Vanderbilt University Police Department has designated an “Exchange Area” or “Safe Deal Zone” to provide a safe environment for Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff to trade legal new or used items bought or sold online through various applications such as eBay, Craigslist, Letgo and OfferUp.
Either the seller or buyer must be Vanderbilt affiliated (student, faculty or staff). All exchanges or trades must be registered in advance in the “Exchange Area Log” before arriving to make an exchange in the front lobby of 2800 Vanderbilt Pl. The lobby entrance is marked with signage indicating it is an “Exchange Area” or “Safe Deal Zone.” A VUPD representative will check online daily for scheduled trades.
VUPD officers will not screen items or supervise trades in the exchange area; however, users are reminded that the exchange of drugs or stolen property is illegal and that firearms are prohibited on university property and in university buildings.
The “Exchange Area” was created to provide a well-lit location with security cameras to provide a level of safety for all parties involved. VUPD strongly recommends that if one of the parties in the exchange does not want to conduct the trade at the “Exchange Area,” the trade should not occur.
To register an exchange or trade online, buyers or sellers must provide the following information:
Buyer and seller requirements
- affiliation (one party must be a VU student, faculty or staff member)
- first and last name of each party
- a contact phone number for each party
- date and time of transaction
- item(s) being sold
There also will be an “Exchange Zone” sign-in log located in the lobby where the seller and buyer are required to sign in when they arrive.
Location
Vanderbilt University Police Department
2800 Vanderbilt Pl. front lobby (map)
The “Exchange Area” is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Parking
There are two parking spaces designated nearby to support the trade. The “Exchange Area” is co-located with a Vandy Vans stop for on-campus transportation.
If you have questions about the “Exchange Area,” please call the VUPD non-emergency number, (615) 322-2745, or email vupd@vanderbilt.edu .
