Move-In Day Madness – Collapsible Cart Idea + Survey

Parents Forum
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<p>How many of you have waited in long lines to use those nice big laundry-style carts to help you get your student’s stuff out of your car and into the dorm on move-in day? For those of you who haven’t experienced a college move-in day yet, it can often be a hectic experience. I’m a student in a business class at Babson and we’re developing a business plan for a collapsible, and thereby portable, large cart, that you could either buy or rent to assist with this crazy day. We’re trying to figure out how good of an idea this is, so if you could please take the short survey we created at <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=911541890571%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=911541890571&lt;/a>, we could start collecting some good market data. Also, please feel free to post your comments here.</p>

<p>To give you an idea of what we’re thinking, we’re looking to build something of the size of the cart in the top right here (<a href="http://www.miami.edu/miami-magazine/featurestory3.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.miami.edu/miami-magazine/featurestory3.html&lt;/a&gt;) but somehow collapsible more like this (<a href="http://www.trixiebritton.biz/servlet/the-VersaCart/Categories%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.trixiebritton.biz/servlet/the-VersaCart/Categories&lt;/a&gt;).&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your help!</p>

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<p>we brought our ownhand truck but don't schools usually have things like that available?</p>

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<p>Nice job on the survey and product idea.</p>

4

<p>While shopping for things for DD in her college town the day before move-in, we purchased a collapsable dolly from Lowe's, and it was one of the best things I ever did! We used it the whole time. Kids still borrow it from her. It folds flat, and slides in under her bed or can be stored on the wall in the back of her closet. Great idea! Hope you do well with it.</p>

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<p>I looked at again and I htink it is a good idea- either renting them or selling them, maybe a group could do it as a fundraiser?</p>

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<p>The University not only supplied carts (of various types), but 2nd & 3rd year students unloaded the car, packed the carts, and brought them to the elevator. On the dorm floor more students met us to help. It was amazing.</p>

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<p>There were plenty available when we moved in.</p>

8

<p>Along the same lines as upper classman that help unload, Daughter's college has a Frat that, when you rent a refrigerator/microwave, for $20 they will carry it upstairs and plug it in. And at the end of the year, they will return it for you. Daughter said that was the best $20 she ever spent, especially the year she was on the third floor!</p>

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<p>At all 3 of my kids schools the colleges had volunteers that met you at the unloading area nearest the dorm and carried everything in for you. We actually did not carry a thing in for any of our kids!</p>

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<p>Same here...on move-in day we were met at our pickup truck by 3 fraternity boys who jumped in and helped so much that it only took 2 trips to the truck to empty it out. We were shocked at how fast and easy it went...and this was a at large state university. </p>

<p>We had carried a handtruck with us. S's 4 floor 1940's era dorm had no elevator but the frat bros. just picked the whole thing up and carried it up the stairs. It was a breeze. Now getting the beds unbunked and lofted was a whole 'nother story......</p>

11

<p>Actually, the OP should canvass folks whose kids go to summer camps as well as those with college kids. There might be a market there.</p>

12

<p>Slightly OT, but I've read of the long lines of parents/students/belongings waiting to move into the NYU dorms. Seems to be the perfect environment for an idea I've always wanted to see tried: a mobile fast-food stand on wheels offering Middle Eastern food, like pita sandwiches, kebobs, and the like to feed all the waiting people. I would call it "The Allah Cart." </p>

<p>No, no...nobody need thank me. Just go and do it, that will be my reward.</p>