Selling old vhs tapes?

[cseca]

Hi,
Since you guys are so great with information on this board I might as well ask. We've been cleaning up our house trying to get rid of clutter in general and found that we have a lot of old vhs tapes we don't need anymore.

Does anybody know the best way to get some $ out of it? Even if there is a type of store who will take them for $0.50 or $1 each I'd take them. Better than getting 0...

Thanks so much!

 

[bicker]

The most likely suspect would be eBay, but there's not much money to be made. Most pre-recorded VHS tapes won't sell for more than $1, and it costs $0.25 to list them on eBay. Perhaps as an entire collection you could do better; maybe 20 tapes for $10-$15, and still only $0.25 to list them.

(Remember, sale of self-recorded [non-pre-recorded] VHS tapes of movies or television is not permitted on eBay.)

 

[sammielynn]

There are several stores that will take them. Do you have a used book store around? Our MrKays takes them.

 

[we3disneygo]

I take dd's movies to the resale shop she only gives me a 1.00 or 2.00 for each one but it's better than nothing! good luck!

 

[cseca]

I take dd's movies to the resale shop she only gives me a 1.00 or 2.00 for each one but it's better than nothing! good luck!

we3disneygo, what type of resale shop did you take yours to?
We have a resale shop but they don't give us $, they give us credit to buy more stuff in the store... LOL!!! And even then it's 1 for 1. So we give them 1 vhs tape and have to buy a vhs tape in return hehe... not what we're looking for.

$1 or 2 per tape is more that what we hoped for... so any help is appreciate it...

 

[M 'n C]

listing is free on half.com. Not sure if they will sell or how timely but its free and its a small comission fee when they do sell. I just keep my old books, cds, and movies in a box in my hall and whenever I sell something I'll just pull it out and ship it out. Usually I get $1-$5 on each when they sell. Otherwise maybe if its a certain actor or genre you can try to sell them in lots on ebay.

 

[cats mom]

What about donating them?
I know that doesn't get you cash in hand now, but maybe a tax credit would be better than the little bit it sounds like you'll get trying to sell them.
Anyone know how that works or if there are places that still want VHS tapes?

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

yes, donating is a great idea to get them out of the house fast....

I usually do the neighborhood garage sale every year...I get $3 to $4 for mine..well, the Disney ones anyway, the rest only $1 or $2. Anything left over at the end of the day gets donated.

 

[bicker]

Common VHS tapes typically get about $0.75 on half.com. Occasionally you see something sell for $2 or even $3, but most of the best sellers come in much lower than that.

 

[hercamore]

I like to donate ours to the local library.

herc.

 

[hiwaygal]

Actually, I think there's a DIS'er who sends VHS tapes to troops in other countries.

We had a bunch of used VHS tapes that we sold on ebay about 2 years ago, even at only $1 we made at least some money (not a lot).

I think some of the video stores (Blockbuster, Hollywood) sometimes offer credit for movies.

And donating to a local library would be nice too!

 

[SkcMom]

I have always sold the vhs tapes we didn't want at our garage sales. For Disney ones I ususally get between $3-4 sometimes less sometimes more depending on attendance that day. I have never sold on ebay before but, after reading about all of you all that do, I am giving it some serious thought. Although, I am unsure where to begin!

 

[minnie1928]

I donate them to my children's daycare (Disney VHS of course ). They have movie day once a week, and these are good standbys for that. They love them and I get a tax deduction!

 

[canwegosoon]

I sold a bunch of baby ones...blues clues, wiggles, barney etc 2/5 at a Pass it on sale

 

[we3disneygo]

we have a cosignment store baby-preteen items and she'll just outright buy baby items and toys, vhs tapes, etc. I had a huge number of Barbies that dd12 didn't want anymore and I got 30.00 for them I was happy because we couldn't get rid of them at our yardsale!!hope this helps!

 

[MyGoofy26]

I got rid of a bunch on eBay by listing them in small lots, based on different categories (80's comedy, drama, actor, etc) Most of them actually brought in more than I was expecting. The "cheapest" group that went averaged about $1 per video. Most ended up averaging $3-4 per video. I listed the lots at the same time, and offered shipping discounts so I had a couple buyers win a few lots. I was able to stuff a LOT of VHS (it was like a puzzle taking advantage of as much room as possible, LOL!) into the Flat Rate box, so I think I may have sent close to 15 videos for the $7 something Priority Flat Rate. I think that really helped drive my price up, since people looking to buy a few movies could easily spend 3-4 times the cost just in individual shipping.

 

[jeankeri]

I list on Amazon Marketplace, and over the past year the market for VHS tapes has really dried up. Lately most listings are for under $1.00, which will lose you money in the end. Also, not many takers anyway. I did sell Anne of Green Gables a short time back; if the title is out of print you may get lucky. No cost to list, and the listing is active for 90 days. If you are able to list it for at least $2.00 you will make something, but may do better at a yard sale for $1.00. I have had lots of luck at yard sales.

 

[bicker]

What I have noticed is that the market is indeed drying up, but that has two effects: Common videos are insanely inexpensive, easily obtainable for $0.25 or $0.50 in lots. Meanwhile, some rarer videos are comparatively very expensive, running $3, $5, sometimes $10. A market like that cuts both ways at times.

 

[samanthacatangel]

If you do list on eBay in groups, make sure to offer USPS media rate shipping, which is very economical but slow. I ship the books I sell this way (but also offer priority) and this should entice bidders as well.

I have sold Blues Clues and Thomas Train VHS in a lot on eBay and did OK. The rest of mine will be at my yard sale!

 

[AuroraBorealis]

I'm a librarian and I heartily second the posters who suggested donating your tapes to a library!

You can get a tax deduction for more than you'd probably sell them for online (after the website comission, packaging, time and effort to mail, etc.) Plus, you'd be helping out a community resource.

My library system doesn't take donations directly but rather through "Friends of the Library" which is a small group of community members who raise money for the library. However, some libraries do take donations directly. If you check at your local branch, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to point you in the right direction!

You could also donate the videos to a local YMCA or Boys and Girls Club. I'm sure either organization would be happy to have them.