Discovered a New Game Store - CGX

[Daria]

I live in South Florida, and was at the Wellington Green mall Friday night when I spotted a new video game store. Which is pretty weird because the only stores we have around here are GameStops and EBs. What was nice about this store however is that it carries old games. They sell all sorts of older systems including Atari, NES, SNES, Gamegear, 32X, Genesis, Saturn, Sega CD, N64, Dreamcast, and PSX. And of course there's all the newer stuff too.

According to the lady behind the counter they've only opened a week and a half ago, and that their other store is in Dalas. From what I could see their prices were average. The cart systems weren't priced, probably because the store's new. But I didn't see any great deals amongst the PSX era titles either. I walked out with Rise of the Dragon for $10 and was happy about it.

Decor was odd and the locations even stranger. Shelves were sparsely arranged, again may be because the place is new, but their was an ikea looking couch and tv set up at the front of the store all arranged in iMac colors. Very trendy. I also say the locations odd because the Wellington Mall is fairly upscale. New store turn around is high due to the rent. It also baffles me you'd go from Dalas to Wellington. o.O

But it's great to see a new store in the area. Has anyone ever been to the Dalas location?

[Technosis]

Sounds cool. I'd love to see pics or even a website link. :-)

[Steve W]

There's around four scattered across Texas, but I've only been to the one in the Stonebriar Mall. It was a nice store. Not too many Atari/Colecovision/Intellivision games, but they had a decent selection of '90s console games. It's always nice to find a store that stocks Jaguar and Saturn games.

[CartCollector]

I've been to the Dallas location. It's amazing. They have all of these console boxes (I don't remember them at all except for an NES Action Set) though sadly, none of them are for sale. I asked about them, and the guy at the counter said that they were from the employees' collections. So it was an interesting place.

Prices left a bit to be desired IMO: They were selling an Atari 2600 for $70. Mind you, this was without any games - just the console. They had a TG-16 there with some official multicart for $50, which I passed on. Maybe I should have picked that one up, but then again, I didn't know how much they sold for on average.

[Technosis]

Prices left a bit to be desired IMO: They were selling an Atari 2600 for $70. Mind you, this was without any games - just the console. They had a TG-16 there with some official multicart for $50, which I passed on. Maybe I should have picked that one up, but then again, I didn't know how much they sold for on average.

$70 is pricey, but hey if you need a system ASAP.................oh yeah, I didn't know there where any tg-16 "official" multicarts (not to hijack the thread or anything)

[gepeto]

I look at some stores as a one stop shop. They can't compete with a gamestop so there classics systems are higher than ebay but hey you get it now and you see what you get.

[JustRob]

This store is where? I live down here in godforsaken collecting land of south florida too and haven't heard about it yet.

[98PaceCar]

CGX is a great store and the manager of the new one in Florida really knows his stuff. In fact, if you happen to meet him (his name is Shawn), tell him Darren says hi!

[Daria]

CGX is a great store and the manager of the new one in Florida really knows his stuff. In fact, if you happen to meet him (his name is Shawn), tell him Darren says hi!

I met Shawn today. He's a fucking asshole.

[mills]

I met Shawn today. He's a fucking asshole.

aaaahahahahaha

elaborate.

[Ryaan1234]

I've been to a CGX before. I was on a band trip to Plano and we went to a nearby mall. After seeing wonderful(sarcasm) deals like:

Super Mario World for only $29.99!
Final Fantasy (NES) for only $49.99!
Final Fantasy III for only $79.99!
and
Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt for $9.99!

I decided that anything I bought from this place would be a rip-off.
This may have been the same CGX that CartCollector was talking about, the mall was called Oakbriar or something-briar I think.
Oh it's Stonebriar, the one Steve W mentioned.
The store had a good collection of games, they even had a few(way overpriced) Neo-Geo
(the home console one) games.
btw I love going up to the front counter of these stores and asking an employee "Do you have any Vectrex games?". That shows how much they actually know about video games.

CartCollector: about all those systems they have on the walls. I saw a top loader up there and I was ready to get a ladder. :) (It would probably cost me an arm and a leg if it were for sale. I'd probably have to get them my first born child also.)

[Daria]

aaaahahahahaha

elaborate.

Just rude.

I wanted to buy a Turbo Grafix and a game and he was uncooperative. He refused to sell me the system because it was missing a power cord, although I said didn't really care and wanted to buy it anyway. And then because he was rude I walked out without the game.

It's not the fact that I couldn't buy the system, but I couldn't get him to even talk to me about it. He hardly looked at me and much of the conversation was relayed through different employees. Again, he was just rude.

[cyberfluxor]

Just rude.

I wanted to buy a Turbo Grafix and a game and he was uncooperative. He refused to sell me the system because it was missing a power cord, although I said didn't really care and wanted to buy it anyway. And then because he was rude I walked out without the game.

It's not the fact that I couldn't buy the system, but I couldn't get him to even talk to me about it. He hardly looked at me and much of the conversation was relayed through different employees. Again, he was just rude.
Maybe he's shy but does sound like a prick. Nothing better than wanting to spend money but they don't want to take it (even over a stupid power cable). They could always write on your receipt that no cord was included.

[98PaceCar]

Just rude.

I wanted to buy a Turbo Grafix and a game and he was uncooperative. He refused to sell me the system because it was missing a power cord, although I said didn't really care and wanted to buy it anyway. And then because he was rude I walked out without the game.

It's not the fact that I couldn't buy the system, but I couldn't get him to even talk to me about it. He hardly looked at me and much of the conversation was relayed through different employees. Again, he was just rude.

Hmmm, that doesn't sound like Shawn at all, but unfortunately, I've lost contact with him since he moved from out there so I can't offer any insight into his current mood or mindset.

Not to try to defend him as I have no idea of exactly what transpired, but I do know that they won't sell incomplete systems. I've tried and failed just as you did. It is a store and they are there to make money, so selling an incomplete system just doesn't make financial sense and I'd certainly not hold that against the employees.

As for not talking to you, that's just plain weird knowing him. But given the time of year (right after Christmas) which is not exactly a fun time to be working retail in a mall, I can see anyone being a bit standoffish. Perhaps in your conversation about the system, he got the wrong impression about you and after dealing with countless last minute shoppers asking for things that have been long out of stock, he didn't want to chit chat.

I'm not trying to put this on you but it's easy to call someone an asshole when your side of the story is the only one being told. Maybe you should give them another chance after the holiday rush is over and things are more back to normal? <shrug>

I will agree with the other posters about the prices recently. There has been a dramatic shift upwards in the past few months. So much so that I rarely even visit the one here. I've still managed to find a few decent titles for cheap there, but if it's an A list title it will be high. It's really sad to see them go this way, but I guess when you're the only place around selling high end classics you can control the market.

[jeffg]

They are very overpriced, but they give good trade-in values on stuff. I only go pick up new stuff there.

You get like $10 trade in for Zelda's, Super Mario Worlds, adventure of link, $20 for Final Fantasy 1, and stuff like that. So I take all my $2 flea market finds in and can trade in like 5 games and get a new game.

I did get a few TG16 games: Y's 1 & 2, and Cosmic Fantasy for $29.99, and Trigger Heart Exelica and Karous for $59.99

All with cheap nes games traded in. So not too bad

I like the FX game exchanges in Waco, Hillsboro, Killeen better. They are a little better on price and they give good trade-in for crappy common ps1, dc, and other stuff

[MarioMania]

are they going to open in California

[Daria]

It is a store and they are there to make money, so selling an incomplete system just doesn't make financial sense and I'd certainly not hold that against the employees.

So how does a store make more money by not selling a system than it would by selling it? I'm not following your logic here.

Besides I wasn't there to chit-chat, I was there to spend some christmas money. And it looks like I'll be spending that money elsewhere.

[98PaceCar]

So how does a store make more money by not selling a system than it would by selling it? I'm not following your logic here.

Besides I wasn't there to chit-chat, I was there to spend some christmas money. And it looks like I'll be spending that money elsewhere.

They could sell it to you, but wouldn't they have to sell it as non-working or at the least untested? Selling it like that would bring in less money than if they waited until they got the missing part and were able to then sell it as working. Pretty simple really.

Though I do have to ask... If you weren't there to chit chat, why are you upset that he wouldn't talk to you about the system? He told you it wasn't for sale because it was incomplete, not much to talk about there so being upset that he wouldn't talk to you seems to be a pretty weak reason to call someone an asshole.

[Daria]

Though I do have to ask... If you weren't there to chit chat, why are you upset that he wouldn't talk to you about the system? He told you it wasn't for sale because it was incomplete, not much to talk about there so being upset that he wouldn't talk to you seems to be a pretty weak reason to call someone an asshole.

Yeah I guess there's not much to talk about. I'd ask a question, he'd say "no. It's not for sale" - usually to another employee and walk away. It's tough to conduct a sale like that. Oh right. He didn't sell anything. Wonder why? Besides why would he have to sell it to me as non-working? If he had been resonable and ya know, didn't blow me off, I attempted to explain I'd gladly pay for it "as is".

I'm annoyed again because I went into the store with the intention of giving them my money. Saw something I actually wanted. And was treated poorly. It's not a hard concept to understand and I'm sorry that you apparently just have rude friends.

But hey, maybe it wasn't your friend. Maybe your friend just hired a jackass for an assistant manager or third key. I dunno, the jerk didn't talk to me long enough to get his name.

[98PaceCar]

Yeah I guess there's not much to talk about. I'd ask a question, he'd say "no. It's not for sale" - usually to another employee and walk away. It's tough to conduct a sale like that. Oh right. He didn't sell anything. Wonder why? Besides why would he have to sell it to me as non-working? If he had been resonable and ya know, didn't blow me off, I attempted to explain I'd gladly pay for it "as is".

I'm annoyed again because I went into the store with the intention of giving them my money. Saw something I actually wanted. And was treated poorly. It's not a hard concept to understand and I'm sorry that you apparently just have rude friends.

But hey, maybe it wasn't your friend. Maybe your friend just hired a jackass for an assistant manager or third key. I dunno, the jerk didn't talk to me long enough to get his name.

There was no sale to conduct so getting upset about it and dragging someone through the mud (someone who isn't even here to defend themselves) is pretty poor form on your part.

Some things just aren't for sale regardless of whether or not you would take them as is or even how badly you might want them. Nobody there knew you, so they had no reason to believe that even if you would take it as is you wouldn't be back there in a few days bitching because it didn't work. I'm sorry you feel that they wronged you, but I assure you, no matter where you go, you can't have everything you want.

Ninja edit to remove my personal analysis... My opinions aren't the ones in question here and I was out of line to say what I did...

[Daria]

Whatever dude. I'm entitled to my opinion and I will not be returning to CGX to spend my money. It's that simple.

[98PaceCar]

Whatever dude. I'm entitled to my opinion and I will not be returning to CGX to spend my money. It's that simple.

That is true. Seems a waste to judge someone so quickly though. Good luck to you, I think you're going to need it.

[poloplayr]

I met Shawn today. He's a fucking asshole.

*LOL*

[smork]

There was no sale to conduct so getting upset about it and dragging someone through the mud (someone who isn't even here to defend themselves) is pretty poor form on your part.

Some things just aren't for sale regardless of whether or not you would take them as is or even how badly you might want them. Nobody there knew you, so they had no reason to believe that even if you would take it as is you wouldn't be back there in a few days bitching because it didn't work. I'm sorry you feel that they wronged you, but I assure you, no matter where you go, you can't have everything you want.

98PaceCar, I think you're being a little defensive over your friend. I think most of us would prefer a store manager to be a bit reasonable about items you want to purchase rather than simply dismissive.

Instead of just saying "No, its not for sale", he can explain that they're waiting for the part, and will be glad to sell it then, and hey, we'll call you when we're ready to sell it. Little things like that make people happy instead of pissed off, even if they don't mind buying an incomplete system.

Or, if something truly isn't for sale, "It's part of the owner's collection", or "We're using it for a store display and want to keep it." Hey, it's his store and he can run it how he likes, but pissing off potential (actually, existing) customers by being dismissive, despite the holiday rush, just isn't good business. There's alot of places for people to shop, especially with the convenience of the internet.

[98PaceCar]

98PaceCar, I think you're being a little defensive over your friend. I think most of us would prefer a store manager to be a bit reasonable about items you want to purchase rather than simply dismissive.

Instead of just saying "No, its not for sale", he can explain that they're waiting for the part, and will be glad to sell it then, and hey, we'll call you when we're ready to sell it. Little things like that make people happy instead of pissed off, even if they don't mind buying an incomplete system.

Or, if something truly isn't for sale, "It's part of the owner's collection", or "We're using it for a store display and want to keep it." Hey, it's his store and he can run it how he likes, but pissing off potential (actually, existing) customers by being dismissive, despite the holiday rush, just isn't good business. There's alot of places for people to shop, especially with the convenience of the internet.

You are correct, I am being defensive of my friend. When someone comes on to a public forum and calls someone an asshole with little to no explanation, that's a bit unreasonable to me. Being that he is a friend and I know he's not reading this, I'm going to jump in on his behalf.

Do I agree that IF her story is 100% accurate he should have acted differently? Absolutely yes. What strikes me odd is that what she is describing is not his nature at all. If he truly were an asshole, I would have never posted in reply to her original thread that she should make it a point to meet him as I hold the general population of DP in high regard as well.

However, we don't have the whole story here and probably never will. For all we know, there could have been 50 people in the store or he could have been dealing with something especially unpleasant. Again, that is no excuse to treat anybody poorly, but there is nobody that can honestly say that they have always treated everybody the way the would want to every time. Outside influences always affect people's reactions unfortunately. It's how the receiving person reacts to that situation that defines how things will be played out in the end.

One thing that Daria herself did post that tells me she got more than "no, it's not for sale" is that she stated it was missing the AC adaptor. She wouldn't have known that unless someone specifically told her.

It bugs me to hear that someone I hold in such high regard may have treated someone like this, especially when I backed him here. But the truth is that we don't know for sure that it was even him. Why would any rational person come to a public forum and make such a direct statment condemning someone when they don't even know for sure it was the person in question?

Of course, the same arguments for behavior I stated above could be held true for Daria. Maybe she had been having a bad day and was looking for a scapegoat. It's possible, but again it doesn't make it right.

In my opinion, she should have chalked it up to her own experience, not gone back, and not dredged up a 9 month old thread for the sole purpose to slam someone that isn't even around to defend himself and may not have even been the person previously mentioned in the thread. Had she posted (in her original post and not after being prompted to do so) why she was upset, I probably wouldn't have been defending my friend so hard because I do honestly believe that she was treated poorly. But the way this was handled shows very poor judgement on Daria's part as she doesn't even know for sure it was the person I told her to talk to, but she was very willing to drag him through the mud.

[Steve W]

But given the time of year (right after Christmas) which is not exactly a fun time to be working retail in a mall, I can see anyone being a bit standoffish.
Considering he's working in a game store at Christmas, he's probably burnt out and angry just from people asking "Do you have the Wii in stock?" Any time I go into a game store I can see the employees fight the urge to cringe when they hear that question yet again from some dumb soccer mom who can't figure out that empty shelves mean none in stock.

[strongmanx]

I also just talked to Shawn. Seemed like an all right guy now that Christmas is over. I mentioned Darren and he said he hadn't seen you for awhile. You sure he considers you a friend? I said Darren says Hi and was he like , "that cheap bastard always tries to talk me down on games." He did say you did anything to get a a sega 32x without plugs. Something about going to the back of the store for 5 mins. I dunno but you should probably call him.

[98PaceCar]

I also just talked to Shawn. Seemed like an all right guy now that Christmas is over. I mentioned Darren and he said he hadn't seen you for awhile. You sure he considers you a friend? I said Darren says Hi and was he like , "that cheap bastard always tries to talk me down on games." He did say you did anything to get a a sega 32x without plugs. Something about going to the back of the store for 5 mins. I dunno but you should probably call him.

Must be another Darren or he could very well have been messing around with you (he'd do that if he thinks we know each other). But, he's been gone from here for almost a year so it's also possible he's met another one. He would have never called me cheap though, I was always the crazy guy that bought nearly every 2600 cart they took in. Traded him 2 arcade cabs as well. So no telling what's going on there!

[8-bitNesMan]

Must be another Darren or he could very well have been messing around with you (he'd do that if he thinks we know each other). But, he's been gone from here for almost a year so it's also possible he's met another one. He would have never called me cheap though, I was always the crazy guy that bought nearly every 2600 cart they took in. Traded him 2 arcade cabs as well. So no telling what's going on there!

I think he's yanking your chain man :) On topic, would a chain store really go to the trouble to track down a power supply for a system that's been defunct for almost 15 years? Seems to me it would be in their best interest to sell it as is and let the customer track down the missing pieces. And if they give $10 for Final Fantasy and flip it for $50, that's still one hell of a markup. My .02...

[98PaceCar]

I think he's yanking your chain man :) On topic, would a chain store really go to the trouble to track down a power supply for a system that's been defunct for almost 15 years? Seems to me it would be in their best interest to sell it as is and let the customer track down the missing pieces. And if they give $10 for Final Fantasy and flip it for $50, that's still one hell of a markup. My .02...

I thought that might be the case, but since I suck at reading people's intent over the net I went with a reasonable explanation! (though I wouldn't doubt that Shawn would say something like that to someone that could be a friend of mine!).

They actually will try to complete systems when they can. When the fellow I knew was local to me, I used to provide them with all sorts of oddball bits and pieces that they needed. They also have a lot of non-mainstream sources that they can use as they are not bound by any sort of corporate standards (for example, Yobo and other companies like that).

Yea, the new markups are pretty horrid. Makes me miss the old days of getting all sorts of sweet deals.

[MachineGex]

That is true. Seems a waste to judge someone so quickly though. Good luck to you, I think you're going to need it.


This happens a lot nowadays....I would try and give the person a chance or at least let them know how you are seeing stuff before you start labeling them on the internet.

[Daria]

I just want to update. A year later and the TurboGrfax is still sitting behind the counter. Buried amongst their other not for sale "museum" pieces.

[bones11]

I went to check out the CGX in Wellington a couple of months ago and had a similar experience. Employee was distant, unengaged, and not particulally interested in answering questions, even though I was the only person in the store. The consoles on the back wall were either very much overpriced or not for sale. And yeah, I saw that "not for sale" TurboGrafx sitting there too ROFL

What bugged me most is how the classic games are displayed. If memory serves, games for non-current systems are locked up in a glass counter and don't show the price. This requires you to ask the distant, unengaged, employee to pull the game out of the case any time you want to know the price or get a better look at the condition of the game. I can see the need to protect valuable games like FF VII, but Combat and Missile Command? That's just silly.

It is interesting to hear they have decent trade in value, may check that out. Do they give cash or just store credit?

For any other South Florida gamers there is a (newish) classic games store in the Boynton Beach Mall called Gorilla Games. They have a smaller collection of older consoles and games, but have friendly employees, an area set up to test consoles and try out games, and will resurface CDs for a few bucks. I didn't look at their prices that closely, but don't remember anything super high.

[Xander]

There is a store in my tiny hometown that sells classic games too, and they have over 50 boxed system displayed, and none of them are for sale. They are also part of the owner's collections and are here for decoration. It's a bit frustrating sometime :P

I tend to expect stores like that to have prices above what you find on the Internet. I feel like I'm paying for the extras: dealing with humans being, passing some time discussing about vintage gaming with the owners, not having to wait for shipping, being able to see the item that I want to buy directly before making the purchase. And I'm all cool with paying more for that, I think it's important to encourage this kind of business. I spent thousands of dollars in items in the store back at home, I could have gotten more if I bought everything online, but it wouldn't have been the same experience.

And yeah there is also a thing about picking your items. I wouldn't buy their complete copy of Lunar: Eternal Blue for 100$, I think that at that price even encouraging a small business have its limit. But a complete Phantasy Star IV for 25$, or a Front Mission 4 for 10$, I won't mind.

[Steve W]

I went into the CGX in Irving Mall the other day - they jumble all the 2600 games in rows inside the counter, so you can only see the name labels on the first row facing out. That bugs me. They could at least stand them vertically with their end labels facing up so you can properly browse them. They tend to stack them like thrift stores I go to every once in a while, forcing you to get the barely English speaking salesperson to turn the ends your way to check them out. They could at least expand their 2600 section, their glass case is virtually empty on the opposite end.

Sorry, just a little nitpick. I've been on a 2600 kick lately, and it bugs me that I can't see all of them because of a bad choice of shelf stocking.