That extra bit of $$$ people charge you to pay on top for something because it's unusual, nostalgic/iconic and elicits gawkers/discussion/conversation. It might not even be a particularly rare or valuable item but because of the aforementioned attributes the novelty tax greatly exaggerates it's value.
Example 1:
Bill: "Did Ed really pay $8500 for a old Mazda Miata? He could have gotten so many better cars for nearly as much!"
Mikey: "True, but those NAs are getting harder to find nowadays and c'mon man....those Pop-up headlights are a pretty cool party trick."
Bill: "Bruh...he paid way too much novelty tax for that old ass car, but I'll give it a pass because now he looks like a recently divorced single mother who left the hair salon with a pixie-cut because she was wanted to try something new......and you know how much I like chicks with short hair."
Example 2:
Ann: "Hey, remember when we were little and we would find Gameboys at the swap meet for $5."
Fred: "Yeah, wow what a trip. Now try finding them and their asking $50"
Anne "Didn't they sell millions of them though? Like, why are they expensive now?"
Fred "It's the novelty tax; current social media thrives on late 90s/early 00s nostalgia and now everyone wants to own a little piece of their past nowadays to show off and be validated. Nostalgia is ripe for exploitation. Now that I think of it, I have a copy of Pokemon Crystal sitting around! I'm going to eat good tonight!!"
Bill: "Did Ed really pay $8500 for a old Mazda Miata? He could have gotten so many better cars for nearly as much!"
Mikey: "True, but those NAs are getting harder to find nowadays and c'mon man....those Pop-up headlights are a pretty cool party trick."
Bill: "Bruh...he paid way too much novelty tax for that old ass car, but I'll give it a pass because now he looks like a recently divorced single mother who left the hair salon with a pixie-cut because she was wanted to try something new......and you know how much I like chicks with short hair."
Example 2:
Ann: "Hey, remember when we were little and we would find Gameboys at the swap meet for $5."
Fred: "Yeah, wow what a trip. Now try finding them and their asking $50"
Anne "Didn't they sell millions of them though? Like, why are they expensive now?"
Fred "It's the novelty tax; current social media thrives on late 90s/early 00s nostalgia and now everyone wants to own a little piece of their past nowadays to show off and be validated. Nostalgia is ripe for exploitation. Now that I think of it, I have a copy of Pokemon Crystal sitting around! I'm going to eat good tonight!!"
by Theupdownturnaround December 31, 2021
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