Yahoo Finance 7 Vintage Electronics That Were Worth a Lot More 20 Years Ago
Electronic devices that you buy in the store or receive as a gift are initially so exciting. All their new capabilities, their fresh feel and even the right-from-the-factory scent give them an air of value. That’s because they are usually worth a lot of money when pulled right from the box.
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Over time, however, things change. You start to use the same devices less and less. They collect dust in one corner of your home or in a box packed in the far reaches of your garage. Some of these electronics actually become rare and valuable as the years pass, which has led to a market of vintage electronics worth a lot of money.
But that is not the case for all electronic devices. Using some expert insights, GOBankingRates is taking a look in the past-20 years or more-to vintage electronics that are worthless and have been in your house since 2003 just depreciating in more ways than one.
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Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Televisions
Back in the early ’90s, these were the TVs that could be found in nearly every living room. The original price for these television sets was valued around $400-$800 back in their heyday, but according to Luca DiMatteo, an electronics collector and expert with SlotsCalendar, “with the emergence of flat-screen TVs, their value has plummeted, making them virtually worthless today.”
Video Cassette Recorders (VCRs) and VHS Tapes
Starting in the 1980’s, video tapes and the VCRs used to play and make them were essential parts of home entertainment centers. Now they are “obsolete relics of a bygone era,” said Farah Kim, Head of Marketing at Winpure.
Kim explains that the primary reason for the depreciation of VCRs is the widespread adoption of digital video formats: DVDs, Blu-rays and now digital streaming services have overtaken VHS tapes in terms of video quality and convenience.
With the decline in demand for VHS tapes, VCRs have become virtually worthless. The analog technology used in VCRs is incompatible with modern high-definition displays, making them less practical and less valuable. Even though VHS tapes might have some nostalgic value, the VCRs themselves are considered space-consuming and outdated devices.
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Compact Disc (CD) Players
Strange as it might seem, today the go-to choice for music enthusiasts is vinyl-which despite being an older form of a way to play music-has only increased in value over the years. Turntable also made a striking comeback as a popular choice to listen to your favorite albums. The same cannot be said for the CD player, which has suffered significant loss in value in recent years.
“The main reason for this decline is the digital revolution in music consumption,” mentions Kim. “The rise of digital downloads and streaming services has rendered physical media like CDs and CD players less relevant.”
Kim notes that most consumers now prefer the convenience of accessing their music on digital devices like smartphones, tablets, or computers.
“As a result, the demand for CD players has dwindled, leading to a drop in their market value,” Kim says. “While some audiophiles may still appreciate the audio quality of CDs, the trend towards digital music has made standalone CD players a niche market with little appeal to the broader consumer base.”
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
You might be familiar with these devices based on their names, which include Blackberry and Palm Pilots. Originally valued around $400 when it debuted in 1996, the Palm Pilots were not “able to keep up with the evolution of smartphones and are now worth barely anything,” added DiMatteo. The main reason for PDAs depreciation: the rise of smartphones.
“These compact devices, initially designed for organizing personal information, scheduling, and note-taking, have been overshadowed by the multifunctional capabilities of smartphones,” Kim noted. “Modern smartphones offer a plethora of features, including internet connectivity, high-quality cameras and a wide range of apps, rendering PDAs nearly obsolete.”
Kim also highlighted that “the market for PDAs has shrunk, and their monetary value has plummeted. While they may still be of interest to collectors or nostalgic enthusiasts, they hold little practical value in the current technological landscape.”
Pocket Televisions
These compact and portable TVs from the 1980s and 1990s were loved for their novelty, not to mention design that allowed them to partially fit in your pocket. Now, due to the modern digital broadcasting landscape, they are barely worth anything.
“These pocket-sized televisions relied on analog signals and limited screen sizes, making them impractical for modern viewing,” Kim said. “The shift to digital broadcasting standards and the prevalence of flat-screen high-definition TVs have rendered pocket TVs obsolete.”
As streaming services took over the airwave and smart devices created a direct connection to content on portable screens, the demand for pocket TVs took a nosedive.
“These devices, while once a symbol of convenience and portability, have lost their appeal, and their market value has sharply declined,” Kim noted.
8-Track Tapes and Players
A number of manufacturers started producing the Quadraphonic 8-Track Tapes back in the early 1970s. The tapes were designed to allow for a surround sound experience to the home for about $50 for a player, but $40-$100 per tape.
Unfortunately, they did the exact opposite of what was intended, plagued with bad quality sound, pricey manufacturing costs and a severe case of consumer disinterest. Eventually, the infamous 8-Track tapes and players faded into obsolescence because, according to DiMatteo, CDs offered increased audio quality and convenience.
The Original Game Boy
The classic and beloved handheld gaming device holds a lot of sentimental value for video game enthusiasts, but has not appreciated in monetary value since it came on the market in the late 1980s and early 1990s, originally priced around $89.99 each. In Kim’s opinion, one of the main factors contributing to this is the availability of more advanced gaming devices.
“While the Game Boy holds a special place in the hearts of gamers and collectors, it lacks the modern features and graphics capabilities found in contemporary gaming consoles and handhelds,” said Kim.
“The limited technology and monochrome screen of the original Game Boy have led to a niche market for collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts,” Kim continued. “However, the broader gaming market has moved on to more advanced devices, leaving the original Game Boy with relatively low monetary value compared to contemporary gaming consoles.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Vintage Electronics That Were Worth a Lot More 20 Years Ago
