What to do with old VHS?

[NikiM20]

I am spring cleaning and came across all my old Disney VHS. What can I do with them?? Do they even make vcrs anymore?

 

[harleyquinn]

VCRs are very hard to find and expensive, but many seniors still use them.

Would you be willing to donate them to your local library? They can either put them in their collection or sell them at a book sale.

I get a huge Disney donation (I'm a children's librarian) every once in a while. I hold on to them and add them when the stupid Dvds go in the vault and no one can get them. Then at least the VHS is available. Many families around here still have VCRs, especially with the kids.

 

[browneyes106]

VCR's are still being sold online and at a few places. A friend of mine donated some VHS movies to a local halfway house last year. Maybe look into giving them away to a similar charity.

 

[marcyinPA]

I sold our entire collection of VHS tapes when our VCR broke last year. I put them out at my yard sale, and some guy bought the entire lot for $40. I know he got a deal, but I just wanted to get them out of my basement.

 

[NikiM20]

Thanks.... Maybe I can find a womens shelter to donate to

 

[LuvOrlando]

I collected all our old Disney VHS tapes and gave them along with the TV/vhs player to a DF with 5 kids who is down on her luck. She was so appreciative.

Another option might be your local hospital. When DD was in the hospital I realized they had all VHS machines and since tapes are hard to find, a pretty poor collection. I am giving them all the ones my DF didn't take... still a nice size collection.

If neither works out you could always ask a local church if they know on anyone who is home-bound/ill that can use the entertainment.

 

[CandyMandy]

VCRs are very hard to find and expensive

Hard to find and expensive? On Ebay right now there are listings for thousands of VCRs, most used but some new, with the used ones on average going for $5!!!

And don't assume the used ones are all worn out junk. My techie BIL says many of these are still fully usable, with JVC ones being the best bet. Supposedly, their tape loading and drive systems, the section of the VCR with all the moving parts (the ones that are first to break down) have a reputation for being more robust and durable than other makes. Which may explain why they demand a premium on eBay (seem to sell in the $35-40 range).

Also, I think a lot of the people who still have these don't just use them to watch old mainstream stuff. Obscure movie buffs (inlcuding my hubby) know there are still a lot of titles that never got re-released on DVD.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Our library has a section for kids and adults of VHS tapes (DVDs too). Our vehicle plays VHS tapes. We haven't converted so we still use them. DVDs at home. I would imagine there are other vehicles that use VHS tapes as well.

When we are done with our VHS tapes, I donate them to the library or Goodwill.

 

[CleoPahd]

Our local Salvation Army store was extremely excited to receive our old vhs tapes, and you can write off the donation.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

Libraries, Goodwill, Women's Shelters, Day Cares, YMCA's, etc. are all great places to donate VHS. Or, do what my boss did a couple of years ago...she found a box of Disney VHS in her attic (some aren't on DVD, some are in the "vault") and gave them to my Disney obsessed son who thinks that he has to have every "special edition" and every Disney movie in every format possible. Made one little boy EXTREMELY happy!

 

[rina900]

I would sell them on Ebay or Craigslist. You could always donate to your local charity, kids groups, libraries or Freecycle.org.

 

[nmmom95]

I actually brought a bunch of Disney movies on VHS tapes to our school library today. The classrooms all have VCRs and the kids watch movies when they can't go out for recess.

 

[Rora]

I vote donate them.

We still have a VHS player but I doubt I would ever buy an VHSs even if they were dirt cheap.

 

[si-am]

It is hard to find VCR-only machines these days, but the DVD/VCR combos are available at pretty much all major retailers. I got a new one for the basement recently; can't bring myself to throw out all my VHS tapes just yet!

 

[DBL101]

I thought you were supposed to use them to tie the logs together on your raft.

 

[chisnpeke]

If you want to keep them, they do sell VCR/DVD combination players. You could get one of those.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I thought you were supposed to use them to tie the logs together on your raft.