SCAMMED by CEX

Hi all.
I normally try and spread giggles with my channel but sadly, something has come up.
Now, I'm just a small fry and hold no weight at all but if even 1 person sees this then I'll have done the right thing.
@CeX have grown exponentially over the last decade or so and have become the leading outfit for retro gaming and physical media. Sadly though, that has now resulted in a monopoly and when that happens, so does a drastic dip in quality.
I've watched channels that I fanboy over like @TVMReviews and @RetroGhetto have a few swipes at them (especially Retro Ghetto's CEX lottery) but I've noticed more and more people that I follow on here starting to post videos where they've finished been ripped off.
I've got a couple of videos to edit and upload and one was ro show that CEX isn't as bad as people make out...
...only halfway through the video, I started to get scratched discs and a few other issues.
Ah well! It's only a one off, yeah? I'll just order some more games and make a positive video before releasing this slightly dodgy one...
...only the next batch were even worse and to pour salt on that wound, CEX didn't care.
Well, I know losing my custom means nothing to them but hopefully, it will showcase the pitfalls of buying discs you can't physically check to a few people that are interested.
I promise to do some more positive videos soon :)

[@donaldmackerel]

UPDATE!!! My follow up video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6DKXp56nbyZm9ksi=2cTC6YHoDu2vv5Vi Thanks to some comments on here, I drove to a different CEX store and they were great. Full refunds including postage AND they informed me that you can get a refund for any online purchase even if you've just 'changed your mind' within 2 weeks of delivery. They also correctly guessed the store responsible for the fibs and recommended a few other local stores run by great people 😊

[@mozzjones6943]

I was about comment your UK consumer right when purchasing online lol You have 14 days to return any item for any reason and get a full refund including any postage paid, No matter the company or their terms. This is law, If CEX stores refuse any part of that law you can contact their head office, And if some strange reason they still refuse, Consumer Ombudsman it is! And CEX will end up with egg on their faces lol

[@donaldmackerel]

@@mozzjones6943 and there was me thinking they were just being nice to me 😂😂😂 I'm such a daft git.

[@Active_Sun_Particles]

@@donaldmackerel Yes it's known as Contract Cancellation,

[@tfeatherstone]

ALWAYS take stuff back to another store. If you go back to the same store you bought it from and they return your item it comes off their sales figures, so they will do whatever they can to stop that happening. If you go to another store they don't get penalised if you return something that wasn't bought from them.

[@donaldmackerel]

@@tfeatherstone thanks for tip 😀

[@user-xl2bo8rh7j]

CEX is a scam some stores ok but amount of fake gameboy games I've had is a understatement

[@donaldmackerel]

I've heard that's a massive issue - a lad was explaining to me that the fakers are making almost identical replicas now.

[@user-xl2bo8rh7j]

@donaldmackerel That's correct mate I only realised when I went to trade into a local store and they claimed to me they were fake and I was just shocked! It seems some stores check some don't they'll only learn when trading standards get involved it's sad that fakes are even a thing I would've thought these manufacturers would have a copyright that people couldn't copy? Scary

[@jaysmith3121]

My local CEX have refunded my card when I've taken back games ordered online that arroved in an unacceptable condition every time providing I paid by card. Postage too. If your CEX aren't doing the same then you should complain further as that's their policy.

[@donaldmackerel]

Thank you for that matey! I'm heading back tomorrow again so I'll show them this message. Which branch has refunded you please? On an additional note, my local refuses any games with damaged cases or covers. I received an email today (in response to my complaint) saying that "we do not consider the condition of the case or cover while purchasing games"... so that's a bit different from the store policy 😂

[@adamshipley1094]

What disc cleaner do you use? Bought most of my Xbox 360 games from charity shops so always clean them before use, but the one I have is getting on now so looking to replace.

[@donaldmackerel]

I'm fairly new to KZbin so I hope advertising is OK 😂😂😂 www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-DVD-Repair-Cleaning-Kit/dp/B0013IPAJY/ref=asc_df_B0013IPAJY/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309841464204&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14443757954672332308&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046464&hvtargid=pla-562606061659&psc=1&mcid=aa5308b57306385886922d375769b643 I use that one and it's fairly decent for something under £20. I know the chap in CEX said their machine is £6k!

[@davenport11]

Cex is a joke, I bought a steering wheel which would not calibrate properly. When I took it back they tried blaming me for braking it and said I would not get a refund. After kicking off they finally give me money back

[@donaldmackerel]

It appears to be a case of different CEX's have different rules, which is odd. A bit like when you grab a nice KFC in one town, then try a KFC in a different one and get served a greasy bucket of slop.

[@retro_rummage_]

What CEX shops are these coming from coz I’ve got a few games to trade in 😂 I have 4 stores local to me and all of them knock discs back if they have the slightest scratch!

[@donaldmackerel]

I've just taken the games to a different one from when I made this video and they were fantastic! Refunded the 3 terrible games (I think they said they were all from Portsmouth, so... maybe try there 😂) and also the wrong order - no quibbles at all.

[@pferreira1983]

5:00 Not sending you Bejeweled 2 is damn insensitive of them. 😂

[@donaldmackerel]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I nearly tipped my coffee table over in disgust.

[@pferreira1983]

@@donaldmackerel 🤣

[@MrVidification]

The staff keep the ones in good condition. does the disc cleaner add a protective layer afterwards,or just remove a little of what's there to 'clean it'? online used is often better condition but overpriced, maybe with cex you are best to go in store and ask to inspect before purchase.. if they'll allow it

[@donaldmackerel]

From what I understand, the disc cleaner can be used in 2 ways - you can put soft pads in and a highly viscous fluid that just literally 'cleans' the disc (i.e. it just takes stains and smudges off) OR you can use more abrasive pads that shave a thin layer off with a thicker liquid that places a thin layer back on the disc. Obviously, you can only do the second one a few times as you'll just end up wearing the data off the disc. People have advised using toothpaste and banana skins on here, but I think that may just be a bit of an old wives' tale. These discs were all bought online and from my experience, were either on par or worse than what I get at a couple of my local branches - one employee even getting his manager to look at the games as they needed to log which store had marked these as OK for sale (I remember the one in particular that caused the manager to baulk was from their Portsmouth branch). I'm just editing down what was intended to be my initial video on CeX where I show people how great CeX is by buying a load of old games from a local store and showing the quality of them, which ended up being abysmal. I decided not to release the video at first as I figured it might just be that one store or I was just unlucky, so I went online and tried to do the video again... meaning this is my second attempt at getting decent games from them. I've also got a 3rd video in the pipeline (because their online games took 3 weeks to deliver over random dates, despite all being purchased at the same time) and the games were ordered before making this video. I won't be using their online service again and from now on, I insist on seeing the discs in store before I accept them.

[@Gamegodz76]

I love finding new honest channels like this, wish you all the luck. However, great content. Thanks

[@donaldmackerel]

Ah that's so kind! Thank you matey!

[@robhunt]

I'm sorry about the bad experience you had. I've been using CEX for years buying and selling games, consoles and other gear and have yet to have a single issue, but agree that it sounds like you had a store run by idiots!

[@donaldmackerel]

It definitely appears to be a thing now, where one store is fantastic and another is a cess-pit run by corrupt people.

[@hellrazor2050]

Distance selling you get a 14 day cool off period CEX are a retailer and not above the law

[@donaldmackerel]

Hi matey - yeah, I went to a different store and they couldn't have been friendlier. I'll just avoid a certain store and stick to the ones that my mate has advised me to use.

[@mysteryman5826]

I stopped buying from cex years ago for the same problem. I didn't buy games but dvd's and the condition of them was appalling, and some would not play. I purchased a a few occasions but the quality control had gone through the floor and so I stopped going totally

[@donaldmackerel]

It's incredibly hit and miss. I've still got loads of vouchers to use up so sadly, I'll still need to keep gambling on orders through them until they're gone.

[@AndyBradley1984]

Everything I've ordered from CEX over the past 6-7 years had either been faulty or battered to bits. Everytime I tell myself "never again", but then I see something that I need, turns up either doesn't work, is faulty, grimy/dirty or looks like it been ran over by a JCB. Never again....

[@donaldmackerel]

It's like having that 'last ever' hangover 😂😂😂

[@lukesablade]

This is why I’d rather spend a little more on eBay, you can actually see what you’re buying.

[@donaldmackerel]

Yeah - this seems to be the common suggestion now

[@ianclark2665]

Me too. I've stopped buying at CEX and buy from Ebay.

[@donaldmackerel]

@ianclark2665 since making the video, I've also gone down this route and the results are night and day

[@andygordon1028]

The worst shop on the high street. The staff on the whole are truly dreadful! It doesn’t surprise me at all though. I was told that when the PS1s had the graded system that included mint, mint meant sealed 😂😂😂 yeah because I’d take a sealed Spider-Man on the ps1 to CeX for a £23 voucher. Useless!

[@donaldmackerel]

I think a few people in the stores might have their own eBay businesses on the side...

[@Kenno10rapid]

Bought 6 games this month. 1 had to go back because the case was a mess. 1 was borderline and the rest were pretty good. The one I took back they was not happy about it but they did refund it. Then I spent more on some more games when I was there so I don't know how they can really argue. One of the games I bought in the shop they gave me the wrong disc. I returned that and they were okay refunding that one, again I bought more games when I was there. I don't think they take as much care of their online buyers as they should. If you pay 3 pound to have a game delivered they make extra money off of you as a customer because they don't spend 3 pound delivery per game. You wouldn't think so though by the way they are sometimes about online returns. I think it often depends on the day of the week and who is working at the time. Sometimes they make it easy and sometimes they question a bit more. I think the stores don't like doing the online returns because they are getting an item they wouldn't have got otherwise and usually it won't be in very good condition. I usually find that even when they make things more difficult they usually sort it out in the end though, even if it can be a headache. We don't have many options for pre-owned games these days though, especially on the high street. I'm not going to feel sorry for CEX. They are making loads of money from us game collectors these days. They should pick out the games that are in the best condition for online orders though especially when you factor in the postage costs. I think they send the orders to the store that has most or all of the games you gave ordered in their inventory and they just send whatever they have got. That's how they make the money on the postage by sending multiple games in one package. I cant really hate on CEX too much though, all in all I usually mange to get what I am after and I don't think I have ever been completely stuck with something I really don't want. The staff are usually really good as well.

[@donaldmackerel]

Spot on.

[@ianclark2665]

Great channel, thank you. The staff in my local CEX are so rude, condescending, and unhelpful.

[@donaldmackerel]

Which branch is your local store? I've found a couple of decent ones near me (but also a couple of stinkers)

[@ianclark2665]

@donaldmackerel Cwmbran, South Wales. I attempted to sell them, 'Rule of Rose' and 'Kuon' PC2 games. Yet their behaviour was such that I felt compelled to sell the games elsewhere. What I noticed is that most outlets buy such games to display them in the window as much as to make money. The manager treated me as if I'm a howling simpleton. You have a great channel, thank you.

[@donaldmackerel]

@ianclark2665 that's kind of you to say - thank you. I've heard terrible things about that store (check out TVM on here) and I had a similar incident in a store local to me where I had a complete in box, rare, 25th anniversary Wii with Donkey Kong installed on it and a limited edition version of Mario Kart. It was immaculate. I took it to the store and they said they needed an hour to test it. When I came back, they claimed that the nunchucks were fake and so would have to buy the bits separately and that the console was in grade c condition (literally zero marks on it). The price offered was about 40% of the price offered online. I took the item back so they tried to charge me £2 each to clean some games I was trading in at the same time. I obviously refused that, too (the games were fine) and so I had to walk out with everything I'd walked in with. I went to a different store the next week (Wrexham) and they accepted the lot - really helpful too. I didn't even have to mention the store that tried to rip me off as they guessed it first time whilst I was regaling the story to them. TLDR: Some stores are good but some stores are absolutely terrible and should be reported to trading standards.

[@buyselltraderepeat2619]

They really need investigating by trading standards and citizens advice.

[@donaldmackerel]

I think they have that monopoly mentality of passing the responsibility of any mistakes on to the minimum wage staff.

[@mwillis1979]

My local CEX refused to buy any xbox disc from me that was even slightly scratched, I took down about 50 and they only accepted 32. Every game I have ever bought in-store has been mint. I have never ordered online from them though.

[@donaldmackerel]

I'm glad you've had good experiences with them and maybe I'm just getting a bit of bad luck. Which store do you use?

[@RetroGamesBoy78]

My guess is your CEX has Disc cleaning machine, unless maybe you're purchasing games for a system that has an automatic disc drive, manual loading machines like with disc trays are the worst in my experience, especially when those machines are stood upright like how PS2 and 360s are able to do.

[@CDbiggen]

I got extremely lucky at Cex with a New 3DS XL a couple of years ago. No scratches, no issues. And relatively cheap. However, last year i bought another, and the game card slot was completely corroded and wouldnt read my games, but of course returned with no issue. And the games ive bought from there have also been fine, Gran Turismo 5 and 6, Buzz the UK Quiz. But really i try to avoid them.

[@donaldmackerel]

I'm glad you had really good experiences 🙂

[@CDbiggen]

@@donaldmackerel , I don't get why you're catching so much flak for this video. Everyone knows Cex is a shitshow, and it's just a jokey rant. And it's not so much CEX's fault as it is the British masses who have zero qualms in trading in all their ruined/poorly looked after garbage for a few quid for the next sucker to buy. Cex staff just don't have the time to go through the mountains of crap and rely on the returns policy.

[@donaldmackerel]

@CDbiggen exactly that matey - all I want is second hand games that I couldn't afford years ago and that work. If I damage a disc and it doesn't read, I throw it in the bin - I wouldn't sell it on because I wouldn't want to buy it myself. The staff are a mixed bunch but the vast majority are geeks like me that just want to earn a wage Messing about with stuff they have a genuine interest in (except for Telford - don't go to Telford).

[@anthonyanthony6605]

Not sure if this is a definition of a 'scam' - just the usual shit CEX service! Not sure why you're so surprised :)

[@donaldmackerel]

I've since visited a different store and gotten great service (and found out that they're all franchises and so make up their own rules etc) so it very much seems like it's a case of trial and error as to which stores are OK - which isn't great for online orders!

[@ComedyLabUK]

First disc was hard to see on the camera but that second one must have been really bad. Not on when you're paying good money. Velvet assassin is a game I always wanted to play back in the day.

[@donaldmackerel]

Indeed. The camera barely picked up half the scratches, meaning the ones you can actually see are so deep that you can catch a fingernail on them.

[@HotStormProductions]

@@donaldmackerelthat was exactly my thoughts. If these are the ones that pick up on camera they must be bad

[@KakarotOwns]

I keep seeing bad stuff pop up about CEX but i cost them personally years ago, bought a backwards compatible PS3 which stopped working after a few months, returned a broken PS3 to them as i kept the receipt and got my money back 😂 But i recommend eBay, i always buy my old and new games on there.

[@donaldmackerel]

I've just started using eBay thanks to recommendations in these comments 😂

[@terryterryd]

This is why I would rather help seed torrents and pay towards servers. It's a crying shame.

[@donaldmackerel]

😂😂😂 Controversial opinion

[@Omie-Wan-kenobi]

some staff can be great and the stores themselves arent bad per se, but the company is horrible, i cant stand them

[@donaldmackerel]

I think that's the main issue. The people that work there are usually proper gaming fans like myself and love a good laugh about dodgy purchases etc (although, as I've found out there are exceptions) and no 'store' is a bad one, they just make the odd mistake. My issue lies with the corporate side who avoided answering any questions via email and seemed happy to let me believe that I was going to get scammed because they just didn't care. Talking to a few people though (including a guy I get on with at one of my locals) it's not the same as it was even a few years ago and what started as a great idea has now because a bit toxic - just see some of the CEX employees that have commented in here and notice they also apply the same bullying tactics on any other CEX dislike video.

[@stevirobbo]

Just go straight through the bank and get your money back as by law they have to give you a full refund for any reason if you are unsatisfied, you don't even have to give them a reason you have a consumer right guarentee. Plus it is. Actually illegal to print off a games cover and sell it. It is against copyright law if they get reported for it they will get a great big fine off the ombudsman 😊

[@donaldmackerel]

A lot of people have told me about the cover re-printing now (which I know at least one local CeX still does.

[@stevirobbo]

@@donaldmackerel just contact your bank or credit card company and show them the damaged goods. They will open a claim and you will get your money back 👍

[@lultharion]

If they do all that testing when taking in games, I can't understand why they sell rubbish on to consumers, motto should be they do their testing and if it works then accept it, if it doesn't work refuse the game.

[@djstevie69]

When this company was started it was about QUALITY as well as being fairly priced, importing great games and broadening the hobby of gaming. How do I know this? I worked in the first CEX when it was called The "Tottenham Court Road Computer Exchange" Robert and Ollie the oweners trained us to spot bad scratches, how 'common' 'faults' are done (people dipping carts in water and then drying them out then saying they were faulty) etc etc and as a senior assistant I passed my knoweledge on in the 2 or so years I worked there, we would not take in badly scratched disks end of discussion there are obvious differences between surfaces scratches and deep ones (use a fingernail!!) and you give them a polish to check properly.... anyway. The expansion was a good thing at the start but it's just become too unweldy as it's now pretty much the only... GAME in town these days that takes in and pays out and a lot of the prices make my eyes water. It's a shame how fall they have fallen and I wish that things were as they were when we started things.

[@donaldmackerel]

I think it happens to most businesses. They start off with good intentions and then end up lowering standards in return for profits, especially public floated companies. If you ever get chance, look into the story of why KFC isn't KFC anymore, how it was publicly admonished by 'The Colonel' (yes, he was a real person) and how the only 'true' KFC is a little shop in Limerick that isn't allowed to use the KFC name but actually uses the official recipes.

[@lanjohnson4008]

I had the same ...purchased some ps3 games from the store in Peterborough that didn't work and when I took them back they said they would not sell in that condition...The only reason things have changed for you is because they bothered now....

[@donaldmackerel]

That annoyed me too - it felt like they were trying to make me back down by shaming me in front of other customers for trying to 'scam them' with fake returns.

[@Gold2thGaming]

Weird that CEX has always refunded me to whatever means ive paid with & i don’t know what part of the country you are at but over where i am im blessed either way way too many independent game shops.

[@donaldmackerel]

I'm over on the Welsh borders near Cheshire and Shropshire matey. I managed to get everything sorted by simply going to a different CEX, although since then they've sent out the rest of the order and that's wrong too 😂

[@Gold2thGaming]

@@donaldmackerel Cex can be terrible at times as you have obviously witnessed,never been game hunting over your way,im in Yorkshire so loads of retro shops even more than Cex shops,CEX franchise shops are usually more slack but i still find great conditions & poor and always think some poor sucker is going to get sent that 🤦🏼

[@donaldmackerel]

@Gold2thGaming that's what winds me up matey. Still - check out my Vinted vid and look at the copy of Minecraft I was sent in 'Very Good' condition 😂😂😂

[@Gold2thGaming]

@@donaldmackerel 😂Will do

[@gameshack1985]

It's an odd video. You simply go online, get a free return label, and send them back for a full refund to your original payment method. Not hard. I thought everyone knew this! 😂 Yes, as you can tell, I've sent TONS of stuff back!

[@mufc10529]

Dont order online i dont i rather go into the stores and buy what i want

[@donaldmackerel]

This is fine if you have a CEX (or retro game store) near you. Sadly though, many people like me live out in the boonies and it's a minimum 40 minute drive (plus parking) just to have a look round, and even then my local stores don't seem to get much of a change in the titles they stock, making online purchasing essential.

[@daedelous7094]

This is why people RGH their 360s.

[@donaldmackerel]

I get that, but at the same time it doesn't solve the problem of poor service. It definitely gives weight to the argument to NOT purchase old games though.

[@g0tNoodles]

The fact that it's a franchise means they have little to no consistency (apart from the grading system which always seems to be C grade when selling ot them but B+ when buying). I only tend to buy hardware online since it's more difficult to fake. If I am going to be buying an expensive game I would rather wait until I can go to a shop to buy it then you get to see everything before taking the plunge and having to deal with the nonsense.

[@donaldmackerel]

I agree, but living out in the sticks means the availability of rarer games in store is basically zilch. As other people have recommended, I've used Ebay since this video and never been let down. 100% on the grading system too - I've even seen stuff my partner's son has traded in get treated like junk, yet be in the window a few days later at a much higher grading. He refuses to use them now. P.s. I had no idea it was a franchise!

[@g0tNoodles]

@@donaldmackerel I admit that it can make it more difficult if you area bit further out but the unfortunately reality is that it will always be a gamble buying them online, as you know! I once took a phone in that had no scratches or marks on the screen or casing, got a C grade for it; accepted the trade as I couldn't be bothered to sell it online myself. Went back to look later and saw it at a different grade, can't remember if A or B but certainly not what they said it was when buying it from me. I did buy a Game Boy Player from them recently which went well, disc was in very good condiditon fortunately but I was a liite apprehensive about it to be honest. Depending on where you live, if you can get to Derby there is a great shop there called Retro-World.

[@cbyrne2466]

Buyer beware with CEX

[@donaldmackerel]

I think the quality varies store to store but, yeah.

[@yeahtbh.161]

Why not just buy them from a reputable ebayer, still tons of bargains to be had on there.

[@donaldmackerel]

I've decided to start doing just that (as stated in these comments 😂)

[@ThisisDhilloninUK]

They scammed me with diffrent emi number on bill vs different on mobile phone. Now they are not returning my phone.

[@donaldmackerel]

Jesus mate, that's awful. Have you contacted trading standards?

[@ThisisDhilloninUK]

I tried to contact customer care but no response. Just try to recheck the serieal number before leaving the shop.

[@donaldmackerel]

@@ThisisDhilloninUK I would go straight to trading standards matey: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/

[@ThisisDhilloninUK]

@@donaldmackerelthanks man. I live in nottingham n bulwell store is worst one here so if anyone here reading this comment beware😅

[@driventogaming2879]

I’ve give up with CEX tbh. Their games are total rank..the staff are rude in most of the stores too. I don’t understand the place.

[@donaldmackerel]

I actually get on with a few people at my local one but I must admit, this online escapade and the response has put me off using them.

[@sharonellis8776]

You have to be careful what you buy from these stores. xx

[@donaldmackerel]

Indeed, but even worse is that these were online purchases, meaning that somebody checked them when they were traded in, then checked them again before sending them out. There are people on here saying their items were also damaged by staff and then they were offered lower amounts. It appears I may have opened up a festering wound, as CeX bots have been trying to discredit the video since it first went up yet STILL haven't responded to my emails of complaint. Utter madness.

[@hrungnir00008psp]

What did you expect? It took me a while to realise that any shop in this country will try to scam you. Even the local institutions. Just got scammed by the local council. That seems to be becoming a part of the British way of life.

[@donaldmackerel]

Ah man, I'm so sorry to hear that and I hope you get some more positive experiences here soon. What happened?

[@hrungnir00008psp]

@@donaldmackerel no need to go into detail, especially not on KZbin. Let’s just say I did them a favour and they returned it with a fine of £135. Learnt my lesson. Councils have turned into money making machines.

[@TISFORTAMIYA]

if you bought with ecom the refund will be in whatever method you paid with, and will be inclusive of the postage. I think your local cex is wrong

[@donaldmackerel]

Yeah, I went to a different branch and not only did they sort me out but they correctly guessed the dodgy branch when I told then what had happened. I've only just found out (thanks to these comments) that CeX is a franchise, meaning each one is just a name bought by a business.

[@miamijim5964]

Not if you are picking up bargains...

[@donaldmackerel]

This is true.

[@RetroGamesBoy78]

Ebay, that's where the bargains are! You just have to make sure you're there when they get listed because they ain't on there for long!

[@EvanJoanette]

These videos are infuriating. Who treats, or lets their kids treat expensive kit like this? But the fault lies with CEX for passing off stuff in poor condition. You should always know what you're buying.

[@donaldmackerel]

I know you can't watch your kids 100% of the time and that in many ways, games can be a makeshift babysitter but yeah - a lot of this is just neglect. I'm even teaching the grandkids to tidy up after themselves. These games just shouldn't be in circulation.

[@RetroGamesBoy78]

I just steer clear of CEX altogether. For me ebay is king, I buy on ebay then resell and make big profits, that's how cheap games can be on there, you should see the stock i have at the moment! This is how ive funded my retro gaming addiction over the last few years and I really enjoy the hunt too, its like a virtual Carboot. I've been in my local CEX twice, purchased a controller for Xbox 360 that's it, nearly had a heart attack looking through the PS1 games, mental prices on some of them!

[@donaldmackerel]

Loads of people are suggesting eBay to me - as you say though, by the time I even look at the full description of something, somebody has bought it 😂

[@RetroGamesBoy78]

@@donaldmackerel but if you're persistent it does pay off over time! Also, sometimes, if its an auction, people just forget to bid, it actually happens to me a lot, I'm terrible at keeping up with my bids because I make so many and i end up see other people getting a bargain, which is fine, maybe it was their turn to get lucky! Next time it might be mine.

[@JimBob-vg2og]

Dude you need to stop buying these cheap ass games and paying 3 quid postage a pop to CeX

[@donaldmackerel]

I would but I live out in the sticks, it's a 30 min drive to any of the nearest ones, and even then, they have limited stock. I even asked if you can get stock transferred and sadly, you can't.

[@gameshack1985]

100% agree!

[@donaldmackerel]

@gameshack1985 you understand that I've tried this and they don't have the games I'm looking for and haven't done for a while, don't you?

[@LoveLestat]

i just used CeX to sell games and consoles you'd get next to nothing but yeah

[@donaldmackerel]

They definitely have their uses if you just want to get rid of something fast.

[@dodgydpad]

They will always refund you buddy if the disks are battered. Dont boycott them, they have always done me good with my Master System collection. Luckily they indicate on the site whether there retro games are Boxed and complete now. That little white sticker on the manuals is from GAME not CEX, its what we have to do when the games are filed away. CEX aint allowed to reprint covers anymore. They got reported to trading standards because it illigal to print anything with BBFC or PEGI ratings on them. If you are looking for some epic games to add to your collection (If you aint already got them) then id recommend LOST ODYSSY, SABOTEUR, DON KINGS PRIZE FIGHTER, BLUE DRAGON, TOO HUMAN, ALPHA PROTOCAL, ENSLAVED, MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 1 & 2.

[@donaldmackerel]

Cheers matey! I don't have Don King's Prizefighter or Ultimate Alliance 1 but I'm hoping to rectify that when I get a chance 😂 At least I finally know why shops put stickers on the manuals. It still seems mad but I suppose people are just doing what management tells them. Also, I traded a PS2 game in a few weeks ago and they said because it was high value, they could reprint the cover... 🤔 I think like most things in life, there are good places and bad places. Not every Nandos gives the same service and quality etc. The overall standard does appear to have slipped somewhat though and it's a shame, as there really is very little alternative in the UK right now. They almost need some competition to give them a bit of a shake up.

[@user-ng8us6fe7c]

Crazy!!!

[@jamesgreen5371]

Pathetic service, I'd be fuming lol

[@mufc10529]

That be game that stuck the label on that velvet ass so its second second hand

[@donaldmackerel]

Yeah - I still don't understand why people stick labels on paper though.

[@Lewis-jn1ou]

i stick with ebay, if it aint as desribed etc, easy free return, generally always cheaper than CEX if a games worth more than £3 so win win

[@donaldmackerel]

I might have to start doing this as after doing a quite public comedown from my stance today, CEX have yet again posted out completely the wrong item to me once more. This is absolutely insane.

[@Lewis-jn1ou]

@donaldmackerel yeah the quality control and staff at a few shops are disgusting especially with the price of PaP and fussing with returns if you need to travel to a shop etc it's wasted time and fuel

[@donaldmackerel]

@@Lewis-jn1ou that's literally the rant that I've just ended my 3rd (technically my 4th) video on CEX online purchases with 😂😂😂

[@user-ng8us6fe7c]

Keep making more videos!

[@donaldmackerel]

Cheers matey! Will do.

[@martin_dickinson]

At the moment 😂 they have been pretty sh*tty and shady for a long time now took a clearly A grade console in to sell and they offered C grade stating it was scuffed it wasent ended up selling private and got more than what they offered! and let's not get me started on their illegal practice of re-printing covers and selling as new along with re shrinkwrapping second hand titles as new a mate paid a lot of money for a so called new sealed Pokémon game it was used the cart had scuffs on the sides and back they had re shrunk the box in plastic wrap and sold it as new how did we figure this out there was an unused cex sticker inside the manual that they missed that must of been in with the packaging so we reported to trading standards and he got a full refund we've not been back to that particular store and yes they used to sell new boxed games at one point

[@donaldmackerel]

I'm getting a lot of these comments and I'm now realising just how lucky I've been up until now.

[@PsychoticKnight]

this is why people emulate their games now

[@donaldmackerel]

I'm a proper old fart though and I like having the physical media in my hands.

[@PsychoticKnight]

@@donaldmackerel sadly then this is where people will take advantage of others wanting physical copies , you will end up having to pay through the roof for them and also take up so much space , i can fit all super nintendo / mega drive / GBA/game cube/ps1/psp/ps vita/nintendo ds and 3DS /wii / n64 ps2 / switch and some ps3 games all on one 512gig micro sd card

[@donaldmackerel]

@PsychoticKnight and to me, that's fine too as I'd rather games were played and nobody is losing money from emulating OLD games. The irony of an industry trying to crack down on emulation whilst pushing digital storage AND removing access to said old games is ridiculous. Everyone is different though and to me it's the difference having a Jpeg or a genuine, physical version of an Andy Warhol.

[@tobyford583]

I'M OUTRAGED FOR YOU

[@fattheopod]

You have to be on a register to work at CEX.

[@donaldmackerel]

Correct - I think they all have to have completed an NVQ of some sort.

[@brianday873]

You're upset about receiving scratched discs? Think about the poor seller who got a penny each for these?

[@donaldmackerel]

But if they're absolutely shot, should they have even been sold in the first place? Surely the seller is as much to blame as CeX?

[@chris19873]

They are pretty bad with this

[@donaldmackerel]

Careful now - you'll anger the fanboys in the comments 😂

[@chris19873]

@@donaldmackerel Na a did a blind Roulette from Cex was poor,Still got to trade them back in

[@jamesford2269]

Shop somewhere else?

[@donaldmackerel]

If you check the follow up video, I did and I also ask for recommendations from people. This video appears to be attracting Mensa members. Or just members.

[@jamesford2269]

@@donaldmackerel I think scammed is a strong word to use. I get your annoyed, but once you'd cleaned some of the disks they were fine. To be honest I'd only buy in store but that's just me.

[@donaldmackerel]

3 were still unplayable and 1 was the wrong game. I went to a CeX store and they argued that they wouldn't send badly damaged games out or incorrect ones, then accepted that they had but that they wouldn't refund postage. I emailed CeX twice for an answer but just received generic emails in response. If you read these comments, I only got the correct answers from people commenting on here so yes, up until they pulled their finger out I was 100% in the process of being scammed. It's an odd world where a select few try to coddle a multi-million pound empire by trying to blame the person who did nothing wrong.

[@PerezBSclan]

smear banana on discs... how rtarded you need yto be to buy anything from cex in 2024 ?: or even in 2004 ? thats a sheet hole

[@donaldmackerel]

I genuinely thought you were being a bit special until I searched for "smear banana on discs" and saw it was a method of fixing scratches 😂😂😂

[@PerezBSclan]

@@donaldmackerel lolz

[@adammintern3927]

the games are shit and the xbox 360 is a shit console. so glad for emulators.

[@donaldmackerel]

I'd suggest having a look at Sertraline.

[@TheKINGofCeX]

CEX GUD KUMPNEY U LYAR FAYK NEUWS

[@donaldmackerel]

I apologise

[@kurt5079]

Hmmm a new account set up on the day this comment was left 🤔 What a moron...

[@kurt5079]

You actually set up an account to post this message... Imagine fanboi'in a garbage rip off store like CEX. Kids 🤦‍♂

[@donaldmackerel]

@kurt5079 I've gotta be honest here - I did it to mock the fake accounts that keep trolling anybody who dares speak out about CeX 😂😂😂 It's just me taking the mickey.

[@kurt5079]

@donaldmackerel It blows my mind that they are even a thing, dude 🙃

[@ED-209UHD]

You do realise there are two types of CEX stores one that run by the actual corporation and the other is a franchise and it’s run by utter clowns so you are having a go here at CEX as a whole and you should really make it clear that it is franchises that are ruining a very good reputation!

[@donaldmackerel]

So should CeX still not police the franchises or strip their name from them? That's a bit like saying don't blame BT for digging the road up outside your house on a Sunday because it's not direct labour, it's an independent contractor doing the work (that BT have asked them to do, on a Sunday).

[@ED-209UHD]

@@donaldmackerel It’s separate entity you should look into it! Many dodgy bosses in franchises don’t care about the CEX name!

[@donaldmackerel]

@ED-209UHD but CeX financially benefit from the stores and so are ultimately responsible, as they have the ability to take that name away from them (yet refuse to, because it generates income).

[@ED-209UHD]

@@donaldmackerel You are fighting a losing battle as long as they whole pie is making money franchises will always be around the best advice I can give you is buy in a corporate store at all times!

[@donaldmackerel]

@ED-209UHD I really don't think that answer absolves CeX of all responsibility 😂 Ultimately, they are responsible for the quality associated with their name and if they choose to do nothing about poor practice, then all negativity towards the name / brand is on them and people like me will continue to call it out.

[@wifwifsterz]

having worked at cex we wouldnt even buy these off people never mind sell them on and the amount of time scammers like these channels returning purchased games after swapping out bad disc for ours for a refund this vlog is just to call cex thumbs down just for the hatred you have but i bet you was back at cex next day buying more

[@donaldmackerel]

I'm literally unboxing them live on camera 😂😂😂 Welcome to 'apology video number 2'

[@u4ria.]

You paid buttons and complain about getting low grade condition games most of which worked. Those that didn't work you could get refunded so all in all not a scam. You just come across as someone who complains for the sake of complaining.

[@donaldmackerel]

The games cost nearly £90, so either you're a CEX fanboy (unlike the vast majority of people on here - just read the comments) or a Tory. If you actually watch what's going on, I explained that only 3 games from 11 worked until I cleaned them myself and even after cleaning, 3 were beyond repair (should never even have been sold) and 1 was completely the wrong item (which happened again when the rest of the order came). People have the right to complain when they've received a poor service and so you just come across as someone who bullies on KZbin because they're unhappy with their own life.

[@u4ria.]

@@donaldmackerel you never made it clear how much you paid, well you mentioned the cost of some being 3 quid. If you're going to cry about being scammed you have to be up front or expect people questioning you. Regardless of all this you got a refund which is what people usually do before making a click bait title video over something that was easily fixable. Glad you got your money back. Just write this off as a learning experience and don't blindly buy expensive stuff.

[@donaldmackerel]

@u4ria. I still don't undertake why you see this as a click bait title? I don't have much cash and work hard for what I do. I was excited to get some more games to add to my collection and when they arrived, they were in a condition that we all know they wouldn't accept if you tried to trade them in. I went to a local store and was pretty much laughed out of it and made to feel like some sort of second class citizen (which I'm not going to lie, was your initial response, too) and I think you can tell how upset I was from the video. Check my others out - I'm normally a really happy guy. I got zero joy from emailing as I think it must just be an automated service but had a stroke of luck when I went to another local (within 45 mins) store after getting some advice on here, which they agreed with. They were all so friendly and it will definitely be one of my new, favourite places to shop. Thanks for seeing it from a middle ground though and I do understand why you might just see me as a moaner, but the video was made when I was very upset and looking at the comments on here, it doesn't seem to be only me. Can I ask which stores you use please? I'm more than happy to shop at places that treat the customer fairly and would love to add them to a little list of 'good shops' 😂 Sorry if I popped off at you too - I'm just getting fed up with the weird comments from obvious online mods trying to do damage control but actually escalating any feelings of hatred towards the company that there already are. I can see that you perhaps just misunderstood the situation based on an admittedly rant-filled video. Again though, I swear I'm actually a nice guy - I even laughed about getting discs with baby poo and snot on from Vinted 😂

[@u4ria.]

@@donaldmackerel You really should have contacted them and tried to remedy the problem before lashing out at them publicly saying they scammed you when in fact they didn't as they remedied the situation and refunded you not just the price but the postage too. Why do i feel its a click bait title.. well that's because it is "Scammed by CEX" right off the bat comes across as click bait you even typed Scammed in caps. As it could have been resolved quite easily like it was in the end there was no need to say they scammed you because they didn't. You could have made a video about your experience with having to buy online and the situation that was caused and then spoken about all the foot work and energy to get it resolved. Then signed off with letting people know about the pit falls of buying blindly and how to resolve it. I get it, You was upset but cool heads and all that. I don't buy much now as i have flash carts. I have some of my original hardware and games from my childhood everything else i emulate or use my MiSTer setup.so ive no need to buy. The best place ive found to buy from are Ebay(ask questions and for more images/videos), local sales and some of the buying sections from forums, FB groups and discord channels.

[@donaldmackerel]

I suppose the issue with that is that I DID approach CEX as I went to a fairly local shop and they were the ones that told me that they a) wouldn't send the wrong game out, b) wouldn't send games in a poor condition and c) said they could refund me but not for the postage and only in the form of a voucher. I emailed CEX straight away and got a generic email back saying to take the items in store or post them back (which I have been warned not to, as packages 'go missing'), so I emailed again and received yet another generic email that avoided answering any questions and for some reason, went into what sort of inlay covers they will accept when trading games in. The final email happened at the end of the second day, so as I'd had zero answers I decided to male the video (especially after reading Reddits where people went through similar instances where CEX would only react after being called out online etc). I uploaded the video and I would say the vast majority of reactions have been in support, with a couple of obvious plants here and there trying to pretend that I'm just a moaner. Quite a few people suggested just going to a different store though, which I did and finally received a full refund (they were incredibly friendly). Bizarrely, the second half of my order then arrived and contained ANOTHER incorrect title, so I just went back to the same one and had a laugh with the guy behind the counter who apologised again and said that in future, I should come in and he'd ring whichever store had the items I wanted and would ensure they were the correct ones. This time though, the manager didn't seem too happy to see me and after checking reviews online, I figure that people have had pretty bad experiences there too. The title was designed to show that I had been treated poorly but also to warn people about the treatment you can receive just for trying to purchase games - I didn't expect the snobbery from certain corners of the internet in all honesty but I must say that the video has done its purpose as I now have my money back and have garnered quite a bit of public support. I have actually made a part 2 of the video where I changed my mind (as my second online order arrived before the rest of my first one where the second game was incorrect - work that out) but I've got a backlog of other videos I need to release first from car boot sales and charity shops etc. I'm actually quite a positive chap so to get me grumbling is some achievement, so hats off to CEX I guess.