more articles like this

VCR Extinct
updated: Sep 28, 2012, 12:18 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

I've been going through my father's boxes (only 12 years after he passed), and have a lot of VCR tapes. I'm tossing the ones of shows that he taped, but have some movies (Toy Story, Stuart Little, etc., Last of the Mohicans, to name a few), and even some tapes still in their wrappers. Anybody have ideas of what to do with them?

I thought about making windchimes with them, but they don't really make a nice sound. ;-]

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 325363	2012-09-28 12:27 PM
Public Library...I called them specifically to ask for acceptance of VCR tapes about 8 months ago, they will accept them
COMMENT 325366	2012-09-28 12:28 PM
I have been buying Video movies from Goodwill.. so perhaps they still take them...also try posting on Craigslist...
COMMENT 325375	2012-09-28 12:42 PM
That would be my advice. Give them away free on Craigslist. Some people still collect VHS.
COMMENT 325394	2012-09-28 01:11 PM
Most of them I'd just recycle. VHS tapes only last about 20 years before they degrade to being unusable (if stored in perfect conditions). Stored somewhere hot or damp and it's much shorter. Are the movies from after 1992? Odds are...
COMMENT 325397	2012-09-28 01:13 PM
Thrift store or library, yes.
COMMENT 325408	2012-09-28 01:27 PM
Give to library or thrift store and the tapes will likely go into the trash. Better to let someone enjoy seeing them one last time, first. FREE on Craigslist and Edhat Classifieds.
COMMENT 325436P	2012-09-28 02:25 PM
The Goleta library, they took all my old VCR tapes a couple of years back.
ZIPPER101	2012-09-28 02:27 PM
Starr-King Rummage Sale: http://www.starrking-pcw.org/rummage_sale.html
COMMENT 325457	2012-09-28 02:48 PM
I don't think the library throws stuff like that away. Goleta at least sells a lot of the books they don't keep for themselves. I think they sell VHS & Cassettes as well as the books and cds.
COMMENT 325549	2012-09-28 04:46 PM
Thanks for thinking of the Goleta Library, but we no longer can accept videocassette donations. Neither does our Friends organization. Thanks for thinking about us, though!
COMMENT 325567	2012-09-28 05:17 PM
Don't donate anything to any library, unless that item is in near-mint or mint condition. You would really do better to give these tapes away for free (even the brand new ones). VHS tapes now are considered junk that no one will pay for or even buy at rummage sales. List it for free, put 'em out at the curb and never look back.
COMMENT 325626P	2012-09-28 07:53 PM
I saw a lot of tapes at the Planned Parenthood Book Sale at Earl Warren Showgrounds. Not sure if anyone is buying them.
COMMENT 325640	2012-09-28 08:19 PM
You can burn them into a dvd format.
COMMENT 325745	2012-09-29 08:27 AM
I have to return some videotapes.
COMMENT 325746P	2012-09-29 08:30 AM
The VCRs are going well at the Planned Parenthood Book Sale, 10-8 today, 10-6 tomorrow, LOTS of great books, lots of fun browsing!! -- but the sale isn't taking any more books or tapes, etc. for this year's event. Alpha Thrift takes VCRs, and please take the blank ones to the store on Milpas as I need some!
ARCHIE	2012-09-29 09:09 AM
Veteran's hospital?
SEEDLADY	2012-10-01 11:24 AM
The Vets hosp/clinics don't take them, I was told, but our local Hospice thirft store (Hospice Partners of SLO CO) happily does and they sell well. I was happy to get them to someone who wanted them, and yes, many folks still have a VHS player. Don't give up.
CORKY	2012-10-01 12:28 PM
But do they recycle?

39% of comments on this page were made by Edhat Community Members.