As a new generation of University undergrads arrived in Charlottesville two weeks ago, there was surely one new and clueless first year who -- aided by parents, siblings and extended family -- slaved up three flights of stairs to find a dinky 10 foot by 15 ft room that would be his or hootr home for the next year.
Thus begins the struggle to come to terms with the concept of a "dorm room" and turn it into a stylin' and chill hang out. Desks and beds weighing tons are moved to maximize floor space and maybe fit a fridge, table or even (gasp) a couch! For those first years -- or upperclassmen for that matter -- wishing to save a buck and avoid Bed Bath & Beyond, there's a new option for acquiring affordable furniture and other assorted college paraphernalia; the newly launched, student-run auction Web site, UVAuction.com.
Taking cues from the now familiar Ebay.com, Willow Noonan and Alp Akbasli, two third-year Engineering students, began developing the Web site in mid-July. Now finally completed, the Web site was launched on the first day of classes. Not only will the Web site offer furniture, but also used books, sublets and other items that might be particularly useful to a University student.
The Web site is limited to those with valid University e-mail addresses -- a pool of users which includes graduate and undergraduate students, as well as professors. If the service becomes a success, Noonan said there is a possibility of expanding the website to allow use by those outside the University as well.
So why bother with a U.Va.-specific auction site when there is always good old Ebay?
"The purpose is to facilitate the easy exchange of things like furniture, that might normally be thrown out or just given away...things that might not warrant the cost of shipping," Noonan said. "By limiting this to people in the Charlottesville community, we can ensure that the pick up and exchange of goods is local."
Noonan said the Web site does not intend to compete with Ebay.
"People may try to say that we are providing a service that already exists with [sites like] Ebay and Half.com but we are simply trying to facilitate the exchange among the local community," he added.
Because membership is limited to those with valid University e-mail addresses, its users can be ensured that they are bartering only with members of the University community. If, after researching an item online, one is still skeptical, he or she can go and check it out since the item will be located within the area.
Another feature of UVAuction.com that was designed with the hopes of better meeting a University student's needs is the organization of textbook sales. Textbooks are listed under name, author and course pneumonic. Since all textbooks will come from University students, it will be easier to find relevant used books through this service than through Half.com, which contains books from many sources outside a collegiate setting.
Noonan and Akbasli said they will actively moderate the Web site and ban people who abuse it by blocking their e-mail and IP address. Both explained that e-mail addresses will not be shared with outside companies, and e-mail addresses or private information (the name, University address and e-mail one must provide to become a user) will not be sold.
Because it is a University-only service, all those using the service are bound by the honor code. There is even a link to the honor code on the Web site as part of the terms and conditions. Basic terms and conditions include: "no posting of false items" and "the seller is bound to selling price at auction end date," etc.
Feedback will also be maintained so buyers can see a particular seller's background information. Like Ebay, UVAuction.com also has a watch list service to allow potential buyers to easily check on an item's progress, even before they've placed a bid.
An item can be left up for auction for one to 21 days, whatever the seller chooses. Once the auction is closed, the responsibility of getting the item falls on the buyer. The seller must facilitate the exchange, but there is no obligation to deliver the item. In anticipation of some site users not having cars, Noonan and Akbasli have planned to contract with a company that will provide delivery services for a small fee if a buyer so chooses.
Noonan and Akbasli major in computer engineering/science and civil engineering, respectively, and said they were able to gain real-life experience through their work with the Web site. Both said despite the hours and money spent on producing UVAuction.com, advertising, hosting the Web site and moderating (all completely privately funded), the experience with business, marketing and computer science is priceless.
"It was fun and hard, at the same time," Akbasli said. "There were a lot of things we didn't think about. Advertising didn't become an issue until later on. Even as we were designing the site, we were changing the ideas. The entire process was very dynamic and with time things were added and changed to end up where we are now."
Both women were adamant that profit was not their goal, as the service is completely free. Their intention was to develop a system that provided a useful service to the University community. In the future, they hope to continue working on the Web site and expand it to include other features such as job listings.
Chris Alexander, third-year College student and friend of the creators, said he has visited the Web site.
"I think the layout and design are really inviting." Alexander said. "The entire idea behind the site is something U.Va. has needed for years."
Alexander said he will use the Web site if he has something to sell or buy and expects the auction site to out-compete Ebay within the University community because UVAuction is a free service.
Third year Engineering student Allison McAvoy, who has also used the service, was worried about who would be using the auction Web site in the future.
"I think more expensive items aren't really going to sell to students so it is a good thing for alumni to have access to the website, but I don't know if they will actually use it," McAvoy said.
McAvoy posted an oil painting print which she did herself of the Chapel in hopes that alumni might be interested in purchasing some U.Va. memorabilia.
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