I’ve been on an iPod shopping spree the past few months. Well, not so much a shopping spree, but more of a focused determination to obtain any and all iPods that are currently missing from my collection. So far, in the past month or so, I’ve picked up 2006 iPod nano RED, a 2004 U2 Special Edition 4th gen, a 2003 3rd gen iPod, and a 2005 iPod nano Dock.

Needless to say, I’m in need of a few more docks. Ideally, I’d like every one of my iPods displayed in a dock. (Unless it’s one of the newer generations that came in a clear case.)

I hit up eBay in search of some universal docks. I was fully expecting to score a few docks at $5 a pop. Of course, as with all Apple things on eBay, the prices are crazy. $30 for a dock? You must be joking?

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind spending $30 bucks on a dock, if it was in the box with the accessories. When you need 3 or 4 of them, the price starts to creep up. I broadened my search and came across eBid. I guess they’re the “other” eBay. The vintage Apple selection was somewhat bleak. However, I did manage to find a seller with several 2003 iPod Photo Docks for a mere $5 each. Score. I snagged 2 of them right away. In retrospect, I should have purchased 4 or 5, he had a good 20 or so for sale.

Of course, they’re used and don’t come with any packaging or accessories, but that’s OK. I just need them to hold up my iPods.



They were a little dirty and both had a sticker on the base that left behind some residue when I removed them.



They cleaned up nicely with a little isopropyl alcohol.



Although these docks were sold for the iPod Photo 60GB, the slot is big enough that it’ll accommodate a ton of other models too, including the iPhone and iPhone 3G. My 3rd and 4th gen iPods fit perfectly.



That looks much better. I almost have a dock for all the iPods that need one.