CeX

You know, I don’t think I would have the chance to review stores like this if it weren’t for Mr. Snarky. The funny thing is, I would probably stop in if he wasn’t with me to see what is in stock. What is happening to me???
Anyway, this location isn’t as big as the one we go to in Bolton and is usually quite a bit more busy than the other location. The reason I don’t like this location as much is because it is usually so congested that trying to see games on the shelves is difficult and trying to get by people usually involves knocking an entire shelf of DVDs to the floor.
I also feel like we always spend far more time waiting in line to pay than anything else. I do appreciate that they try to speed things up by sending a staff member through the line to get the discs ready. They usually have something that we are interested in and most of the prices are fairly inexpensive. And that’s why we go to CEX!

After a positive experience with CEX, I went back to trade in some more dvds and games however this experience was by far not as pleasant .
The person who served me this time was really nice, she chatted to me and it shown she was passionate about her job, this time the woman that served me, looked like working at CEX was the last place in the world she wanted to be, instead of talking to me about my trade ins and just about the store. She didn’t offer me a chocolate in the box on the desk, it would of been nice if she mentioned they were free, instead of me just dunking my hand in and calling dibs on whatever I find. Instead of talking to me, she just chatted away to a male coworker, who from signs I guess was her boyfriend.
I must of been their for 10 minutes, as she scanned all the cds and put them into cases and she must of said less than 10 words to me, and it could of been over 10 minutes. It was the longest timeframe of my life, and it was either awkward silences or her talking to her «boyfriend» and ignoring me.
Some of the prices here are unacceptable, you can get new games for some of the prices they charge at sites like Amazon, and most things you get from here are either, straches, dented or show some form of wear and tear, even written on in some cases.
CEX gives some good prices for trade ins, which is a shame really as this means they have to put their prices up to a point where not even a multi-​billionaire would pay. That member of staff who previously served me carried this store into 4 stars, but now being served by the woman who served me, sunk CEX back into reallity in the review world and makes me feel, this store barely deserves 2 stars.

So, that DVD collection I spoke of. It’s gone. GAWN. I went digidale. I now live in a world of USB sticks and downloads, and that changes my relationship with CEX. Why? Because I’m a trader.
Because now they give ME monies!
If you’re moving house and decide you too want to stick USBs in your DVD player instead of carting gigantic boxes of media around, you’d do well to do what myself and the betrothed did. Set up a spreadsheet. Okay, that’s his area of expertise. Scan your stuff on the Music Magpie app, and type it into CEX’s website. Then compare prices. And give your stuff to whoever gives you the most monies!
We had a LOT of stuff to hand over to CEX, and we went with it all in bags. Cash in our pockets, quick and easy. Ooh and then, a few weeks later, it turns out my DVDs and CDs are in slightly worse condition than Chris’s because a few of them they wouldn’t take. How rude. But seriously, that shows their commitment to quality. We made lots of smackeroonies.
Also, it’s fun to read the awesome sketch posters they have around with the likes of C3P0 on them, which actually educate you about store policy. AND it’s lots of fun to watch the cashiers’ tattoos move about when you’re waiting in the queue. Yay to selling stuff to CEX, and in some cases, selling stuff *back* to them!

So, here’s the deal: I have twenty quid in my pocket and I DO NOT KNOW what to do with it (oh, sure, I could go get some food for the weekend. Or start the night with a few pints.) What could possibly be the wisest way to spend that money when you’re at Arndale Centre?
I’ll tell you: go to CeX, browse through the used CDs and DVDs — without taking too long if possible, this is no Windsor Castle — and go home with a handful of LCD Soundsystem, old CDs of Blur and Primal Scream, the latest Flaming Lips and the whole first season of the West Wing. Call your friends, tell them you’re not going out this weekend, and thank me later.

What is it? Well the essential description would be an electrical goods trading store. Bring in your used electricals that you’re now bored of, hand them over to a surly faced staff bod, they then take your goods, poke, prod, plug test, then suck their teeth. They will then tell you if they will or will not buy your goods. If they won’t, your journey ends here. If they will, they’ll either test it on the spot, or give you a time frame with which to come back. It is at this point they will give you a price, and you’ll swear it’s too low, but whatcha gonna do about it?
Ok so what do they take? They take mobile phones, games, games consoles, televisions, laptops, PCs, DVDs, MP3 players, and any other gadget you have that will past the muster.
Don’t get me wrong, there is some proper tat in places like this, and it all really depends on whatever people are getting rid of or trading in that week or month as to the quality of the goods on offer, but, if you are thinking of buying something from CEX then try not to let the fact that they’re pre-​owned put you off. All goods that become saleable in the shop are put through the same rigourous checks that yours went through before they offered you trade in pennies.
P.S weekends are a bad idea to trade in your stuff, it tends to get crazy busy, and if you are in the hunt for games and want to ask questions about intended purchases, the process can become a bit frustrating, so go at some random time like 10am Monday morning, just to be on the safe side.
I agree with the tip of going online before hand to check prospective purchases. Always a good idea, otherwise, you could end up widdling valuable hours up a wall and getting very mad at the whole thing.

One thing I will always have a soft spot for are retro shops. The ability to wander in and peruse old games and videos from your past is a soul-​warming affair, and unlike extreme retro shops like the one in Affleck’s, you may actually want to purchase some of the stuff on sale here. They also have computer components and phones second-​hand, so it can be a good place to start if you’re looking for a cheap… something.
Since they are an exchange shop you can also sell stuff back to them, though as Angela pointed out it may well be worth checking eBay first, as without the middle man you stand to make a few extra quid.

Staying on a Brooklyn tip, I wandered into CEX earlier to see if they had any new Spike Lee DVDs and left with a box-​set for £15. Like some of my fellow Unilocalers, I found the smell of boys trainers and sweat a little over-​powering and the presence of so many games geeks a little uninspiring but what the hell, I was in and out of there in 2 minutes with some great movies under my arm.
That’s right, folks, tonight I’m going to be cracking open a bottle of wine, kicking back on the sofa and watching a marathon of great movies. What should I start with — Mo’ Better Blues, Do The Right Thing, Get on The Bus, Clockers or Jungle Fever? Just playin’ with ya, Do The Right Thing is already in the DVD player! :)

Yeah, it is a Nerd’s paradise in here, and you can find some great bargains, but when it comes to selling stuff to them, be careful. Whilst it might be worth your while getting rid of 50 DVDs at £1−2 each just because you can’t be bothered to sell them individually,
I suggest you get a second opinion if you want to sell something more valuable. It may be a faster way to exchange your camera or ipod for hard cash but if you’ve got the time, stick it on Ebay too before you make the move, you’ll probably get a better deal without the middle man.

Decide what you want beforehand online.
Steel yourself outside.
Take a deep breath and grab a hold of your nose.
Enter.
Be direct and purposeful as you approach your intended purchase.
IMPORTANT– DO NOT DISTURB THE PAEDOPHILES.
With your bargain bagged head quickly to the door and refill your lungs.
Smile a smug smile and think about all the money that you have saved.

CEX is one of those shops that I would never have set foot in had I not read about it beforehand on the internet!
I was recently looking to trade in a games console and a few games so that I could buy a different console, and was browsing the net to find out where I could get the best price for it — normally I would have gone straight to GAME or GameStation but decided to see if I could get a better deal somewhere else.
The CEX website has an extensive list (updated weekly) of what they buy and sell, which details exactly the price you can sell items to the store for. The will buy a whole range of electronic stuff, such as DVDs, CDs, computing equipment, games consoles and mobile phones.
You’ll get a better price for anything you sell if you accept store credit rather than cash, though the cash sale prices are still impressive. For a lot of the second-​hand games that I sold to them I got about 80% of the current RRP in cash!
It’s worth noting that in order to sell anything to them you will need to provide some ID to prove that you’re over 18.
In terms of criticism of the store, it looks a bit ragged, doesn’t sell anything that isn’t second-​hand, and the prices for pre-​owned media are a little on the high side compared to other high street retailers.
All in all a great place to check out if you’re looking to trade in some gadgets or games, with the added bonus of being able to see whether it’s worth your while heading in on the internet beforehand.

Buy, sell, trade, this shop runs purely on their customers stuff! You can take in your old and unwanted games, dvds, cds, electronics and trade them in for other stuff in the shop or cash! They sell games for all consoles (including gamecube which is a rarity in itself), dvds, cds, mobile phones, games consoles, mp3 players, ipods and so much more! The best experience from this shop is when you visit it, so GET DOWN THERE NOW and see what you can trade!