Find Good Deals on DukeList

Through “DukeList,” members of the Duke community can find a free calico kitten, sell a used washer and dryer set, and sign up to participate in a Type 2 diabetes research study – all in one place.The classifieds site created for Duke faculty, staff and students has been compared to the functionality of craigslist but can only be accessed by Duke users who enter their Duke NetID and password.“It behooves people to check it every so often because you just never know what’s going to be on there,” said Susan Kauffman, communications director for Duke undergraduate education, who manages DukeList.The site was created about seven years ago as a place to consolidate research opportunities and campus job postings. After a few years, items for sale were folded in and a “Lost & Found” section was added to the site. In August, DukeList received 33,000 visits, and the average visitor spent about six minutes perusing offerings that have included items for sale ranging from iguanas to rare violins. Jane Utley, a staff specialist with Duke Psychology and Neuroscience, first learned about DukeList four years ago when she was looking to buy folding tables to use during parties and a chair for her home office. She also bought a craft table in May for $25 from a graduating Duke student.“Normally you can get an item for half or less, and it’s usually from somebody close by,” Utley said. “It’s just fun. It makes you feel good that you’re being smart with your resources and that people are sharing.”Kent Anglin, a clinical research coordinator at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Duke, has used DukeList to post information about his Durham rental properties and to buy cars. He recently sold a British racing green 1999 Mazda Miata, which he had originally bought from an employee on DukeList, and he’s currently looking through DukeList postings to find a Hyundai Sonata.“I love it,” Anglin said. “There are no charges, and you reach a nice group of prospective purchasers or sellers. If you go to DukeList, you’re pretty sure you’re dealing with a Duke person.”