How the website works
Hey, I built a website for students where they can either post items they want to rent out or post items they need, and students can connect with each other in a controlled way.
The main goal is to help students borrow things temporarily from other students instead of buying everything new. Because sometimes we need something for a small amount of time and after that it becomes useless. So there is no point in buying something for 1 or 2 weeks and then never using it again.
Signup / Login
Students create an account using: Username (anything they choose), Password (anything they choose), and College name.
No email or phone number needed. The website is not asking for any of your sensitive information. The username and password for the website is completely separated from any of your important information like email address, phone number etc.
Main Sections of the Website
1. Need Board (For students who need something)
If a student needs an item, they can make a post here.
Now suppose Student A made this post.
Another student, Student B, visits the Need Board and sees A's request. If B has a calculator, B can click: I Have This
Then B enters the price/rate at which B is willing to lend it.
After that:
- B's offer appears inside A's Dashboard
- A can see that B has the calculator and at what price
Important Messaging Rule:
Only A (the person who created the need post) gets the option to message B through that request shown in A's Dashboard.
- A can message B
- B cannot directly message A first
Once A starts the chat, then both can talk.
2. Marketplace (For students who have something to rent out)
If a student owns something and wants to lend it, they post it here.
They add: Item photo, Description, Rent price.
Now suppose Student C created this listing.
Another student, Student D, sees the listing in Marketplace and wants it.
D can send a rent request with the price D is willing to pay.
After that:
- D's request appears inside C's Dashboard
Important Messaging Rule:
Only C (the person who created the marketplace listing) gets the option to message D through the request shown in C's Dashboard.
- C can message D
- D cannot directly message C first
Once C starts the chat, then both can talk.
3. Dashboard
Dashboard shows responses to your posts.
- If you posted on Need Board: You'll see students who clicked 'I Have This', and you can message them from there.
- If you posted in Marketplace: You'll see students who requested your item, and you can message them from there.
4. Messaging System (Very Important)
There is no option to search usernames and randomly message people. Students can only chat after interest is shown through a post.
Who can start messaging?
A posts need → B responds.
Only A can start message with B through Dashboard
C posts item → D requests item.
Only C can start message with D through Dashboard
This system was made to reduce spam and random DMs.
Why I Built This
Students often need items temporarily:
Instead of buying everything, students can borrow from each other.
Current Status
Right now I have built the website up to these features. It is still an early version / MVP.