CeX is probably one of the biggest electronic stores, just selling just pre-owned games, I know of in the UK, hence it has become a go to place, for people like me, looking to pick up cheap games, CeX normally do have a good amount of cheap games, however some are very expensive, I saw some newer titles for the same price, if not more expensive than buying them new from other retailers such as Amazon, Tesco Direct and Argos. I understand they have to make the prices a little higher, so they can offer good trade in values, but when a used game is for the same price as a new game somewhere else, they are doing something wrong, and I also don't find the trade in prices to be too fantastic either.
Games from CeX can be in varied condition depending on who traded them in, some games can be near enough immaculate, while others could have slightly damaged cases, and discs which are drawn on by the previous owner, so it makes me want to avoid this store, as in a way you never know what you are buying, which in my opinion isn't right, and is more worrying for a customer, especially people trying to get a gift, who might not be able to afford to get a newer version of a game, but still wants it to look presentable as such. I do feel they should be a warning, so you don't take it to the till and it isn't in the best condition you would expect, to avoid that embarrassment at checkout of trying to then return it.
I just called in here to buy an Xbox game, and I was pleased to pay £3 as it was a good price, especially for CeX standards, even though it would have been around £2 on Amazon, I still felt it was good to pay that, considering that the gap was only £1 and I needed it on that day, but still that is still 33 percent more expensive and they should strive to be closer pricing to the competition, with some items costing a good number more than other retailers, some of which even have shops in Oldham, such as Argos and Tesco.
This store does seem to be a nice branch, it is a little small especially compared to the Manchester Arndale branch, but it seems to be quieter so you can look around more, and queue without the needs of huge crowds which might put you off, which is an advantage of using CeX in a small town, but still that doesn't change some issues with the pricing, which means some games here, in poor / satisfactory condition can be bought for the same price elsewhere in great, new condition. CeX just are trying to do too much, they try to offer good trade in and buying prices, when although they is a few deals on both ends, it is only a few and CeX prices can 99 times out of 100 be beaten elsewhere, and it is around the same for trade ins. I still feel CeX doesn't warrant 1 star, but it doesn't warrant any more than 2 either. read more