While it might surprise you, these old movie tapes that most folks no longer watch are actually considered collectibles.
Now, most VHS tapes aren’t worth more than a few dollars these days. But if you have a stash of them collecting dust in your garage, you might be sitting on some nice, quick cash.
So in this post, I’m covering the best ways to sell VHS tapes for cash so you can turn your old collection of movies into money.
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Where To Sell VHS Tapes
You’ve gotten out your collection, dusted it off, and made a list of every tape you have.
But where do you actually sell your VHS tapes? Well, there are some great online and in-person options you can use to find buyers.
1. eBay
One of the best places to sell VHS tapes is eBay. That’s because it’s one of the largest online markets and is extremely popular for selling collectibles.
Plenty of people sell VHS tapes on eBay, as well as other niche collectables like Beanie Babies, coin collections, sports cards, and even things like Pokemon cards.
What’s nice about eBay is you also have options for how you sell. There’s the classic eBay auction style, but you can also list individual VHS tapes for sale at a fixed price.
And one perk is that you can also list your entire VHS collection for a bulk sale, which can help you save time and get rid of your tapes much faster.
Listing your item is free, and then you pay eBay a percentage of the sale if the item is sold.
2. Craigslist
Another popular marketplace where people buy VHS tapes is Craigslist.
This old-school classifieds website is a great way to get rid of old stuff you have laying around the house to make some extra cash. And the benefit of local selling is that you can deal in cash, so you’re not paying online selling fees.
Granted, Craigslist is better for selling VHS tapes if you live in a large city where there’s a higher chance to run into collectors.
If you’re in a small town or area where Craigslist isn’t popular, you might be better off sticking with eBay instead.
3. Facebook Marketplace
The Facebook Marketplace is one of the most popular local selling marketplaces out there. And like eBay, you can usually find collectors for goods ranging from sports cards to your old VHS tapes.
I’ve sold plenty of things on Facebook Marketplace over the years, including watches, clothing, furniture, and electronics like CDs and VHS tapes.
Getting started with Facebook Marketplace is also simple, and you just need a free Facebook account.
From there, you can list your VHS tape collection for free to try and find local buyers. Alternatively, you can consider joining and posting items in VHS tape for sale groups.
These Facebook groups have collectors who are often looking for particular items and appreciate the value of different tapes. If you have a very large collection that’s in good condition, this might be the best route to take.
And like Craigslist, we like Facebook Marketplace since local sales are done in cash, so you’re not paying seller fees like you do on eBay.
You can read our post on The Facebook Marketplace vs eBay for a complete breakdown of these two platforms.
4. A Garage Sale
Garage sales can be a fantastic way to make money quick and to clear out some of the items you no longer need. In fact, according to the New York Times, the average garage sale can net as much as $500 to $1000 in just a few days!
While you might not be able to fetch top dollar selling VHS tapes, some cash is definitely better than nothing.
As long as your VHS tapes are in good condition, you could be able to fetch at least a few dollars each. If you have research and proof a particular VHS tape is particularly valuable, you may be able to ask even more.
This could also be a chance to sell your entire collection in a weekend if you get enough foot traffic to your garage sale, and there’s no harm in trying!
Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Sell Stuff Locally.
5. OfferUp
If you’re still wondering where to sell VHS tapes for cash, you can always try listing them on the OfferUp app.
OfferUp is similar to Facebook Marketplace and is predominantly for connecting local buyers and sellers. And you can sell just about anything on the app, including collections like a box of VHS tapes!
And one cool feature OfferUp has is pre-approved meeting spots. These are safe meeting areas in public areas the app encourages you to meet buyers at. Overall, this helps improve buyer and seller safety and provides some peace of mind.
OfferUp also lets you sell online and ship goods to your buyer. However, there’s a 12.9% seller fee if you take this route, which is pretty steep.
But for local sales, OfferUp is a pretty reliable app. Just note you have to negotiate and potentially deal with some lowball offers like many online selling apps.
Extra Reading – The Best Things To Sell On OfferUp.
6. Amazon
It might surprise you, but Amazon is actually one of the best places for selling VHS tapes since it’s the go-to marketplace for many VHS fans.
And yes, there are still people who prefer VHS tapes and stick to this movie format or DVDs; not everyone is into streaming quite yet!
So, you can consider creating an Amazon Seller account, listing your VHS tapes, and seeing if you get any bites. This could also be an opportunity to launch some sort of flipping business if you find you enjoy selling on Amazon.
People sell all sorts of things on Amazon, ranging from used books to collectables, and it’s a great marketplace for retail arbitrage because of how many buyers it has.
Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Make Money With Your Home.
Who Buys VHS Tapes Near Me?
The best way to sell VHS tapes near you is to use local selling marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. This is because this is where the largest pool of collectors and movie fans are on these platforms, and you can arrange local sales in cash.
A garage sale can also work, especially if you live in an area with a lot of foot traffic. And some pawn shops might buy VHS movies and offer you quick cash payments for your collection.
However, keep in mind that most tapes aren’t worth much. So, you’re probably better off selling on local marketplaces to fellow movie fans rather than reselling to an electronics or movie store.
Which VHS Tapes Are Worth Selling?
In reality, most VHS tapes aren’t worth very much and are probably worth a few dollars at most. However, for new and unopened tapes, prices can go much higher, especially for rare titles that were limited in their release.
If you have a particularly rare VHS tape that is proven in value, you may be able to put it up for auction.
For example, according to the New York Post, a mint-condition sealed VHS tape of “Star Wars” (1977) sold for a whopping $57,600 in December of 2021.
This is the power of nostalgia, so if you have VHS tapes for movies or franchises with massive followings, your tapes might be worth a little bit more.
Other VHS tapes that have been known to sell well are Disney VHS tapes, and in particular their Black Diamond releases since these are rarer than regular tapes.
Other children’s VHS tapes often bring a nice price at sale, as well as those from sporting events where there may not be many left in existence of a particular event.
For example, wrestling VHS tapes, including Wrestlemania, are particularly popular with wrestling fans.
Other big VHS tape sellers include cult classics, limited releases and complete collections. VHS tapes of banned movies, as well as concerts and other entertainment events can also bring nice revenue.
Ultimately, how much you make selling VHS tapes depends on the size of your collection, the condition of tapes, and if you find buyers for your entire collection or not.
Tips For Selling VHS Tapes For Cash
Now that you know some of the best places to sell VHS tapes, here are some tips you can keep in mind to make the process a little easier:
- Condition Matters – If the tape or box is particularly beat up or damaged, chances are the value of the VHS tape is rather small. Condition matters, and tapes in good shape or even still sealed in the original plastic will bring you a much higher price. Make sure you have the original case and artwork with the tape, as these contribute to the value.
- Test Your Tapes – If you have access to a working VCR, it doesn’t hurt to try out tapes and make sure they are still working and usable. Time, dust, mice and more can keep these tapes from being viewable. Just be sure not to open any tapes that are still in original packaging.
- Look For Sealed Copies – One thing that can dramatically impact the value on VHS tapes is whether it is still sealed in the original packaging. This is something to inspect carefully, since some resellers reseal tapes which have no actual value whatsoever. However VHS tapes that are unsealed and unwatched can bring a higher price.
- Take Multiple Photos – Once you’ve figured out what tapes you’re selling, take the time to take good photos of your collection. Be sure to show front, back and spine, and to take close ups of any cool details as well as any damage such as wrinkles or tears on the case.
- Do Your Research – In order to adequately price your tapes, do your homework on your collection and try to understand the value. You’ll want to have realistic asking prices and focus on what tapes are actually selling for rather than just listing, as sometimes asking and auction prices can be over inflated.
This video from YouTuber and flipper MsTaffy shares how she makes thousands of dollars selling rare and old VHS tapes if you’re curious for how you can scale this side hustle.
Also note that because selling VHS tapes title by title can be time consuming, consider putting similar titles together into bundles like Disney movies, horror movies, etc.
If a buyer is interested in one tape, they are likely interested in similar tapes. This makes selling and shipping your VHS tapes easier, especially if you have a large collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There A Market For VHS Tapes?
There is a market for VHS tapes, but it’s quite niche. Generally, old and rare tapes can sell, but most common tapes aren’t worth very much money.
If you want some ideas for higher-paying selling hustles, you can read our post on the best things to sell for $1,000 for more inspiration.
Where Can I Sell VHS Tapes In Bulk?
For selling in bulk, your best option is to find a buyer who wants your entire VHS collection. Niche Facebook groups can work for this, or you can list your entire collection for sale on online marketplaces like Mercari or eBay.
Final Thoughts
While you may not have used your VCR in years, those old VHS tapes you held on to may still actually have some value. So, you might as well make the most of your tapes if you’re never going to watch them again.
Sure, you won’t be able to retire by selling VHS tapes, but it’s a fun side hustle you can try out.
And as long as you use reputable local and online marketplaces, there’s no reason why you can’t find buyers and turn your VHS collection into cash.
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