Spring Break
Finders keepers, losers check eBay
Kaylee Lentz
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: Inside WCC
Ever wonder what might have happened to that graphing calculator that went missing last semester, or that really warm sweatshirt that was left behind somewhere on campus?
Someone could have come along and followed the "finders keepers" rule and kept it. Or, it could be on eBay, getting bid on right now.
Since 2004, WCC Security has been selling students' lost items on eBay, the most well-known auctioning and shopping website across the nation.
When a lost object is turned into security, it is held for 60 days. When the time is up, so is the item. Up for grabs, that is. It is sent to Campus Services, where Martin Thomas, manager there for 33 years, decides the fate of the object.
"I check the items and choose if it should be donated, disposed of, or sold," said Thomas. "I want to extend the life of the object. As long as it gets back into the hands of the community for a low price, that's all that matters.
In addition to lost items, he also checks old machinery and other material goods that WCC doesn't have use for anymore. These items are usually outdated or broken.
"I have sold as costly of items as plow trucks and vehicles among the lost items," said Thomas.
Because of the large quantity of possessions being sold, WCC has made an immense profit. Last year, the school made $25,000 and raked in $37,000 the previous year. Thomas explained that the money made from the eBay sales gets deposited into the college bank account. From there, college officials decide where the money should be spent.
Aside from the old property that WCC can't use anymore, Campus Services has seen a variety of lost, expensive items. These include cell phones, flash drives, textbooks, iPods, driver's licenses and clothes. Because of this, security tries to make an honest effort toward returning it.
"When a cell phone is given to us, we try to find it's rightful owner by calling some of the contacts listed," said Ron Schebil, head of Campus Safety and Security.
Someone could have come along and followed the "finders keepers" rule and kept it. Or, it could be on eBay, getting bid on right now.
Since 2004, WCC Security has been selling students' lost items on eBay, the most well-known auctioning and shopping website across the nation.
When a lost object is turned into security, it is held for 60 days. When the time is up, so is the item. Up for grabs, that is. It is sent to Campus Services, where Martin Thomas, manager there for 33 years, decides the fate of the object.
"I check the items and choose if it should be donated, disposed of, or sold," said Thomas. "I want to extend the life of the object. As long as it gets back into the hands of the community for a low price, that's all that matters.
In addition to lost items, he also checks old machinery and other material goods that WCC doesn't have use for anymore. These items are usually outdated or broken.
"I have sold as costly of items as plow trucks and vehicles among the lost items," said Thomas.
Because of the large quantity of possessions being sold, WCC has made an immense profit. Last year, the school made $25,000 and raked in $37,000 the previous year. Thomas explained that the money made from the eBay sales gets deposited into the college bank account. From there, college officials decide where the money should be spent.
Aside from the old property that WCC can't use anymore, Campus Services has seen a variety of lost, expensive items. These include cell phones, flash drives, textbooks, iPods, driver's licenses and clothes. Because of this, security tries to make an honest effort toward returning it.
"When a cell phone is given to us, we try to find it's rightful owner by calling some of the contacts listed," said Ron Schebil, head of Campus Safety and Security.
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