Unlocking Hidden Treasures: How Your ’90s Gadgets Could Fetch You Up to £4,000!

IF you find yourself with an attic full of outdated consoles and devices, you might be sitting on a considerable treasure.

Vintage electronics such as old gaming systems and audio devices are highly sought after by sentimental collectors eager to recapture a moment from their youth.

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Several Walkmans, SEGAs, PlayStations, Game Boys, and even the games themselves have retained their worth since their peak popularity, with some items now valued higher than their original prices.

Notably, among the most profitable are rare titles for the Nintendo DS and the development PlayStation console.

Of course, an item’s worth is determined by its scarcity and condition, with special editions frequently commanding much higher prices.

Pre-owned specialist retailer CeX stated that the most valuable retro consoles are those that are in excellent condition, still in their original packaging, and come with cables and controllers.

Additionally, Vinted reported that some of its most sought-after items feature PlayStation1 and Wii systems, as well as handheld devices like the Nintendo DS and GameBoy Colour.

It’s crucial to remember that while you may hope to make a profit, actually selling your old items depends on what a buyer is prepared to pay at the time of sale.

However, if your attic is filled with old gadgets, here are some top sellers to look out for:

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Sony PlayStation Net Yaroze Console – £1,000+

The Net Yaroze DTL-H3002 console served as a development kit for the PlayStation.

It essentially represents a streamlined version of the professional development kit for PlayStation which enables users to design their own games when connected directly to a PC or Mac.

Due to its relative scarcity, it can command significant prices.

CeX provides a £960 voucher for a boxed console or £876 in cash. Additionally, it offers a £637 voucher for consoles without packaging or £552 in cash.

These consoles can easily exceed £1,000 on eBay, with rarer editions fetching several thousand pounds.

Atari Jaguar CD system – £1,000+

The Atari Jaguar system made its debut in North America in November 1993, with the CD variant arriving two years afterwards.

In addition to enabling players to enjoy cartridge and CD games, every CD unit came with a virtual light device, which projected light patterns synchronized to music.

Notable games released alongside the console consisted of Alien V Predator and Doom.

CeX provides a £671 voucher for a boxed system or £581 in cash. For a system without a box, it offers a £437 voucher or £362 in cash.

Boxed versions are typically listed for approximately £1,000 on eBay.

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SEGA Multi-Mega system – £1,000 +

The SEGA Multi-Mega system united the SEGA Mega Drive with a portable CD player and the Sega Mega-CD system.

Launched in 1994, it followed the Mega Drive’s popularity and enabled users to play both cartridge and CD games.

CeX offers a £680 voucher for a boxed system or £620 in cash.

Boxed systems tend to be listed for approximately £1,000 to £1,300 on eBay.

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Nintendo Entertainment System Console – £521

The Nintendo Entertainment System console gained immense popularity among gamers during the 1980s.

This pioneering console featured games such as Super Mario Bros, the Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Mega Man.

A variety of accessories were also introduced for the system, including a light gun and a toy robot gadget.

CeX presents a £521 voucher for a boxed system or
“`£451 in cash.

On eBay, exclusive edition consoles, including a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles variant, are priced at approximately £600.

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Nintendo Game Boy – £120

Nintendo’s portable Game Boy gained immense popularity with gamers upon its launch in the 1980s.

The initial consoles retailed for nearly £100 in the late 1980s, with early games such as Super Mario.

Currently, at auction, these consoles fetch between £100 and £120, while their average sale price on eBay stands at £48.19.

However, certain limited edition models, like the later Game Boy Colour, can command prices in the thousands.

For instance, a Manchester United console is currently listed by CeX for £450, and a boxed yellow Pokemon edition of the Game Boy colour is available for £330.

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PlayStation1 – £70

The Sony PlayStation console, known as PlayStation1, debuted in Europe in 1995 and quickly became a sensation.

It was the first console to exceed sales of 100 million units and continues to be cherished by retro gaming enthusiasts.

The elevated number of units sold means that second-hand consoles do not command high prices, yet CeX features boxed consoles priced around £70.

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Nintendo 64 – £200

The Nintendo 64 was introduced in Europe in 1997 to compete directly with the Sony PlayStation.

With four controller ports, it permitted multi-player experiences, including popular games like Mario Kart 64, Mario Party, and Donkey Kong 64.

Moreover, the console’s popularity meant that pre-owned units typically don’t command high prices, although certain special edition models can yield significant profits.

Currently, CeX has a Pikachu console listed at £350, while unboxed colored consoles range between £150 and £200.

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SEGA Mega Drive – £90

The SEGA Mega Drive was launched in Europe in 1990 and has sold over 40 million units worldwide.

Notable titles for this console included the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Altered Beast, and NBA Jam.

Currently, CeX has boxed consoles available for approximately £90.

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Games – £3,999

Not only the consoles, but certain games can also bring in substantial cash, according to Nick Drewe, a trend analyst at the online savings platform Wethrift.

For instance, second-hand versions of Pokémon SoulSilver with a Pokéwalker for the Nintendo DS may sell for £195 at CeX, but Drewe mentioned that unopened factory-sealed copies could be priced as high as £3,999 on eBay.

Similarly, Pokémon HeartGold and Pokéwalker copies are valued at £205 at CeX, while unopened editions on eBay can achieve prices up to £1,999, provided the pedometer is included with the game.

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Walkman – £300

In recent years, Walkmans have experienced a significant increase in demand, and vintage models can command hundreds of pounds.

According to Alex Tadros, the proprietor of Mars Tapes in Manchester, collectors of all ages are actively seeking working vintage Sony Walkmans.

He elaborated: “I believe pop culture plays a crucial role; we frequently see Marvel movies and TV shows referencing 1980s technology much more today.”

“For instance, when Stranger Things propelled Kate Bush back into the music charts, we ran out of every single cassette tape we had in stock of her music, including the lesser-known albums. We received a flood of inquiries from young people looking for both the tapes and the players to enjoy them on.”

Prices listed on eBay fluctuate widely, but unique designs can quickly achieve sale prices in the hundreds of pounds.

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iPods – £100

Apple debuted its first iPod in 2001 and manufactured handheld music devices until 2022.

Certain models still retain their popularity and can achieve high prices when sold second hand.

CeX reported that the 2019 iPod Touch 7th generation remains in demand, along with some of the Classic variants.

A working 7th generation iPod Touch or a Classic iPod can command prices exceeding £100 on the second-hand market.

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