The CD/Game Exchange

I would rather spend a few dollars more to buy the items new. The dollar DVD rack is really the only reason I return every great once in awhile. The atmosphere hasn’t changed since the 90’s and like it — kind of nostalgic.
Other than the $ 1.00 Dvds or hard to find movies, I don’t come to this store for any other items because the prices are too close to retail to buy used.
The staff is always friendly and informative but I just find the prices and the neighborhood not worth the trip.

This place is a complete joke a lot of used CDs for a low price which is very good but when you ask for a used ps3 controller they told me $ 47 you can get a new one for 55 and then again the people who work there are nothing but a bunch of punk kids soon as you walk out the door for talking shit behind your back way to go Norwood now we know where most of the trash is it’s working at your store

The friendly, helpful staff here helped me choose from a broad selection of games for the system I was looking for. They gave me a fair price for my trade-​in and I even found two DVD’s I had been wanting that the big box stores just don’t bother to keep around anymore. I will be coming back.

I think a lot of people make the assumption about me, because I’m both very in to music and employed in the IT sector, that I do not buy CDs. «Why don’t you just get it on iTunes?» First, I grew up with CDs. The near-​weekly trip to Circuit City to spend my allowance on an album was a highlight of an otherwise bleak adolescence. Second, I like artwork. Having the artwork as a digital image that appears on my device or computer is just not the same as the image on a printed booklet. Third, it’s gotten to the point where you can purchase CDs for less than what you would spend on a digital download. Even new music.
So I like places like this. I used to love going to used CD stores in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, but they’ve started to disappear. CD Warehouse was always a reliable chain, but you’re really lucky to find one now. Half Price Books sells them, but typically has the miserable cast of unsellable characters, like Amy Grant, Jesus Jones and the Spin Doctors, but for a price that keeps them unsellable. We originally came out here to buy a few Wii games after we bought the system. We have a local game store that has some used titles, but the selection is poor and the prices are high.
This place is great though. First, there’s the game selection. They seem to have quite a few titles for most consoles, as well as a number of accessories, like the guitar for «Guitar Hero,» for example. Prices are very reasonable for the older games. We typically buy the Wii titles for less than $ 10 per game.
Then there’s the DVD selection. They have a big shelf of $ 1 options. This past trip, I got «Brokeback Mountain» and Jeff Goldblum’s «PIttsburgh» on there (I had never seen the latter, and guess which one deserved to be on there). Then there’s a much more extensive collection behind the glass cases.
The CDs are the same way: $ 1 section, $ 2.50 section, then the cases where the new and more expensive (as in ~$ 6) used titles are. This past trip, I decided that I wanted to finally replace «In Utero,» which mysteriously disappeared from my collection over ten years ago and, lo and behold, I got it for $ 2.50. If you go in there wanting something very specific and even slightly obscure, then you probably will not find it. They have a really extensive selection, but it’s not comprehensive. You just have to go in with an open mind: scan the titles and you may find something you want for a price you can’t resist. When something’s a $ 1, you can afford to take a risk on it being bad. Or it could make a good gag gift: on this last trip, I found a Norah Jones CD for $ 0.25.
The staff tend to be really nice and helpful as well. To get into the glass cases, you have to ask them, and they’ll come over and talk to you about what you want and answer your questions: both to give good service and make sure you don’t steal anything. They seem to be knowledgeable about the games, and the guy that was there on our first visit was great when we knew nothing about the Wii we had just purchased. And the prices are really, really reasonable.
We come out here every time we’re in Cincy. We usually spend our time Downtown, but I think it’s worth the drive.

As soon as I thought used media stores such as this one had all gone extinct, thanks to the iTunes and Gamestops of the world, I am surprised when a friend tells me of a place called The CD/​Game Exchange in Norwood. Dirt cheap CDs he tells me, excellent selection he tells me. Myself? I was a bit skeptical, but being the adventurous soul I am, decided to give the place a try anyways.
The storefront is definitely unassuming and could easily be missed if you weren’t actually looking for it. Likewise, the inside of the store is pretty plain, but it is clean and it gets the job done. If I had to take a guess, I would say that the CD/​Game Exchanged does the majority of their business by dealing with video games, rather than music, as the majority of the store seemed to be dedicated to video games and all their accessories. Although I wasn’t there for games, I did notice some of the prices and many of them seemed to be in line with Gamestop, if not cheaper.
For me however, the real test came with their selection of used music. The CD/​Game Exchange sells both used vinyl, as well as used CDs. Out of the two however, their CD selection is much better. Honestly, the vinyl selection was very small and pretty much along the lines of what you would find in a thrift store. Where the vinyl selection lacks however, the CD selection makes up for, with hundreds of titles to choose from, and nothing over $ 5. Personally, I was able to walk away with about 10 – 15 albums for under $ 15, which goes to prove that there are plenty of good finds to be had for $ 1-​$ 3 .
Lastly, I wanted to compliment the CD/​Game Exchange on their employees who are extremely friendly and happy to make conversation with those shopping. It is a shame that more of these stores don’t exist anymore.

While driving through Norwood, I came past the shopping center once known as the Surrey Square Mall, now known as Grande Central Station at Central Parke (thought it was bit corny, but it was bought by a New York firm in 2005, so it kind of works for me now). Located right near Fitworks Fitness, is a store called The CD/​Game Exchange, which is a place to buy and sell used CDs, video games, and videos (DVD/​VHS), as well as some posters, vinyl records, and other equipment and accessories.
Overall, the prices are very good as many of the used DVDs are $ 5, most CDs are $ 10, and all the items (and there were lots) marked with a red sticker are $ 2.50, while black sticker CDs are three for $ 1. With regards to video games, they had used games from pretty much all systems past and present (although I’m unsure about Atari), from the original Nintendo Entertainment System to the PS3. I wish my NES still worked (it hasn’t since about 1995 though), because I would have probably walked out with a handful of games for about $ 10 or $ 15 total.
As for the DVDs, they had a ton of great movies and many that were very recent (although I’m unsure why you’d buy a DVD and sell it within a year or so). With the music, there was a lot I wasn’t interested, but they really had a wide selection.
Overall, a good and probably 4-​star level store, but I had to dock them for writing «Cincinatti» on their business cards. Spelling Cincinnati wrong is a big pet peeve of mine, but there is no excuse for a Cincinnatian to do so. Oh, and they have a location on Vine Street in Corryville too.