How to Cross Post a Freecycle Email

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Cross posting refers to the act of posting the same email, with exactly the same items, to more than one Freecycle group. This is possible if you belong to more than one Freecycle group, and members often use it as a way to get to more readers and guarantee that an item will be picked up quicker.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Make sure that your Freecycle group allows cross posting. Large groups may frown upon this option because it limits the chances of their own members getting an item while upping the numbers of emails considerably.

Step2

Post in the Freecycle group in your area first. If you belong to more than one group, start with the one you use more often or the one with more members. This is common courtesy, but also a good way to ensure more responses.

Step3

Wait a few days between posts. Rather than deciding to cross post a Freecycle email immediately, post your item in a single group and then wait some time to evaluate what kind of response you get. If you have no takers or need to get rid of the item immediately, you can then post your message to a second Freecycle group.

Step4

Let the group know you are cross posting your email. This will usually get members to respond faster and to commit to a pick up quicker, since they may be worried that they will lose the item if they wait too long.

Step5

Don't flood the same list with more than one post for the same items, even if you are using different wording. This is not considered a cross post but rather a repost, and it is in violation of Freecycle rules, which ask for no reposting of a single item more than once a month.

Tips & Warnings

When cross posting items, be fair. The next time you have something to give away, use the group where you found your last item, so you keep things balanced.
Don't cross post emails to groups too far from your location. While this may seem like a good idea, it usually ends up with no takers, as long distances often make the pick up not worth the trip.
Don't break the rules. If your group forbids cross posting and you do it anyway, you risk being banned from the group.