Which VCR to buy (at Circuit City)?

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M

manly

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
13,316
4,092
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I need to buy a VCR today, and preferably a model at CircuitCity.com for in-store pickup.

I'd prefer to buy a quality, no-frills Hi-Fi unit with good reviews, so it appears to be a toss-up between Sony's SLVN500 and Panasonic's PV-V4623S for $80.

I really have no idea if either is better. Although we already own two comparable Sony VCRs, I'm impressed with neither of them or Sony electronics in general. And since I'll be hooking the new unit to an existing Sony for dubbing, the remote controls could well not work independently (what's the general solution to this problem?).

Actually I just checked at Amazon.com and the V4622 has TERRIBLE reviews. :frown: The Sharp VC-H960U (only $60) has only 2 reviews, but higher marks so maybe that'll be my choice. Any other brand/models I should be considering?

Recommendations or thoughts before I order & run to the store? Any other hot deals at CC to snag while I'm there?
 
TallBill

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
Just curious why you are buying a vcr? Chances are that you wont watch it a ton.. with dvd's and all. Just get a cheap one?
 
E

Encryptic

Diamond Member
May 21, 2003
8,885
0
0
Get a DVD/VCR combo if anything. If you're dead set on a VCR, get the Sony. They make good stuff.
 
B

Booster

Diamond Member
May 4, 2002
4,380
0
0
Just don't buy Samsung. Buy from Toshiba, they used to have great (best?) VCRs a few decades ago.
 
E

Encryptic

Diamond Member
May 21, 2003
8,885
0
0
Originally posted by: Booster
Just don't buy Samsung. Buy from Toshiba, they used to have great (best?) VCRs a few decades ago.
Click to expand...

I bought a Samsung DVD/VCR combo back in February. Works fine for me so far. Never heard anything bad about their stuff before....
 
R

rival

Diamond Member
Aug 19, 2001
3,490
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Originally posted by: Encryptic
Get a DVD/VCR combo if anything. If you're dead set on a VCR, get the Sony. They make good stuff.
Click to expand...

i just got a sony dvd/vcr combo not too long ago, its great, but how it displays H:M:S on the lcd while a movie is playing is whacky, all bunched up, anyhow, sony is good but its a bit more $$

both brands are solid
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,034
441
136
Does CC still have the MSN 20% off?

You could order online, do in store pick up and save 20% on future purchases.
 
M

manly

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
13,316
4,092
136
Originally posted by: TallBill
Just curious why you are buying a vcr? Chances are that you wont watch it a ton.. with dvd's and all. Just get a cheap one?
Click to expand...
My dad wants one to dub tapes and insists I buy one TODAY. I swore off VCRs long ago, and would only use one to tape TV shows (which I only have rare occasion to do) until DVRs (i.e. TiVo) become mainstream and cheap. Like I said, we currently have 2 Sony VCRs (in separate rooms), and actually 3 budget DVD players. However, parents being creatures of habit, the DVD players go virtually unused and now he actually wants one to dub tapes with. :disgust:

Unless a reply is terrible convincing, I think I'll just go w/ the Sharp unit to save $20. IMO Panasonic used to make very good VCRs, but the reviews of current models at Amazon.com are terribly disappointing.

Thanks guys.
 
M

manly

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
13,316
4,092
136
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Does CC still have the MSN 20% off?

You could order online, do in store pick up and save 20% on future purchases.
Click to expand...
Bingo. Plus I have MSN Dollars expiring on 6/15, hence my requirement that the model has to be available at CircuitCity.com and in-stock since my dad is demanding one NOW. If it weren't almost Father's Day, I would ignore him. :p
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,034
441
136
Originally posted by: manly
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Does CC still have the MSN 20% off?

You could order online, do in store pick up and save 20% on future purchases.
Click to expand...
Bingo. Plus I have MSN Dollars expiring on 6/15, hence my requirement that the model has to be available at CircuitCity.com and in-stock since my dad is demanding one NOW. If it weren't almost Father's Day, I would ignore him. :p
Click to expand...

Double bingo!

If you already have MSN dollars and if MSN is again offering MSN 20% off, even better.
 
M

manly

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
13,316
4,092
136
Originally posted by: RossMAN

Double bingo!

If you already have MSN dollars and if MSN is again offering MSN 20% off, even better.
Click to expand...
Something tells me I won't be getting new MSN Dollars on the portion of my purchase financed by the old MSN Dollars, but perhaps MS is as dumb as they are in court. ;)

I'd been planning on using the MSN Dollars at OfficeMax.com with a coupon, but they don't put their hot sale items on the web site anymore. :(
 

I've got a Panasonic VCR - buttons feel sorta cheap, but it's been working great.
 
B

Booster

Diamond Member
May 4, 2002
4,380
0
0
Originally posted by: Encryptic
Originally posted by: Booster
Just don't buy Samsung. Buy from Toshiba, they used to have great (best?) VCRs a few decades ago.
Click to expand...

I bought a Samsung DVD/VCR combo back in February. Works fine for me so far. Never heard anything bad about their stuff before....
Click to expand...

February of this year? These Korean designed/made VCRs (like LG, Samsung etc) are very short lived, according to the many repair technicians I have spoken on an occasion. They rate Samsung as the worst and the most unreliable VCRs. Of course, it isn't any official and confirmed type of info, you can take it as BS or disinformation, just my opinion.
 
M

manly

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
13,316
4,092
136
I just got back from Target, to see if they had any nice units on clearance. They did not.

The DVD/VCR combo players were horrible, with button designs straight from the 1980s. The only halfway-decent model was a Sony on "on sale" for $200. I would not pay even $50 for any of the Samsung, Daewoo, and Magnavox combo players.

I saw the Sony SLVN500 on the shelf for $80 (same price as CC). It looks cheaper than I even expected. Since late-model Panasonic VCRs apparently have a bad reputation, I'll give the budget Sharp player a try. I can always exchange it at CC if it turns out to be a mistake.

Dammit the Sharp player is OOS at CircuitCity.com. :|
 
P

Paulson

Elite Member
Feb 27, 2001
10,689
0
0
www.ifixidevices.com
Originally posted by: Booster
Originally posted by: Encryptic
Originally posted by: Booster
Just don't buy Samsung. Buy from Toshiba, they used to have great (best?) VCRs a few decades ago.
Click to expand...

I bought a Samsung DVD/VCR combo back in February. Works fine for me so far. Never heard anything bad about their stuff before....
Click to expand...

February of this year? These Korean designed/made VCRs (like LG, Samsung etc) are very short lived, according to the many repair technicians I have spoken on an occasion. They rate Samsung as the worst and the most unreliable VCRs. Of course, it isn't any official and confirmed type of info, you can take it as BS or disinformation, just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Have you ever used one? If not, then shut up right now.

We have a samsung DVD/VCR combo, and that vcr tapes better than the sony one we used to have (that was before it ate a tape so damn bad we couldn't even salvage the stupid thing...

The dvd and vcr picture are just stunning... so I don't know what you're talking about, but you might want to cram your crap back up wherever you got it from.
 
H

HiTek21

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2002
4,391
1
0
I got a decent 4 Head Toshiba VCR from Costco for like $45 dollars, works great even though I only use it to tape shows.
 
M

manly

Lifer
Jan 25, 2000
13,316
4,092
136
I ended up getting the Panasonic unit for $80 + tax (not considering MSN Dollars). Not a great deal, but that's the best unit that was in-stock, and didn't look like junk.

If it turns out to be a dud, I'll check out what Costco has. $45 for a Toshiba sounds like a great price.
 
M

MWink

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,642
1
76
I'm going to have to disagree and say that I DO recommend Samsung. I have a Samsung VCR (VR9260) and I LOVE it. It's by far the best VCR I've used. I bought a Panasonic before it and it was horrible. It's (not even high speed) rewind could wake the dead, it had very few features, and was all around unimpressive. I returned it and got the Samsung and haven't regretted it for a second.
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,154
635
126
The last panasonic VCR we bought was a mono 4-head that cost $200 and was actually made in Japan. Has worked great. The last VCR we bought was a few years ago; a Toshiba. Works pretty well and we use it almost every week to record shows. I think that one was $100. Ironically, I also have a JVC SVHS that I paid about $200. Original retail was about $650 so this was their top of the line unit at one point. Really well made, in Japan at that, jog shuttle on the remote and everything. Never use the damned thing. It just sits and looks expensive.
 
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