Data on Free boxes and For Sale and Free!

1. Rhoads South Free Box Data - *new item* (item gone by next inventory)

1st Floor:

 

 

2nd Floor (my floor):

3rd Floor:

 

 

2. Surveys

Rhoad South Free Boxes (note: very few responses):

https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-B822MCQJ

 

General Free Box Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-XJPBTCQJ/

 

BMC For Sale or Free! Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-786GWCQJ/

 

-Rhoads South free box survey was emailed out by the dorm president along with other stuff

-General free box survey and For Sale or Free! survey posted onto the For Sale or Free! facebook page

 

3. Interviews

note: Interviewees included 2 first years, 1 sophomore, 2 juniors, 1 4th year senior, and 1 5th year senior. 3 of these interviewees are from my dorm hall.

 

everything is paraphrased/reduced to notes

 

1. Free Box interview

What has been your experience with free boxes during your time at Bryn Mawr (over the years)? How have your feelings and attitudes of free boxes or free boxes themselves changed?

 

-got a lot of nice things, at first it was strange, never have seen before, so weird, after moving out-go through free boxes in multiple dorms -points to rug in room

what do you mean by nice things? -nice new sweaters, pillow-points to pillow in dorm, points to lamp-people are lazy, don’t want anymore-surprised by pppl “throw away good things”

 

-very different based on dorm, different on floors, more or less junk-empty vs full, never really looked freshman year, still don’t really look through them, but put more stuff in the free box, more stuff to get rid of, more stuff in free boxes before graduation, want it to be useful to someone else, hassle to sell.

 

-some free boxes are great, others are not-someone noted free boxes of rich people better than others-pems and rock are better-others depend on year and who is there

 

-no change, really bad at free boxing, friends are really good-go dorm to dorm find the coolest stuff, maybe put stuff in once

 

-I look through them, never take anything out, I wished I utilized it more

 

-Freshman year-check often, right across from room, not because needed something, hoping to get lucky, found a lot of stuff i still use them-good quality, did it often, friends called me free box scavenger-decent quality products, would not go around campus, just one in front of my room, free box by myself, haven’t used free boxes for a while, will have to leave a lot of stuff before graduating, hope that someone will find my stuff useful after i done using, free boxed by lab notebook-someone could use it, feel rewarded when someone takes my stuff

 

-From the very first time-soph in high school-knew I was going to be using-genius, great way to not throw out put to good use, similar concept in other schools, toured Rhoads-saw on tour, thought was cool, Wustl had it too, already knew when I got to Bryn Mawr-free boxing right away, mom puts in free box, free box a lot freshman year, less sophomore and junior, selection has gotten less good, I go crazy with good selection, when I’m bored i go free boxing, walk up and down the floors, wearing shirt and sweatpants from free box right now, a little awkward-sweatpants belong to next door neighbor, don’t want her to see me w them on, free box for presents for family, friends, free box particularly good before school, ppl know me because of my free box video, aunts and uncles tell me I shouldn’t tell ppl get stuff from free box, current roommate now used to judge me, now accepted it

 

What are your primary reasons for giving/taking from the free boxes?

 

-don’t want anymore-feel should put in because I take stuff out, good way to reallocate resources efficiently, no reasons, just pass by, also don’t want to throw away.

 

-giving-clothing, cups, etc in good condition-not worth selling or throwing away, someone could conceivably want or use, for taking-looks useful, clothing-usually don’t take-picky, never looking for something specific

 

-because it’s free, not worth putting on for sale or free, free box shopping is fun

 

-give-clothing that couldn’t sell, get rid of, stuff don’t have room for, not really take-but not clothing-something decorative-took flask once

 

-free, sometimes good stuff

 

-when something not used, no longer useful, too lazy to sell, take if useful, something i needed, free boxed rain boots, then picked up rain boots-felt like perfect timing-best free box experience i had

 

-boredom, but have had less time, walk by and poke through,

get rid of stuff, get and return to free box, clear closet and too lazy to take to thrift shop

 

What items do you tend to take, give from the free boxes?

 

-variety, if there’s something nice i’m gonna take it-nice sweaters

 

-mostly clothing, sometimes give toiletry items don’t like, logistics of selling are tedious

 

-clothes

 

-don’t really free box-try to limit consumption-free box usually junk that would be in my room

 

-once i put a button pin from a free box, never took anything, like to look

 

-mostly clothes, doesn’t fit, want as many clothes as possible

 

-clothes, mostly what is in the free box, shampoo and body wash at the end of the year, used makeup-gross but i do that, whatever is in there and I like, interesting books, never take bedsheets-that’s dirty, pencils, pens, anything that’s good, hit or miss, whatever is in the free box

 

Please describe the encounters/lack of encounters you have had with people due to free boxes.

 

-never approached by someone, never see someone w/ item-would not talk to people based on free box exchange-awkward, no point

 

-no encounters, but last year-i took articles of clothing but thought about whose stuff if was-thought about how it was strange if saw me wearing it, thought about taking things to different halls to create more distance

 

-none-went free box shopping with a friend, really check only in another dorm

 

-freshman year-roommate always at free box and find good stuff and I wouldn’t, put her prescription skin cream in free box-weird, people get really upset when seeing free box thing they put on for sale and free

 

-one one time-look together with floormate, my friend got a shot glass

 

-never encounter others while free boxing, didn’t know anyone in hallway freshman year

 

-don’t want to encounter neighbor w/ sweatpants from neighbor, awkward to be caught free boxing, when someone opens door when you’re free boxing, seen people wear stuff i put in free box-spot easily

 

Any more comments or personal stories about free boxes in regards to the Bryn Mawr community?  

 

-not only in Bryn Mawr, a lot of other schools-college thing, really fun when people move out-w/ my friends going thru free boxes.

 

-a lot of friends go free box shopping in groups-multiple dorms, find things they really like by doing that, nice way to recirculate items to other people in bmc, excitement and satisfaction to getting something you like

 

-interesting-free box etiquette-don’t sell stuff from the free box, all really nuanced, how much is common sense how much is community values?

 

-really cool aspect, wish i used it more, free, good stuff, also have to go on free box hunt, look in other dorms

 

-like the idea, basically recycling, alternative to throwing away, being resourceful, someone else pick up, going around community, good to care about other people, but some people don’t want used stuff, small community-awkward for people to get recognized with other people’s stuff, more options

-overall, Bryn Mawr community loves the free box, before end of school-one hell family goes drunk free box shopping-really funny, visiting friend in dorm-stop by free box really quickly, people eye stuff from free box on me and say i was eyeing that too-adventure, go to free box together

 

B. For Sale or Free! facebook page interview

What has been your experience with the facebook page during your time at Bryn Mawr (over the years)? How have your feelings and attitudes of the page and the page itself changed?

 

-very useful, bought and sold a lot-points to furnitures in dorm, efficient way to reuse in community, one time i only kept facebook for this page, especially independence pass selling, the page has stayed the same

 

-used to be a different page-some students posted in other languages-someone got mad-admin shutdown, and new page started and has been fine, have always bought-but increasingly sold more-buy a lot of things

 

-someone pointed out that i was always on it-“queen of the free and for sale page” but I was like thanks, i guess-it was funny-a lot of stuff from free box or facebook page-points to lamp from free box, ottoman from facebook page, points to sweater, spray and eyeshadow from for sale or free, a lot of clothes from facebook page-it’s a good place!

 

-only last semester successful in selling, get annoyed because-i like making money, business minded-can’t do on for free and for sale, sold math textbook for way cheaper, want to make more money if i can-feel guilty, friends post and comment no as joke-get annoyed, everything has felt the same over the years, I have felt weird trying to buy something, a lot of interested but not buying

 

-like to browse, never bought anything, but know of others buying and selling, great system

 

-sell before graduating, facebook layout change-makes easier to sell-can indicate sold, has become more convenient, turned off notifications-annoying, this year less posts because of indicating sold/not sold, price in description, has become more organized, some ppl posted textbooks, but now there is a different page for that, less overwhelming during textbook season, not as related to academic, sell out of season stuff-sell summer and spring stuff now, target price range is low-people won’t buy stuff expensive stuff-over $50/60 unless it’s an electronic device, really cheap price even if product is worth more, focused on getting rid of things

 

-free and sale came after free box, bought coconut water, food, clothes, makeup, look at stuff and not buying, people are reasonable with prices and willing to negotiate, cheaper than stores, thrift stores, overall high quality-average bmc student pretty well off, starting last and this year-more septa passes-more people use page vs free box now over the years at bmc

 

What are your primary reasons for selling/buying from the facebook page?

 

-convenience-easier to buy, sell on facebook than ebay, etc, no shipping costs, very cheap prices, would never buy/ think of buying anywhere else.

 

-selling-something don’t want or need-didn’t fit, don’t wear, new/nice rather make some money, buying-used to look at page more-see something i would buy or want

 

-buy-because much cheaper, very convenient, don’t feel like walking, like online shopping without shipping, get to explore other people’s dorms-community oriented space

 

-selling-money, haven’t worn, don’t use, for ex: ice cube trays set of two-selling extra stuff, buying-bought a shirt because wanted a shirt, plan on buying a conditioner for cheap and I know I have to buy at some point-easier than going off campus-usually don’t buy stuff, don’t comment with 20 comments already there

 

-really good deals, cheap j crew

 

-make money-getting paid without working, need money, clean room and sell, trying different style of fashion this year-didn’t want to pay a lot of money, keep eye out for clothes i would want to try for cheap on page, buy a lot of clothes

 

-really easy to sell-take pic and post, too nice for the free box, really easy to comment interested and message seller

 

What are the factors in deciding prices/free?

 

-really cheap, overall people sell cheaply, not many people buy my stuff, reduce the original price to a reasonable price.

 

-may day dresses-don’t want to wear dress more than one year-buy and resell may day dress-sell for same as buy, buy something online-sell for less than paid but still similar, sometimes guessing-take in account other prices on page

 

-retail price and how much i would hypothetically pay

 

-relative to what other people selling it for-slightly below what i paid for-rain boots-factor in usage 2/3 of price, boots never used and were taking up space-relative to how they seem, highest people would buy them for

 

-look at other people-see how much people will ask for similar products and quality and adjust accordingly

 

-based on whats been sold before, similar price, venmo is really useful to pay through phone

 

Does the person selling affect your decision to buy something?

 

-not really

 

-sometimes, not really-knowing the person is odd sometimes-wearing in front of them,

 

-it matters, first approach friend with small feet first before facebook page for rain boots, w/ friends-ask them to let me have first shot at j crew sweater, rather bargain strangers, pay more to friends because I understand where they’re are coming from in terms of money, give friends first pick on size 6 shoes

 

-no

 

-if electronics-hard to see quality-rather buy from friend-trust more about quality of product, otherwise no

 

-a little-don’t like them, won’t buy from them, more willing to ask for discount/ buy from friend

 

What items do you tend to buy/sell from the facebook page?

 

-buy furniture, sell shoes and clothes

 

-sell clothing, buy clothing, sometimes other miscellaneous stuff-command hooks, hardware, multiples and not use all, etc

 

-clothes, didn’t come here with a lot of clothes, need clothes for cold weather

 

-don’t usually buy-just shirt, maybe shampoo, on a whim, or know i need and is a better price

 

-look at clothing, look at independence passes a lot

 

-sell makeup and clothing, buy clothing-try new things at a cheap price, recently selling cocktail mixology set

 

-clothes

 

Please describe the encounters/lack of encounters you have had with people due to the facebook page.

 

-very fast, sometimes awkward meetup, because never meet before, not too bad, just there to buy, at first it was strange to trade with peers, no issues, pretend they don’t exist post transaction

 

-2 ways-find a time to go in person or leave outside door, prefer outside door, payment thru phones like venmo-hard to coordinate scheduling, awkward to refuse, strange transactional moment, and people forget

 

-friends with people because of page, went to wrong Pem to get eyeshadow-hung out due to mistake, unexpected encounters, helps to explore places, most transactions in person, one time off campus-strange, know how to get around dorms because of facebook page-enjoy exploring dorms and meeting people.

 

-don’t keep in contact afterward, very business

 

-interact with hall mates due to page, nice small community-scroll through together

 

-difficult to make time to meet to sell, recently putting outside my room and put money under door-a lot easier, never have conflict, people very nice w/ communication

 

-bummed when something is already sold when I wanted something, transaction moment-knock, try on, give money, and leave, a little awkward when kind of know but not really friends-don’t know if you’re supposed to say hi afterwards-but don’t really care, get over it

 

Any more comments or personal stories about the facebook page in regards to the Bryn Mawr community?

 

-bought a lot of good things and good prices, I’ve only sold 2 things, good platform for students to exchange w/ each other, facebook is convenient, main reason I check facebook. Sometimes people sell inappropriate things like bras-not normal!-really weird, sometimes i feel it’s not worth selling skincare samples for 50 cents, surprised by comments for used bras.

 

-really like having it, neighborhood has emailing list that i think could go on free or for sale, facebook is good platform, does cut some people out, less wasteful, both free box and free and for sale are good

 

-interesting-people who comment-know things due to comments-I didn’t know this person wore makeup, I didn’t know this person used this shampoo, interesting to see who uses what stuff, seeing people wear stuff from the page-mostly buy, not sell

 

-someone tried a used vibrator once-wild and crazy, don’t know if it sold

 

-really cool tool, glad to have

 

-go to dorms i wouldn’t go to otherwise-like Merion 4th floor-ghost?, Pem 4th floor=Perry house-wouldn’t go to otherwise, recently asked for air mattress-$10 per day, and then borrowed for free-didn’t know her-HA [of some floor] so generous

 

-some people sell for extremely high prices-ridiculous, electronics-friend bought iPhone 5c from my tagging, help people buy stuff, got hair dye and dye job from the facebook page