Review for CeX Arndale Manchester - A Wasted 24 Hours and a Damaged Device…read more I regret to say that my recent experience with CeX Arndale Manchester was not only deeply disappointing but also a telling symbol of why this company may not exist in the next 20 years. I handed in a pristine device, expecting a straightforward evaluation, only to have 24 hours of my time wasted, only to be told that my phone was "not sellable." More disturbingly, the device was returned to me with two fresh marks/scratches that were not there before. The damage was done, quite visibly, and the person who returned it to me a female staff member seemed unaware or indifferent to the fact that the device had clearly been mishandled during their assessment process. This kind of carelessness is not just unacceptableit i s corrosive to any customer-facing business. The irony here is tragic: the very company that prides itself on being a marketplace for used electronics seems to be accelerating its own obsolescence by treating both customers and their devices with such disregard. If this is how CeX treats the people it relies on to sustain its inventory, it's no wonder many consumers are moving toward decentralized tech trade-ins and platforms that operate with transparency, speed, and respect. In an age of intelligent automation, blockchain-based transactions, and next-gen peer-to-peer resale models, CeX's archaic and inconsistent service model epitomized by the careless behaviour I witnessed today is writing its own demise. It's no longer just about product margins; it's about trust, precision, and a future-ready approach. On all of these, CeX failed. This experience has left me unhappy and disillusioned, and unless there's a radical shift in professionalism and process, this may well be my last dealing with CeX.

No phone line to speak of and the whole company continuously selling broken or counterfeit goods…read more Breech of UK consumer laws and consumers rights in that there are no advertised direcr communication methods and All std rate company phone lines now direct you to their website form which you will not receive a reply from in a reasonable time espaicially if you require a return/refund. It also says use social media handles for "urgent enquiries". This is a shambles and the social media handles are inactive and also rely on you being 14 and having access to these trash sites. Sold ps1 time crisis in such bad condition it wouldn't boot, sold a dualshock 3 and what came was decidedly not a dualshock. Had to spend bus fare and leave early turning up unannounced to get it sorted, costing me time and money when I tried for hours to sort it remotely, like you know, the way I purchased! There is another number to ring and that is actually a premium rate number, bet they have that active though further breeching UK law. Reported to trading standards this morning.

Surely, one day, the combined power of ebay and massive chain stores offering cheaper prices will…read moreput shops like Central Radio will go out of business. Until that day, I'm quite happy that places that exist. You can go in and browse massive flat screen televisions and stereo systems without feeling the pressure from pushy sales assistants and bargain deals staring you in the face. In fact, the chap in Central Radio didn't even offer to help me in my search for some headphones. Was he being rude or just letting me have a look myself and consider my options? I'm going to quite happily go for the latter, if I needed help I would have asked. There isn't the most stock ever in Central Radio. They only really had one pair of headphones at around £10, everything seemed like a much more serious investment at around £30. Central Radio is definitely the shop to visit if you want to spend some time really investigating and discussing your technology options.

I've been a Richer Sounds customer for over twenty-five years, usually at the Kingston upon Thames…read morebranch. This time I was in Manchester and thought I'd drop in and see what the latest equipment is. Things have changed, the freezer with ice-lollies has gone but a tea pot was clearly on display if anyone fancied a brew. Julian Richer the company founder gave away the company to the staff several years ago and the staff proudly wear long service badges. Unlike some large internet retailers Richer Sounds pay UK taxes as well.

I'm having a total shopping on the internet, especially for big purchases. Richer Sounds love this…read more The staff are really what make this place- they are all obviously so passionate about the products themselves that they would never dream of trying to rip off the customer. They are excited to get more people using high quality electronics and it shows. Specialising in hi-fi, home cinema and flat screen TVs, Richer Sounds should be your go-to store. Find out the latest technological developments, which competitors the team deem to have the edge - even get something custom made to your requirements.

I'm a sucker for a certain kind of computer game. I'm happy to watch a friend engage in the ones…read morewhere zombies attack you and eat you (zombies are my biggest supernatural phobia) or where there's a constant threat of death or violence, but for me? It's all about simulation and strategy and platforming cuteness. Thus I'm happy to see that Game caters for all these tastes. While there are Game concessions in various larger stores like Selfridges and HMV, my favourite has to be this Arndale Centre location. The staff are a little pushy but they will leave you alone once you state that you're browsing, simply offering help if you ask for it. The sales I find are particularly good, I was a massive fan of the Sims expansion packs being reduced to just £9.99 at one point (*cough cough* geek, don't judge me), and its size means there's plenty of variety, from the often overlooked PC games (my favourite kind) to those for all the big consoles, Wii accessories and equipment as well as plenty for the handhelds (PSP and DS). Come on, ladies, we don't see enough of us in shops like this. Gaming isn't just a man's world - get thee to Game!

Whether used as a noun, a verb, an adjective or an adverb the meaning remains the same- fun stuff…read moreis afoot! And it is no different when it comes to the store because Game's business is concerned with fun and fun alone. Stocking all of the latest computer games for all of the latest consoles this is a place gauranteed to to bring out the inner child in all men. One of the biggest highs I've had in recent years came from getting my hands on the last Wii Fit board in the store. Looks of envy, hate, admiration, aspiration and awe were directed my way and I lapped it up like Vanessa Feltz at a breakfast buffet. See you later techno tits! Enjoy standing on the floor, I'm on rubber and motion sensors from here on out!

Argos stores are a dying breed on the UK high-street now, which I have noticed even before the…read morepandemic started, a brand which was once in almost every town of the country, associated with the famous catalogue, in a digital era, gone are the day's, one would walk into an Argos store and browse the huge catalogue, writing down the product number on a tiny paper, now people will most likely order the item ahead online, to pick-up or pay in store. Many Argos concessions are now located inside Sainsbury's stores too, meaning the need for this store is even less. This location isn't too bad, located in the Manchester Arndale, it is located on the Upper Level, close to the inside steps to the Food Court, it is one of the largest Argos stores I've seen and often has most items in-stock, or avaliable to order online within a day or two. I do prefer to pay for the items online, as it can take a while for them to find your item in the warehouse. While the service is average, it can be a little slow even at the checkout. Most items are competitively priced for a high-street store, in some cases they price-match with Amazon, but they are rarely cheaper. 3* - This store is OK, but I can't see it lasting much longer with the company moving towards Argos stores, it wouldn't surprise me if they added a concession in the Sainsbury's at Regent Road, with pick-up points in the conviniance stores around the city.

Argos....oh Argos how we love you. We love the fact that we can go into the shop....open your…read morelittle catalogue and find anything and everythingwe could possibly need. We love the fact the fact that when we have found what we want we type in a little number and it tells it if you have it...which you normally do. We are estactic about the fact we get given a little ticket and then we can park our little bums and just wait for our number to be called. The glee on our faces when you bring our treasure from the never ending hidden storeroom. Argos we love you!

My father makes me laugh. Whenever he talks about Maplin, he says, 'You don't want to talk to the…read moreguys on the floor. You want to talk to the ones they keep in the back, they're the experts.' I have to say, whenever I've gone into Maplin when one of the men in my life has been in there, I've always stood by for a good twenty minutes while they engage the assistants in a very technical conversation. Last time I experienced this I was sceptical as I listened, thinking, those questions are way too specific for a sales assistant. How wrong I was. Out came incomprehensible jargon about wattage and cables and warmth and flange. Some of that may have been made up. Oh mercy me. This guy was only a blooming expert. So it's safe to say that Maplin employ people who know what they're talking about. Similarly, ages ago my father was buying some kind of cable that would... do something with the computer and the TV. Again, the guy spoke another language, one my dear dad perfectly understood. The one beef I do have with Maplin is that things seem a tad unnecessarily expensive in there, when it comes to things like adapters for European plug sockets and the like. But as well as a range of intricate electrical goods, fusers, gender changers (gender changers?), they do sell fun stuff, such as electronic gifts for kids and computer table accessories. It's a great little standby that exists in our very own delightful Regent Retail Park, and is a great place to pop in if that essential cable, scart lead or something else electronic isn't available in your average supermarket. The staff are particularly helpful, as I've demonstrated, and the shop is laid out simply and cleanly, making it easy to navigate. As for those experts in the back, well, I do wonder why they keep them there. Perhaps there's a fine line between flash sales assistant and fully-fledged nerd in the world of Maplin (see also, Apple Stores)...

"Hey girls, hey boys, superstar DJs, here we go!"…read more Remember the Chemical Brothers hit that used a sample from Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three as it's hypnotic chorus? When it dropped back in 1999, it seemed like every aspiring teenager wanted to become a deejay. Now, they seem more inclined to become iPhone engineers or programmers! For those still interested in learning how to control and manipulate the wheels of steel however, Reflex is a DJ Superstore selling all the equipment you could want from turntables, mixers, amps and FX units to headphones, power sockets, spare cartridges and record boxes. They stock Technics, Numark, Vestax, Kam, Stanton and Behringer and offer a full repair service too. If you can't afford your own decks yet, they sell some secondhand stock and rent turntables, mixers, amps, speakers, projectors and lighting on a daily or weekly basis. If you're keen to start remixing or producing your own tracks, Reflex also rent and sell mixing desks, synths, drum machines and laptops loaded with music software. Handily, they also sell a small selection of dance vinyl and CDs including deep house, techno, trance, drum'n'bass, grime, dubstep and breaks. If you're looking for the latest floor-fillers or old skool classics though, I'd advise you to skip down the street to Eastern Bloc or Piccadilly Records. Rock Master Scott: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCx_MmUcKYU Rob Swift in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHwfvmo2Qns&feature=related

I like this store. Especially as you can just stop outside (if you are quick, as it is a yellow…read moreline area) which is handy considering a lot you will buy from here will be in large bulky boxes which you wouldn't want to walk through the street of Manchester with. You may as well tattoo 'mug me' on your forehead rather than walking round with boxes of Technics, Pioneer, Novation and many other high tech branded goods! So being able to stop outside to load is a plus point. Their stock level is good, with a wide range of equipment. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful. Having bought software and hardware from here, it has a wide range of products for the hobbyist, to the professional. It also stocks some accessories like record bags, mix tapes (or CD's) etc but best of all you can go and test any of the products, whether its a cheaper synthesiser to £4-5K Pioneer DJ decks. As for the pricing, I can't say it's a cheap shop having things worth thousands in there, but it is cheap in comparison to those products elsewhere. However not everything is, as always it's best to do your research first. I usually find they are cheapest on about 2/3rds of the things I research so that's good. All in all its a great place to call in even if you are just walking past, to see all the great things on display and have a little play. Chances are, if you are like me you will probably leave with something :)

A veritable Alladin's Cave of bizarrely cheap items, Levenshulme Bargain Store is just another…read morecheap bargain tat shop. Just with way more stuff than others. And to be honest, I am a fan of these places. When you need a dustpan and brush for a quid or a pack of batteries, these shops are really useful, quick and very, very cheap. So I can't really complain. I got a 9v adapter from here that would have cost me at least £5 if not closer to £10 in Maplin for just £3. It won't last for ever but it works just fine for now and at £3 it's good enough for me. Like any bargain shop worth its salt, Levenshulme Bargain store stocks slippers, badminton racquets and oversized money saving tins.

Ryman in the Manchester Arndale is A-OK, specialising in stationary, they have a great deal of…read moreofficey items (pens, lever arch files, printers, USB sticks), some of their prices are a little higher than average but this is eased slightly by their Student discount. The selection is pretty good, the selection of printers is smaller but with Currys PC World, nearby, no longer stocking them in-store, it is one of the few bricks and mortar stores nearby with physical stock. I find some of the staff to be a little rude, and sometimes I just wish I'd have ordered on Amazon at a cheaper price, that being said the store is easier on the eye than other stationery stores which I find to be often a little messy, and the selection is good, so if you do need stationery in a hurry, this store isn't too bad and the location is convenient being on the upper floor of the Manchester Arndale, next to the old Specsavers unit, which was taken over by Foot Locker. 3*

Isn't it funny how so many people claim to love stationery but hardly anyone can spell it? Even…read moreotherwise flawless spellers seem to confuse stationery and stationary. I was always taught the spelling by the rule, 'e' is for envelope. Alongside envelopes expect to find diaries, calendars, folders, paper, printer cartridges, pens, highlighters, Tippex, Post It notes, blank CDs and pretty much every other item of stationery you'd need in the office or at university. They don't sell larger objects such as office furniture and printers, as it is really only a tiny little shop.