[Lulu_Colorado]

I've been posting in the Craigslist and Freecycle wanted sections, saying I want clothes for kids aged 5-10, boys and girls and they keep getting flagged and deleted!! I am so mad and frustrated right now! I'm not saying why I need them, although I did at first and the mods on Freecycle told me to remove that part. Now I'm just saying I need clothes, in decent/good condition, thanks and have a nice day. it is STILL getting deleted!!!

What am I doing wrong? I feel like everything is working against me right now! What can I put so people don't delete me? I do need clothes in that age range (not sure of sizes?), and they do need to be for both girls and boys. I'm not sure how else I can say it to appease the internet trolls. Grrrr.

And I hope I don't go asgainst any TOS on here by mentioning these sites by name.

[txwannabemom]

are you labeling your requests

Wanted: clothes for 5-10 yr old boy

My freecycle people in houston are super concerned about labeling your posts correctlly- and they will delete it for not being labeled....

[spitzlvr]

On my freecycle they only let you post 1 or 2 wanted a month - they feel the point of freecycle is to give people a place to recycle things. not a wishing board. And, as far as that goes I agree - on our list you used to see tons of wanted! And not just little stuff - things like Xbox, laptops, cars..... people were using the list as a wish list.

However, your request would be fine - we have a number of request like that - usually in the body it specifies you are looking for more than 1 child

[DianeS]

I'm sorry to hear that.

According to my local craigslist folks, it takes a LOT of flags to have a post removed. And flags are given by the computer, so each person can logistically flag a post only once or twice. So it's not just one or two mods who don't like it, it's a bunch of people.

SO - things to check in your ad (in craigslist, anyway)
Make sure it's in the right place. It needs to be in the "wanted" section, probably not anywhere else.
Make sure you're only posting in the craigslist that works closest to your home - not also in neighboring ones. You have to pick *one* to post in even if two apply.
If you're posting multiple times, make sure they are at least 48 hours apart.
If the TOS allows, reassure people you're not going to sell them, that you're going to use them.

And of course read the full terms of service for the site, to be sure you're not violating any other things that you don't know about.

If all else fails, post requests for one size at a time. Like post for girls size seven, and when you have some of that post for boys size five. Etc. On craigslist, 1%-2% of the ads that are removed have nothing in them that is against the TOS, they're just really really annoying to the members. I can't think of anything particularly annoying about a request for clothing - especially gently used clothing which is what I assume you're asking for - but if people think you're being given it and then selling it they could get pretty annoyed.

Good luck!

[Lulu_Colorado]

Thanks you guys. I think I will just ask for a size at a time. When I say what it's for I get flagged, when I don't say what it's for people e-mail me and ask why I need so many sizes, then I tell them and they don't offer anything. Waste of time! Hopefully the new approach will work better. That was my 1st and only freecycle post too. Oh well. I got a bunch of stuff 75% off today so it made up for the bad luck online! Thanks again everyone

[gwenrenee007]

Another good place to look is consignment stores at the end of the season. If you go in and talk to the owners and let them know what you are doing and why you need the clothes you may be able to get the clothes that don't sell. They usually donate them so why not to you! I got a lot of name brand almost new clothes at good will. I go to a more affluent area and go to their good will you would be amazed what they get rid of!

Good luck!

[stevenstwin]

Originally Posted by Lulu_Colorado

Thanks you guys. I think I will just ask for a size at a time. When I say what it's for I get flagged, when I don't say what it's for people e-mail me and ask why I need so many sizes, then I tell them and they don't offer anything. Waste of time! Hopefully the new approach will work better. That was my 1st and only freecycle post too. Oh well. I got a bunch of stuff 75% off today so it made up for the bad luck online! Thanks again everyone

I've heard this happen to other people, and I just don't get it. Someone here went over to pick up some baby stuff from a lady she connected with on one of those sites, and when she happily mentioned it was for foster children, the woman got rude and refused to give her the stuff!! But I'm really scratching my head trying to figure out why they are willing to give to a family, but not to a foster family???

[AmahMama]

With the economy being what it has become - in our small town - Freecycle has become a want/wish list. Right down to wireless laptops and specific 32" flat screened tv's complete with remote.... I would do as suggested and do 1 size at a time - most of the time the consignment stores and thrift shops will give a fp discounts. I have a lot of friends that have friends that have friends and usually get given more clothing than I could ever use. I then donate to our 'clothing closet' or the Foster Parent Association to be given to those who don't have the 'stock' that I've built up. The FPA is also a good network place - for all kinds of support and ideas.

[DianeS]

Yard sales are a good place for a large amounts of childrens clothing, too. If you show up at a yard sale near the end of the day and offer $5 for all the clothing they have left, a lot will take it.

Sure there will be a lot of sorting, and some clothing you have to throw out because it's junk, but you'd have that with donations too, so no real difference.

As far as people not cooperating when you tell them you're becoming a foster parent, remember that most people think foster parents get paid for doing it. Why should they donate when they really believe you have money and could pay for the stuff?

[Boulderbabe]

Lulu,

I don't know what county you're in, but lots of the county foster parents associations in Colorado have "clothing banks" where they share kids' clothes. Contact your local foster parents association, and see if anybody there can help you out.