Written by Sina Labbaf
If you are getting into UCI there is a high chance that you have to buy new stuff. Furniture, vehicles, supplies, and books are top of the list of your items. You can get many of these items used to save some money. As an added bonus, it also helps the environment! Some of the used stuff that you can get is fair new and only recently purchased by other students like yourself. These items are capable of supporting you while you are here as well. I am going to introduce some of the ways I used to get my used items when I got here.
Facebook Groups:
There are a few Facebook groups for people who were in UCI or lived around Irvine to buy or sell their used items. UCI For Sale, Free and For Sale (Official), (25k members), Free & For Sale (18k members), UCI Free and For Sale (10k members). The best time to find items in these groups is at the end of the quarters especially at the end of the Spring quarter as it is the peak of the graduations. This is when many people move out and need to get rid of their furniture, etc. There are some other groups in Irvine and Orange County which are not related to UCI. You may have to drive a little to get some of the items but sometimes it worth the drive. But always be careful about the items you see and their prices in all the above groups. There are some people who throw prices or resale garbage for a profit. Also always try to meet people at public places for your safety.
Apps and websites:
There are various apps and website services to buy and sell items. OfferUp, LetGo, Craigslist, Facebook’s Marketplace are some of the many popular services you can use to find what you need. But always be careful trusting people you meet online.
Used Cars:
If you are thinking of buying a used car, be sure to always check the Carfax (vehicle history report) and consult with a professional auto service provider. Oil burning and leakage, overused tires, tricky transmissions and etc. are common problems with the used car. If you are purchasing a used car from a private owner, it is especially important for you to take these steps because the law does not protect you from these types of purchases.
UCI Bike Fair:
If you are looking to buy a used bike, you may want to check out UCI bike fair. UCI recycles abandoned or donated bikes to be used by students again. You can buy used bikes at the bike fair and repair them on site. Keep an eye on the update emails and UCIBike website for the event’s time and date.
Garage and Yard Sales:
There are several garage and yard sales in Irvine. There are also a couple of them on the campus. Verano Place and Palo Verde have their own yard sale events which you can attend. Check the emails you receive from your community to find out more about these sales.
Used Item Stores:
There are stores or sections of stores which you can buy used items. Goodwill is a store that you can donate your items too or buy other people’s donations for a lower price. Amazon, Walmart, IKEA, and etc. offer used and refurbished items alongside new items for a lower price.
Yicun Guo says
July 11, 2019 at 1:13 amWhile when I tried to join I the facebook group mentioned above and after I entered my email address, it says there was an error joining the community. This problem has lasted for a long time, do you know what’s going on?
Gabriella Angela L. Pham says
July 22, 2019 at 12:34 pmYou may want to contact the moderator of the group and be sure that you are using your UCI email address. These groups are not moderated by UCI, but community members such as students. In addition, if you are still finding trouble joining the closed groups, the post also list some public groups. As always, be sure to use caution when purchasing goods and meeting people from online.