Although snow lingers on the ground, many Ohio University students already have their minds focused on fest season.
Campus Shift, a cost-saving website devoted to offering deals to college students, will launch the “community” portion of its website Monday, allowing site users to access local business deals and downloadable or printable discounts, including a promotion that offers 34 percent off the original face value of 9Fest tickets.
The $20 tickets will be on sale at noon Monday and will be available for 36 hours. There are 1,000 tickets available, and the first 500 purchased will also include V.I.P passes, which will give students free drinks and allow them to meet 9Fest performers.
Campus Shift has secured about 2,000 users at 250 universities. The small team includes Zac Sebo, an OU alum and one of the founders of Kegfly, a website offering similar deals that shut down last year.
“I kind of think it’s good that Campus Shift was started by one of the guys that started Kegfly, so (users) trust a little bit more and understand it’s the same concept, but way better,” said Sebo, Campus Shift’s co-founder and vice president of operations.
Students can use the website to search and swap used, new, rental and electronic textbooks.
Campus Shift is also in the process of adding individual book chapters to the database, said Chris Haynes, co-founder and vice president of business development.
The database, which offers textbooks available on campus, searches its partner companies – including Amazon, BookRenter.com and Chegg – to match the cheapest prices for student inquiries.
As a safety precaution, users must register with an “.edu” email address to prove their student status, Sebo said. Once a book is sold, Campus Shift suggests “official” drop-off locations, he said.
When users decide to sell back their books, Campus Shift will produce a price for the book, based on the seller’s user rating.
Derek Haake, president and CEO of Campus Shift, developed the company’s software. With two patents pending, he said he hopes other companies will use the model to start their own companies.
“When I was in college, I had to pay for everything out of my paycheck,” Haake said. “The costs are painful.”
Once a student makes an initial purchase, U.S. dollars are no longer exchanged but are replaced by credits that serve as currency that can be used for further purchases on the site. Once students graduate, they are reimbursed with a check from Campus Shift.
Campus Shift recently presented to Student Senate, and Student Senate President Kyle Triplett said he wants to learn more about it before senate backs the company.
“That’s kind of a new thing I’ve never really heard before,” Triplett said. “I’m not sure if students are going to like that format or not. I think a lot would prefer to have the cash in hand and go from there. I’m not sure how students will respond to getting credit.”
Campus Shift profits by advertisements and kickbacks from textbook sales. The company is in the process of hiring interns to work for commission by running its social networking sites and recruiting businesses to offer deals. Those interested in the positions can email Haynes at chris@campushift.com.
sj950610@ohiou.edu
