Recycle shops have infinite possibilities: A true story [Trivial Talk Vol. 22]

The other day, I wrote an article about the joy of visiting recycle shops, titled “Recycle shops have infinite possibilities.”

It was half (99%?) a joke and half serious, but less than a week later, I unexpectedly found the 128GB iPhone SE (3rd generation) I had been wanting at a bargain price. It was equivalent to Rank A, and the pricing was clearly a mistake.

Heh. I bought it. That’s why I can’t stop visiting recycle shops.

The limits of the iPhone SE (2nd generation)

I currently use a second-hand iPhone SE (2nd generation, 128GB) for personal use, which I bought last year. Although it was released in 2020, its performance is still perfectly adequate, and it was cheap at just over 20,000 yen at the time. I’ve found it very useful because it’s small and lightweight.

In particular, I carry four devices in total, including my work phone, an iPhone 6 that I use as a compact camera, and a tablet. Being small and lightweight is truly an absolute virtue.

However, recently, the battery life of that iPhone SE has clearly deteriorated. Also, it crashes frequently when I’m writing notes. The battery capacity has dropped to 75%, so it seems it’s finally reaching its limit.

Inflation in second-hand smartphones

So, I considered a successor model, but prices have risen significantly compared to a year ago, and the current model costs over 20,000 yen, just like it did a year ago. The 128GB iPhone SE (3rd generation) I was aiming for is nearly 40,000 yen even for a B-rank unit.

When buying a smartphone, my personal benchmark is Iosys, famous for being “pretty cheap” with stores in Akihabara and Nihonbashi. They are generally cheaper than Janpara, the condition of their items is good, and the customer service at their physical stores is polite and likable.

Of course, I could afford it if it were 40,000 yen, but personally, I feel that’s too much to spend on a smartphone. It is a tool of the trade in the sense that I earn money through stock investments, but it’s a bit over budget. I was thinking, “Replacing the battery on my current model costs 10,000 yen, so what should I do?” when...

I found it.

The market price is 40,000 yen, but it was 33,000 yen!

It was at a store I happened to stop by on a whim. The 128GB iPhone SE (3rd generation) I wanted was there for an unbelievable 33,000 yen.

Moreover, the battery capacity is 90%, and there are no scratches on the screen or exterior, making it almost equivalent to Rank A. It’s about 20% cheaper than Iosys, which is an exceptional level.

The possibilities are just too infinite...

I spent the night checking the market prices, calmed down, and revisited the store after work the next day, praying. I checked the device, and successfully got it!

I’m struggling with the data transfer, so I’m still writing this note on my old device, but I plan to migrate once things settle down.

But they really do use the same chassis. I can tell because they are different colors, but the case is interchangeable, and if they were the same color, you wouldn't be able to tell them apart.

In any case, recycle shops really do have infinite possibilities. I can finally understand why Frieren keeps opening treasure chests and getting caught by mimics in 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End'.Even if 99% of them are duds.

Air purifier with built-in speaker

And this shop definitely had products filled with crazy infinite possibilities. That would be this 'air purifier with a built-in speaker'.

Why build it in?
Is this a demon fusion from Shin Megami Tensei?
You're not going to get a 'looking forward to working with you' for this, are you?

The fan noise and vibration of the air purifier will clearly get in the way, and I have a feeling the sound quality will be terrible (if it's even listenable at all).Even an amateur should be able to figure that out...

It's truly a case of danger: do not mix. The price tag of 8,800 yen (too expensive) for an unused item (that nobody wanted) is quite sad. Since it's for a 16-tatami mat room, the fan noise must be pretty loud, so of course nobody is going to buy it.

Summary

So, as always, recycle shops were full of possibilities. I'll continue to bet on that 1% and keep visiting recycle shops.

Even though there's a 99% chance it's a mimic (a dud)...