Website makes ordering online easier

The Campus Special, who created the ‘$100 bill’ coupon book, has created a website where students can order food online from restaurants located in Charleston.

By going to www.CampusSpecial.com and creating an account, anyone can access the menus from the restaurants provided.

Currently, Jerry’s Pizza, Little Mexico Cantina and Pagliai’s Pizza are listed.

The website also includes coupons for local restaurants including Arby’s, Dominos and The Alamo. Local businesses like Trim Tone & Tan, Family Video and The Days Inn are also listed on the website with discounted offers.

An account will save previous orders and debit card information that will make for faster ordering.

Jim Adee, a Graduate student at Eastern, has been working with The Campus Special as an intern, talking with local business owners to place their restaurant on the website. Adee’s plan is to have every major restaurant in Charleston a part of the website.

“Everything is going to the Internet and becoming digital, instead of picking up the phone why not place things on the internet where people spend most of their time,” said Adee.

Facebook has an application for the website that allows people to place a direct link to the website from their Facebook page. Adding the application also sends texts to phones with special offers only available to people whom sign up.

The website does not charge a service fee for placing an order online like many others, and sign up is free.

The reason for this is because for many other online ordering websites, there is a second party company that can charge up to 75 cents per order for using their site. Campus Special is the only one that does not charge the extra fee.

“More restaurants will be added throughout the year, and the website is only going to get bigger,” said Adee.

The Campus Special already reaches more than 5 million college students across the country.

Dan Lozano, manager of Pagliai’s, 1600 Lincoln Ave., has yet to receive an order through the website.

“I am anxious to see if people use it, nothing can beat simply picking up the phone and calling to place an order,” says Lozano.

How the ordering works is that when an order is placed online the business receives a fax or computerized phone call with the order information.

Lozano said with a phone call, his staff would probably be more accurate with the orders.

A manager at Jimmy Johns said customers that place their order online using their website worry about if it was received and will call in regardless.

“With the online orders, it’s exactly punched in to what the customer wants, and we are less likely to make mistakes,” said the manager.

The website works like any phone order would work.

The manager of Jimmy Johns said about 25 percent of their business comes through their website.

Allison Twaits can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected]