Seriously? VCRs are expensive again

[MikeMike]

Zebo, check your PM's definitely want to discuss something with you.

 

[ussfletcher]

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...

My grandma is 84.

 

[MikeMike]

My grandma is 84.

still young... grandma is 89 and grandfather is 94

 

[skulkingghost]

http://www.amazon.com/Magnavox-DV225...111283&sr=1-10

There you go, refurbs from $40

 

[dmcowen674]

still young... grandma is 89 and grandfather is 94

My grandma is I think going on 97 or 98 this Jan, I lost count at 94.

 

[shortylickens]

My grandma is I think going on 97 or 98 this Jan, I lost count at 94.

Thats OK, he probably did too.

 

[allisolm]

overstock.com has a couple of refurb vcr/dvd combos for $45-$50. Free shipping.

 

[Wyndru]

I'm actually in the market for a Beta player, all of my mom's home videos are on these tapes, and she wants them converted. Our local video conversion place quoted $30-50 per tape to be converted to DVD. She has over 30 tapes, so I think I'll check ebay and do it myself.

 

[fustercluck]

That's pretty crazy.

Yard sales or craiglist is your friend in this case.

 

[Linflas]

I saw the title and thought of the days when a top loader would cost you $1,000.00 and if it came with a "remote" it connected to the VCR with a wire. $75.00 is less than I paid for the last VCR I purchased about 10 years ago.

 

[Dulanic]

The less of something a company makes, the more it costs to make per item. There is so little demand for them now that they make very very few of them. As others have said, hit up ebay and/or craigslist.

 

[PingSpike]

I seem to remember noticing this 5 years ago or so. While its true a VCR has more moving parts and is thus probably more expensive to produce, I think the main reason they went up in price is the demand dropped to a point where most companies flat out stopped making them. Which leaves a few companies left that can charge niche prices for them. It's like how when all the ram makers move to the new ram type the old kind skyrockets in price because the supply is dipping off.

Really though, when I looked they were like $75. While it was no deal it was hardly a complete ream job. I think they were even quality brand name 4 head units with stereo which make them basically the same price they were when I bought my junk unit in the 90s. I ended up just using my parents old unit...I record a show about once month maybe.

You know what's funny...everyone bitches about VHS, but at least when the tape was old and questionable it would usually play (albeit with reduced picture quality) unlike DVDs which often just lock up the player and skip over entire sections if you're lucky. And when you wanted to skip the previews, your VHS never displayed a large international "no" symbol and forced you to watch a copyright warning display...in 3 different languages! DVDs blew VHS away at first, but it seems like they're really busting their ass to make it the worst experience possible these days.

 

[bignateyk]

I have one i'll sell you for $60 :sneaky:

 

[Jeraden]

I just threw one out a couple weeks ago that I realized I hadn't used in like 10 years.

 

[BoomerD]

I ROFL at $75 being expensive. IIRC, we paid about $400 for our first VCR 25 years ago...and it was far from being the most expensive model in the store.

 

[lozina]

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 taught my dad how to use my SageTV HTPC and he loves it!

The old fart can't even write e-mails yet he mastered the HTPC!


It doesnt surprise me if VCR is going up in price now. Heck couple more decades they will sell for lots in antique stores! Just look at the old record players being sold as antiques...

 

[spacejamz]

What's a VCR?

according to some of my co-workers a few years ago, it is something you stick poptarts and toys into....

 

[mrCide]

Since no one said it, try craigslist.

 

[BoomerD]

according to some of my co-workers a few years ago, it is something you stick poptarts and toys into....

heh-heh...yeah, and I love my new computer. It has a small cupholder that comes out of the case at the touch of a button...

 

[Squisher]

I'll have to dust off all my old VCR cleaning supplies, maybe I'll call it VCR Restoration. I remember I ran across my foam covered cotton swabs a couple of years ago and all the foam just disintegrated when I touched it, but the shammy sticks looked to be ok.

 

[NutBucket]

I keep one of these around in case a need should arise. Nice unit, made in Japan to boot!

 

[0roo0roo]

hi8 decks and such are far more...

 

[Imp]

If you want mine, I have a Sony one from like 5 years ago still working fine. It's collecting dust in my TV cabinet. Yours for $20 after you make the 500 mile journey.

 

[pontifex]

i was looking at VCRs a little bit ago because I have a few...uh...special...VHS tapes that I can't play anymore. VCRs are way too expensive for a dead technology.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I bought a JVC HiFi VCR in 1998 for almost $200. It's still got awesome picture quality...My dad's been using it for the past year....I can't get him to give it back to me. Anyhow, if you ask me $75 isn't a bad price considering the price 10 years ago for a good one.

If you want to compare crap electronics that last 3 years with a good quality VCR/DVD/Bluray, you should expect your $25-40 DVD player to die long before something made well...so no real savings, but less hassel. I have a 10 year old Panasonic DVD player too that still works great. My wife bought like 3 DVD players over the years for $50 each that have all failed...my Panasonic was $125 and still runs just as good as the day I bought it. I just bought a Panasonic Bluray player back in the summer and don't plan on buying another until a new format comes out. (knock on wood)