Wisconsin couple has old phones and nobody to buy them

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

A Wisconsin couple has amassed tens of thousands of vintage landline phones, but shifting technology and tastes mean they’re struggling to find buyers despite a functioning webshop and occasional sales to film studios and collectors. Commenters argue that demand still exists for antique phones as décor and props, yet note that high prices, poor online presentation, and the couple’s age and hoarding tendencies have turned the collection into more of a liability than an asset. The case prompts broader reflections on how changing utility, mass production, and housing costs have eroded the market for many traditional antiques, and on the burden large personal collections can place on heirs.

Headline & Scale Confusion

  • Many comments joke about the initial HN title implying only “tens” of phones, versus the reality of “tens of thousands.”
  • The mismatch is likened to the “Telephone” party game: “of thousands” was lost in transmission.
  • Some note that “tens of phones” would be mundane; tens of thousands is genuinely newsworthy.

Business Model, Demand & Pricing

  • Several commenters think demand exists (collectors, decor, props) but prices are too high:
    • Phones listed around $200–$300; many expect $50–$100 for a novelty piece.
    • Their Bluetooth adapter is seen as overpriced compared to similar products.
  • Others observe that similar antique phones sell reliably on eBay, but for roughly half of this company’s prices.
  • Proposed strategies:
    • Systematic eBay listing (possibly no-reserve auctions) over several years.
    • Selling in bulk lots to resellers, prop houses, or scrap yards.
    • Donating to museums or for tax write-offs; recycling for metal.
    • Hiring younger help to modernize marketing, use TikTok, or bundle phones with adapters.

Tech & DIY Ideas

  • Interest in bridging old phones to modern systems:
    • Bluetooth–RJ11 bridges, VoIP ATAs, and DIY ESP32-based adapters are discussed.
    • Some are building home PBXs/intercom systems using existing house wiring and microcontrollers.
  • Many see “these phones work via Bluetooth/VoIP” as key to keeping them usable and desirable.

Hoarding, Estates & “Death Cleaning”

  • A number of comments describe the couple as hoarders or semi-hoarders.
  • Concerns center on the logistical and emotional burden their inventory will place on their children.
  • Personal anecdotes about cleaning deceased relatives’ homes highlight how exhausting and painful this can be.
  • The idea of proactively decluttering in old age (“death cleaning”) is raised as a healthier alternative.

Antiques, Utility & Changing Values

  • Broader discussion about why items like roll-top desks, china, oil lamps, and antique phones have lost mainstream appeal:
    • Utility: modern lifestyles (dishwashers, LEDs, closets, smartphones) make these objects impractical.
    • Generational memory: antiques often matter only while someone remembers them as everyday objects.
    • Mass production and abundance: people can cheaply buy items that better fit their needs, so inherited antiques aren’t special.
    • Some note occasional revivals driven by fashion, films, or nostalgia, but see this as unpredictable “gambling.”

Enthusiasm & Skepticism

  • Enthusiastic notes:
    • The collection is admired as an amazing, well-built set of historical artifacts and project fodder.
    • Some would buy pieces (pay phones, wood wall phones) at lower prices.
  • Skeptical notes:
    • Others view the inventory as a liability more than an asset, especially considering storage costs.
    • A few express limited sympathy, seeing this as a cautionary tale about not adapting to market changes.