Posted on 5/26/11 by Bryan Keithley · Comments
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Swap Stuff in Style: FreeCycle.org and TitleTrader.com
From the first time a caveman swapped his goat for another caveman's spiked club, swapping has been a great way to unload your unwanted items and get free stuff back in return. Craigslist was “the” swapping site for a while, but it's often hit-or-miss (at best). In this entry, we take a look at two dedicated swapping sites—each with something unique to offer—that represent the “next generation” of getting free stuff online.
First up is FreeCycle.org. Probably the only thing better than getting free stuff is knowing you're helping out the environment while doing it, and that's the idea behind FreeCycle, a non-profit organization which has really blown up in recent months. For eco-conscious communities as well as corporations practicing eco-responsibility, FreeCycle makes a lot of sense.
FreeCycle was set up with the goal of reducing landfill waste by setting up a swapping program. The site organizes member groups according to geographical region, and members can either post unwanted items to donate to the membership, or ask for items they need. Members can then swap items for free, all in the spirit of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” slogan, giving hand-me-down items a new home and saving some trash from going into the landfill in the process.
FreeCycle is especially useful for unloading your unwanted bulky items—table and chairs, computer monitors, unused lumber... the list is endless. Bulky items are a pain in the neck (and the back) to dispose of anyway, so why not find them a new home, brightening someone's day and de-cluttering your own life?
The second swapping site is called TitleTrader.com. TitleTrader goes by a points system, which seems like a very clean and efficient way to swap. As a member, you offer your unwanted items—they feature a lot of categories, but their most popular categories are stuff like DVDs, paperback books, and video games. These items are assigned points, and when another member wants your stuff, they pay only for shipping, and you get credit for your points. You can then use those points to pick out your own stuff.
It's an innovative system, and it seems to be working—over 180,000 items have been swapped thus far. TitleTrader is also offering 3 FREE items (points) for your first successful swap (with a positive feedback rating), so now is a great time to join. What are you waiting for? Get swapping!
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