You guys think there's a market for VHS & VCR's in the near future?

[mego73]

The only appeal to having some titles on VHS is to have a few particular titles that I got in their first release on CED disc (which were made from the same masters as they made the videotapes). Like Star Trek 2, Ghostbusters, The Thing, etc. where I remember how they were panned and scanned. Also, The Thing and Fast Times At Ridgemont high had music replacement on their first versions I remember watching so much. It was be a nostalgic version for me.

[ScottA]

I still have my top loading VCR I got in 1980. I wonder what it's worth now?

[megoapesnut]

you also cannot just stock any vcr and think it will sell. Most of them are pure crap, but find the higher end or special decks many are looking for and you will get profit from it (example some of the higher end JVC decks that had the built in time base corrector). Likewise a betamax deck might be hit or miss, but a super beta max deck and if it works will sell

Sound advice. I don't follow the VHS market but I do follow the Beta market as I was an avid Beta fan. I have two of the most sought after Beta decks and a nice collection of Beta tapes including a collection of old Errol Flynn movies, some of which never made it to DVD.

[Bruce Banner]

Still have two VCRs in the house.

The appeal for me is that there are still a few rare items that were released on VHS that have yet to be released on DVD.
And also some versions of movies with extra or alternate scenes and often alternate audio mixes.
Also, a fair few vintage making of documentaries that were out on VHS have yet to be given any kind of digital release.

I've converted a few items to disc over the years, but I'll always keep the original tapes, too.

[Mikey]

I have a few VHS tapes I hate to throw out

They're all common junk and would give them away but the shipping amount would be a waste of money

A shame.

Eventually i'll just sh__can them

[toys2cool]

yea the wife says it's a stupid idea I'm still gonna check it out this week..if I can find enough rare releases then I'll probably give it a go

[Brad]

I don't think there will ever be a big market for them. Kind of like cassette tapes. Technology passed it by and while some folks still have them I just don't see a huge secondary market for them. The exception is as others have pointed out any VHS tapes of movies/shows that didn't make it to DVD. We still have at least 4 VCRs ourselves and rarely use any of them.

[Figuremod73]

I could see some harder to find movies being sought after.

Im more interested in stuff that people may have taped; especially from the early to mid eighties. Theres some cartoons out there that have never had a dvd release and I enjoy old commercials to.

[z3zep]

Most VHS tapes you can't give them away. Maybe you can buy 1-2 vhs players and see if they sell before making a bigger investment.

[mego73]

Me too. I collect old broadcasts on tape and have made old commercial compilations from some of them.

I could see some harder to find movies being sought after.

Im more interested in stuff that people may have taped; especially from the early to mid eighties. Theres some cartoons out there that have never had a dvd release and I enjoy old commercials to.

[Peter Panda]

I'm a MAJOR collector of old late 70's and 1980's tv broadcasts,cartoons and commercials.....things like that are always in demand and rare films that were not released on dvd...but mainly horror titles

[SeattleEd]

I'm a MAJOR collector of old late 70's and 1980's tv broadcasts,cartoons and commercials.....things like that are always in demand and rare films that were not released on dvd...but mainly horror titles

That's pretty much the only niche in the VHS market right now. As for making a comeback, it's akin to asking will cassettes make a comeback. Only for nostalgia purposes and for kids born in the early 80's thinking that they are cool and sound better. I see indie bands putting out their releases on the cassette nowadays but not many takers. But bottom line is that they shed with constant play just like VHS tapes and unless you climate control them and care for them, they too will loose the fidelity but I guess folks like that graininess of video tapes and hiss of cassettes.
Even 3/4" tapes don't last and we recently sent out a batch of tapes to be baked so as to salvage some of the old music videos from the 80's that are on there. Yes, the tapes were climate controlled but this they shed over time. These tapes are over 30 years old. We even have some VHS tapes that were received from labels back in the day with rare videos that shed as well. Those were not salvageable at all. Lost rare music video.

I personally don't foresee VHS ever making a comeback and just be relegated to nostalgia or for OOP movie collectors. Plus they take up room.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

VHS is dead. Most folks don't care too much what they watch, so there's not a lot of interest in old, obscure things. New stuff is fine for them, and everything else is readily available online.

>Dvd's scratch for any dumb reason and then they won't play

A light buffing of Brasso fixes a lot of that.

Don C.

[Brazoo]

I see indie bands putting out their releases on the cassette nowadays but not many takers.

Oy vey! Such a pet peeve of mine these days. I appreciate DYI indie spirit - but get real! I have a huge pile of cassettes I never listen to - I'm not adding to it. If you thought making a cassette in 2012 made you unique take a look in the consignment area of every record shop - it's not unique - it's stupid. Plus they all seem to look identical with the same photocopies of doodles and incomprehensible labels. Sheesh - kids!

[MIB41]

When you see how much LP's are coming back, I see no reason why the VHS format may not find it's audience as well. I still have every single VHS I ever collected. Such a massive stock pile of stuff too. But within that, I've got some rarities that, for whatever reason, have never found daylight on disc. I have a three tape set on Queen that is fantastic. So much private and personal interviews, it's insane that it has never been converted. Heck even the stuff I personally recorded is a hoot to watch. I've got the MTV event when KISS first took off their makeup on MTV in 1983. And there's more than what KISS gave you on their KISSology set. Speaking of KISS, I've got so many rare copies of concerts from '74 and '75, it's insane. Descent quality too. I have one VHS tape from 1988 where I just let it record all day on MTV. The video debut that day? Sweet Child Of Mine by Guns & Roses. So I'm sure there are enthusiasts who look for rare stuff in this format. Lots of cool stuff if you know what your wanting.