Our Rules and Etiquette

1) KEEP IT FREE, LEGAL, SAFE & APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES.
This means no payment can be offered or asked for and, for example, no Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms or Drugs, legal or otherwise, and all forms of medication,prescrip-
tion or off the pharmacy or health food store shelves. It also includes any opened
cosmetics due to possible transmission of infection. (See the file "Medication,
Cosmetics and Foodstuffs" which enlarges on that part of the rule.) Remember 'Legal'
also includes copyright items. This is a complex area, see File 13 in Frequently Asked
Questions on the Files page for more detail.

This is our main Freecycle rule to live by and it's a pretty easy one at that.
No advertising your garage sale or the like, either, as you're looking for money and that
isn't free. 

2) NO POLITICS, SPAM, MONEY, PERSONAL ATTACKS, RUDENESS,
BAD LANGUAGE, RELIGION OR UNSOLICITED MAIL OF ANY KIND.
Please respect other members' privacy. Your contact with individual members should
be in relation to Freecycle matters only, except of course by mutual consent between
members. It's all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Two strikes and you're out, i.e. you will be
unsubscribed by the moderators after two inappropriate postings or emails.

3) TYPES OF MESSAGES.
Only four types of messages are allowed on Freecycle. (See 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d below.)
For anything else, chit chat etc, use the Café which does not have these restrictions.

THE SUBJECT LINE (Heading) layout should allow members to scan quickly down a
list of messages to find those that may interest them.  It should start with the "Key
Word"- OFFER, WANTED, TAKEN or RECEIVED. Following that, is a brief descript-
ion of the item(s). Lastly, and this is mandatory for OFFER messages and optional for
others, your approximate location, for Albany your suburb, for elsewhere your town or
nearest town.
The Key Word should be in upper case to make it stand out, but the remainder in
standard, mainly lower case,lettering. 

THE DESCRIPTION BOX is for giving more details about the item. It isn't intended for
general background information such as why you are offering or want the item, though
a brief comment may occasionally be used if you feel it is relevant. It must never be
used to try to persuade by using an emotive appeal. The text should use standard
English spelling and punctuation... no 'text speak' or over use of capitalisation.

3a) 'OFFER:' messages...
Example of Subject line: OFFER: Couch (Mt Barker). Your location just needs to be
your town, but in the case of Albany your suburb would be preferred.
Only items of a material nature can be offered, for example anything that could end up
in landfill.
When offering more than one thing, you can put them all in one post if you wish, though
it is probably best to group like items, and use other posts to cover non related items.
You can place photos illustrating your offer if you wish. 
There are instructions on how to do this in the 'Files' page.
 
3b) 'TAKEN:' messages...
A TAKEN message should always be placed once your OFFER has been received by
the recipient. Ideally the item description in the Subject Line should be identical to the
original OFFER. Example of Subject Line: TAKEN: Couch. (Your location is optional.) 
This lets members know the couch is no longer available.
Only the member who posted the original OFFER post should place a corresponding
TAKEN message; it is bad etiquette for another member to do so.
For privacy reasons please do not mention the name or Yahoo I.D. of the receiver in
your TAKEN message.

3c) 'WANTED:' messages...
Example of Subject Line: WANTED: Old car tyres. (Your location is optional.)
Don't offer money or exchange, and be cautious about asking for extravagant items
which we'd all like to have but no-one in their right mind would be likely to give away.
You are unlikely to get the item and repeatedly doing this could give you a bad name in
the group. Items requested must be specific, and of a material nature. So "I am looking
for a fridge and set of saucepans" is acceptable. "I am needing any stuff for my house"
is non-specific, so not acceptable.
Don't ask to borrow an item either. Firstly it is not "freely given" if it is expected to be
returned, secondly if the borrower doesn't return it we don't want to be in the middle of
the ensuing bun-fight. :-)
If the item you request is wanted to pass on to others outside your family or to a charity
that is OK as long as you briefly state your intention in your message.
Sob stories are not permitted. (See the paragraph 'The Description box' above.)

3d) 'RECEIVED:' messages...
A RECEIVED message should always be posted when you have obtained the item
you sought via a WANTED message. Ideally, the item description in the Subject Line
should be identical to the original WANTED message. Example of Subject Line:
RECEIVED: Old car tyres. (Your location is optional.) For privacy reasons please do
not mention the name or Yahoo I.D. of the person who gave you the item. If you wish to
show thanks in writing then a personal email is the best way. 

Remember, THE HEADING is just that... a heading. Don't try to give lengthy detail, (55
characters maximum). The message that follows the heading is where you give more
detail if necessary, but try to keep it as brief as you can.

If none of the above key words are appropriate then your message would probably be
best placed on our Café site, which is a forum rather than a list.

To make it possible to get your headings right every time without having to remember
all that you've read above we recommend you install and use our 'Member Plug-in'.
When you have finished reading this document go to the 'Files' page and check it out
in section 2, 'The Freecycle Member Plugin'. The advantages to you are considerable.
Naturally there is no charge, (this is Freecycle after all!)

4) REPEATING POSTS.
You may repeat a post after 21 days have elapsed if an OFFER or WANTED
message has not been successful. This rule is to prevent repeated posts becoming the
norm and filling both the list and members' email boxes. In special circumstances, such
as members about to move to another area, we will waive this rule on request.

5) ON-SELLING OR TRADING.
This is a definite 'no-no' unless you make it very clear in your WANTED post, or in your
reply to an OFFER post, that this is your intention. Items are given in good faith in the
belief they will be used for your own, your family's, or a friend or neighbour's use. We
have members who obtain items to gift to the under-privileged or to send to third world
countries. That is OK, but again, the offerer must be made aware of it. If you sell for
profit items given to you in good faith you run the risk of being unsubscribed.
   
6) NO OFFERING OR REQUESTING PEOPLE!
Offering yourself, your partner, family or friends or asking for a partner house-mate, etc
is not allowed. There are many fine internet dating sites better suited to this purpose.
Offering your kids is not on the menu either, no matter how crazy they make you at
times. Try getting them involved in after-school band practice. 

7) POSTING ON BEHALF OF FRIENDS.
Posting on behalf of friends and relatives is permitted only if they do not have a working
computer with internet access. In those cases where they do we ask that rather than
offering to post on their behalf you tell them about the site and encourage them to join.
The reason for this rule is that it is in the interests of all members that member numbers
are increased whenever possible. More members mean more OFFER messages and
also more people who may be able to satisfy our WANTED messages. 

8) INFANTS' ITEMS AND EQUIPMENT.
Be aware they must comply, if appropriate, with Australian Standards and laws. You
can find rules and guidelines on baby seats for use in vehicles here:
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/car_safety.html and there are similar sites to help
you ensure other items such as playpens and cots meet Australian Standards.

9) FINDING NEW HOMES FOR PETS.
Keep it legal - some animals require a special license or other requirements.
Be lovingly careful. If you genuinely care about the future of the pet you are offering you
should make very sure it is going to a good home - put the new owner through a 'job
interview'! If you don't care what happens to the pet then we would rather you didn't
offer it on Freecycle. You can give unwanted pets to the RSPCA. Phone them in
Albany on 9842 5265. 
Posts offering or seeking animals of any type for breeding purposes are NOT allowed
in Freecycle groups.
For more on this subject see our "Frequently Asked Questions on the 'Files' page.

10) CHOOSING WHOM TO GIFT YOUR ITEM TO.
It's as well to wait a day or so to give all members a chance to see the message. If you
use the "Plug-in" mentioned earlier there is a facility to add a "Fair Offer Policy" state-
ment to your message, letting people know you will be waiting a few days before mak-
ing a decision. Then you can pick whom ever you like! That's half the fun. Some
members enter the names of members requesting the item into the search bar on the
Message page to see who are active members, and this influences their decision, but
it is your  choice how you decide.
Arrange pick-up with one person only, NOT "it's on the veranda, first one here gets it.",
otherwise you'll become very unpopular with fellow group members.
In conjunction with this paragraph we suggest you read the paragraphs related to your
safety contained in the Disclaimer.
11) FREECYCLE ETIQUETTE:
"Be nice." We've got a great little community here so when you arrange to pick up an
item from another Freecycle Member it is basic good manners to accommodate them
as much as possible and not cause them inconvenience.

ARRANGING PICK-UP TIME: Fit in with what suits the offerer. The offerer may agree
to hold it for you if requested, but this is their decision; generally items should be pick-
ed up within three days.

BEING RELIABLE: This is most important. When you arrange a pick-up time and place
BE THERE ON TIME. Never change your mind and simply not show up!If something
unavoidable prevents you going then CONTACT THE OTHER PARTY AND LET
THEM KNOW.  Reports of "no-shows" will be treated very seriously, and the "two
strikes and you're out of the group" rule will apply.
If you experience "no-shows" please report it to your moderators.

USE EMAIL: Do not ask an offerer to phone you. They are giving you something for
nothing, you can't expect them to have to pay to do that. If they suggest phone contact
that is fine, but recipients should not.

The above Etiquette rules are very important for the smooth running of the group. We
have had very good members leave when they have experienced repeated incon-
venience created by intended recipients. If you violate these rules, which after all are
just good manners, then you run the risk of being banned from the group. Reluctantly
we will unsubscribe members who refuse to respect other members rights, feelings
and privacy.  
         
That is about it... 
Have fun keeping good stuff out of landfill!