Original Factory-Sealed iPhones Appear on eBay for $10,000
$10,000 for a piece of Apple "history"?
How much would you pay for a piece of Apple history? Probably a whole lot less than what this guy is asking for... we hope. If previous Apple product auctions have shown us anything, it's that there is some sort of demand for ancient Apple products, collectible or otherwise. Unfortunately, the original iPhone released in 2007 isn't exactly a 1976 Apple I or a 1977 Apple II.
Regardless, top rated eBay seller samsonbible hopes to sell his iPhone for $10,000:
STUNNING RARE COLLECTORS CHOICE APPLE iPHONE 1ST GENERATION 8GB AND FACTORY SEALED..!!! YOU ARE SEEING A PIECE OF HISTORY..!!!! THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE COLLECTORS SHOW PIECE..!!!! THIS WOULD BE A CROWN JEWEL FOR ANY COLLECTION..!!!! AMAZING FACTORY SEALED BOX..!!! UNOPENED AND THE COLLECTORS DREAM APPLE iPHONE..!!!!!!
THIS IS OFFERED FOR A LIMITED TIME….. !!!!!!! HAPPY BIDDING…!!!!
Who knows, with an enthusiastic listing like this, we'll just have to wait and see how much people are really willing to pay for a five year old unopened smartphone. Of course, the argument could be made that this device altered the course of smartphone history and it may someday become a very valuable collector's item.
Surprisingly enough, Samsonbible isn't the only one selling an unopened original iPhone. Another eBay user hopes to sell the device with a $10,000 "Buy it Now" but unlike Samsonbible, also has an option to bid. The current bid on the auction is sitting at $2,025 with over five days left to go. Do you think the original iPhone is worth $10,000? Will it be later?
no.. not really.
no.. not really.
depends on how Apple does in down the line. Didn't one of Apples older computers sell for around $300k+ recently?
IMHO, with current times, I wouldn't suggest buying it as the "Apple Juice" effect seems to be wearing off/going away.
"To my son, I leave an unopened iPhone box, that I paid 10grand for and I hope someday will be actually worth 10 grand..."
With that kind of money, invest in a piece of art. At least you can actually see and enjoy your investment.
many retail stores will have a shrink wrap station somewhere. When I used to work a book store I'd shrink wrap at least 1-2 items a day. You don't even need any real training. Put the box in the plastic, cut it, use the heat gun - done.
Old baseball cards were not mass produced. One of the reasons they are so valuable is that we value sports hero's, even old ones and much of the old cards are indeed rare. It was when people noticed that cards were getting in demand that they started mass producing them.
Things become valuable because people demand them. You have limited supply, such as older items no longer produced, with many people wanting them and willingly to outbid each other, then you have something valuable. The person you quoted seems to think people wouldn't care about the first consumer radio, but old radios are incredibly valuable. Computers that were models that seemed to really advance technology also are on great demand.
Essentially what this person is doing is hoping the smartphones will be something that will be around for a long time and that enough people will see a future market where the original iPhone may be worth many tens of thousands of dollars and that someone is willing to now buy it for $10,000 in hopes to sit on it for several years in hopes it will go up in value over time.
original packageing unopened. Probably less than 25 world wide. They are probably worth that, but i
would have to pass, i can think of other things i would rather have for $ 10,000. But a Die Hard Apple
fan might just bite.
The thing your forgetting is that the value of an object such as baseball cards or old cars is dependent on the person buying it. It may not have any value or use to you but to someone else it does. No as to old baseball cards not being art I would agree with you on modern cards, but those produced 100 years ago they were not pictures they were paintings of the player that were printed and sold on Tobacco products (yes I know bad idea but it was perfectly acceptable at the time). Most people simply threw them away, so there's very few of those left. One players card in particular there is only 1 full card and one that has been ripped in half. And have you ever heard the saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or one mans trash is another mans treasure? There are people who still use vacuum tubes in their audio devices because there is a quality to the sound that just can't be duplicated digitally even with the best software, even some musicians use these devices because of the sound quality. And vacuum tubes went out of style with the modern transistor based equipment in the 70's.
For some people these old devices and objects bring back a sense of nostalgia, it reminds them of their youth, when to them times were simpler. Some cars even have a sexiness to them that modern cars just can't duplicate, they had graceful curves, clean lines. Take the original Corvette, the Shelby Cobra, Astin Martins, Jaguars, these cars have an appeal to them that just makes you want to go for a drive in them with the top down and the wind blowing through your hair. Sure they suck down gas like a fat man at an all you can eat buffet but they just look damn sexy. The original Willies CJ2A may be old but this vehicle can go places most modern vehicles can't, this was the Jeep from WWII. It's easy to work on, the flat head 4 in it was one tough engine, it was rugged and reliable, why do you think it's still used in some countries?
As for buying a 5yr old iPhone you have to be nuts to pay 10K for one, let alone 300k for an original Apple I. The Apple I and II belong in a museum along with the ENIAC, and other computers that lead to the modern computer.
Gosh darn It. I missed this comment. Please disregard ^^^