Originally published at: A factory-sealed iPhone 1 from 2007 just sold at auction for $39,339.60 | Boing Boing
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It’s a glitter bomb.
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People are so freaking weird. It’s hardly something I would find “collectible.” There’s nothing inherently cool about it (in my opinion of course). If it were an old 1950’s rotary, I could see the draw, it would be at least visually interesting. But it’s just a smaller than modern glass rectangle that you can’t use and, if you remove from the box, will be immediately worth less.
But sure, if I find one, I’ll make sure to sell it at action.
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This is pretty much Schrödinger’s phone. It’s worth a lot if you don’t confirm it’s in there. Once you do, it isn’t worth anything*
*I guess you could X-Ray / Sonogram it - never mind.
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my old iphone + heat gun + sealing bag = ?
I litteraly saw seller wraping open box phone on some shop to look like new.
You can try to check the price of 100 Shrink Wrap Bags, it’s around 9 USD
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Not long ago, I found my iPhone 3G (second generation of the iPhone, despite the name) in the back of a drawer. Dug up a 30-pin connector, charged it, and booted it up.
I won’t call the experience of using it nostalgic, because that’s not exactly right, but I did feel an echo of the excitement of something new and different—it really was exciting when it was new. And it really brought home in a visceral way how much smartphones have changed society, and how quickly they have advanced, because holy cow, that thing was so primitive compared to what we have now.
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My money says it won’t power on anyway.
Lithium batteries do not usually take kindly to being left uncharged for 15 years.
Enjoy your brick?
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I’ve got my 3GS around here somewhere.
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Hmm, 15 year old Li battery in there, I wonder how swollen it is by now…
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Is it more or less inherently valuable than an NFT?
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The simple fact that I could bean a crypto bro in the head with it from a distance says it’s inherently more valuable… though that is a high price for something so base.
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If they unseal it it ruins the value, that thing ain’t never getting open.
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What would the $599 be worth if you had bought apple stock instead? It pains me to think about it.
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Nokia bricks are still around 
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Right?!? I’m getting that Chidi stomach ache feeling…
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I never understood that impulse. So did you buy the toy as an investment to hawk later? I guess it could be valuable to somebody else who gives no shit about it to hide away unopened. Like saving the joy for opening it for retirement? Most mass produced toys will never be worth that much. This is like some boomer mind worm that infected younger generations.
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Est around $200k.
Save your stuff kids!
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… as long as we’re firing up the time machine, we could wait a couple years and buy Bitcoin instead
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