Can I make use of freegle
As a volunteer, can I respond to offers on Freegle and use Freegle in the same way as a member with no admin status?
Of course you can - you're a member of the group after all! Sometimes it feels a bit awkward, though, so below are some things some volunteers do to make sure they don't beat other members to the post (pun intended), and keep looking - and acting - squeaky clean.
To make sure your group stays 'non-profit' (part of Freegle's affiliation criteria), don't give yourself an advantage by asking for items before they go on the site. It's also unethical, and likely to bring Freegle as a whole into disrepute.
The following are suggestions of good practice - they're not meant to put you at a disadvantage. However, members do notice and complain if they think group volunteers are taking advantage of their position.
- Expect no different treatment from other members in transactions because of your volunteer/moderator/group owner 'status'.
- It can be easier if you don't ask for items you've approved yourself (a big volunteer team helps here), but that depends on how many people moderate on your group and how often.
- Leave a short while before responding to posts, so you aren't always the first to reply.
- Some volunteers only post wanteds, rather than responding to offers.
- You could set up an alternative ID for posting and responding, so the member doesn't feel under any obligation - though a member might feel better knowing who you are, rather than you hiding behind another ID.
- Don't feel you have to state that you're a volunteer - you're no more or less important than any other member when it comes to the decision of the person whose post you've responded to.
- You could encourage the Fair offer policy to be considered by all members of your group, to show you're not going to nip in quickly!
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