CEX, don't go online (CeX (Computer Exchange))

Member Name: yloponom

Product:	CeX (Computer Exchange)
Date:	17/04/09 (155 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic trade prices on quality retro goods

Disadvantages: Terrible online ordering, delivery and customer support.

Cex is a second hand shop dealing in consumer electronics and electronic based goods. Sell prices are achieved through market research on eBay's completed listings search function. Doing so makes sure cex can figure supply and demand correctly and offer trade prices that other stores would fail to justify. This means cex will therefore stock more unique items at a higher price as they attract more trade.

Most cash or exchange values, apart from new releases are 1/2 for cash or 2/3 for trade relative to the selling/ebay price. This works fantastically when other second hand stores i.e. chipsworld or gamestation who offer £1 trade for a rare retro game and sell it on for £10-£20; cex would have offered £7-£14.

As with most second hand shops store credit is only of actual value if you already wish a specific item from the store. If not, you either have to wait or venture onto the Internet ordering system and order from a store that a something you want.

The internet side of cex is truly its downfall. It only takes a short browse of the company's heavily moderated forum to find plenty of angry customers. Cex even blocks email addresses from their sign up process once the customwr has ordered online.

The company is only contactable through email or in writing at which time they can either choose to ignore the customer or write a template response to pacify the customer. Most orders are not dispatched within 4 days of the order being placed nomatter what the cost. In some cases cex will even expect you to pick the postage costs up at you end. Strange when orders over £50 are free next day courier delivery.

Voucher refunds are another issue online for cex. A customer is required to pay online in full and post vouchers to the head office in watford for the voucher amount to be refunded. As can be imagined, a simple process like this results in impartial refunds, lost vouchers and very unhappy customers.

Summary: stick to the store experience, ordering online is a losing battle