Second-hand Furniture, Cycles and Books around Kochi

Key facts

OLX is an online classifieds platform widely used in India for buying and selling second-hand furniture, vehicles, electronics and household goods.
Broadway in Ernakulam is a roughly 2 km shopping street beside Marine Drive whose shops sell, among other things, furniture, books and household goods.
Ernakulam has long-established booksellers such as Pai & Co on Broadway, and Blossom Book House, known for second-hand books.
A common online classifieds scam asks buyers to pay an advance or ‘delivery charge’ by UPI before seeing the item; in-person inspection avoids it.
College hostels and campuses such as CUSAT see students leave at the end of each academic year, when used furniture, cycles and books come up for sale.

Room with red-oxide floor at Ashraf Gents Hostel, Kalamassery. See all hostel photos

What is worth buying used

Item	Buy used?	What to check
Study table, plastic or steel chair	Yes	Wobble, rust, termite damage on wood
Bicycle	Yes	Brakes, chain, tyres, bent rims; ask for a bill or proof it is the seller’s
Textbooks and exam guides	Yes	Edition and syllabus year
Table fan, iron, kettle	Usually	Switch it on in front of you; check the plug and cable
Mattress and pillow	Rarely	Hygiene, bedbugs, damp – usually better new
Phone or laptop	With care	IMEI/serial against the bill; accounts removed

Many hostels and PGs already provide a cot and mattress – ask before you buy furniture. You may only need a chair, a lamp and a bucket.

Where to look

Online listings

OLX and Facebook Marketplace have many listings across Ernakulam district. Filter by location – Kalamassery, Edappally, Aluva, Kakkanad – so you are not travelling across the city for a ₹500 chair. Search in both English and simple Malayalam terms for more results.

College and residents’ groups

The best deals are often in WhatsApp and Telegram groups of colleges, hostels and residents’ associations, especially at the end of semesters when students leave. If you are joining CUSAT or another college near Kalamassery, ask seniors to add you to the right groups.

Books around Broadway

Broadway in Ernakulam has long had booksellers, including Pai & Co, and the wider Ernakulam area has shops known for used books such as Blossom Book House. Combine a book hunt with an old-style shopping trip to Broadway, where you can also buy steel vessels, bags and household basics at market prices.

Local repair and scrap shops

Cycle repair shops sometimes sell reconditioned cycles, and furniture repair shops may have reconditioned chairs. Ask around near your hostel – tea-shop conversation is a good source (see tea shops and bakeries).

How to avoid getting cheated

Never pay an advance or a ‘courier charge’ to a seller you have not met, however genuine the story sounds (an army officer being transferred is a classic).
Never scan a QR code to ‘receive’ money. Scanning a QR code is for paying, not receiving.
Meet in daylight in a public place – outside a metro station or a busy shop.
Test it – ride the cycle, switch on the fan, open every drawer.
Pay only when you have the item in hand, preferably by UPI so there is a record.
Report fraud on the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in.

Getting bulky items home

A chair or a cycle will not go on the metro easily. Small goods carriers (tempo or pick-up) and autos are the usual answer – agree the price before loading. For general tips, see autos, taxis and ride-hailing in Kalamassery. When you leave Kochi, sell the same things on to the next newcomer and recover part of your cost.

Setting up light at Ashraf Gents Hostel

The photos of Ashraf Gents Hostel on NAD Road, Kalamassery, show twin-sharing rooms with cots and mattresses, red-oxide floors, a balcony and a kitchen with sink and shelves – so the basic sleeping setup is already there. Check the photos and ask on the call what else is in the room before you buy anything second-hand.

It is a men-only hostel/PG for students, staff and working men. The indicative rate on its public profile is about ₹2,000–3,000 per head per month, negotiable, with one month’s advance, confirmed on the call: +91 90746 23855. For a full cost picture, see what it costs to live in Kalamassery each month.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy second-hand furniture near Kalamassery?

Most people use OLX, Facebook Marketplace and college or residents’ WhatsApp groups, filtering by Kalamassery, Edappally or Aluva. Some furniture repair shops also sell reconditioned items.

Where can I find second-hand books in Ernakulam?

Try the bookshops around Broadway, such as Pai & Co, and shops known for used books such as Blossom Book House. College seniors are another good source.

Is it safe to pay an advance to an OLX seller?

No. Inspect the item in person and pay only when you have it. Requests for advances or courier charges are a common scam.

Should I buy a used mattress?

Usually not, for hygiene reasons. Many hostels provide a cot and mattress, so ask before buying.

Sources

Facts about Ashraf Gents Hostel come from the hostel’s own profile and photos; rates are indicative and confirmed on the call. Last reviewed 7 October 2026. How we write these guides: editorial notes. Map embeds © Google.