MANSFIELD, Ohio–The City of Mansfield now has a designated online purchase exchange zone in the lower east parking lot of the municipal building, at the corner of Third Street and Adams Street.
This exchange zone was developed at the request of a local online auction group, Richland County Penny Wars.
Leaders and members of the group watched Wednesday morning as the exchange zone sign was revealed.
“I’m really excited about this,” said Tara Carney, who co-founded Richland County Penny Wars with Brittany Herf. Administrators of the group include Steph Tharp and Chelsea Dailey.
There has been concern with finding an area that is open to the public where citizens can transfer small items without suspicion of unlawful acts.
Mayor Tim Theaker said of the exchange zone, “It is next to the police department and there is a camera there, but that doesn’t mean that we’re guaranteeing safety, but what we’re doing is we’ve designated an area that people can come and exchange any items that they’ve purchased or sold over the internet.”
Items to be exchanged include only those that can be placed in a vehicle. Appliances, furniture or power tools requiring a hoist or larger truck are not permitted.
Though Richland County Penny Wars helped spearhead this exchange zone, Carney said anyone using an online site to buy or sell items–like Craigslist or eBay–can use it.
The chosen location was decided upon after reviewing the community of Toledo, which has implemented a similar exchange zone, and it has been said to be very successful.
Carney said her group plans on helping create other exchange zones throughout the area in the future.
Richele Garand, a member of Richland County Penny Wars, said she sells many items via Richland County Penny Wars. “I usually list maybe 15-20 items a day,” she said. “It’s just what I do for extra income.”
Most of what she sells is clothes.
She said she would typically make transactions in the parking lots of retail stores, “or wherever we could agree on a meeting place, she said.
“Now we have a safe meeting place that I know is city-approved.”
“Now we have a safe meeting place that I know is city-approved.”
Richele Garand, a member of Richland County Penny Wars
