iPods selling as ‘vintage’ tech at Urban Outfitters hundreds of dollars

October 27, 2023

Want to feel old? Look no further.

It’s 2023, and Urban Outfitters is selling iPods — and labeling them “vintage.”

“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,” the product description reads.

“This is a genuine piece of vintage retro tech.”

Though they’re not selling it just for the Y2K vibes — the music players have been refurbished and restored by Retrospekt, a workshop and product design studio dedicated to the restoration of “retro” technology.

According to the product page, these “new” iPods have been updated with an all-new battery and 128GB of flash storage, and come with the original deadstock Apple charger and a pair of headphones.

Those who are old enough to remember owning an iPod Mini way back when will probably have their jaws dropping at the storage increase, considering we could only listen to 4GB worth of music.

But nostalgia comes at a cost.

It's 2023, and iPods are selling out at Urban Outfitters. Gen Z's fascination with early 2000s tech has been well-documented, like their whimsical repurposing of iPod shuffles as hair clips. But Urban Outfitters' offerings aren't just meant to accessorize: They've been updated for 2023 needs courtesy of "vintage" tech refurbisher Retrospekt. — “This is a genuine piece of vintage retro tech,” the product page says.

At Urban Outfitters, a sky blue Apple iPod Mini (1st Generation) costs $199, and the Apple iPod (5th Generation) is going for $349.

The price point has been critiqued on the internet since resale websites such as eBay and Etsy are selling similar models starting at around $35, The Philadelphia Inquirer, who first spotted the item on sale, reported.

However, simply searching for “iPod” on the store website no longer leads to any results, and links to the item say that it’s unavailable — meaning all models are likely already sold out.

The first iPod was released on Oct. 23, 2001, so it seems that this throwback coincides with the 22nd anniversary of the product.

Y2K has been an extremely popular trend for Gen Z, and their enchantment with early 2000s technology — ditching iPhones for flip phones, bringing back digital cameras and using iPod Minis as hair clips — has bewildered the older generations.

Last year, Apple discontinued the iPod after 20 years, but maybe the fascination with supposedly retro tech will spark a resurgence.