As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, many items are constantly being updated, leaving older gadgets to gather dust. However, as years go by, these once “useless” items can actually appreciate in value. Game consoles, phones, and Walkmans – if you spot a vintage electronic in your attic and know its worth, you could be in for some big cash.
To find out what these gems are really worth, Simple Ghar reviewed hundreds of listings for older electronics on auction sites. Multiple product entries were collected for each product category. Consumer electronics were ranked based on their most recent sale price, which included ones individually sold. This is in exception to gaming consoles, which were ranked in group sales.
There were some interesting results. One iPhone sold for more than 25 times its original retail price while the right Game Boy Advance could net you $24,000. Every collector community has one holy grail – one elusive, limited supply item that sells for thousands of dollars over the original price. In the video game world, many of the most expensive vintage electronics are themed, limited-run versions of popular consoles.
The most expensive Game Boy Advance, for example, is a special edition SP released in the early 2000s alongside The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Produced in an extremely limited run – some estimates say just 300 were produced. While sightings of these ultra-rare consoles are few and far between, a Zelda Minish Cap Game Boy recently sold for $24,000 at auction. Other limited, themed consoles that fetch wild prices include the Zelda Control Set SNES and the Pikachu Yellow Game Boy Color.
While an asset like a car usually must be at least 50 years old to be considered vintage, many of the electronics now selling for thousands of dollars more than their original price are less than 20 years old. Apple releases new products every year, setting the pace for the consumer technology market and making products obsolete after just a few years. When the iPhone 3GS was released in 2009, for example, the 32GB model retailed for just $299. Less than 10 years later, a factory-sealed 32GB 3GS iPhone sold for $8,000 at auction.
Nostalgia is one of the most powerful marketing trends of the 21st century. In one study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, researchers found that feelings of nostalgia made subjects less sensitive to price and more willing to part with their money. Collectors will pay huge sums for electronics from their childhood, creating serious opportunities for anyone with a well-preserved console, computer, or audio device.
So before your next trip to the charity shop, ask yourself – do you have any vintage electronics that are now worth a fortune? A 1997 Lawson’s Ticket Station J-League Nintendo 64, which recently sold for $65,000, was the most valuable vintage electronic from the analysis. Many of the most expensive vintage video game consoles are themed, limited edition runs like the Zelda Minish Cap Game Boy Advance, the Zelda Control Set SNES, and the Pikachu Yellow Game Boy Color. New releases every year make years-old technology instantly obsolete – or valued for its scarcity. Less than 10 years after its release, a factory-sealed iPhone 3GS sold for more than 25 times its original retail price. While the latest iPhone retails for around $1,000, a sealed, original, 1st generation iPhone recently sold for $11,900.
Collectors will continue to seek out these nostalgic pieces, driving up their value and making them sought-after treasures. So, it might be time to dig through your old electronics and see if you have a hidden gem that could be worth thousands.
