Urban Outfitters is no stranger to selling ancient tech. The clothing and furniture brand went from pushing vinyl back into the mainstream to selling $US350 refurbished iPods on behalf of the tech’s 22nd anniversary.
The store had several different generations of the iPod available for purchase over the weekend, as first spotted by The Philadelphia Inquirer 0n Monday. The description for the iPods in stock refers to the music device as “vintage” and “retro,” and that the gadgets were kept in limited stock online only. These iPods come with new batteries and 128GB storage, according to 9to5Mac. The iPods have since sold out, as confirmed to Gizmodo by an Urban Outfitter’s spokesperson.
“First introduced in 2001, the iPod is the quintessential MP3 player, and this 5th generation device (2007) is the perfect blend of new millennium design with modern features,” Urban Outfitters wrote in the product’s description, according to 9to5Mac. “Each iPod is kitted with an original deadstock Apple sync cable and headphones.”
Urban Outfitters also told Gizmodo that the store joined forces with the Milwukee-based Retrospekt to find and refurbish the iPods as part of the UO MRKT program. Retrospekt is an online retailer that carries old-school-inspired and refurbished hardware including Polaroid cameras, Game Boys, alarm clocks, and VHS tapes. The different listings on Urban Outfitters’ website went anywhere from $US350 for a fourth-generation iPod to $US199 for an iPod mini. For reference, 9to5Mac says that an iPod Mini went for $US99 when released in 2005—that’s approximately $US158 adjusted for inflation.
Urban Outfitters’ interest in selling these revolutionary pieces of technology speaks to consumers’ interest in revisiting analog devices. Gen Z has found comfort in technology of the past like disposable cameras, thrifting, and vinyl, which throws a wrench in Big Tech’s incessant need to innovate. Vinyl, which has always been Urban Outfitters’ bread and butter, has seen a particularly noteworthy renaissance—especially in the last few years. Last March, the Recording Industry Association of America revealed that vinyl made up $US1.2 billion of the $US1.7 billion in physical media sales in 2022, which was dubbed as the format’s sixteenth consecutive year of growth.