Whether fashion, music or hairstyles: many trends from recent decades are being taken up by the next generation. The Walkman also celebrates its return and surprises on the second-hand market. This is what you should pay attention to when selling.
The Walkman: pure nostalgia
Last year, more records than CDs were sold in the United States; the last time this happened was in 1987. Albeit with a smaller market share, but with a similar increase in popularity: the cassette. According to a Billboard survey, sales in England increased from 81,000 records sold in 2015 to 440,000 in 2023.
With the sale of cassettes, the demand for devices that can play them also increases. Romantics of the '80s and '90s probably know what this is about. The Walkman: the flagship of the “cool kids.” For the first time, he made it possible for an entire generation to take his music everywhere and enjoy it. But with the introduction of MP3 players, iPods and, at the latest, smartphones, the old status symbols were once again displaced.
Prices are rising rapidly
Whether nostalgia, irony or variety: with the renewed and growing demand for cassettes and walkmans, prices are also rising rapidly. According to slashgear, Sony's original 1979 Walkman has risen from $150 back then to a whopping $680 today. Two models can even surpass that.
The 1984 retro WM-DC2 is said to retail for a used price of $1,099. It will probably be astronomical with a very special Walkman. A perfect copy of the Sony TPS-L2, including original accessories, is said to be worth a whopping $2,850 for collectors. This is the iconic model owned by Peter Quill in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” ushering in the Walkman of a whole new generation.
You should keep this in mind when selling.
If you are lucky enough to still have an old Walkman and want to sell it, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, check if the device still works correctly, if all the keys can be used and if the cassette compartment is not stuck.
Visual defects can also reduce the price. But here too a distinction must be made: some signs of wear can clearly be considered a vintage effect and, if in doubt, can even increase the price. There is a bonus when selling for original packaging or even original accessories.
But even if the Walkman is in bad condition, it is worth selling. Because many nostalgic people need loose parts to repair their beloved devices from that time. Either way: it may be worth taking a look at flea markets or online marketplaces like eBay.
Sources: slashgear, Billboard
By Dana Neumann