How StuffRescue works: the free 3-mile radius and pickup codes

Everything within 3 miles of your home is free to rescue on StuffRescue. Beyond that, a rescue costs one flat $0.99, paid by the person picking up, and you see that cost on the item before you tap Rescue. The handoff is arranged in the in-app chat and confirmed at the door with a six-digit pickup code.

In short

• Posting, browsing and every rescue within 3 miles of home are free. The giver never pays.
• Beyond 3 miles, a rescue is one flat $0.99 from the rescuer's prepaid wallet, and a canceled rescue puts it back.
• A six-digit pickup code, seen only by the two people in the rescue, confirms the handoff at the door.
• The map shows neighborhoods, not addresses. Only the rescuer gets the exact spot, after the rescue.

For a screen-by-screen tour, see the StuffRescue guide.

What is free on StuffRescue, and when does a rescue cost $0.99?

Posting, browsing and rescuing anything within 3 miles of home are free, with no memberships or passes.

You can still rescue an item farther out. It costs one flat $0.99, paid by the rescuer, and it's the same 99 cents however far past the line the item sits. The giver never pays, for any rescue.

How is the 3-mile distance measured?

It's a straight line between your saved home location and the item's location, not a driving route, and it's worked out when you rescue and saved with that rescue, so a later edit can't change the cost.

You set your home location once, on the map, and then it stays locked, so nobody can move "home" next to an item. If yours is genuinely wrong, email support@stuffrescue.co.

When do you see the cost, and how is it paid?

The item shows the cost before you tap Rescue. Inside your radius, the fee line reads "Free rescue," with the distance. Beyond it, it reads "$0.99 rescue fee," with the distance and your wallet balance.

That 99 cents comes out of a prepaid wallet you load in $5, $10, $15 or $20 amounts. If the balance is short, the app asks you to load it first.

What happens after you tap Rescue?

1. Check the item, then tap Rescue

   Signed in, open an item on Discover, read the description, condition and fee line, then tap "Rescue this Item." The first person to claim it gets it.

2. A chat opens with the giver

   You'll see "It's yours! Rescue started." A chat between just the two of you opens, and the giver is notified.

3. The rescuer gets the exact pickup spot

   It appears under My Rescues, with a Directions button. If there's no exact location, settle the spot in the chat.

4. Agree on a time

   Settle a pickup time in the chat. It carries text, photos and a shared saved location.

5. Show the pickup code at the door

   The rescuer shows or reads out the six-digit code, and the giver checks that it matches.

6. The giver confirms the handoff

   The rescuer can mark the item picked up, but only the giver confirms the handoff. The item is marked "Rehomed," and the rescue is done.

How does the six-digit pickup code work at the door?

Every rescue gets its own six-digit code, so the item goes to the neighbor who actually rescued it.

• The rescuer sees "Your pickup code," split into two groups of three digits, with a reminder to show it on arrival.
• The giver sees the same code, one digit per box, under "Check the code before handing over," with the rule no match, no handoff.

Both of you can find it on My Rescues, or in the chat behind a "View pickup code" button.

• The code exists only while the rescue is awaiting pickup. Once the item is picked up or the handoff confirmed, it's gone.
• Nobody types the code into the app, and it doesn't unlock anything. It's a face-to-face check, not an ID check.

Who can see where an item is?

Nobody's home shows up on the map.

• The map shows neighborhood circles with item counts, never pins on houses.
• Distances are approximate, like "~2.3 mi," and the map won't zoom to street level.
• The exact spot goes only to the rescuer, only after the rescue, and it disappears if the rescue is canceled.
• Contact stays in the chat, so email addresses and phone numbers stay private.

What happens if plans change?

Either person can cancel while the rescue is still awaiting pickup. The item goes straight back up, the other person gets a notification and an email, and any 99-cent fee returns to the rescuer's wallet. A quick message in the chat first is the neighborly thing to do.

What doesn't StuffRescue do?

• No delivery yet. Every rescue is self pickup, arranged in the chat. Courier delivery is listed as coming soon.
• No groups, invite codes, memberships or passes. There's nothing to join first.
• No selling. Nothing is for sale, with no bidding, no haggling and no cash between neighbors.
• No item inspections. The person listing an item is responsible for its safety, condition and legality, so read the condition notes and ask questions. Here's what to check before you pick up free furniture.

Giving something away? Read how to get rid of a couch in Akron for free and listing photos that get stuff rescued. For the reasons behind all of this, see our mission.

Frequently asked questions

Is StuffRescue really free?

Yes — there is no fee to post, to browse, or to rescue anything inside your 3-mile circle. Past that line, one flat $0.99 covers the rescue, and you see it on the item first.

Does the giver ever pay?

No. The fee, when there is one, is paid by the person picking up. Posting is always free.

What if I haven't set a home location?

With nothing to measure from, no fee is charged, and items prompt you to set your home location to see distances. Set it once on the map; it locks after that.

Can someone else see my pickup code?

No. Only the giver and the rescuer in that rescue can see it, and only while the rescue is awaiting pickup.

Can StuffRescue deliver an item?

Not yet — every rescue is self pickup, arranged between the two of you in the chat.

Published by StuffRescue, a nonprofit in Akron, Ohio. Spotted something out of date? Email info@stuffrescue.co.