Good gaming stores in North Carolina?

Post by **swiftzx** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:15 pm

I am wondering if anyone knows any good stores to buy older video games around Wake Forest and Raleigh,NC. I've been to Edward Mckay and I know there is a play n trade, but cannot think of any other store. Any recommendations?

Post by **prfsnl_gmr** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 6:05 pm

If you are up for a road trip, try The Bargain Shop in Jacksonville, NC:

http://bargainshopjack.com/prosite/

It has two locations, and a RIDICULOUS selection of old-school games. It is worth going just to see some "Holy Grails" behind glass. Unfortunately, the guy who runs the store has a good idea regarding how much each game is worth; so, you are unlikely to get a really good deal. (He usually charges a little less than the going price on eBay...but you obviously don't have to pay shipping.) On the other hand, this means that you can get some common games for really cheap ($1 to $3). Jacksonville (being a military town) also has a ton of pawn shops that are worth exploring since they also take in a lot of games.

You've mentioned the only places that I can think of in Raleigh. The only other places you might want to try are the flea markets. There are a couple good sellers at the NC State Fair Flea Market, but I have never received a really good deal there. There is a flea market off of I-40 in Alamance County with only one seller, but he has no idea how much any of his games are worth. (He charges $5 for all of them...I am a collector, not a reseller, so I let a lot of his good deals sit there the last time I visited.) Any flea market you can locate in the far eastern and far western part of the state should have at least one seller.

I live in Charlotte, and I get most of my games from the four surrounding flea markets (one off of I-85 north of Charlotte, one off of I-77 just across the SC border, one in Monroe, NC to the east, and one in Dallas, NC to the west). We also have a Goodwill Computer Works store:

http://www.goodwillsp.org/computerworks.html

which always has a solid selection of old-school games. (I think it is the only one in the state.) I check it once every two weeks or so.

I can tell you to avoid the Winston-Salem/Greensboro/High Point area. I lived there for three years, and I never found a place with a reliable stock of old games.

Anyway, good luck and happy hunting!

Post by **Luke** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 6:27 pm

swiftzx wrote:I am wondering if anyone knows any good stores to buy older video games around Wake Forest and Raleigh,NC. I've been to Edward Mckay and I know there is a play n trade, but cannot think of any other store. Any recommendations?

Wow, another North Carolinian. In my experience, Edward Mckay has the best deals. I would suggest staying away from the flea market, apparently there is a guy there who makes a living off of ripping people off.

Post by **swiftzx** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:10 pm

Luke wrote:
swiftzx wrote:I am wondering if anyone knows any good stores to buy older video games around Wake Forest and Raleigh,NC. I've been to Edward Mckay and I know there is a play n trade, but cannot think of any other store. Any recommendations?
Wow, another North Carolinian. In my experience, Edward Mckay has the best deals. I would suggest staying away from the flea market, apparently there is a guy there who makes a living off of ripping people off.

Edward Mckay is a really store to buy retro games. For my birthday 2 weeks ago, I got my model 1 sega saturn with tomb raider, daytona usa, sega worldwide soccer, and virtua fighter 2 for $50. As for flea markets I'm going this weekend to the one off I-85. Who knows, I might find something worth adding to my collection

Post by **Anayo** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:45 pm

Post subject: Re: Good gaming stores in North Carolina? Reply with quote
If you are up for a road trip, try The Bargain Shop in Jacksonville, NC:

http://bargainshopjack.com/prosite/

It has two locations, and a RIDICULOUS selection of old-school games. It is worth going just to see some "Holy Grails" behind glass. Unfortunately, the guy who runs the store has a good idea regarding how much each game is worth; so, you are unlikely to get a really good deal. (He usually charges a little less than the going price on eBay...but you obviously don't have to pay shipping.) On the other hand, this means that you can get some common games for really cheap ($1 to $3). Jacksonville (being a military town) also has a ton of pawn shops that are worth exploring since they also take in a lot of games.

You've mentioned the only places that I can think of in Raleigh. The only other places you might want to try are the flea markets. There are a couple good sellers at the NC State Fair Flea Market, but I have never received a really good deal there. There is a flea market off of I-40 in Alamance County with only one seller, but he has no idea how much any of his games are worth. (He charges $5 for all of them...I am a collector, not a reseller, so I let a lot of his good deals sit there the last time I visited.) Any flea market you can locate in the far eastern and far western part of the state should have at least one seller.

I live in Charlotte, and I get most of my games from the four surrounding flea markets (one off of I-85 north of Charlotte, one off of I-77 just across the SC border, one in Monroe, NC to the east, and one in Dallas, NC to the west). We also have a Goodwill Computer Works store:

I'm not even the one who started this topic and I appreciate that tip. I generally only browse my local obscure thrift/pawn shops and get hard to find things on eBay, but I'll have to keep in mind those stores in case I'm ever in the area.

Post by **Majors** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:05 pm

You missed Buy-rite(or wrong, if you bad a experience). And Rhino and Microplay are long gone.

If your down in the triad, you can try Players Choice in Winston (there are a few other locals). But I agree with the others, EM has been doing me right, plus I got a buddy that works the game section so he can put aside any goodies for me.

Post by **DrCirno** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:04 pm

Woah more NCers on here than I thought. Off of I-40 on exit 100 to the left and about half a mile there is a flea market called Jamestown Flea Market. It's huge and you can't miss it. They're open sat and sunday mornings and a few of the stalls have good retro games.

One building however is dedicated to nothing but old games and I have found hundreds of things there. Picked up my Sega CD with a model one HD genesis for 10 dollars there. Also they have a few Mega drive games for whatever reason, picked up a Japanese copy of Thunder Force III there. I plan to go back soon now that I have money again.

Post by **Luke** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:14 pm

I'm driving from Eastern NC to Western NC and back this weekend, I need to check out that shop off of exit 100. Thanx.

Post by **swiftzx** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:04 pm

DrCirno wrote:Woah more NCers on here than I thought. Off of I-40 on exit 100 to the left and about half a mile there is a flea market called Jamestown Flea Market. It's huge and you can't miss it. They're open sat and sunday mornings and a few of the stalls have good retro games.

One building however is dedicated to nothing but old games and I have found hundreds of things there. Picked up my Sega CD with a model one HD genesis for 10 dollars there. Also they have a few Mega drive games for whatever reason, picked up a Japanese copy of Thunder Force III there. I plan to go back soon now that I have money again.

Dude, thunder force 3 is my favorite shmup on the system!

Post by **Zeonik Freak** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 6:24 pm

Ah, your in the right place around Raleigh NC area, ill give you some places to check out:

Play N Trade: These stores are located off Capital Blvd near Target, Garner NC and Cary NC.
I used to work for the owner for the Garner/Cary stores till he got rid of me for whatever
reason, but i still have good tenure with that guy when i come up to visit.

Edward McKay: Regarding getting rare stuff, they know the prices and base those off ebay, so
chances of you getting somethhing they dont know the rarity about is pretty slim, but they do have
a great selection regardless

Flea Market: Like what Luke said, the one guy at the flea market named Victor over prices on games,
ive only gotten a few things from him in the past that were good deals, but they base EVERYTHING off ebay.
If you go inside the white building, theres the indian guy who is hit or miss on games, but depending on what
your looking for he may or maynot have it. And if your a fan of getting anime on VHS, hes got a ton of those to pick
from.

I do remember BuyRite, and if you go by certain game stores and flea markets you can to this day still find games with
the buyrite stickers on the disk. Its like the name will never die LOL.