I've recently inherited a huge cabinet full of the fuckers and don't know how to get rid of them. Is there some kind of collectors market for this?

  • Leon_Grotsky [comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    It depends wholly on what the tapes are, but from my experience collectors don't want them unless they're in the shrink wrap. I have a 1984 "Star Wars" VHS, an unopened one was recently sold at auction for $60,000 and even though mine still has the cardboard sleeve in good condition I'll be lucky to get $40 for it.

    IMO it would be more productive to see if your local library wants them or if there's some kind of museum for them.

    • emizeko [they/them]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      so you could buy a shrinkwrapping machine and make over 59 grand? (maybe also have to forge a VHS case?)

      • Leon_Grotsky [comrade/them]
        ·
        edit-2
        2 years ago

        You could probably try it; although from what I understand when you're talking about high-value collector's auctions like that they scrutinize the shit pretty heavilly, and also they used different wraps back then that I actually wonder how difficult it is to do a real convincing forgery of the wrap. Those older wraps felt so... brittle? I'm not sure what the correct word I'm looking for here is but you don't see the same type of plastic sheeting too often IME. I personally just like it as a shelf piece I suppose, reminder of past passions.

        e) also someone who knows their shit would probably be able to tell you're scamming them based off of the quality of the cardboard sleeve; you'd be surprised how detailed this stuff is, you can probably find youtube videos of people looking at CTCG cards looking for edge abrasions etc.