upper right corner and click on 'My Posts' or click the My Freecycle tab to then be able to access the 'My posts' tab.

If posting via email you need to post Keyword* Item (Location) to wellingboroughfreecycle@groups.freecycle.org it is important to always put your location in brackets for us to receive it correctly. *By keyword we mean offer/wanted/taken/received.

4) REPEAT POSTS - please do not post the same wanted message more than once a month or the same offer more than once a week.

5) Please keep all items in ONE EMAIL and leave out your personal circumstances and contact details. Do not offer or ask for money.

6) Please be REASONABLE with requests - post wanted messages sparingly and do not ask for extravagant items.

7) RESELLER GUIDELINES - any intention to resell items received MUST be declared when posting a wanted or when asked by a member offering an item. Failure to do so will result in an immediate strike.

8) NO POLITICS, NO SPAM, NO MONEY, NO PERSONAL ATTACKS/RUDENESS, NO RELIGION. It's all about respect

9) CROSS-POSTING to other Freecycle groups: Please offer or request your item on your most local Freecycle group first. If you get no responses after at least 24 hours, then do post on an alternate group. The whole ethos of Freecycle is helping the environment so it makes little sense to drive 20 miles to pick up a book. Keeping it local helps to help to strengthen our own local community first too.

10) Can we use Freecycle to find new homes for PETS? Wellingborough Freecycle has a no pets policy. Please do not post offers or requests for animals. Why not contact a local animal shelter?

11) NO trading, swapping, requests for borrowing or bartering please.

12) RESPONSES go only to offerer. It keeps down the sheer number of emails.

13) CHOOSING A RECIPIENT – this is your decision. However, please don't automatically give to the first respondent. Unless you are desperate to get rid of your item, please wait until you get a handful of responses or maybe wait 24 hours to give those who don't sit by their computer all day a chance. Then pick whomever you like! That's half the fun.

Do consider your local charity if one should respond. Please try to reply quickly to all who have responded to one of your posts.

14) ARRANGING COLLECTION: To help smooth transactions take place we recommend that: a) both parties exchange phone numbers b) time & date of meeting is confirmed via email as well as phone c) members honour arrangements made d) pickup is arranged with one person only, rather than "it's on the porch, whoever gets here first gets it."

15) DISCLAIMER: FREECYCLE NETWORK MEMBERS USE THE LIST AT THEIR OWN RISK. Please take reasonable measures to protect your safety and privacy when posting to the list or participating in an exchange. By joining the list, you agree to hold neither the list owners and moderators nor anyone affiliated with Freecycle.org responsible or liable for any circumstance resulting from a Freecycle-related exchange or communication.

SAFETY. Be aware! It is up to each individual member of Freecycle when arranging for pickup of the item being given away to be appropriately aware of the potential risk of having "a stranger" come to your home to pick something up.

If you, for example, are a person living alone, you may want to say that you'll leave the item on the front porch at an agreed time while you are not available.

16) No offering yourself or your children. Posting oneself (or one's shy friends) is not allowed. Posting your kids is not on the menu either, no matter how crazy they make you sometimes. Try getting them involved in after-school judo.

17) VOUCHERS and money off coupons are not allowed as they encourage consumerism rather than re-use.

18) A brief note on freecycle etiquette: BE NICE – please treat others with courtesy and respect at all times. Warmth and politeness will be remembered by others.

Moderators reserve the right to issue members with strikes for blatant rule breaking. After two strikes persistent rule breakers will be unsubscribed by the moderator.

------------------------ USING THE FREECYCLE LIST ------------------------

To manage your membership settings click on the 'My Groups' tab where this can be done. To post, read or reply to messages click on our groups name in the 'My Groups' tab.

To post a message by email, send it to: wellingboroughfreecycle@groups.freecycle.org

Questions, comments or ideas to: wellingboroughfreecycle@mods.freecycle.org

To unsubscribe, go to the 'My Groups' tab and click on the 'Leave the group' button.

For more information on Freecycle in general and a list of other approved Freecycle groups, visit: http://www.freecycle.org/

--------------------------------- Tips To Organize Freecycle Emails: ---------------------------------

You can set your email delivery preferences in the 'My Groups' tab.

Daily digest is a list of up to 25 posts per email.

Individual email is each post as it goes to the board.

No emails apart from ADMINS is only occasional moderator messages.

None of these options affect how you receive responses to your posts.

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That's it! Have fun keeping good stuff out of landfills! Do tell your friends all about it.

Wellingborough Freecycle moderating Team wellingboroughfreecycle@mods.freecycle.org

------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2003-2007 The Freecycle Network (http://www.Freecycle.org). All rights reserved. FREECYCLE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE FREECYCLE NETWORK, INC. CTM REG NO.4287553