Newcastle upon Tyne 'Toon' Freecycle Group

"building a worldwide and online gift economy" [Deron Beale, Oct '06]

Newcastle upon Tyne

Freecycle groups are run by local volunteer moderators. The Toon group was set up on September 2nd, 2004 by Em, moderated with the help of Theo, PJ, Laura, Helen J. and Mason.

The Toon group recently split from its closest neighbours (Gateshead and North Tyneside) and now only covers Newcastle upon Tyne.

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There are other North East groups which may be closer to you - you need to join your 'home' group.

Toon Email Addresses

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Link to the Toon

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Toon Rules

If you read nothing else we have sent you, please read and familiarize yourself with the following. Failure to comply may result in your posts being rejected or your membership terminated.

At a glance:

All OFFERs/WANTEDs must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages
No swaps, bartering, borrowing or trading
No offers of payment, postage or delivery charges
Format subject line correctly (e.g. OFFER/TAKEN: item (your location)
Use ONE consistent location – ‘Newcastle’ is not enough!
Do not cross or multiple group post within 48 hours
Do not repost a WANTED within a month, OFFER within a week
No street/backlane/skip sightings
Only OFFERs/WANTEDs for specific, tangible items
No OFFERs/WANTEDs for pets or humans
No OFFERs/WANTEDs for tickets, vouchers, coupons, newspapers, etc.
No WANTEDs for copyright materials, software, etc., must declare ‘original’ in OFFERs
No 'wishlists'
Declare any intention of reselling
No references to charities, voluntary organisations, hardships, etc.
No off-topic posts, corrections/follow-ups other than TAKEN/RECEIVED
No contacting members for any reason other than in response to their post
No forwarding messages to non-members
No personal information or non-registered email addresses in group posts
'Clean' IDs please, and only ONE per member
Do not type in all-capitals or text-speak
Adopt a 'Fair Offer Policy'
Do not choose 'no email' or 'web only' email delivery options
Do not subscribe with an email address using an auto-responder
Check for a TAKEN/RECEIVED post before contacting a member
Be polite and respectful, meet when arranged

In detail:

All OFFERs and WANTEDs must be free, legal and appropriate for all ages

This is our main Freecycle rule and means no pornography, alcohol, tobacco, drugs (legal, illegal, over-the-counter and prescription), firearms, weapons; no advertising any 'sales' type events, as this involves 'strings attached' exchanges. Two strikes and you're out.
No swaps, bartering or borrowing

Freecycle is not a *SWAP SHOP*. Please do not ask for item exchanges. You may send an OFFER _and_ a WANTED but there must be no restrictions on your gifting an item.

*BORROWING* of items is banned on Toon Freecycle and therefore must not be entertained onlist. What two members decide to do amongst themselves _offlist_ is entirely up to them, but Freecycle cannot and will not be held responsible for any loss or damage in the event of an item being borrowed through this list.
No offers of payment, postage or delivery charges

Monetary exchange of goods is strictly forbidden on Freecycle. Any discussion regarding *POSTAGE* is not allowed onlist - what you and the recipient/giver agree offlist is between both parties and not Freecycle. Let's try and find the most environmentally friendly way to exchange reusable goods locally!
Format subject line correctly (e.g. OFFER/TAKEN: item (your location)

Please ensure you use the correct format when sending an email. If the *SUBJECT FIELD* doesn't include whether it's an *OFFER/TAKEN* or *WANTED/RECEIVED* _and_ a *LOCATION* then it will be rejected. It is also important that you use the same wording when posting your follow-up TAKEN/RECEIVED so members can easily find if an item has gone or no longer needed. [Why?]

Include as much INFORMATION in the body of your post that you can (e.g colour, size, make/model, etc.) - this will save having to reply to numerous queries asking for more info. Make use of the *PHOTOS* section of the Toon Yahoo! group to provide a visual for members, remembering to remove it once item has gone.
Do not cross post between groups

Please do not *CROSS POST* messages between other Freecycle groups. Although other groups may not mind, the Toon group would prefer that you choose a 'home' group to post to first and if you get no response within a couple of days, then choose another local group to post to, and so on. [More info...]
No off-topic posts

The Toon Freecycle list is not a *CHAT FORUM*! Off-topic posts are strictly forbidden. Only messages offering or wanting items that will be saved from landfill are allowed to be posted by group members. We have a *CAFÉ GROUP* for off-topic conversations for the whole of the North East of England Freecycle members.
No follow-up posts other than TAKEN/RECEIVED

Let's reduce list 'noise'...
1. If you have numerous items to OFFER, please try to reduce the amount of emails our members receive by *COMBINING* multiple offers/wanteds into a single post, and use a _short_ collective subject description, such as 'kitchen - various', etc.
2. If you make a typo, or realise your post has gone through without a location, _do not_ post a *FOLLOW-UP*. Just try not to be too hasty next time!
No contacting members for any reason other than in response to their post
No forwarding messages to non-members

Posts sent to the group are copyrighted and thus may not be forwarded to *NON-MEMBERS*. If you read about something you think may interest an outside party, please either complete the transaction yourself on their behalf, or encourage them to join up themselves. Please also do not ask members to reply to a non-member or email address not registered with Toon.
No personal information in group posts

Do not to include *PERSONAL INFORMATION* in any list posts - only provide contact details once a recipient/giver has been agreed upon. However, Freecycle cannot be responsible if this information is inadvertently posted to the list.
'Clean' IDs please, and only one per member
1. This includes having only links which are suitable for all ages in your Yahoo! ID page.
2. Although you are entitled to your own personal ID, if you share a computer or send from the same building, repeat posts will not be allowed until the relevant time period has elapsed.
No street/backlane/skip sightings

This causes more pollution in wasted journeys and frustration among disapointed members.
Only OFFERs or WANTEDs for specific, tangible items

Avoid asking for suggestions of items - be specific. For example, if you need toys for a three year old, say what toys you would like - don't leave it up to the gifter; no asking for 'bric and brac', 'white elephant', etc.
No OFFERs or WANTEDs for pets or humans

The offering or requesting of *PETS* or any living thing (including partners, siblings or children) is not allowed on Toon Freecycle!
No OFFERs or WANTEDs for tickets, school vouchers or money-off coupons

The offering or requesting of *MONEY-OFF COUPONS, TICKETS or VOUCHERS* is not allowed on Freecycle. It saves nothing from landfill since they will be discarded regardless, and only adds to consumerism as a purchase may be necessary which is the antipathy of Freecycle philosophy. You could always try on the cafe group to see if anyone wants them there.
No OFFERs or WANTEDs for plants, seeds, compost, etc.

Whilst offering or requesting plants, seeds, compost, etc. doesn't save anything from landfill and therefore doesn't fulfill the Freecycle criteria, we have setup an offshoot group called 'Black and White Greens' - a group which allows such offers and exchanges for the green-fingered amongst us! We invite you to please post your request there instead: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blackandwhitegreens. Please note: 'Black and White Greens' is *not* a Freecycle group, but runs along the same ethos and by moderators of this group.
No WANTEDs for copyright materials, software

Posting rules for *COPYRIGHT* materials....
1. You may not post a WANTED message for any of these copyright materials: CDs, DVDs, Video or Audio tape, software, electronic games
2. You may OFFER copyright materials but they must only be original published versions and your description must confirm this.
3. You must not keep copies of anything you give away.
4. Any media which has been used for home recording can only be offered as "for re-recording" without naming anything that may have been recorded previously.
Do not repost a WANTED within a month; and OFFER within a week
No 'wishlists' of high value items

Freecycle is not a place for wishlists. People may be reluctant to respond to people who make extravagant, demanding, or numerous WANTED posts.
Avoid typing in all-capitals or text-speak

Please refrain from using *CAPSLOCK* as posting in all capitals is thought of a SHOUTING in email etiquette which will often offend some members!
Declare any intention of reselling

Although not against Freecycle rules to *SELL* any items received through the group, it is required that you inform members of this intention in your WANTED post, or OFFER reply.
No references to charities, voluntary organisations, hardships, etc.
Adopt a 'Fair Offer Policy' (FOP)
1. When choosing who to pass your reusable item onto, agree to take a period of time to see what responses you get giving members on Daily Digest, or those who don't have continual access to the Internet a fair chance, rather than giving to the first respondent.
2. Also, don't assume that because you have replied to an OFFER the item will be gifted to you! With over 2,500 members, posts attract many responses so it is not always possible to reply individually. Look out for a TAKEN post before pursuing the OFFER again.
3. Choose your recipient any way you want to, then notify that one person and keep a 'waiting list' of other responders.
Do not choose 'no email' or 'web only' email delivery options

Please do not choose the NO MAIL option in your Yahoo! group settings. We need to send out the occasional ADMIN message relating to Freecycle. If you don't wish to receive indivdual posts, then consider choosing *DAILY DIGEST* or *SPECIAL NOTICES*. [More info...]
Do not subscribe with an email address using an auto-responder
Check for a TAKEN/RECEIVED post before contacting a member
Be polite and respectful, meet when arranged
1. Turn up when you say you will, or notify member if unable to make arranged time;
2. Inform member if you no longer want an item or have it to give away;
3. Thank a giver/taker of items in a follow-up (off list) email after completion of any transaction;
4. Post a TAKEN/RECEIVED to alert others item has gone (see above).

Toon Mods
--
Em, Theo, PJ, Laura, Helen J & Mason
mailto:toon-owner@yahoogroups.com

Random Posting Rules

5. Use ONE consistent location – ‘Newcastle’ is not enough!

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