From winter coats to kitchenware, secondhand shopping is a student rite of passage. These curated spots offer quality goods at 70% below retail prices.
Best Times to Shop:
- September: Look for departing exchange students selling furniture, rugs, and appliances dirt cheap.
- January: Winter coats and blankets at deep discounts. Students from hot countries often resell unused items.
- May: Graduates dump textbooks, projectors, and even kitchen ovens — often for free if you arrange transport.
Haggling Like a Local:
- Learn the script:
- “İki alırsam ne kadar olur?” – What’s the price if I buy two?
- “Garantisi var mı?” – Does it come with a warranty?
- “Son fiyat?” – Final offer?
- Don’t accept the first price — vendors expect negotiation.
Top Thrift Hotspots:
- Öğrenci Pazarlığı (behind Selimiye Mosque, Nicosia)
- Back alley = better deals than the main bazaar.
- Look for “€1 bins” — textbooks, notebooks, and even working calculators.
- Göçmen Eşya (Famagusta)
- Weekly stock change on Wednesdays from exchange students leaving Cyprus.
- Popular finds: Blenders, utensils, and mini-fridges under €20.
- Vintage Sandık (Kyrenia)
- Specializes in true vintage: denim jackets, 70s university gear, and Soviet-era Turkish electronics.
- Pro tip: Bundle items and offer a flat deal — “Üç tane alırsam €15 olur mu?”
