Give-away shops,freeshops,free stores orswap shops are stores where all goods are free. They are similar tocharity shops, with mostly second-hand items—except that everything is available at no cost. All goods are freely given away, although some operate a one-in, one-out–type policy (swap shops). Free stores constitute a form of constructivedirect action that provides a shopping alternative to amonetary framework, allowing people to exchange goods and services outside of a money-based economy.
The anarchist1960s countercultural groupthe Diggers[1] 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.[2] The Diggers took their name from the originalEnglish Diggers led byGerrard Winstanley[3] and sought to create a mini-society free of money andcapitalism.[4]
Another recent development in the give-away shop movement is the creation of theFreecycle Network. It began inArizona 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 theAgora Project [he] in 2006, and in Australia viaZiilch in 2011.[5] These websites allow for goods to be freely listed and acquired by others at no cost.
