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BLAST FROM THE PAST

These are the most wanted retro items on eBay that could be worth up to £1,555 – here’s how to cash in

From the old Nokia 3310 to iPod Classics, these are the most searched for bits of old tech on eBay that could be worth thousands

RETRO iPods, Nokia 3310s and Sony Walkmans are just some of the most searched for retro tech items on eBay over the past few years.

The auction site has seen a sharp rise in the number of shoppers hoping to buy tech from the past - which means if you've got any of these items at home, now might be the time to cash in.

 These are some of the most searched for items on eBay
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These are some of the most searched for items on eBay

The retailer reckons shoppers have been influenced by film and nostalgia leading them to search for goods from their childhoods.

The iconic Sega Mega Drive - before PlayStation and Xbox took over - turned 30 this year and eBay has said it saw a surge in the number of searches and bids on the games stations.

Surprisingly, typewriters seem to have made a comeback too and eBay saw a spike in the number of searches around the same time that Steven Spielberg's The Post was celebrated at the Oscars - a film about the Washington Post newsroom set in the 70s.

We've had a look at how much these vintage items are selling for online - and it turns out you can make up to £1,555.

Now might be the time to dust off the old tech in the loft because you could be sitting on a small fortune.

Here are the top 10 most-searched for items starting from the most popular.

1. Apple iPod - Up to £276

 We found that iPod Classics were selling for the most on eBay
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We found that iPod Classics were selling for the most on eBayCredit: eBay

There were two searches for an Apple iPod every minute at the end of 2017, sparked no doubt by the tech giant's Christmas ad that showed the evolution of the music player.

We had a look and found that the iPod Classics were fetching the most money on eBay, with a used first generation one recently selling for £276 after receiving 13 bids.

Of course, if you have one that's still boxed you'll make more money - one that was still wrapped in plastic .

2. Nokia 3310 - Up to £56

 Secondhand Nokia 3310s are being sold for around £50 online
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Secondhand Nokia 3310s are being sold for around £50 onlineCredit: eBay

Someone searched for a Nokia 3310 every three minutes on eBay UK since this time last year.

Ironically, three quarters of searches were made on mobile.

A used one that comes with the box sold for and attracted 15 bids.

We got our hands on the rebooted 3310 when it launched in the UK last year to find out whether it's a dream for nostalgic tech lovers - or whether it should have been left in the noughties.

3. MP3 players - Up to £182

 The Sony Walkman NWZ-ZX1 Android Music Player 128GB is the most valuable MP3 player
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The Sony Walkman NWZ-ZX1 Android Music Player 128GB is the most valuable MP3 playerCredit: eBay

There are over 8,000 MP3 players listed on the site and, according to eBay, they are popular buys among shoppers aged between 25 and 44.

We found that the most valuable MP3 player selling on eBay was the Sony Walkman NWZ-ZX1 Hi Res Android Music Player 128GB which was only released in 2014.

What you need to look out for when selling things on eBay

HERE'S what you need to know before you put your stuff on auction:

Always set a reserve price - Starting with a low price will attract bidders but you don't want to accidentally sell your item for less than it's worth.

Watch out for seller's fees - You can list up to 20 things for free every month but there is a 10 per cent charge if you sell - including postage and packaging.

Set the right amount for postage and packaging - The auction site offers set postage fees based on what sellers with similar products charged but these might not be the best option for you. Use the Royal Mail price finder to get an idea of what it will cost you.

Close your auction on Sunday - According to eBay, the website is at its busiest on Sunday evenings so try to end your auction then to get the best price.

Sell stuff for free on other sites - You can avoid eBay's fees altogether by selling your things on classified sites, like Gumtree, Preloved or Facebook Marketplace.

But if you've still got one at home you might be able to flog it because shoppers are still searching for them.

in June - although it's worth noting that this one came in the box and was described as being in mint condition, which of course adds value.

4. Typewriter - Up to £160

 There has been a spike in the number of searches for typewrites thanks to the 2017 film The Post
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There has been a spike in the number of searches for typewrites thanks to the 2017 film The PostCredit: eBay

Spielberg's film The Post was nominated for two Oscars and during awards week, there were 2,000 searches for typewriters - that's 14 every hour.

If you've got a typewriter from the 60s or 70s knocking about at home then you can expect to sell it for .

Of course, if you have an even older one then you're likely to make more money with one from the early 1900's selling for £350.

5. Sony Walkman - Up to £510

 There were 400 searches for the Sony Walkman when the iconic brand turned 30 years old in July 2018
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There were 400 searches for the Sony Walkman when the iconic brand turned 30 years old in July 2018Credit: eBay

They might not make cassettes any more but searches for the Sony Walkman have doubled over the past two years, with 400 of them made in July this year when the brand turned 30.

Got one at home? They're selling for , as long as they come with the original box, instructions and headphones.

6. The Sega Mega Drive - Up to £75

 Shoppers have been showing a new interest in the Sega Mega Drive since it turned 30 this year
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Shoppers have been showing a new interest in the Sega Mega Drive since it turned 30 this yearCredit: eBay

Popular in the late 80s and early 90s, the 16-bit mega console marked its 30th birthday in April this year.

To celebrate, Sega announced that Sega Mega Drive Mini is due to launch this year which inspired a 30 per cent increase in the number of searches for the old game console.

A Mega Drive still boxed, with all of the cables and a Sonic game sold for .

7. Apple Mac - Up to £1,555

 An early generation of the Apple Macintosh will fetch around £1,555 online
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An early generation of the Apple Macintosh will fetch around £1,555 onlineCredit: eBay

There are nearly 1,000 listings of these products on eBay and roughly 20 specific searches made for this product every day in the UK.

If you've got one of the really old Macintosh Classics then you're looking at selling it for  - but you'll need to have the keyboard too.

You're more likely to have a vintage iBook G3 hiding in the loft and it's good news because shoppers are snapping them up too for about .

8. Polaroid camera - Up to £325

 The Polaroid 180 is selling for more than £300 online
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The Polaroid 180 is selling for more than £300 onlineCredit: eBay

Shoppers are increasingly looking to capture memories on a vintage camera rather than snapping them on their smartphones for social media.

Of course, it depends on what brand you've got but a Polaroid 180 which was originally made in the late 60s .

9. Boombox - Up to £820

 A double cassette recorder boombox is selling for more than £800 on eBay
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A double cassette recorder boombox is selling for more than £800 on eBayCredit: eBay

Over the past few months, that was a sharp rise in the number of Brits opting to carry a boombox, with sales peaking during the summer heatwave.

Huge, double cassette recorder boomboxes from the 80s are selling online for up to.

10. Pager - Up to £40

 A retro radio pager will fetch around £40 on eBay
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 A retro radio pager will fetch around £40 on eBayCredit: eBay

Weirdly, pagers are one of the most searched for items on eBay.

One in 10 of the world's pagers are used by the NHS and in the week before the institution's 70th birthday in early July 2018, sales of beepers doubled compared to the same week in 2017.

You can get sets of brand new pagers for a few hundred pounds on eBay but an old pager will still fetch around £40 on the  site.

 

From Pokemon cards to barbie dolls, these are the old toys that could be worth thousands.

Earlier this year, we identified the top five most valuable Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars you should look out for.

Do you have spare Lego at home? Because buyers such as  and  will fork out for your secondhand Lego or you might be able to get a better deal by selling it on eBay.

North Yorkshire pub has a 30ft vintage jet landlord bought on eBay in its beer garden


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