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Student businesses thrive on shady side of the law

Ioana Pavel

T-Shirts, anoraks, sneakers, watches, perfume and hands-free cellphones are only few of the things students in the Regie campus sell. These small businesses have become so common among students that almost everyone has heard about them. Many students regularly buy things from their “businessmen” colleagues.

Anyone walking near the campus can see a lot of posters stuck on pillars and student message boards. Most begin, “For sale.” Then one can read about the products or services offered “at a profitable price.” At the bottom of the page, they write contact information -- usually an e-mail address or one or two phone numbers. Some posters even include website addresses, like: www.haine-de-firma.ro or www.eastbay.com which offer a gallery of photos of the products for sale.

Most of those involved in this kind of business said they got started because they had friends who managed to get hold of large quantities of clothes and other products from abroad. All the articles are said to be original and are even guaranteed.



One student, who spends his free time selling clothes brought by a friend from Italy, but who insisted on remaining anonymous, said: “I started this business because of lack of money. I buy the clothes at a lower price and I sell them more expensive, so I can have my own profit.”

Those who access the site www.haine-de-firma.ro get to talk to Arghire Seby, a third year student at the Politehnica University. He said he started his business four months ago and sees no reason to stop because he is making a good profit. He sells clothes, perfume and watches in Bucharest and Slobozia.

Another student entrepreneur, who declined to give his name, said: “Generally, the business goes like this: a student who has a friend or acquaintance who brings goods from abroad buys them at a minimal price and when he sells them, he adds almost 10 dollars, his profit for each item. Anyway, the gain is constant. Clients always come.”

The prices of name brand goods are almost 30 percent lower than in shops. For example, an original pair of sneakers, the product most in demand, costs between 150 and 200 RON. A 100 ml bottle of Dolce e Gabbana perfume costs 100 RON, and Nike or Puma T-shirts start at 80 RON.

“I am really keen to have a flexible job; I don’t want to be constrained by a fixed schedule, so I chose to do this because I can do it whenever I want. I earn good money and I can go to school too,” Arghire said.

Student businessmen say the only thing they know about the articles they sell is that they come from foreign countries like Germany, Italy, Spain and China. They don’t inquire too much about how exactly they get to Romania.

Could it be that some of them are stolen? These students adopt a policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Additionally, some of these young businessmen know buying and selling are illegal in students’ hostels but they don’t care and neither, apparently, do the authorities.

“All students have signed a contract with the administrator of each hostel at the beginning of the year where it is clearly stipulated that students are not allowed to have any commercial activities inside the campus,” said Mihai Jijie, the police chief’s assistant in the Regie campus.

Apart from selling things, some ingenious students have devised other ways of making money: they decode cellphones, print documents or launder clothes for fellow student with their personal washing machines.

“I have had a washing machine since the first year of college. When I came in the hostel, this was already a known business so I started it too. My price is 4 RON per load; it is more expensive than in other hostels but I use only expensive detergent and linen conditioner too. So I keep my clients satisfied and always coming back,” said Vlad Vasluianu, a third year student in the Regie hostel.

“The income I get each month equals the sum of a scholarship -- that is almost 200 RON,” Vlad added.

Ultimul număr tipărit (mai 2007, format PDF):