CeX in Evesham | Best Phone, Laptop, and Computer Repair Services at Affordable Prices | Quick Fixes

We have been regular customers here for years. Today, I am sad to report we experienced the same suspicious activity as the previous reviewer, Steven, concerning a console. We left the console at Cex, Leamington Spa, overnight for testing. When we returned to the store they told us that they could not accept the console because of damage to the controller. In particular, “deep rust to the battery area”.

This was news to us? The console was purchased from this store only one month earlier. The receipt for the original console purchase was handed to the sales advisor then and there. They sold us a console with a faulty controller and then tried to refuse its trade back. Until it was clear that, to us, this is not acceptable.

Another thing to consider is that it is not likely that any rust would be able to develop in a month of us having the console (with very little use). Inspecting the batteries used upon our return home, there was no rust on the batteries — there would be. There was also no rust visible on the battery terminal in the photos we took of the controller before trading (which we always do to document the condition).

So, now we question whether this was even the controller traded in/or if they overcharged the controller during any test. Charging a battery for too long raises its temperature too high, causing electrolytes to expand, that is how battery terminals develop rust. That all being said, we were not leaving with that console because the fault/or potential scam was with Cex.

I would say do not leave items overnight, be cautious when trading in and take (time-stamped) photos of your items before handing them in for testing. If you do find something suspicious concerning your trade-in? Contact the Police, they’re just over the road. It’s a type of fraud. Remember to always keep receipts for purchases or trade-ins.

*Update in response to the reply*

I’ve now reduced my review from 2-star to 1-star because I am disappointed in the reply to my genuine review of our experience. The attempt to patronise a longstanding customer has just lost Cex business — I’ve had a change of heart considering the response that denies any responsibility.

Your statements are a farse; it was sold to us by Cex in a faulty condition — per the proof of purchase (showing console and controller). You were very quick to provide an immediate (partial) refund for this reason.

Yes, the deep rust identified in the controller renders it unsuitable for future sale. You missed the fault and should not have sold us this equipment in the first instance. You failed your testing standards and (technically) short-changed us with a partial refund. The original purchase price (for what you sold us) was PS75 — the refund was PS53. You profited from PS22 selling what (you admit) was faulty equipment. That isn’t “ethical”. As the refund was also in Cex voucher format and can only be used at a Cex store, there was no loss to Cex.

Cex have:

– the returned console unit (which isn’t faulty) to sell

– the PS22 profit from the original sale of faulty goods not (fully) refunded to the voucher

– the profit from the purchase of a new console with the (refund) Cex voucher

– the difference of another PS22 paid to cover the cost of a new console (as PS53 doesn’t cover it)

– all in all, you made PS44 profit when you should not have.

I’ll let other consumers reading reviews decide if that sounds “ethical”. Clearly, you did find this beneficial.

You did, however, (swiftly) accept that you had sold us faulty equipment and did cover the above (partial) refund with a voucher — no doubt to avoid further implications for your actions. You were alerted as soon as possible and we did resolve it.

Notwithstanding, the response here attempts to paint a different (untruthful) picture and (dishonestly) imply customer fault. This is not good practice for consumers. It’s bad business and trading standards will be notified with the relevant evidence. Across the web, numerous reviews demonstrate that many have had a similar poor experience.

Tried to trade in a console, kept it in overnight for testing as didn’t have time that day but coming back in the following day told the controller was faulty and wanted to take PS50 off the trade in price (more than half the trade in value for the console!) because that’s how much they sell them for separately, even though they buy them for only PS23.

And looking at the controller I received back I’m far from convinced it was the one I originally gave them, it has a lot of cosmetic damage I dont recognise such as scratching on the thumbstick, which I’ve never seen on my controllers.
I questioned this but pointless arguing as I’ve no proof but lesson learnt I’ll take pictures of everything and serial numbers next time!
Could have been an honest mix up or not but either way trying to take PS50 off the price of a PS84 trade in when they would just be bundling one of their in stock controllers with it anyway, why not just take the trade in PS23 value off?

So all round poor experience, will be going back to Coventry branch if there is a next time.

Staff friendly but products unreliable.
CEX is handy when it comes to finding cheap games and DVDs etc. hence I shop here.

However, the quality is unreliable and they don’t seem to test the products work before selling them on leading to some back-forth to switch disks to one that can be read by my PS4. So far I’ve had the console malfunction (CEX second-hand product), several game disks were unreadable by the console. I inspect the disks myself but it is hard to tell if there are micro-scratches. I still can’t play Second Son after trying 3 different disks, I’m not sure if it’s a disk problem or the game is designed to prevent resale.

When they switched the console I found the controller that came with it is faulty with considerable stick drift on the right (camera) joystick meaning that when released the camera points at the environment ceiling/sky. I’m not that close to the store and this is my nearest so it’s a pain to keep having to return.