The Tech Exchange

I have been a customer of the tech exchange for 3 years and I have to say, I really enjoy my trips there. I enjoy retro gaming and it can be hard to find places which sell retro games, and as convenient as eBay or Amazon can be, I strongly prefer the experience of going to a store, talking to the employees and being able to see the goods I’m looking at in person. The staff is very friendly and the selection bests any other store in Richmond which sells retro games. The only caveat is prices aren’t always the most fair and the same goes for trade values. I get profits need to be made, but occasionally, it does seem like I’m getting a raw deal. But, as a whole, the tech exchange is still one of my favorite places to visit if I want to check out some old school or even current games. Also, if you’re looking for a computer or phone and don’t want to spend copious amounts of money, the tech exchange has some good deals.

Went in to sell some Xbox 360 games and a PS2. They told us they only offer store credit. When I pointed out that their website says they offer store credit or cash, they said they only give cash for «old stuff».
I would recommend that they clarify that on their website.

I bought an old NES game from them at a convention in DC. It ended up not working, but they worked with me to switch it out for something else. I’ve never been into the actual store, but they were definitely diligent in making sure I had a good experience with them.

Stopped by here Sunday Afternoon, I was stoked to see all of the old school gaming consoles, since I still have my Gamecube, N64 & Dreamcast… They had an awesome selection of games, accessories & even a few animé DVD’s. The male behind the counter was patient & friendly. Excited to add this place to my local gem list !

I was actually trying to check in here the other day when I realized that this store, while it appears on foursquare, Facebook, and elsewhere, didn’t have a Unilocal presence. Problem solved!
Anyway, Tech Exchange is basically a buy/​sell video games/​electronics store. Everything they have they bought from someone just like you who didn’t want the item anymore (or just needed the money!), kind of like a video game pawn shop, though they have many other things as well: game consoles, laptops, action figures, DVDs, Blu-​Rays, etc.
I come here on a weekly basis to try to score a few more movies for my collection (good pricing on those, $ 3 a piece, 2 for $ 5, or 5 for $ 10) and I keep my eyes open for new things they’ve gotten in. They have a good selection of games (ESPECIALLY if you’re into game boy or one of the less-​mainstream consoles), and pricing is pretty much what you’d expect to pay online for similar items. I’ve seen the store transform itself over the course of the past year, and they’ve really made it attractive and easy to look through. If you happen to be in the area and want a quick drink or an arcade game of The Simpsons, this place is for you.
Staff are generally friendly, and exceedingly tolerant of customers who are a few bits short of a byte, and even polite to the ones who are clearly trying to scam a refund from them (don’t try it, these guys know their stuff and can tell when you genuinely deserve one and when you’re BSing them). They aren’t always quite so kind after said individuals depart, though (see my Cons list at the bottom of this review). Everyone here knows games like the backs of their hands, so you should be able to get a good answer to any of your gaming-​related questions.
All things considered, this is a fun place to go if you’re buying, selling, or just want to be reminded of games that you used to spend hours upon hours playing with nothing to show for it. Ah, good times!
Overall: 4.0 stars
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Pros:
— You can find things here that your local retail places won’t ever have.
— The things they buy (and thus what they sell to you) are usually in great shape, so your risk of getting a defective product is low (and they’re pretty reasonable about returns, too).
— Staff members are generally helpful and polite, and extremely knowledgable.
— With a constant stream of people coming in to sell to them, they’re always getting new things in. If you’re local or a VCU student, you’ll definitely want to come here on a regular basis!
Cons:
— They compare online prices to determine their pricing, so don’t expect to get things for much cheaper than you would on eBay or Amazon.
— Like I said, staff members are polite/​convivial, though do have a tendency to talk about eccentric customers as soon as the eccentric customer leaves, within earshot of remaining customers. Kind of makes you wonder what they’re saying about you after you leave.