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The real money is in old tech

Ah, if only we had 20-20 foresight, the ability to predict how things would change.

If I'd had this ability, I'd have hidden away all my old electronic appliances and gadgets instead of throwing them away.

That pile of useless, outdated, supeceded, no longer wanted electronics would have become a treasure trove of valuable retro-tech that now sells for unbelievable prices.

Cameras, cassette players, radios, you name it. Many of these old and long-discarded items now command a fortune in today's marketplace.

If tomorrow is like today then I'd urge you not to throw your old stuff away, not to recycle it, just hoard it for a few decades (perhaps as a legacy for your grandkids) and allow it to become valuable once-more.

Take for example the humble Sony Walkman, a highly portable cassette player that was the go-to device for anyone wishing to listen to music while on the move.

This device was created long before digital formats for music were a practical reality and a very long time before non-volatile solid-state memory was available.

Today we can store our entire music collection on a single microSD card and play it back with astounding fidelity through a smartphone connected wirelessly to a set of earphones or earbuds. It's all so simple, cheap and clinical.

Just as there are legions of people who yearn for the "warmth" of old valve audio amplifiers and the unique character of vinyl records, so there are those who are prepared to pay a significant premium for the retro styling and (lowly) performance of an old Walkman.

Now you might think that manufacturers would simply run off a few production runs of replica Walkman units to cash in on this retro craze. Well some have tried but the problem is that there are only one or two cassette mechanism suppliers still in business and, not to mince words, their products suck.

It is perhaps only now that we realise just how well made those old Walkman units were and how tragically lacking modern mechanisms are by comparison. And, with original cassette tapes of classic titles also becoming increasingly valuable, nobody wants to risk their original copy of Thriller to the tape-shredding internals of a cheap Chinese knock-off retro-styled player.

Audio gear isn't the only type of tech currently riding the retro wave. Polaroid instant cameras from a few decades ago are also highly sought after and command very high prices if in reasonable condition. I doubt those who buy these cameras will shoot many pictures with them because at current prices, it'll set you back about $6 for every click of the shutter for the film.

Ah... but some people will pay whatever it costs to get that genuine "Polaroid look".

Old game consoles are also now in vogue again with original N64 units being particularly sought-after. A whole new industry has sprouted in the refurbishment of these devices, something that often consists of little more than throwing a new plastic case on them. Yes, companies are manufacturing new cases for an almost 30 year old console, the demand is that great.

If you've got a few minutes today, add up just how much (in today's retro-dollars) you've thrown away over the past 30-40 years. Just think of how much better off you'd be, had you stored those old gadgets away and thrown them on eBay today.

Recycling? No way... hoarding is the answer to the ewaste problem, if you've got a few decades to spare.

Carpe Diem folks!

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