College-centered auction site debuts

Black Issues in Higher Education, March 24, 2005 by Ronald Roach

MIAMI

In an effort to bring an eBay-like Web site to college students, a Miami company has introduced CollegeJunktion.com, an auction and trading Web site available at <www.collegejunktion.com/>. The new Web site creates an online community for students across the United States to buy, sell and exchange nearly anything students and others in academic communities might want. The site debuted on Feb. 18.

CollegeJunktion.com is a product of leading e-commerce company Miami Merchants Inc. Use of CollegeJunktion.com requires a valid ".edu" e-mail ID for students, professors, university staff or alumni to register in its database. The Web site is said to offer far greater savings when compared to generic auction Web sites like eBay. There are no listing or final value lees on College Junktion. Students can list all the items they want absolutely free, according to officials.

"The prices are set by the students, and the customers are students, so there's an inherent understanding of the needs and constraints of the student community. We heavily emphasize the community aspect by bringing together colleges from all over the world," says Jason L. Baptiste, president & CEO of Miami Merchants.

College Junktion is also in the process of signing on entire campuses in order to create one of the largest online auction communities. Web site officials say that CollegeJunktion.com will differ from other auction sites due to the possibility of social networking potential and membership benefits.

--Associated Press