We have seen it over and over again. Old tech gets pushed out by the shiny new smaller, more compact and better performing new formats, until we miss what we had, become nostalgic for the past and start a new collecting trend. We’ve seen it with retro games, vinyl records, toys and now it’s the turn of the VHS Tape. VHS tape collecting is very much on an upward trend at the moment, and there are many good reasons why.
Let’s take a look at the new wave of VHS collecting, its trends and the effects on prices for those thinking about going back to the format that truly brought movies into the homes of families across the world in the 80s and 90s.
VHS Tape Collecting
We live in the age of streaming. We have thousands of movies available for our consumption at the click of a button and the cost of a monthly subscription. But VHS Tape collecting is becoming more popular especially for those who grew up with VHS in the 80s and 90s. Back then the video rental store was a must visit destination at the weekend.
The longing for physically holding a VHS tape, looking at its artwork and displaying it in a physical collection is making it a popular hobby just like all the music fans who have returned to vinyl records bringing the format back to the mainstream.
VHS tapes aren’t at that level yet where we are seeing them return to store shelves but demand is increasing. There is definitely an upward trend in the popularity of VHS tape collecting. Will it last? I’m not sure but right now it is definitely a thing.
More on VHS and Retro Media:
- 80s and 90s Video Store Memories
- My Favourite 80s Horror VHS Covers
- Best 80s Action Movies
- Remembering Laserdiscs
VHS Tape Prices Are Increasing
A few years back I bought Star Wars VHS tapes from car boot sales for 20p each. VHS tapes were being dumped at charity shops and even being thrown away. Today you have resellers advertising on Facebook Marketplace stating ‘VHS Tapes Wanted’ just like they do for Sega and Nintendo consoles. There is a demand for VHS tapes that wasn’t around a few years ago.
Go onto eBay and search for one of your favourite 80s blockbusters and you might be surprised at the prices you have to pay to buy these popular movies in VHS format. Yes, there are still cheap VHS tapes out there to collect but they are definitely harder to come by than say 3 years ago. Popular titles from the 80s, 90s and popular genres (such as action and horror) are very much on the up.
Popular VHS Collecting Trends
I mentioned video rental stores before in this post and the nostalgia of visiting the video store has had an effect on this collecting trend. Ex rental big box VHS tapes are very popular with collectors and with that comes higher prices. An ex rental version of your favourite movie is very likely to cost more than a standard retail VHS release.
Also rare VHS tapes with errors or versions that were released pre certification will drive a higher price too. A good example of this is a VHS rental release of the very first Star War movie (which I still call Star Wars) where Mark Hamill’s surname is spelt incorrectly. This has become a very collectible VHS tape for not only VHS collectors, but also Star Wars collectors too.
More recent films have seen high prices too. This is not something you will see a lot of as most movies were widely released on DVD but there are a few examples of specific titles driving high prices. A good example of this is the Disney movie Cars, specifically the Disney Movie Club members version. Exclusive to Disney Movie Club members, this VHS release of Cars was the very last Disney animation ever released on VHS. This now makes it one of the highly sought after VHS tapes for collectors on the market. A $500 dollar price tag would be seen as reasonable with the price likely to rise even higher over time.
Take a Look at my Top Horror VHS Covers
A Collecting Trend I have Fallen Into
Being in my mid-40s now the nostalgia for VHS tape collecting has caught up with me too. My parents recently gave me their old VHS player allowing me to watch the original theatrical release versions of the original Star Wars trilogy (those tapes I bought for 20p each years ago). This has led to eBay searches for some of my favourite movies from back in the day. I haven’t spent a lot of money yet but it is inevitable that it will happen sometime too.
As I mentioned earlier in this post the lure of owning an ex rental 80s classic is quite strong. What I need to do is make a small list of movies that I love, that I rented as a kid, with great artwork on the box and then go from there. For me this new VHS tape collecting trend needs to be about quality over quantity.
I don’t have the space in my home to create a video store in my basement like I have seen some guys do with great success on YouTube. Go look for those videos. They are amazing.
VHS Tape Collecting Tips
Here are a few tips to consider if you are looking to start your own VHS tape collection.
- Ask family and friends if they have VHS taking up space in their attics, garage or basements.
- Research prices thoroughly on eBay before making any rash purchases.
- Visit your local car boot/flea market or goodwill/charity shops. VHS tapes can often be found in these locations.
- Search Facebook marketplace. You can get lucky and often find bundles being sold at reasonable prices.
- Consider what you want from this collection and focus on the movies that actually mean something to you personally.
As I dive into this new collecting habit I will make sure I share any new VHS additions to my socials. I’m hoping that a small but high quality collection of VHS will look good on a shelf in my man cave.
Special thanks to @bartdekool for the cover photo of his awesome VHS collection.
Keep it retro.
Darren
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