International Students at ASU: Buying and Selling Guide

Arriving in Tempe With Nothing

For most international students at ASU, arriving in Tempe means starting with literally nothing — no car, no furniture, no kitchen supplies, no bedding. You may be arriving from a country where purchasing patterns are completely different, where you don't know which brands are reliable, and where the sheer volume of choices in American retail is disorienting.

This guide is practical and specific. Here's how to get set up quickly and affordably.

The First 48 Hours: Essentials

Before anything else, you need:

• Bedding (pillow, sheets, a light blanket — even in winter, Tempe is warm by most international standards)
• Towels and basic toiletries
• A phone SIM with data (or Wifi access)
• Food for the first few days

For bedding and toiletries: Target on University Drive is the closest large retailer to ASU's main campus. It's walkable or a short rideshare from most dorm locations. Walmart on Baseline Road in Mesa has lower prices but requires transportation.

Better option: Check the ASU List before you buy anything. International students who are graduating in May or finishing a program often sell their entire dorm setup — bedding, kitchen items, fans, everything — at low prices because they can't take it home. Arriving in August? Much of that inventory is available in July–August as outgoing students list items.

Setting Up an Apartment or Dorm Room

For students in ASU housing (Manzanita, Palo Verde, Hassayampa, etc.), the room is furnished with basics but sparse. Most students need to add a few things to make it livable.

For off-campus students, you're furnishing from scratch.

The international student secondhand advantage: Many international students before you have gone through exactly this process and are now selling their setup. The ASU List and Facebook Marketplace (search "Tempe student furniture" or "ASU moving out") will surface complete room setups for $100–$300 that would cost $500+ bought new.

Common items to buy secondhand:

• Desk lamp and floor lamp
• Mini-fridge (essential — the dining hall is not always accessible at late hours)
• Microwave
• Rice cooker (very popular among international students; new ones are $25–$40, used $10–$15)
• Kitchen starter kit (plates, cups, basic pots)
• Fan or space heater (Tempe is hot most of the year, but winter nights can be cold)
• Bike (campus is very bikeable; a used bike is one of the best purchases you'll make)

Paying for Things Without a US Bank Account

This is a common friction point. Many secondhand transactions happen via Venmo, Zelle, or cash. International students without a US bank account often have limited access to these.

Solutions:

• Open a US bank account early. Many international students use Bank of America, Wells Fargo, or credit unions, which offer student accounts. Some require an initial deposit and a US address — plan ahead.
• Some banks offer accounts linked to international student visas. Check with ASU's international student office for guidance — they have resources on banking for new arrivals.
• For transactions on the ASU List: meeting in person and paying cash is always an option. Cash is universally accepted and requires no apps or accounts.

Navigating the Campus and Local Area

Transportation: Tempe has the Valley Metro light rail with stops convenient to campus (Tempe Transportation Center and University/Rural are the key stops). A day pass is $4; student passes are available at reduced rates through ASU. A used bike (check the ASU List) handles most on-campus and near-campus movement faster than any other option.

Grocery options near ASU:

• Fry's Food Store (Smith's) on Rural Road — large selection, reasonable prices
• Sprouts Farmers Market on University — more expensive but good produce
• 99 Ranch Market in Mesa — excellent for Asian groceries, worth the trip
• Trader Joe's on Rural Road — popular with students

Food delivery: DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub all operate in Tempe. Expensive, but useful when you're getting set up.

What to Know About Reselling Before You Leave

If you're on a program with a clear end date — a master's program, an exchange semester — plan your exit well in advance.

• Start listing items 4–6 weeks before your departure
• Price fairly: items listed at 40–60% of new value sell quickly
• Be realistic about what you can realistically ship home vs. what should be sold
• Electronics may have region compatibility issues (power voltage, warranty terms) — sell them rather than bringing them back if they won't work in your home country

The ASU List is particularly good for end-of-program selling because it reaches exactly the incoming students who need what you have.

ASU International Student Resources

ASU's International Students and Scholars office (ISSC) provides immigration advising, cultural programming, and practical resources. The office holds orientation sessions for new international students that cover a lot of the practical questions not addressed in general ASU orientation.

The International Students and Scholars office is in the Palo Verde West residential area. Visiting in your first week — or even contacting them before you arrive — is worth doing.

ASU's international student population is large enough that you'll find communities of students from most countries. The Global Sun Devils programs and country-specific student organizations (check SunConnect on MyASU) connect you with students who have already navigated exactly what you're navigating.