A Man Bought 7,000 Apple Computers for Resale, Only for Apple to Take Them Back and Crush Them – The Daily Galaxy

🔍 Summary:

In 1989, Apple made the surprising decision to destroy 7,000 unsold Apple Lisa computers, a move that puzzled many and left a significant piece of its technological history buried in a landfill in Logan, Utah. The Apple Lisa, launched in 1983, was a pioneering personal computer featuring a graphical user interface, a mouse, and windows-based navigation, but it struggled commercially due to its high price of nearly $10,000 and technical issues like overheating.

Despite being discontinued in 1985, the Lisa found a potential second life when Bob Cook of Sun Remarketing bought the unsold units with the intention of refurbishing and selling them at a lower price. Cook invested significantly in upgrading the machines, resulting in the Lisa Professional. However, Apple abruptly demanded the return of all units in 1989, subsequently having them crushed and buried without providing a public explanation.

Speculation about Apple’s motives includes concerns about brand image and possibly Steve Jobs’ desire to distance the company from the Lisa project, which he had complex feelings about. This act of destruction starkly contrasts with Apple’s modern emphasis on environmental sustainability, highlighting a significant shift in the company’s approach to its ecological and corporate responsibilities.

📌 Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/04/a-man-bought-7000-apple-computers-for-resale-only-for-apple-to-take-them-back-and-crush-them/