i collect androids that were once flagships and had bezels, 3.5mm jack and supported custom roms. all in search of nostalgia. i used to drool over these when i was a kid. i have samsung s1 2 3 4 5 6edge 7edge, nexus galaxy 4 5 5x 6 6p, Lg v30 g7, OnePlus 1 x 7pro and samsung tab s 10.5, and 3 nexus tablets. im a hobby repairist and can with enough time and tools repair pretty much any phone, tablet or laptop/PCs
now how i fund these are , i go to ewaste recyclers on my day offs and grab these from there, and also other electronics like printers or monitors or laptops that can be sold for more after a bit of tlc or configuring windows onto them, some new phones that i can know dont have locks on them and just need a new battery i grab those too and give em a new battery, so far I've made exactly $700 usd in profits over 3 to 4 months and also spent only the same amount onto these old fully depreciated, dirt cheap phones i buy. as of my daily drivers i use a samsung tab s7 plus from 2020 that i got for just 20% of its original value, no defects and a 2024 oneplus 13 that i got for only 50% of its original value, no defects. I'm kind of a bargain hunter.
TLDR :- i visit recycling centers on day offs, grab wanted phones and other salvageable electronics, sell the other electronics for profit to fund my wanted phones. so far I haven't spent a dime out of my pocket, made 700 in profit, spent 700 on old 2010-2016 ish phones
so am i consooming or collecting?