17 Products That Were Everywhere—Until They Weren’t

Some products achieve rapid success and become part of everyday life. However, trends shift, technology advances, and consumer interests change. These 17 items were widely used at one point but are now rarely seen or completely gone.

1. BlackBerry Smartphones

Kt38138 on Wikimedia Commons

BlackBerry phones were once the top choice for business users due to their secure messaging system and physical keyboard. In the early 2000s, they dominated the smartphone market. The rise of touchscreens and app-based platforms made them less competitive. Production stopped completely in 2022.

2. Silly Bandz

woodleywonderworks on Wikimedia Commons

Silly Bandz were shaped rubber bands that became a schoolyard craze in the late 2000s. Kids wore them on their wrists and traded different shapes. Some schools banned them due to distraction and fights over trades. Sales dropped quickly, and the trend disappeared within a couple of years.

3. Google Glass

Antonio Zugaldia on Wikimedia Commons

Google Glass was a wearable device with a small display over one eye, launched in 2013. It generated media interest but faced criticism over privacy, design, and price. Public acceptance never followed, and consumer sales were halted. It was later repurposed for industrial use before being discontinued in 2023.

4. Vine

Vine Labs, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons

Vine was a short-form video platform that allowed users to share six-second clips. It helped launch the careers of several influencers and introduced new forms of humor. However, it struggled to compete with Instagram and YouTube. Twitter, which owned Vine, shut it down in 2017.

5. MySpace

News Corporation on Wikimedia Commons

MySpace was the leading social media site in the early 2000s, especially for music and personal profiles. It allowed users to customize pages and connect with friends. Facebook’s cleaner design and broader appeal led to MySpace’s decline. Today, the platform exists in a limited form with little influence.

6. Crocs (Pre-Resurgence)

Zhou Yuji1028 on Wikimedia Commons

Crocs gained widespread popularity in the mid-2000s for their comfort and vibrant colors. Many people criticized their look, and sales eventually dropped. By 2010, the brand was closing factories and cutting jobs. It has recently regained popularity, but for a period, it was seen as outdated.

7. Fidget Spinners

Habib M’henni on Wikimedia Commons

Fidget spinners exploded in popularity in 2017, marketed as tools for focus and stress relief. They were sold in schools, gas stations, and online. Teachers complained they disrupted class, and the novelty wore off quickly. Sales plummeted within months, and many stores cleared out their stock.

8. Palm Pilots

Museo8bits on Wikimedia Commons

Palm Pilots were personal digital assistants used heavily before smartphones. They could store contacts, notes, and calendars. They were widely used by professionals in the 1990s and early 2000s. Smartphones made them obsolete, and production stopped by the late 2000s.

9. Segways

Richard on Wikimedia Commons

Segways were introduced in 2001 as a new form of personal transportation. They received attention for their technology and balance controls. However, they were expensive, bulky, and not widely adopted. Production ended in 2020 after years of low sales.

10. Flappy Bird

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Flappy Bird was a mobile game that became viral in 2014 due to its difficulty and simple design. It was downloaded millions of times in a short span. The developer removed it from app stores after saying the attention was too much. Copies and clones followed, but none reached the same success.

11. DVDs

photo Moma SM on Wikimedia Commons

DVDs became the main way to watch movies at home in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They replaced VHS tapes and offered better quality and special features. Streaming services like Netflix made physical discs less convenient. DVD sales dropped sharply and continue to decline.

12. Tamagotchis

xmacex on Wikimedia Commons

Tamagotchis were digital pets that children cared for on small handheld devices. They were especially popular in the late 1990s. Kids fed, cleaned, and played with the virtual pets daily. The trend faded as video games and smartphones became more common.

13. Beanie Babies

Ty Inc on Wikimedia Commons

Beanie Babies were plush toys filled with plastic pellets that became a collecting craze in the 1990s. Many people believed they would grow in value over time. The company limited supply to fuel demand, but the market crashed. Today, most Beanie Babies hold little to no resale value.

14. Hoverboards

Njwaterfront on Wikimedia Commons

Hoverboards, also known as self-balancing scooters, surged in popularity around 2015. They were widely seen in viral videos and marketed as a fun way to travel short distances. Safety concerns and reports of battery fires led to recalls and bans. Their popularity declined rapidly.

15. Livestrong Bracelets

KaCey97078 on Wikimedia Commons

The yellow Livestrong bracelet was launched by the Lance Armstrong Foundation to support cancer awareness. It became a global trend and was worn by millions. Armstrong’s doping scandal caused a public backlash. Sales and visibility of the bracelets dropped sharply after the controversy.

16. iPods

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The iPod changed how people listened to music when it launched in 2001. It became a best-selling product for Apple, especially among young users. As smartphones added music features, iPods became less useful. Apple officially discontinued the iPod line in 2022.

17. Blockbuster Video

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Blockbuster was once the largest movie rental chain in the world. People visited stores to rent DVDs, VHS tapes, and games. The rise of streaming services like Netflix and online rentals made Blockbuster’s model outdated. Only one store remains open as a nostalgic landmark in Oregon.

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