the EEVBlog forum perpetual freebies thread - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: WastelandTek
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 05:26:54 pm
content: So, A high end PC hardware enthusiast forum I used to frequent had a thread like this and it was very successful. I looked back a couple pages and saw a few free listings, but no central thread, so even though I'm pretty new here I'm going to just be audacious and start one.The basic idea is if you have something you are ready to get rid of that isn't really worth selling, but is too useful/cool/historic to bin, or you just can't see going to waste, you can offer it up for cost of shipping. A lot of people will stipulate that "takers" must also be "givers" but that is your choice, it does help to keep the actual freeloaders under control.It is a good idea to prominently indicate your region in your post as shipping is clearly an issue. I'll startFree for actual cost of shipping, US-assembly manual for EICO 435/DC wideband oscilloscope, lots of big diagrams in it-SanDisk Ultra II Compact flash cards, 15MB/s, 2GB, I have a pretty good pile of these-PNY 2GB SD cards 3 packs, several of these

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 09:09:55 pm
content: Sounds like a fair idea, let's give it a spin and see how well it works.It strikes me that it might particularly suit those little odds and sods that one might otherwise either hoard until they're useless, or trash for taking up space.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 09:26:15 pm
content: We've had a few of these over the years and for it to be successful in the longer term it needs be a sticky IMO.Probably in this Buy/Sell board would be the best.Others:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/the-parts-trading-thread-pay-it-forward!/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/excess-parts-'sell'-or-throw-away/

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 11:08:17 pm
content: The problem with having a sticky FREE thread is localisation. Most of the time it won't be appropriate to people reading ti due to geographical issues.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 11:26:32 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 03, 2017, 11:08:17 pmEntirely your call Dave, of the 2 that I linked one was immediately remembered and the other spotted with a forum search for the first.No doubt there are many more that have disappeared into obscurity. If this is to be ongoing this thread need be well supported or made sticky IMO.When something is seen locally it's always going to be easier for the gifter and the wanter but we shouldn't overlook that postal rates can be prohibitive for cheap andavailableitems, but for those that aren't so easy to find or unobtainium the postal cost won't matter one little bit.For instance I got a 230VAC Tek PSU from a US member for one my current probe amps that could be described as rare as rocking horse shite but I was happy to pay the postage that BTW was more than the value of the PSU.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2017, 11:58:36 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on July 03, 2017, 11:08:17 pmWhy can't we have a sticky US thread? There are quite a few of us here.

author: kalel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2017, 01:07:43 am
content: Quote from: edavid on July 03, 2017, 11:58:36 pmJust a personal opinion, I wouldn't mind having a sticky US thread (even though it wouldn't relate to me - no problem), but it would be better if  was added to the thread name in that case.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2017, 02:33:16 am
content: It sounds like a nice idea. If you can work it out, that's great. I do have some stuff but the shipping would be insalely expensive. About US$11 per pound to USA.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2017, 03:58:44 am
content: Worst idea everReasons:1. Already have a perfectly working system. No system, just post a thread.2. You don't want to make large threads of redundant posts (once the item is gone).3. The thread can no longer be easily locked.4. It is hard to track if the item is still available or given away etc.5. It negatively affects google rankings (better to have unique threads).6. Attracts people join the forum to quickly inflate their post count with junk posts to try and score freebies.7. Large threads are a haven for off topic posts which makes "Show new replies" annoying.8. Already people asking for a US freebies sticky thread. Does that mean we get and Aussie, UK, Germany one?9. This Buy/Sell/Wanted forum is a low traffic forum, it needs more unique threads not stickies.I'm not interested in arguing this, just stating the facts as I see em.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2017, 01:13:31 pm
content: Quote from: Shock on July 04, 2017, 03:58:44 amReally? That perhaps qualifies as one of the most hyperbolic hyperboles I've heard this year. There is an almost endless supply of worse ideas, for example, barbecuing sausages while naked.Another example of a worse idea would, IMHO, be using 'How much will Google like it?' as a criterion in deciding what conversations to have between like minded people and how to have them.Quote from: Shock on July 04, 2017, 03:58:44 am

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2017, 11:42:12 pm
content: Quoteparticularly if that rather pale sausage turns out not to be.But I am with Shock, mostly. A long thread for lots of disparate items from various sources isn't going to work very well. Separate threads per item is the way to go.But... why not have a freebies topic, perhaps a sub-topic of buy'n'sell. Much easier to ignore posts for, say, competitions or just because you don't want to see them. Doesn't interfere with probably selling, etc. Easily killed off and cut out if it turns out not to be worth the disk space.

author: Nightmare4u2c
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2017, 03:13:30 am
content: I pm'd Wasteland and it works for us as it just happens we are both in Washington. Not sure if it's possible for a thread to self purge old posts. I do understand the problem with location and people not wanting to dig thru a thread for something. I also see a benefit to having a central area for free stuff too. Maybe a tab on the main forum page instead of in the buy sell area. Just my two cents.