Seriously? VCRs are expensive again

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

My grandfather wants a new VCR for Christmas. And the cheapest new one I can find is $75!

I know I know....yada yada yada, but everything he has is on VHS and he's 85.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Rip all of them and burn them to dvds for him for Christmas

 

[Matthiasa]

Well then get a VHS to whatever random format you like converter?

 

[Caesar]

I had the same issue last year when I was looking for one. Just got a used one off ebay for $10 with a bunch of VHS. You may look into DVD+VCR combo as they may be priced similarly and you can justify the price there.

 

[Bignate603]

VCRs have a ton more moving parts than a DVD player, I'm not surprised they're more expensive.

 

[Ronstang]

Well then get a VHS to whatever random format you like converter?

VHS transfers look like complete crap. Either use a VCR hooked up to a CRT TV to watch them or throw them in the trash.

 

[IronWing]

If he's 85 wouldn't it be cheaper to rent by the week?

 

[guyver01]

you can usually get a VCR free on Craigslist.

 

[Ronstang]

VCRs have a ton more moving parts than a DVD player, I'm not surprised they're more expensive.

I would tend to believe they are more expensive now than 5 years ago more because of there being limited demand over complexity of manufacturing. They were selling for $30 a few years ago.

 

[coloumb]

Really? Heck - I should see if I can sell mine on ebay for eleventymillion pesos!

 

[vshah]

uhh...buy a used one and tell him it's new?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

guess I'll give him the one I've got in the garage and figure out a real present. No way am I dropping good money on a VCR. Thought maybe they'd be $30-40.

 

[Lifted]

My father goes all Charlton Heston on me when I tell him it's time to chuck the VCR and get a DVR.

 

[Matthiasa]

VHS transfers look like complete crap. Either use a VCR hooked up to a CRT TV to watch them or throw them in the trash.

That's the fault of what could be recorded on VHS not the conversion.

 

[Schadenfroh]

My father goes all Charlton Heston on me when I tell him it's time to chuck the VCR and get a DVR.

My 75+ year old grandfather embraced DVRs and tossed the VCR the moment I showed him how to work it.

He also really, really likes HDTV.

 

[MikeMike]

My 75+ year old grandfather embraced DVRs and tossed the VCR the moment I showed him how to work it.

He also really, really likes HDTV.

I figured you to be older than that... with your grandfather being even older...

i wonder if i have the oldest (living) grandparents on the forum...

 

[Raduque]

Wow, that's crazy. $75 for a VCR!

I bought one like 10 years ago at HEB for $20.

 

[911paramedic]

I have three somewhere around here, one used to eat tapes for lunch...

 

[her209]

Check Craiglist?

 

[zerocool84]

What's a VCR?

 

[MikeMike]

What's a VCR?

i think its a small black box, that has a slot in it that somehow converts tape into video... but i don't know, i think it was invented about 1000 years ago...

 

[silverpig]

Check Craiglist?

This. You could probably find one for free. Or you could post a wanted or barter ad.

 

[eldorado99]

Remember how cheap dot matrix printers used to be? Try buying one now and see what prices you find.

 

[Zebo]

Someone send him one. Better than giving to goodwill which I did.

 

[zerocool84]

i think its a small black box, that has a slot in it that somehow converts tape into video... but i don't know, i think it was invented about 1000 years ago...

Ahh, probably invented last century.