Jay’s CD and Hobby · Buying center Sell your video games in Des Moines.
Retro and modern games, consoles and handhelds, bought at the counter at our stores in Des Moines, West Des Moines and Ankeny. Collectors buying from collectors, and you’re paid the same day.
*Same-day payout from when the offer is accepted and the paperwork is signed.
What we buy.
Cartridges, discs and the systems that play them, from the NES to the Switch.
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Retro games and systems
- Retro systems and games, NES through PS2, especially complete in box.
- Genuine rarities. We’ve bought a complete Stadium Events for NES.
We evaluate everything. Ask about anything not listed.
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Modern games and handhelds
- Modern games with the original case and art, and sealed collector’s editions.
- Handhelds: Game Boy, DS, Vita, Switch.
- Modern consoles: PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox, Switch and Switch 2.
We evaluate everything. Ask about anything not listed.
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Consoles
- Retro systems with the controllers and cables that came with them.
- Broken consoles, if they aren’t too far gone. We may or may not be able to repair one, so expect a small offer. It beats throwing it away.
Bring what you have. Complete beats partial.
At the counter.
Four steps, usually inside ten minutes.
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Bring it in
No appointment for most collections. Show up during store hours. For a big one, call ahead so we can clear the time to do it right.
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We go through it
Piece by piece: condition, rarity, current market. For games that means the label or disc, the case, and whether the box and manual are there. Most evaluations take about ten minutes.
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You get a real offer
Based on sold listings and auction results, not a price guide from 2015. No lowball, no pressure. Take it or keep the collection. Either way you’ll know what it’s worth.
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Get paid today
Cash, store credit, or a mix. You walk out paid the same day.*
Get your games ready.
- Bring the cables and controllers. Power supply, video cable, controllers: a console with everything it needs to play is complete.
- Test what you can. If a console powers on and a game loads, tell us. Untested is fine too. Just say so.
- Keep the box, manual and inserts with the game. Complete beats partial.
- Know what you have. Check recent sold listings first. We do the same research and show you what we find.
- Bring it all at once. Bigger lots get better overall deals. No collection is too large.
What we pass on.
- Damaged or broken items, unless they’re genuinely rare. A broken console that isn’t too far gone is the exception, for a small offer.
- Bootlegs and knock-offs. We spot them fast.
- Things we’re overstocked on at the moment.
When in doubt, ask. A quick call saves you a trip, or tells you we want it.
Bring your games to a store.
All three Jay’s CD and Hobby stores buy video games at the counter: Southside Des Moines, West Des Moines and Ankeny. No appointment for most collections. Call ahead for a big one. For sellers anywhere in the metro: Urbandale, Johnston, Waukee, Altoona, Pleasant Hill and Norwalk included.
Southside
The original. Our deepest inventory, department for department.
3315 SE 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50320515-287-4578- Mon–Thu
- 10am–7pm
- Fri–Sat
- 10am–9pm
- Sun
- 11am–6pm
West Des Moines
Home of the LEGO Pick-a-Brick wall.
1421 22nd St
West Des Moines, IA 50266515-457-3881- Mon–Thu
- 10am–7pm
- Fri–Sat
- 10am–9pm
- Sun
- 11am–6pm
Ankeny
Our deepest sports card and TCG department.
613 S Ankeny Blvd
Ankeny, IA 50023515-513-0739- Mon–Thu
- 10am–7pm
- Fri–Sat
- 10am–9pm
- Sun
- 11am–6pm
Tell us what you’ve got.
Best for big collections and estates. For a box of games, just bring it in. A buyer replies within one business day.
Not near Des Moines? Sell by mail. Closer to Ankeny? Sell video games in Ankeny.