Meet in public, well-lit campus spaces during the day. Inspect items before you pay, and pay in person. Keep an honest profile and treat people with respect. If something feels wrong, don't go through with it; report the listing or block the user, and contact Campus Safety or 911 in an emergency.
5C Exchange is built around a real community of fellow students, and the .edu gate already removes most of the risk you'd find on an open marketplace. These guidelines keep it that way. They apply to everyone, and breaking them can get a listing removed or an account suspended.
Meeting safely
- Meet in public. Choose a busy, well-lit campus spot: a dining hall entrance, a residence-hall lobby, the library, or a quad. Avoid private rooms or off-campus locations with someone you don't know.
- Meet in daylight when you can, and bring a friend along, especially for larger items or higher-value exchanges.
- Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back.
- Inspect before you pay. Check that the item matches the listing and works as described. It's fine to walk away if it doesn't.
- Trust your instincts. If a person or situation feels off, you're never obligated to complete an exchange.
Paying safely
- Pay in person, at the handoff. Don't send deposits or pay in advance for an item you haven't seen.
- Be wary of anything unusual. Requests to wire money, pay with gift cards, or move the conversation off the app are common signs of a scam.
- Watch for overpayment tricks. No legitimate buyer needs to "accidentally" overpay and ask for the difference back.
What you can't list
To keep everyone safe and within the rules of the colleges, the following are not allowed on 5C Exchange:
- Weapons, firearms, ammunition, or anything designed to cause harm.
- Alcohol, tobacco, vapes, drugs, drug paraphernalia, or controlled substances.
- Prescription or over-the-counter medications.
- Recalled, counterfeit, stolen, or otherwise illegal goods.
- Live animals.
- Hazardous materials, fireworks, or flammable chemicals.
- Anything that violates your college's academic honor code, including completed assignments, exam materials, or essays offered for someone else to submit as their own.
- Subletting or housing arrangements, which carry their own risks and rules.
- Other people's personal information, or accounts and credentials.
- Content that is hateful, harassing, sexually explicit, or discriminatory.
When in doubt, leave it out, or email support@5cexchange.com to ask.
Treating each other well
- Be honest. Describe items accurately and price them fairly.
- Show up. If plans change, message the other person rather than leaving them waiting.
- Keep it kind. Harassment, hate speech, threats, and discrimination have no place here and will lead to removal.
Reporting and blocking
Every listing and profile has a report option, and you can block any user so they can no longer message you. Reports go to the moderation team, who review them and take action, from removing a listing to suspending or banning an account. Reporting is confidential; the other person isn't told who flagged them.
In an emergency
If you ever feel unsafe or believe a crime has occurred, contact your Campus Safety office or call 911 first. 5C Exchange is a small student project and cannot respond to emergencies. After you're safe, let us know at support@5cexchange.com so we can act on the account.
Enforcement
Depending on the situation, breaking these guidelines may result in a warning, removal of a listing, temporary suspension, or a permanent ban. Serious safety violations result in an immediate ban and, where appropriate, a report to the relevant authorities.