Old VHS Tapes: Guide to Selling VHS on Amazon and Raking in the Cash

When I tell people some of the most valuable items I sell on Amazon are VHS tapes, they are absolutely astounded. They are so archaic; useless, clunky, prehistoric old things that could not possibly have value, right? Wrong, dead wrong! I have sold single VHS tapes for over $100!

Of course, not all of them are that valuable, but you'd be surprised at what the ones you might have are selling for. I scour thrift stores and yard sales and always find loads of valuable cast-offs. Don't make the same mistake these other people have, in assuming your videos are junk.

So, before you donate them to a thrift store, put them out in your yard sale, or worse-throw them away-read this guide and find out if you're sitting on a gold mine, and, if you are, how you can cash in, by selling them at Amazon Marketplace.

What kinds of VHS are valuable, and why?

First, let's take a look at just why some of these VHS are valuable. Like anything else, the video market is subject to the rules of supply and demand, and value is relative. If there is a strong demand for something in short supply, the price is high. Why? Because people will pay it, and sellers know this. Conversely, if the market is flooded with an item, or there is otherwise small or no demand for it, the price is low.

One thing I want to make clear is that there really is a thriving market for used VHS. One big reason for this is because not everything has yet been issued in DVD, and some of the titles are big ones. Here is an example: until a while ago, Eddie Murphy's Delirious, A Town Like Alice, Shirley Valentine, and The Boys in the Band had not yet been put to DVD, so the only way to own them was on VHS. Additionally, these films were 'out of print'-they were not still being produced on video-so were only available as used items.

This created a balance of supply and demand that was beneficial to sellers who had these items. These films have all now been digitized, and are cheaply and plentifully available on DVD, so their VHS counterparts are no longer so valuable.

However, there are plenty of other VHS that still have this same dynamic of value. Here's an example: I just looked at Amazon's 'Movers and Shakers' VHS page. Right now, the Roger Corman film The Undead is the # 167 top seller in VHS. For whatever mysterious reason, this item has made an amazing leap from #66,577. Right now, there is only one VHS available, and it is priced at $57.00.

Because it is in such high demand, the seller will likely be selling this item today. I'm telling you-people will pay big prices for VHS. A look through the Amazon top VHS sellers confirms this.

How to Begin

If you feel like you would like to sell your VHS on Amazon, the first step is to familiarize yourself with the VHS market there. Spending a little time looking at the various lists will give you an idea of what types of VHS are valuable. The Amazon VHS category conveniently has several lists: top sellers, hot new releases, most wished for, most gifted, and movers & shakers.

All of these lists are helpful. Just browse through them, note the prices, sales rank, and number of videos available, and you'll soon start getting the idea of the supply and demand dynamic that makes each VHS valuable.

Note that you will find many very popular VHS listed for a penny. Clearly, these particular items are not valuable-they just reflect a high demand. Some buyers simply prefer VHS. Note also, that the point of looking at these lists is simply to familiarize yourself with the market. You will likely discover some of your valuable VHS are not top sellers-but, really-there is still a very good chance they will sell.

How to list your VHS at Amazon

Begin by gathering the VHS tapes that you would like to sell. Make a pile of the VHS with covers and cases which sport a UPC bar code. Make certain the correct actual tape is in the cases. If you're not sure of the playability or quality, you'll want to stick them in a player to make sure they all play well.

Go to the Amazon website, and sign in, or create an account if you don't have one. (Just a regular account. If you have purchased items at Amazon, you already have the account you'll need.) On the home page, click on "Your Account" on the top, right hand area of the page.

It will take you to your account; click on "Your Seller Account" -again, on the right hand side. You probably didn't know you already had a seller account! But there it is, already set up for you; it couldn't be easier. On this page, click on the first link, "List single items" under Manage your Inventory heading.

Under 'select product category', scroll to video. Leave the title field blank. Under 'search by ISBN, UPC, or ASIN', type in your tape's 12 digit UPC code. It's found near (usually directly under) the bar code. Include the tiny numbers to the side as well. The shorter ISBN number on VHS usually does not bring up the item-so always use the UPC number first. This should bring up a listing page for your exact item. If the case looks different or if there is not an image-don't worry; I'll tell you how to deal with that soon.

Now that you have brought up the exact item, click on its title link. This will take you to its selling page, where you can see what it's selling for, what its selling rank is, and anything else. Unless your VHS is brand new (still in any wrappers, unopened, unplayed, off-the-shelf-new) you'll be selling it in the used category.

A big mistake many new sellers make is underpricing their items. It's often referred to by other sellers as 'lowballing.' Most people assume it's the best way to guarantee their item sells, but it's not true. Buyers are savvy-they can usually pick up on the lowballer, and it doesn't instill much confidence, especially since new sellers are branded with a little logo designating them as such. They are likely to go with a more expensive offer, from an experienced seller with feedback.

So-forget about all about having the lowest priced item. Pricing is an art, and you will get the hang of it once you start listing and selling. If there is a huge gap between the lowest price and higher ones, the higher ones probably reflect a truer (and more profitable) value.

After you decide on a price, go back to the listing page. You can either use your back button, or simply click on the 'sell your item' link on the item's page. Type in your price in the field, then list the description in the appropriate field.

A mistake some new sellers make is giving a description of the contents, rather than the physical item. Don't list who is in the film, what it's about, or anything like that. Here is a formula: condition of box, ex-rental?, playability. This is the information buyers want to know. A good listing might read like this then: VHS in original box as shown. Box has moderate to heavy wear with some tearing at corners; not an ex-rental; plays great.

A couple notes here: there are many, many VHS circulating on Amazon that are former rentals-library copies or from stores. They are welcome, and sell fabulously too, so it's not necessarily a turn off, but buyers should know beforehand if it is a former rental or not. Boxes or cases with heavy wear sell fine too-but again, the buyer wants to know beforehand, so be honest in the description. Look over the condition guidelines available in the listing area. I lean toward listing items as 'good' rather than 'very good,' if at all in question.

Now, about those caseless or barcode-less VHS. These can still be sold, but you must make absolutely certain you have found the exact title match before you list the item. It can be tricky, so you might want to save such items until you have more experience listing and selling. Start with the easy stuff.

Also, you will probably run into a listing for which there is no image, or worse, a customer or seller-created image that looks completely different than yours. As long as you've matched the UPC code to the listing, it should be the correct item. If the case is different than that shown, simply make a note in the description that the cover differs, and that the UPC code matches the listing.

Items to have on hand before you begin listing

Amazon really has all bases covered for sellers. There are fabulous, easily navigable tutorials about all facets of shipping, packaging materials, timeframes, seller commitments, etc. In addition, the discussion boards (you'll find a link to these on the left side of your seller page) are great for asking questions. There's a 'help for new sellers' section that I recommend browsing through before you even begin listing.

So, you'll find all the necessary details about shipping and so forth at Amazon. However, you should be prepared for sales before you list your VHS. It will save time, money, and a headache or two. All you need to begin can be found at the dollar store: bubble wrap, postal paper, (or bubble mailers) scotch tape, and a Sharpie.

Of course, the packing items can be purchased in bulk at other venues, for a relatively much cheaper investment, but to begin (especially if you are just selling a few items) having these items already on hand is essential.

That's it! You're now ready to start cashing in on those old, 'worthless' VHS tapes-good luck!

Amazon.com Video Bestsellers (updated hourly)