A unopened first generation iPhone has sold for more than $39k

businessinsider.com

2 points·FridayoLeary··5 comments

Thirty-nine thousand dollars? For a Phone?!

Yeah, I'm wondering: Why $39k for an original iPhone? My 3g is sitting on my desk and it's completely useless.

They can't even connect to today's networks.

Come, now. Surely you are aware that collectors collect things, and that collector things that are unopened are more valuable than things that are opened. This is no different than an untouched Proof coin, unopened Funko Pop, etc. the iPhone box will remain unopened.

As for the price, plenty of tech folk get paid more than they know what to do with, and some bitcoin bros made stupid money on their bet. Whoever bought the phone could have bought a watch or boat or helped a village in a third-world country, but decided they wanted a collectable iPhone. Personally, I think they should have helped the village, but I guess they have other priorities.

I'd be worried about the battery having swollen up and damaging the device after sitting that long without a charge.

i should just collect first generation items as soon as the 3rd or 4th gen comes out. this way you know the product line will continue for awhile but the 1st generation stuff is still not collectible. I'm sure a sealed iPhone 1 was still cheap in 2013.

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