CeX (retailer)
{{Short description|British secondhand goods chain}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = C.E.X. Limited
| logo = CeX logo.svg
| trading_name = CeX
| former_name = Calibre Analysis Limited (May{{endash}}August 1996){{Cite web |date=1996-05-03 |title=C.E.X. LIMITED overview |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03194152 |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Companies House |language=en |archive-date=23 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123223106/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03194152 |url-status=live }}
| type = Private
| founders = {{Ubl
| Robert Dudani
| Paul Farrington
| Hugh Man
| Oli Smith
| Oliver Ball{{cite web|url=https://uk.webuy.com/site/history|title=CeX (UK) : About CeX|website=uk.webuy.com}}
}}
| num_locations = 622
| num_locations_year = 2023
| key_people = {{Ubl
| David Mullins (Chairman)
| David Butler (Managing Director)
}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1992}} in Tottenham Court Road, London, United Kingdom
| location = Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| owner =
| industry = Retail
| products = {{Ubl
| Music
| Mobile Phones
| DVDs
| Blu-rays
}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://webuy.com}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2014}}
C.E.X. Limited, trading as CeX ({{IPAc-en|s|ɛ|k|s}}), is a British retailer predominately dealing in pre-owned video games, DVDs, Blu-rays and consumer electronics, established in 1992 in London as the Computer Exchange. The retailer later renamed itself as the Complete Entertainment Exchange.
As of January 2024, there are 390 stores in the UK, and a further 230 internationally, with a number of its locations being franchises.{{Cite news |last=Pelley |first=Rich |date=2024-01-26 |title=The joy of CeX: how to spend £10 in the secondhand gaming mega store |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2024/jan/26/the-joy-of-cex-how-to-spend-10-in-the-secondhand-gaming-mega-store |access-date=2024-02-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=2019-02-06 |title=Start a CeX Franchise |url=https://www.what-franchise.com/franchise-opportunities/retail-franchises/cex |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=What Franchise |language=en |archive-date=17 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217235705/https://www.what-franchise.com/franchise-opportunities/retail-franchises/cex |url-status=live }}
History
File:CeX shop, King Street, Hammersmith.jpg, London]]
File:Lower ground floor, CEX, the Headrow, Leeds (29th August 2019) 002.jpg, Leeds.]]
CeX was started by Paul Farrington,{{cite web |url=https://uk.webuy.com/site/paul |title=About Paul Farrington |work=uk.webuy.com (CeX) obituary |access-date=2024-10-15}} Robert Dudani,{{cite web |title=The entrepreneurs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/1999/apr/11/theyoungrich1 |work=The Guardian |access-date=14 November 2012 |date=11 April 1999}} Hugh Man,{{cite web |title=How Hugh Man helped CeX achieve roaring trade across the globe |website=Elite Franchise Magazine |date=7 February 2018 |url=http://elitefranchisemagazine.co.uk/franchise-interviews/item/how-hugh-man-helped-cex-achieve-roaring-trade-across-the-globe |access-date=20 March 2019 |archive-date=20 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320211052/http://elitefranchisemagazine.co.uk/franchise-interviews/item/how-hugh-man-helped-cex-achieve-roaring-trade-across-the-globe |url-status=live }} Charlie Brooker,{{cite magazine |title=Gaming Made Me - Charlie Brooker |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/07/16/gaming-made-me-charlie-brooker-part-2/ |website=Rock Paper Shot Gun |date=16 July 2013 |ref=and a guy ended up going off to set up CEX so I was working there – I did some comic strip adverts for them, because when they found out I was a cartoonist they’d get me to do cartoons for them |last1=Ellison |first1=Cara |access-date=20 March 2019 |archive-date=20 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320211048/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/07/16/gaming-made-me-charlie-brooker-part-2/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|title=CeX (UK) : About CeX|url=https://uk.webuy.com/site/history/|access-date=2021-06-23|website=uk.webuy.com}} Oli Smith and Oliver Ball. The first shop opened on London's Whitfield Street, close to Tottenham Court Road in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://uk.webuy.com/about/history.php|title=About CeX}} As a second hand retailer, CeX trades with customers offering either cash or a voucher for redemption in any CeX shop.{{cite web |title=What payment options do CeX offer for store orders? |url=https://uk.support.webuy.com/support/solutions/articles/80001011662-what-payment-options-do-cex-offer-for-store-orders- |website=webuy.com |access-date=24 June 2024}} CeX offer a 5 year warranty subject to terms on all of the second hand products the company sells.{{cite web |title=CeX (UK) : Contact CeX |url=https://uk.support.webuy.com/support/solutions/articles/80001011708-what-is-your-store-returns-policy- |website=uk.webuy.com}}
The "CeX" name moved away from "Computer eXchange" into an acronym for "Complete Entertainment eXchange", and company letterheads state "CeX LTD is trading as CeX Entertainment Exchange". In 2005, CeX began issuing licences for franchising.{{cite web |url=http://www.whichfranchise.com/franchisorPage.cfm?CompanyID=2618 |title=CeX Franchise review |website=whichfranchise.com |access-date=30 April 2008 |archive-date=8 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508213516/http://www.whichfranchise.com/franchisorPage.cfm?companyID=2618 |url-status=dead }}
Dudani appeared on the British Channel 4 TV show The Secret Millionaire.{{cite web|url=http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2012/09/new-addington-croydons-most-notorious-area-fights-back/|title=Is New Addington really a "benighted ghetto"? - Eastlondonlines|date=10 September 2012|publisher=|access-date=26 April 2017|archive-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917033022/http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2012/09/new-addington-croydons-most-notorious-area-fights-back/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/qzwwg/the-secret-millionaire--series-10---5-bobby-dudani|title=The Secret Millionaire - S10 - Episode 5: Bobby Dudani|website=Radio Times|access-date=26 April 2017|archive-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330053606/http://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/qzwwg/the-secret-millionaire--series-10---5-bobby-dudani|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/9757485.Secret_Millionaire_yob_out_of_job_after_six_weeks/|title=Secret Millionaire yob out of job after six weeks|website=Your Local Guardian|date=13 June 2012|access-date=26 April 2017|archive-date=22 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922053547/http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/9757485.Secret_Millionaire_yob_out_of_job_after_six_weeks/|url-status=live}} This was after the business was affected by the 2011 England riots.{{cite web|url=http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/secret-millionaire-cex-s-bobby-dudani-goes-undercover-in-croydon/028492|title=Secret Millionaire: CeX's Bobby Dudani goes undercover in Croydon|publisher=|access-date=26 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404044935/http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/secret-millionaire-cex-s-bobby-dudani-goes-undercover-in-croydon/028492|archive-date=4 April 2017|url-status=dead}}
In December 2013, CeX began Designer Exchange buying luxury leather goods, jewellery and handbags, with stores in Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Madrid.
The pronunciation of the chain's acronym name was confirmed as "sex" in British commercials aired in February 2017.{{Cite web |title=CeX Lovers Make Good Choices |date=February 2017 |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgq65GGSb_8 |access-date=2024-04-22 |archive-date=22 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422144136/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgq65GGSb_8 |url-status=live }}
In November 2017, CeX launched a technology repair service called Tech Centre{{cite web |title=Tech Center - Games Console Repairs |url=https://techcentre.com/ |website=Tech Centre}} (formerly called CeX Clinic) in the UK. The service covers the repair of video game consoles. Tech Center offers a 2-year warranty on device repairs and a no fix, no fee promise to customers.
The CeX logo was designed by Charlie Brooker.{{cite web|title=Charlie Brooker - On Technology, Truth and Black Mirror|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRM5nlOLfOg&t=1753s|via=YouTube|date=14 November 2024|access-date=19 November 2024|archive-date=21 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221200012/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRM5nlOLfOg&t=1753s|url-status=live}}
Locations
| class="wikitable sortable" | |
| Country | Shops |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom{{cite web |title=CeX (UK) : Franchising |url=https://uk.webuy.com/franchise |website=uk.webuy.com}} | 390 |
| Spain (mainland) | 65 |
| Republic of Ireland | 40 |
| Mexico | 31 |
| Australia | 31 |
| Portugal | 30 |
| India | 17 |
| Netherlands | 11 |
| Poland | 11 |
| Malaysia | 5 |
| Italy | 6 |
| Canary Islands (Spain) | 8 |
| France | 1 |
| Belgium | 1 |
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.webuy.com/ CeX Official website]
- [https://www.cexclinic.com/ CeXClinic Official website]
- [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cex.android CeX Official app]
- {{Commons category-inline|CeX (company)}}
Category:1992 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Video game retailers in the United Kingdom