Very Rare Original iPod in Factory Sealed Box Hits eBay for $19,995

[MacRumors]

If you missed the opportunity to buy the original iPod nearly 18 years ago, now is your second chance -- but it won't be cheap.

A very rare first-generation iPod factory sealed in its "unopened original box" in "unopened original shrink wrap" has surfaced in a new eBay listing with an asking price of $19,995, over 50 times more than the $399 it cost when it was first unveiled by the late Steve Jobs in October 2001.

Jobs famously pitched the original iPod as offering "1,000 songs in your pocket." The iconic device features a 5GB hard drive, a two-inch grayscale LCD screen, up to 10 hours of battery life, a FireWire port, and a scroll wheel for "simple, one-handed navigation." Its 0.75-inch thickness was slim at the time.

It's hard to say exactly how many factory-sealed original iPods are still in existence, but there are likely not many, and they rarely go on sale. When they do, they often fetch large sums, with the $19,995 price for this listing in line with an original iPod that reportedly sold for $20,000 on eBay back in 2014.

Offers are open on eBay.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with eBay. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Article Link: Very Rare Original iPod in Factory Sealed Box Hits eBay for $19,995

 

[Not-Sure]

Damn... what people have in their minds? Wasting money on that.

 

[dominiongamma]

And people said years ago products sealed in a box would be worthless

 

[travoose]

Interested in how much this finally goes for and wondering what an Apple Watch would potentially fetch in about 25 years.

 

[jkirker]

If you put the same $399 towards Amazon stock (~$8/share or 49 shares), it would be worth around $92,000 today.

 

[imola.zhp]

I have a S0 Apple watch tucked away, never opened. Hoping some moron will vastly overpay for it in 20-30 years.

Interested in how much this finally goes for and wondering what an Apple Watch would potentially fetch in about 25 years.

I hope a BUNCH.

 

[vvs14]

And people said years ago products sealed in a box would be worthless

This one probably is. Just because some idiot listed it for $35000 does not mean that is its value. Lets see what it is actually sold for.

 

[BGPL]

Not much of a reaction from the crowd. They had no idea that history was just changed... the iPod brought the iPhone, and the iPhone brought everything we have today, including social media.

One thing Steve was wrong about, is the Mac being the center of everything. He was Mac's biggest fan, and there's no one at Apple in that corner anymore, sadly. Personally, my Mac is the center of everything, but I'm in the minority.

 

[Motawa]

yeahnothanks

 

[JosephAW]

I threw it out and recycled it.

 

[definitive]

There's a sucker born every minute.

 

[kguay]

If you put the same $399 towards Amazon stock (~$8/share or 49 shares), it would be worth around $92,000 today.

And AAPL worth $57,000... still not bad.

 

[Valkyre]

The funny news is that this is probably dead on arrival. All these years, sealed or not, its battery is surely dead...

 

[Baymowe335]

If you put the same $399 towards Amazon stock (~$8/share or 49 shares), it would be worth around $92,000 today.

20/20 hindsight is a hell of a thing. In 20 years, we'll say the same thing about the nonsense you'll buy today.

That said, this iPod may or may not be "factory sealed." Tons of scams out there to make money.

 

[flygbuss]

I'm thinking of buying it, just for the smell during unboxing.

 

[Hirakata]

And AAPL worth $57,000... still not bad.

It would be worth over $800,000. Apple split twice (2-for-1 and 7-for 1) since 2001.

 

[DrJohnnyN]

I'm thinking of buying it, just for the smell during unboxing.

Enjoy the smell.

 

[bstpierre]

I'm thinking of buying it, just for the smell during unboxing.

Opening this up would be a huge mistake. It is not going to one pretty inside. My original iPod (which has been used) is bulging and separating at the seam due to battery swelling.

 

[Zyriab]

I'm thinking of buying it, just for the smell during unboxing.

https://www.twelvesouth.com/products/inspire

 

[phillytim]

Good luck getting Apple Support to replace that battery! 8^P LOLOL

 

[NightFixer]

If you bought one and a half ounces of gold for $420 in October 2001 you would have $1920 today. Sealed original iPods are worth way more than gold.

 

[baller1308]

A college prof had like 2 of the original iPhones still wrapped. He's probably looking to do the same thing in the future.

 

[flygbuss]

https://www.twelvesouth.com/products/inspire

That's like offering methadone..

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

One thing Steve was wrong about, is the Mac being the center of everything. He was Mac's biggest fan, and there's no one at Apple in that corner anymore, sadly. Personally, my Mac is the center of everything, but I'm in the minority.

To Apple, we are a dying breed, even at a very young age, killed by the tsunami of IOS gadgets (and now "services").

 

[Blackstick]

The battery is likely dead as a door nail in there.