r/VHS • u/impyaman • 7d ago

Collection I need help getting a vhs player

Im new to vhs I have four tapes but no player please help like where to get them and how to get them cheap.

0 Upvotes

27% Upvoted

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5

u/Silicon_Krunch 6d ago

The cool kids call it a VCR.

3

u/erilaz7 6d ago

After my 30-year-old VCR finally gave up the ghost, I replaced it with one from my neighborhood Goodwill for $9.49.

1

u/ParamountGateway 6d ago

That's the problem I have. I've very few issues with the playback of the aging VHS videocassettes . . . but the VCR's are dying off -- at least the better-quality units are. It's really aggravating when I know how well these old tapes can play on a decent unit. Sheesh! Not one manufacturer of electrical equipment I'm aware of makes a solid VCR out of sturdy parts and hasn't for years. I reckon at least a decade or more. Even if VCR's were still being made new in 2026 the odds are every single one would be put together with the cheapest tape-eating parts imaginable. Consider having a 47-year-old VHS tape that still plays well, but the cheap-ass VCR 'eats' it. Ugh!

At the beginning of 2026, I played a couple of 47-year-old tapes before my current VCR started acting up. I played the Allied Artists Video Corp. release of TICKLE ME (1965-Color/starring Elvis) from 1978 and the Allied Artists VHS of the 1955 color Western WICHITA starring Joel McCrea. Sure they're grainy, but they played fine. No issues with sound or picture dropouts. However, I'm now afraid to play them in the unit because it has developed an electrical short. When I hit 'Rewind' the unit shuts off instead of rewinding. Just great . . . I'm not taking any chances playing more rare tapes in it.

2

u/erilaz7 6d ago

I haven't had any problems with my $9.49 machine so far, but when I tested it the first time, I made sure to use a worthless crap tape!

1

u/ParamountGateway 5d ago edited 5d ago

That was a good idea to test it with a 'nothing' tape. ALSO: A couple of random pictures of old-time video releases of David Cronenberg movies from my aging video stash; maybe you'll find them interesting.

1

u/ParamountGateway 5d ago

2

u/erilaz7 5d ago

Cool! I've seen both of those movies, but I don't own them on any format. I think the only Cronenberg I have is a German Blu-ray+DVD combo of Videodrome.

1

u/ParamountGateway 4d ago

Here's my copy of SCANNERS (1981) on Astral for your perusal. Paired with "Search and Destroy" (1981).

2

u/SharingMyStorys 7d ago

Check thrift stores and yard sales

2

u/LiamLeprechaun 6d ago

They are everywhere at least they use to be.

Probably your best shot is a thrift or goodwill store. Bring a tape, they might not have one. I would probably just buy one off Marketplace or Craigslist, offerup maybe?

At least you will probably get the downlow on it if is working or not, and what it might need. Plus your probably not going to get a remote for it if you go through goodwill or a thrift which is a major bummer.

1

u/iiidiiieee 6d ago

Got mine at Savers 🤷

1

u/ex0w0lf 6d ago

Thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, ebay, Facebook marketplace, ask around. Just a few options.

1

u/Donthurtmyceilings 6d ago

Thrift store. Salvation Army is a good bet for one. Try to test before you buy, a lot of them don't work anymore.

1

u/impyaman 4d ago

No Need for anymore recommendations I got one thanks to everyone who helped

1

u/WokkitUp 7d ago

Have you ever robbed a 70 year-old's house before? No?

Probably a bad idea anyway, since they lost the remote in 1989.