Technical > Audio/Video Chat > VCR died, need new one, recommendations?

VCR died, need new one, recommendations?

I was in goodwill store yesterday just to look around, and there were *at least* 2 dozen VCRs on display. Also, if you take a look at craigslist, you should find some there, too. I know this doesn't answer your question, but I think maker and model is largely irrelevant unless you have some special need.
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reply to Timmn
I've always been partial to Sony. Tons of them on eBay.

»www.ebay.com/sch/VHS-/3318/i.html

reply to Timmn
JVC S-VHS models.

The only problem being anything decent will be used.
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reply to Timmn
Yeah, I think for a basic VCR only, eBay may be the way to go.
If you look carefully, and narrow your search, you may even find one "new" and from a reputable seller.
On a side note..you're right! Never really thought about it much, but I just did a search at all the popular on-line stores...seems the plain ol' VCR's without a DVD player combo are pretty hard to come by these days. (Just like you can't buy a CRT monitor or TV anymore).

Heh...guess they expect people to replace those millions upon millions of VHS tapes still in circulation with DVD's or Blu-ray.
I still have a JVC S-VHS model, and believe it of not, you're not alone. Still watch a tape now and then.
Matter of fact, I still listen to some vinyl records now and then.
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reply to Timmn
I would do as has been suggested. Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift store.

I frequent these places alot and there are always many VCR machines. Typpically you can connect one to a TV and test it out before buying.

Goodwill stores in my area give store credit for electronics so that if there is a problem with it you can at least bring it back and try another. Usually they give you a week for return.

reply to Timmn
I had this problem a few years ago. I slowly replaced VHS movies i really wanted to keep on DVDs i got on sale at big lots and the walmart $5 bin and other sales i came across.
Keeping the movies on VHS poses 3 problems.
1) finding quality equipment to play them on. Anything you see that's "new" is going to be slapped together junk as VHS is at EOL as far as market is concerned. Your "expensive" VHS new more or less contains the same cheap VHS mechanism as the "inexpensive cheap" models available today. these are NOT built to last at any price range .
2) finding a good second hand VCR. Problem with this is they have all most likely been used. Some could be 10 - 20 years old. Moving parts wear and you don't know how much "mileage" they have on them and how much more before the landfill.
3) aging VHS tapes themselves. With each play the tapes wear. Even just being in storage the tapes age. Over time the chemical composition in the tapes will break down and the tapes may start sticking and flaking.
you have two options:
either replace what you can on sale and / or convert the VHS tapes to DVD (work) . Even if you replace what you can on sale you may have to do convert a few out of prints to DVD .

4) They take up more space

reply to BoulderHill1
I finally made it to a Goodwill store, and picked up an old Go Video Dual Deck VCR for $4.00, I figured if it didn't work, I'd just dispose of it.

It works great, the only problem is that the thing is huge, and very heavy. It definitely will not fit where I had my previous VCR.

I think the VCR works fine, the only problem I'm having now is that some tapes won't play on my HannSpree LED TV. I'll get a few seconds of picture, and then a few seconds of a blue screen that says "No Signal" (it's hooked up to the composite input of the LED) it will keep bouncing between the picture and the blue screen. The thing I don't understand is that when I take the VCR and any of those tapes and connect it to the composite input of my Mother's 15 year old RCA, they play just fine.

I would guess its some kind of copy protection the newer TV recognizes.