Give-away shop
Stores where all goods are free
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- 3 chapters
Related on Lably
Through Money and Capitalism
Terminology
They may also be called freeshops, free stores or swap shops.
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History
The anarchist 1960s countercultural group the Diggers opened free stores that simply gave away their stock, provided free food, distributed free drugs, gave away money, organized free music concerts, and performed works of political art. The Diggers took their name from the original English Diggers led by Gerrard Winstanley and sought to create a mini-society free of money and capitalism.
Similar phenomena
Another recent development in the give-away shop movement is the creation of the Freecycle Network. It began in Arizona for the purpose of connecting people who had extra belongings to get rid of with people who needed something, organized as discussion/distribution lists, and usually hosted on one of the free websites. Similar concepts emerged in Israel via the Agora Project in 2006, and in Australia via Ziilch in 2011. These websites allow for goods to be freely listed and acquired by others at no cost.
Trinket trade boxes work similarly to swap shops, with boxes using running on a "one in, one out" policy. However these boxes are normally installed on lampposts or railings and users are expected to solely trade trinkets.

