With the primary goal of helping ease the landfill problems facing the UK, SnaffleUp is a classified ads Web site built to make it easy for those who donate or are looking for items to get together.
The best thing about it for those looking for items, is all items are donated, so you can do your bit to help, while getting products you need for your household.
For those donating the items, it not only helps them get rid of their house clutter, but also gives a good feeling knowing you’re helping others while at the same time helping the environment.
There’s also the option for being notified if something you’re looking for is offered on the site. Everything offered on the site is for free.
HOW IT WORKS
Donations
On the donation side, SnaffleUp asks for items to be in good shape, but other than that, almost anything can be donated.
All you do is sign up on the site, or once you’re a member, login an click on the “Rid of Stuff” link, and just describe the items or items you’re donating.
Once you give a description of the item, all you have to do is click save, and it’s on the site for others to see. You can also add an image, as it always helps searchers decide to get an item better if they can see it, along with the description.
You just include an email of your choice to be contacted at, and when someone wants your item, they’ll contact you to work out the details of delivery or collection.
Finding what you’re looking for
As far as looking for a specific item, searchers wanting to keep their search within their locality can simply type in their postcode in the box located at the top of the Web site page, along with what item they’re looking for.
If you’re not really looking for anything specific, you can look at the menu on the left of the page and click on categories you may be interested in to see if anything catches your fancy.
Once you select a time you’re interested in, a map will appear to show you where it’s located in order to keep delivery or collection cost low. The way to contact the owner will also appear at this time.
Delivery or collection
While it’s negotiable to how taking ownership of a product will be handled, usually the person receiving the free item pays for any costs.
After sending an email to the lister of the item, you simply contact them by email and arrange for collection or delivery.
Costs of products
As far as the items offered, everything is free, and the use of SnaffleUp is also free. Again, the only costs are related to picking up or receiving delivery of an item.
This is why SnaffleUp includes parameters of the geographic area so you can decide whether it’s worth the cost of receiving the donated item or not.
Length of listings
For those donating items, the item will displayed on SnaffleUp for 60 days. At that time it is removed from the site, although it can be relisted without having to describe the item again.
One thing to also keep in mind, is for those who donate to delete the item if someone has collected it, as you’ll continue to receive emails concerning an item if it is still listed on the site.
Wanted items
For those looking for specific items, those interests will also be removed after 60 days, in order to keep only those things people are really interested in listed.
If you still want an item, you can let it be known if your wanted item is removed. Items in wanted items can be relisted as many times as a person wants. The 60-day limitation is in place to keep things clean and efficient, while also keeping users from getting frustrated or disappointed.
Changing your mind
There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind about an item, but out of courtesy, it’s good to contact the donator so they can relist the item.
Electrical products
One thing that does differentiate SnaffleUp from other free-item classified sites is the inclusion of electrical items. It’s always good to check out your items when you receive them, for safety’s sake.
Returning item
It’s possible that someone may be willing to receive back an item they donated for free, but obviously their purpose is to help someone else out while keeping it from just being thrown in the landfill.
So it would be better to simply list it on SnaffleUp if you no longer have use for it, and recycle the product like the original owner.
By Gary Bourgeault
May 4, 2009
© Daype Inc.
source: snaffleup.co.uk