Students Develop Local Marketplace App

Seniors aim to boost accessible campus economy

Krista ClawsonTHE SANTA CLARAOctober 29, 2015[dropcap]S[/dropcap]anta Clara students have created a Craigslist-like platform solely for university students. Spree, the iOS app, allows Broncos to buy and sell items with just a few swipes of the finger, free of charge.

Two Santa Clara seniors, Marco Ciccone and Riley Parsons, developed the innovative iPhone application last year.

It was officially released in May. Now, more than 500 Santa Clara students are on Spree.

Spree allows students on college campuses to put their items up for sale and browse what their peers are selling.

To sell an item, a user simply snaps a photo on their phone, uploads it, provides a description and it’s up for sale.

“It’s free to download and you keep every last penny from what you sell through Spree,” Ciccone said.

To sign up, one simply downloads the app and then registers with his or her Santa Clara email address.

“While I think by itself the idea of buying and selling goods isn’t unique, the fact that it is restricted to people with a [Santa Clara] email makes the idea viable,” said junior Sophie Hinshaw. “Platforms like Craigslist have a huge amount of unknowns, which this app eliminates.”

Once a user is logged on, he or she is able to view all the current listings by eleven categories. Among these are clothing, electronics, books, tickets and tasks and services.

Some students praise the app’s various category offerings.

“It’s a really great concept, especially as students transition from living in the dorms to living off campus and purchasing their own furniture and electronics,” said junior Cat Roberts.

Buyers and sellers are able to negotiate price as well as a time and location of pick-up through an in-app messaging service.

The app does not rely on personal information, such as phone numbers and email addresses.

“I think it’s awesome that two students thought of this app because there are a lot of times where I need a book or even a small task done, but am unsure of how to reach out to the student community for some help,” said sophomore Anna Bauer.

Because the app is extremely location-sensitive, it eliminates the need to search too far for items in a pinch.

“Sometimes it’s stressful if I need something but don’t have the time in my day to go off campus and find it, and I feel like this app could really help out with that,” Bauer said.

The application’s developers are always seeking feedback from users. An Android version is currently in the works. They are also upgrading their website so that students can use Spree without an iPhone.

Contact Krista Clawson at kclawson@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.