Jays Retro Computer Sales
Jays Retro Computer Sales (trading as Atari ST Sales) is a UK-based, bootstrapped e-commerce and repair business serving retro computing hobbyists with Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, and vintage computer parts, refurbishment services, and a legacy Cubase file transfer service.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersWest Malling, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Jays Retro Computer Sales does
Jays Retro Computer Sales, trading as Atari ST Sales and legally registered as Retro Computer Sales Ltd, is a privately held UK micro-SME based in West Malling that operates a specialist e-commerce and repair business for vintage Atari and Commodore computers. The company sells replacement parts, spare components, and refurbished systems targeted at retro computing enthusiasts, with a catalog organized around Atari ST/STF/STFM/STE/MEGA STE/Falcon hardware (motherboard chips such as the Blitter, GST Shifter, MC 68000 CPU, and MFP; memory upgrades; power supplies; keyboard parts), Commodore Amiga keyboard parts, and blank 5.25-inch floppy media. It also operates a £20-per-unit Computer and Console Initial Diagnosis service and offers full repair and refurbishment work, with the founder John Cove publicly claiming over 30 years of hands-on experience across Atari, Amiga, Commodore, and Sinclair systems.
The business runs a self-serve, direct-to-consumer model through a WooCommerce-based online shop (ataristsales.co.uk) supporting GBP and USD pricing, with payment via Card, Clearpay, Klarna, Trustly, and PayPal, plus a global shipping capability (£2.99 tracked shipping noted on products). A secondary, high-margin service line — the Atari Cubase Song Transfer Service — converts legacy .ALL and .ARR files on original Atari ST floppies into modern Cubase .CPR and standard MIDI files, executed on original Atari hardware by the founder. A "Turn Your Tech Into Cash" buyback program feeds inventory by purchasing vintage computers, software, peripherals, and consoles from customers. Community engagement is handled through an active Discord server, supported by content marketing (e.g., articles on capacitor degradation in vintage hardware).
The company is bootstrapped, founder-owned, and privately held, with 11–50 employees and no disclosed external funding, partnerships, M&A activity, patents, or awards. Primary customer segments are retro computing hobbyists/collectors (dominant), vintage tech sellers, and musicians with legacy Atari Cubase projects; no enterprise or large-anchor customers are disclosed. The addressable market is inherently niche, with revenue mechanics driven by low-ticket parts volume, a fixed-fee diagnosis funnel into higher-ticket repair work, and bespoke data-recovery services.
Jays Retro Computer Sales firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jays Retro Computer Sales
- Legal name
- Retro Computer Sales Ltd
- Website
- https://ataristsales.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Jays Retro Computer Sales (trading as Atari ST Sales) is a UK-based, bootstrapped e-commerce and repair business serving retro computing hobbyists with Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, and vintage computer parts, refurbishment services, and a legacy Cubase file transfer service.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jays Retro Computer Sales industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vintage Computer Hardware and Repair Services
- NAICS
- Used Merchandise Retailers (459510), Electronics and Appliance Retailers (4492)
- SIC
- Retail-Computer & Computer Software Stores (5734), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retro & Pre-Owned Gaming Retail (Used Games, Consoles, Trade-In) (CRACAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Retro Gaming Hardware (Mini Consoles, Emulation Handhelds) (CRACAOAL)
Keywords
Where Jays Retro Computer Sales is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Malling
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Jays Retro Computer Sales business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of vintage computer parts, spares, and refurbished systems including Atari ST computers, Commodore Amiga components, keyboard parts, motherboard chips, memory upgrades, power supplies, and blank media.
- Repair and Refurbishment Services: Professional repair services for vintage computers and consoles, including full system refurbishments, capacitor replacement, and diagnostic services.
- Cubase Song Transfer Service: Digital conversion service that transfers legacy Atari Cubase files to modern formats. Customers send floppy disks and receive CPR and MIDI files.
- Trade-in and Buyback: Company purchases vintage computers, software, peripherals, and consoles from customers, offering fair prices through a hassle-free secure process.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Initial diagnosis fee for computer and console evaluation |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Keyboard replacement parts for Atari ST |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Blank media for vintage computers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Atari ST motherboard replacement chips |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Atari ST memory upgrades |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Atari ST power supplies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Commodore Amiga keyboard parts |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Jays Retro Computer Sales product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jays Retro Computer Sales (trading as Atari ST Sales) sells replacement parts and refurbished hardware for vintage computers—primarily Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Commodore, and Sinclair systems—through an e-commerce storefront. The company also provides professional repair, refurbishment, and diagnostic services for these legacy systems, and offers a specialised Cubase song transfer service that converts legacy Atari Cubase files into modern Cubase CPR and standard MIDI files.
Product overview
Jays Retro Computer Sales (trading as Atari ST Sales) operates an e-commerce retail platform for vintage retro computer hardware, parts, and related services. The core product offering consists of replacement parts for Atari ST series computers (including STF, STFM, STE, MEGA STE, and Falcon) and Commodore Amiga systems, organized into categories: Atari ST hardware (motherboard chips, memory upgrades, power supplies, keyboard parts), Commodore Amiga keyboard parts, and blank media (5.25-inch floppy disks). Motherboard chip inventory includes critical components such as Blitter chips, Shifter chips, GST chips, CPU processors (MC 68000), keyboard CPUs, ASIC chips, MFP chips, and ACIA adapter chips. The company also offers complementary services including a Computer and Console Initial Diagnosis Fee service (professional diagnostic evaluation at £20 per unit), Atari Cubase Song Transfer Service (converting vintage Cubase files to modern formats), Turn Your Tech Into Cash buyback service, and general repairs and upgrades. The WooCommerce-based online shop integrates standard e-commerce payment processing for customer purchases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Atari ST Keyboard Replacement Parts Replacement parts for Atari ST, STF, STFM, and Falcon keyboards, including rubber conductive domes, plastic plungers/stalks, and bundled restoration kits of 5 plungers and 5 conductive domes. Restores key press functionality in vintage Atari ST internal keyboards.
- Atari ST and STE Motherboard Chips Original and replacement motherboard chips for Atari ST, STF, STFM, STE, and MEGA STE systems, including the Blitter Chip S9106AH, GST Shifter Chip C301712-001 (9112WEB variant), Shifter Chip C300588-001 S8936, MC 68000 CPU processor, C070122-002 6301 Keyboard CPU, IMP 8736BCD ASIC chip, MK68901N-04 MFP chip, and EF6850P ACIA chip.
- Atari ST 1MB RAM Memory Upgrade Set of four 256Kb memory chips providing a 1Mb RAM upgrade for Atari ST and STE computers equipped with SIMM sockets. Not compatible with STF, STFM, or Falcon models. Priced at £14.99.
- Atari ST Internal Power Supply Replacement internal power supply unit compatible with Atari ST, STF, STFM, and STE models, rated for 220/240V UK mains operation. Priced at £49.99.
- Commodore Amiga Keyboard Parts Replacement keyboard parts for Commodore Amiga computers, including black and white keyboard plungers and keyboard springs.
- 5.25-Inch Blank Floppy Media Disk Blank, formatted and verified 5.25-inch floppy disk compatible with vintage computers including the Atari ST series. Priced at £3.99 each.
- Computer and Console Initial Diagnosis Professional diagnostic evaluation service for vintage computers and consoles. Includes a full check-up, a clear written report of issues, honest repair advice, and a route to resolution. Priced at £20.00 per unit, with multiple units requiring multiple diagnosis credits.
- Atari Cubase Song Transfer Service Professional conversion service that transfers Atari Cubase .ALL or .ARR files from floppy disks into modern Cubase .CPR files and standard MIDI files. Preserves MIDI track data, track names, system exclusive data, and tempo/BPM settings. Performed on original hardware and software by an operator with over 30 years of music software experience, starting with Steinberg Pro 16 on Commodore 64 through Cubase on Atari ST.
- Repairs and Upgrades Service Professional repair services and hardware upgrades for vintage Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Commodore, and Sinclair computers, including full system refurbishments, capacitor replacement, and component-level repair work, backed by over 30 years of hands-on experience.
- Turn Your Tech Into Cash (Buyback Service) Service through which the company purchases vintage computers, software, peripherals, and consoles from customers at fair prices via a secure and hassle-free transaction process.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 30 years of hands-on experience with vintage systems
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Jays Retro Computer Sales
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Jays Retro Computer Sales technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Jays Retro Computer Sales partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Jays Retro Computer Sales competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AmigaKit: UK-based specialist retailer and repair service for Commodore Amiga hardware, expansions, and replacement parts. Directly comparable because both companies serve the same Amiga-owning enthusiast base with parts, repairs, and upgrades.
- The Retro Future: Specialist retro computing retailer offering vintage parts, refurbished systems, and repairs for classic platforms. Comparable because it operates a similar niche e-commerce + repair model targeting enthusiast restorers.
- Retro Games Ltd: UK-based maker of officially licensed retro mini-consoles including TheA500 Mini (Amiga). Comparable because it serves the same retro Atari/Amiga enthusiast demographic, though primarily via FPGA mini-consoles rather than original hardware repair.
- Vesalia Computer: German retailer of Amiga, Atari, and classic Mac hardware, software, and accessories. Comparable because it operates the same model of selling new-old-stock parts and accessories for vintage Amiga/Atari systems.
- Best Electronics: Long-running Atari parts retailer (Atari 8-bit, ST, and console replacement components). Comparable because it sells NOS Atari chips and parts into the same hobbyist restoration market.
Broad incumbents
- eBay: Global online marketplace where many vintage Atari/Amiga parts and systems are bought and sold by individual sellers and small shops. Comparable as the broad incumbent channel through which the same buyer pool sources vintage parts and trade-in inventory.
- Hyperkin: Manufacturer of retro gaming consoles, controllers, and accessories (RetroN, Mega 95). Comparable as a broader incumbent addressing the same retro gaming hobbyist market with mass-produced alternatives.
- Analogue: Premium manufacturer of FPGA-based retro gaming consoles (Mega Sg, Pocket, Duo). Comparable as a broader incumbent in the retro Atari/console space; competes for the same enthusiast wallet but substitutes original hardware rather than repairing it.
Emerging players
- MiSTer Project: Open-source FPGA hardware platform that emulates classic computers and consoles including Atari ST and Amiga. Comparable as an emerging substitute that competes for the same hobbyist use case (running classic Atari/Amiga software) without requiring original hardware.
- 8BitDo: Maker of modern Bluetooth controllers styled after classic console/gamepad designs. Comparable as an adjacent player serving the retro computing/gaming enthusiast with complementary accessories rather than original parts.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Jays Retro Computer Sales social profiles
Digital presenceJays Retro Computer Sales financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jays Retro Computer Sales leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Jays Retro Computer Sales funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jays Retro Computer Sales M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Jays Retro Computer Sales
What does Jays Retro Computer Sales do?
Jays Retro Computer Sales (trading as Atari ST Sales) sells replacement parts and refurbished hardware for vintage computers—primarily Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Commodore, and Sinclair systems—through an e-commerce storefront. The company also provides professional repair, refurbishment, and diagnostic services for these legacy systems, and offers a specialised Cubase song transfer service that converts legacy Atari Cubase files into modern Cubase CPR and standard MIDI files.
Is Jays Retro Computer Sales a public or private company?
Jays Retro Computer Sales is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Jays Retro Computer Sales founded?
Jays Retro Computer Sales was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Jays Retro Computer Sales based?
Jays Retro Computer Sales is headquartered in West Malling, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Jays Retro Computer Sales make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are repair and Refurbishment Services, cubase Song Transfer Service and trade-in and Buyback.
Who are Jays Retro Computer Sales's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AmigaKit, The Retro Future, Retro Games Ltd, Vesalia Computer and Best Electronics. Broad incumbents are eBay, Hyperkin and Analogue. Emerging players are MiSTer Project and 8BitDo.
Does Jays Retro Computer Sales have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jays Retro Computer Sales.
What industry is Jays Retro Computer Sales in?
Jays Retro Computer Sales's product category is Vintage Computer Hardware and Repair Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAFAH, Retro & Pre-Owned Gaming Retail (Used Games, Consoles, Trade-In), with a secondary code of CRACAOAL, Retro Gaming Hardware (Mini Consoles, Emulation Handhelds). Its NAICS code is 459510 and its SIC code is 5734.