Frequently asked questions
Who can use 5C Exchange?
5C Exchange is exclusively for current students, faculty, and staff at the Claremont Colleges — CMC, Harvey Mudd, Pomona, Scripps, Pitzer, CGU, KGI, and ArtCenter. A valid .edu email from one of these institutions is required.
How do I create an account?
Download the app, tap "Create account," enter your institutional email address, and verify with the code we send you. You'll be in within minutes.
How do payments work?
Payments are currently handled off-platform — buyers and sellers coordinate directly using Venmo, cash, or any method they agree on. In-app payments are coming soon.
How are eco scores calculated?
We use EPA WARM (Waste Reduction Model) data to estimate the CO₂ impact of each exchange by category. Every completed exchange contributes to your eco score and badge progress.
Can I list items for free?
Yes — you can mark any listing as free or donation. During end-of-semester drive mode, free listings get extra visibility to help the whole campus community.
How do I report a listing or user?
Tap the flag icon on any listing to report it. Our admin team reviews all reports and will take appropriate action, including removing listings or suspending accounts.
How do I delete my account?
Go to Profile → Privacy & Safety → Delete Account. Your data will be permanently removed within 7 days. You can also email us and we'll handle it manually.
Is my data safe?
Yes. We use encrypted data transmission, secure authentication, and database-level row security policies. We never sell your data. Read our full Privacy Policy for details.
I didn't receive my verification email
Check your spam or junk folder first. If it's not there, tap "Resend code" on the verification screen and wait 60 seconds. Make sure you're using a valid Claremont Colleges email.
What happens when a listing expires?
Listings expire after the duration you set (1 week, 2 weeks, or 1 month). Expired listings are hidden from the feed. You can renew any listing directly from its detail page.
Still need help?
Our team is made up of Claremont students too. Reach out and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
We typically respond within 24 hours on weekdays.