...
I've been a regular at various branches of Cash Converters since 1998 and have been prompted to post this review because of some of the quite unfair comments that people are placed. Now they aren't perfect but you can end up the winner IF you know what you are looking for and doing.
Cash ... Read review
Advantages: Great bargains to be had, layby payment system, buyback facillity when selling your goods. Disadvantages: As they are a Franchise stores do vary considerably,Don' t always expect new goods at second hand prices, Don't expect near the new price for your goods, dubious elements attracted despite efforts to counter them.
...regular at various branches of Cash Converters since 1998 and have been prompted to post this review because of some of the quite unfair comments that people are placed. Now they aren't perfect but you can end up the winner IF you know what you are looking for and doing.
Cash Converters were set up in 1991 as a single Pawn shop in Australia back and have since become the largest chain of second hand/pawn shops in the world . The UK ... ...most stores.
Cash Converters are able to purchase goods as listed above from members of the public. However they have to take ID as a means of reducing the chances of inadvertently purchasing stolen goods-this criteria can vary from store to store so give your local branch a ring before setting out on a long journey.
On the sales side they offer several means of purchase:
I've been a regular at various branches of Cash Converters since 1998 and have been prompted to post this review because of some of the quite unfair comments that people are placed. Now they aren't perfect but you can end up the winner IF you know what you are looking for and doing.
Cash Converters were set up in 1991 as a single Pawn shop in Australia back and have since become the largest chain of second hand/pawn shops in the world . The UK currently has 96 stores and is expanding all the time.
They major in second hand stock purchased from members of the public although they can offer new/graded stock depending on the deals they can do with suppliers.
Their lines include TV's, HiFi's, DVD and Video players, Gardening tools, Game consoles jewellery and watches, CD's to name but a few.-a far bigger range then most stores.
Cash Converters are able to purchase goods as listed above from members of the public. However they have to take ID as a means of reducing the chances of inadvertently purchasing stolen goods-this criteria can vary from store to store so give your local branch a ring before setting out on a long journey.
On the sales side they offer several means of purchase:
1) PAY UPFRONT-Self explanatory-Cash, Credit/Debit card and Cheque( with Guarantee Card). They will also accept Credit Notes ISSUED FROM THE STORE YOU ARE BUYING FROM. In other words don't get a credit note for returned goods at Kings Heath then attempt to use the note at Wolverhampton. it won't be accepted.
2) LAYBY payments- Pay 20% deposit then spread the cost of purchase over 12 weeks. The item purchased is then stored for you until your payments are completed and the guarantee starts from that day. If you fail to make the payments on time the contract stipulates you are NOT entitled to a refund. The same applies to you changing your mind. This can be very useful provided you bear all points in mind.
3) INSTANT CREDIT-Run usually by Provident but can APR wise be very expensive. This is not offered in my local store any longer.
I have walked out of my local store with some cracking bargains such as a £190 Fax machine for £19.95 and a top spec camera for £49.95 (see my other reviews). However don't assume that you are entitled to return goods and obtain refunds because you don't like them,the new price has dropped,your Auntie Mary bought you one yesterday etc. Also don't damage goods and expect a refund/exchange either-it won't happen.
On the buying side
1) OUTRIGHT PURCHASE-Cash Converters will purchase your unwanted goods though as stipulated elsewhere and pay in cash.
2) BUYBACK OPTION-Same as selling but with the option of repurchase of goods within 28 days.
VERY IMPORTANT-this is not a loan or a pawn. The contract states clearly you have sold the goods without any comeback at all. When you repurchase goods they are not liable for loss or damage. However, a well run franchise will accept a moral responsibility if it is their fault, though I haven't personally experienced an issue yet.
IF YOU DON'T RETURN WITHIN 28 DAYS YOU LOSE THE OPTION AND THE GOODS ARE PUT OUT FOR SALE.
3)PAWN BROKING-You apply for a loan which is secured on an item or items usually Gold and/orJewellery and occasionally expensive watches such as Rolex,Omega etc. This has the big advantage of being cheaper than Buyback and also the items cannot just be sold if you don't return within six months and the amount loaned exceeds £75.00-you have to be notified by letter and given 14 days to pay off the loan . They are allowed to charge for the letter and to add interest however.Again, charges can vary so check your contract thoroughly before signing.
Other facillities include Cheque Cashing (three forms of ID needed) again best to phone beforehand, Payday advance where you can write a personal cheque up to the limit of your guarantee card and they will hold your cheque for 28 days and Log Book Loans (as agents) where you can raise cash on your car .
Generally, my local store is well stocked, clean and presentable and I'm usually served quickly and efficiently.
So the advantages are a wide range of stock, potental great bargains and a source of cash on unwanted goods.
Well after all this sales patter what are the drawbacks?
1) PRICES PAID FOR GOODS ARE LOW-at least in comparison to what you could obtain privatly. This is for a number of reasons mostly because they have to guarantee the goods and pay VAT on the profit they make.They cannot go back to the seller if the seller is a member of the public and request a refund if faulty. Also certain lines such as mobile phones have a very high returns rate. They will usually double up on the price you are paid(in the case of mobile phones my local store triples up). Bear in mind you are not forced to accept the offer-if you don't like it ask for more.If you still don't like it then walk.
2) BUYBACKS CAN BE EXPENSIVE- Buyback's should be used as an occasional measure only and like visiting a bookmakers only take in what you can afford to lose. £100 raised say on a TV will cost £130 to repurchase. Start renewing that option and the cost is up to £160 over 8 weeks-a very expensive way to "borrow." money. Long term you need to either pawn in the case of jewellery or seek finance elsewhere.
3)WHEN IT'S PAID FOR IT'S YOURS- Make sure you are getting exactly what you want and check everything for things such as cosmetic damage,dents. Although you are given a minimum of 60 days warranty unless otherwise told you will not be refunded if there is obvious cosmetic damage which you shold have spotted. Don't expect staff to spend half an hour telling you what's wrong with an item-it's their job to sell it. I personally don't have a problem provided the staff don't lie or misrepresent the goods.
4)DON'T ASSUME THEY ARE THE CHEAPEST FOR EVERYTHING. Despite the bargains that i've had, the downward pressure on electrical goods prices mean that even they can be undercut on occasions. Do your homework first.
So there we have it, the only other foible is the fact that some dubious characters are attracted to their stores but then again,you could find them in your local pub or council estate.
Used within the parameters I've stated there is no reason why you can't enjoy some spectacular bargains, use their purchasing/buyback and pawnbroking facillities and leave the store smiling.-but remember:
Advantages: quick and easy, no questions asked Disadvantages: exploitative in some sense
Cash Converters are a worldwide franchise chain of stores which serve as a shop where you can buy, sell, exchange or loan money on items of value, (although they tend to be electrical items and can be anything from TV's to Walkie Talkies). Their slogan is 'a better place to sell and a greater way to shop'.
Each branch has its own pricing , buying and loaning policies when it comes to amounts paid and charged although the rules remain the same for ... ...that you will raise less cash when borrowing against an item rather than selling them the item outright. In order to do this you will need two forms of ID - the advice as set out above applies again to this section! All this sounds great, doesnt it? Money when you need it quickly and easily, on cash terms with no credit checking?
CAUTION!!!!!
I would simply like to point out that caution should be used before entering into a loan agreement with ...
mbmb11 05.10.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cash Converters (Shop)
Advantages: Get rid of junk for cash quickly, get cash easily / quickly Disadvantages: Poor rates for your goods plus general bad aura about the place
...option to try would be Cash Converters - no need to wait like eBay, no need to send goods and charge huge P and P - but the cons of having to travel to the shop (twice in our case), lugging your (huge, heavy) goods around with you and not experiencing the fun and joy of the last minutes of an online auction.
Before heading off, we thought it'd be a good idea to phone them and check if they wanted the items first. Reporting back from the call, my ... ...looks a little untidy.
Cash Converters also offer a Pawn broking service, of which I cannot comment on as I have not used this. Looking at other comments, though, this type of service seems a little bit dodgy to me - the chance of getting a quick money fix sounds great, but you'll then have to go and pay back that money, plus a considerable extra amount on top, just to get the goods back. There's also the possibility that they'll sell on your goods, ...
wbafcben 21.01.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cash Converters (Shop)
Advantages: completely useless Disadvantages: completely and utterly useless
...staff. It was to become Cash Converters.
Now our Cash Converters really worry me and they seem to have a bad reputation and the turn over of staff is not vast, more like unbelievable, every week I go into town they are asking for staff for a smallish store. This worries me as they do not seem able to keep their staff and what I have heard from people I have known I do not blame them for leaving. The queues are always long, mainly as half the staff ... ...What is Cash Convertors?
------------------------------------
It is a modern day pawn shop, where if you have something in your house, you can take it into the store and they will either buy it off you for peanuts or you can do a buy back if you just want the money. They can also charge interest up to around 30-40% so beware.
Surprise Surprise, they have a link with good old Provident in our store, I often wondered about this as the Provident ...
BUBBLES171 15.12.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cash Converters (Shop)
Advantages: Sell your unwanted goods, different stock on a weekly basis Disadvantages: Prices aren't always great
...am personally very impressed with Cash Converters, they frankly astound me. Why? not because of their amazing customer service, their bargain products, their diverse product range or well kept shops; But by the fact that they manage to sell awful products at seemably ridiculous prices. It never ceases to amaze me how they manage to sell outdated second hand phones for near enough the same price as you can get them new online. And secondhand Playstation ... ...Selling experience:
I went into Cash Converters about 6 weeks ago after a run of bad luck in selling on e-bay with 5 non-paying bidders. So I wasn't too worried about the price I woudl get as I just wanted to see it go. I was told I needed 3 forms of identification but seemably either my passport or license counted as two as with both of these they took the projector. So the shop assisstant looked at the projector examined it for damage then told ...
taylora-2006 03.08.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cash Converters (Shop)
Advantages: (Very little) cash in a jiffy Disadvantages: Useless staff, they rip you off, lose things
...around in the UK called Cash Converters and I'm writing to warn you about it. Basically, it is just a glorified pawn shop. The idea is simple. You have something you don't use, but you still want but you also need some cash pronto. You take said item to shop and they give you a paltry sum and then in 30days or sooner you but it back for the price plus 30%. If you don't then they can sell it. This store however either a)rip you off or b)lose your ... ...decided to sell them to Cash Converters just to free up some space really, and to save myself the hassle of private ads. Now I didn't want a lot for them, but to be honest I would have expected around £40 each and maybe £10 or £15 for the monitors. This was in 1998 and they were in pretty good condition and I now wish I'd sold them privately rather than go through the Cash Converters scenario.
I arrived with the two PCs, monitors and cables as well ...
ayanayuk 21.08.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Cash Converters (Shop)
Price
Value for money
Selection & range
Quality
Staff knowledge
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Cash Converters (Shop)"
Advantages: Competetive Prices Disadvantages: Poor Customer Service
CEX, for those who don't know, is basically a pawn shop for electronic goods and accessories similar to CashConverters. As I, like most people, tend to need more money than I get given. So, to have a shop pay you for reasonable prices for your expendable goods is a really useful utility.
The prices paid for the more luxurious or recent items by CEX seems pretty fair and appear to set them apart from the competitors. I've sold them plenty of items in the past but recently I have also had a few problems to deal with.
Apparently, CEX require you leave certain items overnight for 'testing'. For instance the 80GB ipod my brother and I attempted to sell them not so long ago. After a quick flash of the membership and a bit of computery stuff, I was given a receipt and advised to come back tomorrow. Not ideal, but I gave them the benefit ...
BZ2886 28.05.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of CEX (Shop)
Good range of stock, fantastic customer service, outstanding D+P 'Diamond Laser' service, price match promise
They have devoured the competition, moved towards the Dixons style, staff not as knowlegable as they were (see review), used equipment and traditional (*)
Bargains and Brickbats 
