Jay's CD & Hobby — Local services in Des Moines

I liked coming to Jays before and understand prices should be competitive, but I have to address a trend amongst local 2nd hand businesses I’ve noticed, and it’s snubbing local customers in favor of 3rd party market prices, right to their face.

As a small example, at one point I would buy simple plastic game cases they would have for Gameboy advance. I’d buy them from Jays for $1, then as I found the price went up to $3-$4, after I made my purchase, I decided I’d ask on this item in the buying center if they’d have more.

As I was asking about the cases, one of the employees I usually talked to tried to tell me they were priced at $14! I told him I just bought them a minute ago for $3 and had receipt to show. He visibly got irate and angrily asked his coworkers who was pricing them. I replied stating I’ve been buying them for years at Jays for like $1, and wanted to know what else they had. Even his coworkers said they’ve been a buck or two ever since they’ve been there. He told me they had more, but was visibly reluctant to do business because he was worried about raising the price on them at that moment I was there. I usually get a reply with “we can contact you and take your name and number down”, which I did give without them asking, but their wasn’t any follow up!

Next time I visited Jays, they had one of those cases at the bottom of a bin for about $12-$13!

But this is why I want to address this: It is just sad to see, because now that employee doesn’t acknowledge me anymore. Actually, it seems like half the employees are aloof, unless it is a newer Jays employee.

This is part of the reason regulars are jaded, because the employee(s) are mostly concerned with 3rd party market pricing of inventory, more than actually doing business with in-person customers. What’s even more to consider, is that they’re basing prices before fees taken out, so in reality, when you pay in store prices based on those 3rd party markets, you end up overpaying anyway!

And at that point it makes me less likely to buy anything at Jays, and do not feel the same about my experience when I go there, because in the past I’ve happily spent thousands with them. Not the same! Inventory is sitting there for eons because majority of it is eBay pricing now.

Might as well save gas and...

Let me say, I absolutely love some of the staff here and the other locations. Truly great people, especially the gentleman at the buy counter and the ladies that work the front here and West Des Moines. The selection is incredible and I spend a lot of money here monthly. However, the recent price gouging on Pokémon TCG cards is not a good look for a LGS. $50 for Surging Sparks booster bundles $7 for Astral Radiance boosters. That’s scalper prices. I understand the market is in a weird spot right now but it doesn’t feel right to see that from a local business. I’m sure I’ll continue to buy stuff here but I’m debating lowering the frequency because of this.

Edit 4/30/25 - Honestly, dropping this down to one star. Prices have gotten worse for Pokemon cards at Jays. Meanwhile, Mayhem is keeping prices at msrp and limiting packs so they can’t all be scalped.

Additionally, the low balling on trade-ins is very off putting. They used to be semi fair but the last few times it’s been like 10% of what they sell the stuff for. If I’m going to pay inflated prices, at least Hi 5 is going to give me good trade in value and they actually seem to care about their customers. I don’t need the money but for someone who does it’s kind of messed up.

Jays better be careful with their current trajectory. There’s starting to be more competition in these spaces. I say this as someone who spends hundreds if not thousands...

We were so excited to find this place until my two kids 2 almost 3 year old and my three almost four month old at the time started crying because my eldest wanted a car, the staff made a very rude remark about how kids shouldnt be in there and being thankful the kids had left all while i am standing in line waiting to pay close to two hundred dollars worth of stuff. Very unprofessional. The last time we went, we bought over two hundred and fifty worth of stuff and low and behold they were rude again when my eldest was being taken to the car because we don't like to be rude ourselves, they made rude comments and the cashier gave me the rudest look when my now almost five month old started to cry because he loves being held. Once we got home we went through our movies and found that apparently they didn't consider telling us they left the only inportant disk to a toy story series we bought, one disk and now we cant watch the 4th toy story! I get that they're used but 15 dollars out of at 65 set is a paperweight now. Thanks but at least at family video my kids could holler and the cashiers would laugh instead of being rude and thinking I am not the worst parent for not getting my son his 20001 car, hes got enough. We're rethinking where we will spend hundreds on movies,games and things we love to do with our babies like gamecubes and magic...