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In a world of online marketplaces and dot-com sensations like e-Bay and Amazon, two enterprising UCF students have created a similar Web site intended for people in the Orlando area. CollegeMart.net is a site where college students can find things they need at a reasonable price.
Or at least that's what Andre Piedrahita, 30, and his girlfriend Cristina Perez, 22, set out to accomplish when the site was launched on Aug. 25.
The Electrical Engineer majors use CollegeMart.net to provide students with a free service where they can buy and sell items that range from electronics to textbooks to used cars. "We know, by experience, about the outrageous prices that are being charged at the bookstore," said Piedrahita. "To make matters worse, the [UCF] Bookstore buys them back at ridiculously low prices."
Signing up with the site is free and relatively easy. In a few minutes it's possible to be registered, create a personal profile and post an item for sale. Users also have access to a message board that allows interaction between CollegeMart members.
Once a user finds an item they are interested in, they can send a message to the person selling that item. There are approximately 70 items currently posted on the site, including ads for roommates, textbooks, social events, bicycles and even employment opportunities.
Piedrahita emphasized that the Web site is not exclusively textbook oriented, but rather an "informative ... site with the purpose of serving and facilitating students in different aspects." The latest aspect added to the site is a list of employment classifieds where businesses can post internships or jobs available to students.
No one is discouraged from using the site to sell items. In fact, users from all over Florida are encouraged to post on the site, but the creators insist that it exists mainly to benefit college students.
Although any registered user can put an item on CollegeMart, there are some restrictions on what can be sold. The site prohibits the sale of illegal or derogatory items. Essentially, Piedrahita and Perez would like to keep the sale items related to student needs.
To help draw attention to the site, Piedrahita and Perez have made a habit of going to local night spots and taking pictures of people. "We use the gallery as a way to attract students to the site," Piedrahita says. The creators have set up this page in order to encourage students to get online and take a look at what they have to offer, along with getting a peek at their picture.
It's a unique method of promotion, but the duo was forced to get creative when UCF Business Services labeled CollegeMart.net as a vendor and prohibited them from posting flyers on campus.
Since its inception, CollegeMart has fielded more than 20,500 hits and 1,500 in the month of September alone. There are 69 registered users and over 130 postings. Despite the rapid growth of this free service, the creators still have no plans to start charging.
Instead, Piedrahita seeks sponsorships from local businesses in order to help provide "discounts to students through the web site." So far the idea is working. Various businesses have responded and CollegeMart may soon offer discounts at area stores.
Piedhahita and Perez hope that the site continues its brisk growth and UCF students keep responding to their efforts. As Piedrahita said, it's "created for students, by students."
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