CollegeBay: A Resale Marketplace for College Students

Abstract - The increasing costs of educational materials and essential goods for students have led to a growing demand for affordable alternatives. CollegeBay is an online reselling platform designed specifically for college students to buy and sell used textbooks, electronics, furniture, and other necessities. This study explores the objectives, design methodology, and implementation of CollegeBay, highlighting its role in facilitating cost-effective and sustainable exchanges within college communities. The platform incorporates features such as user verification, post moderation, and real-time chat, ensuring a trustworthy and efficient marketplace. The research methodology includes a literature review, comparative analysis, and user-centric design principles, leading to a structured implementation strategy. The findings suggest that CollegeBay has the potential to improve affordability and reduce waste, aligning with broader trends in the sharing economy. This research contributes to the understanding of student-driven e-commerce and highlights best practices for designing niche online marketplaces. Key Words: Online reselling, secondhand marketplace, college students, sharing economy, platform