VHS ,CDs and DVDs and records 26 April 2022 at 2:15PM in Green & ethical MoneySaving 9 replies 263 views

Margo54

A close friend has died 17th April 2022 and they have loads of the VCRs and dvds and cds and single and albums,is there someone who recycles or takes  them to sell no one wants them,I hate to think these all going to landfill its such a waste and I have taken some VCRs to try and take them to charity shops.We are in Dagenham England.

Heedtheadvice

Generally some consider all those types of media 'old hat' and are no longer interested in them. Most recordings are now available via things like downloads and catchup services.....though not all.

VCR players are now also much less common as is the easy ability to play on modern TVs without the correct adators.

There might be some rare items that somebody is interested in otherwise the chance of a shop accepting them is not great but worth asking. Singles and albums (vinyl) can be quite in demand at present, if in good condition. Maybe google vivnyl record shops to see if any buy them as they must get stock from somewhere...rare ones are worth quite a bit!!. The DVDs and CDs are probably easiest to get rid of to places like charity shops........and when vinyl gets a bad press again could be the next big fashion media type!!

If you have the time might be worth making a list of titles and offering them on an auction site as the rare ones will likely find purchasers. Plenty of places buy them just do a web search on "vinyl record used second hand" will bring up entries.

MalMonroe

Hi, I'm sorry for your loss.

Have you thought of MusicMagpie? They do take books as well as DVDs and some vinyl and CDs that nobody else seems to want.

You could also try freegle or freecycle. Many people DO want old things and old stuff and equipment. You could always try.
When you say 'VCRs' do you mean the actual machine or tapes? Because they are popular for freeglers in my area, as are DVDs.

To be honest, even though some vinyl records are thought to be worth something these days, in my experience they are not. 
I tried all those places that 'take all your vinyl' and spent ages compiling lists of my collection but in the end, nobody wanted them. They were all in excellent condition and some were rare! But they didn't care.

I ended up giving most of them away, some to a keen collector on freegle. I sold one or two on Facebook but didn't get a lot for them. Charity shops didn't want them. 

Sadly, nobody wants old vinyl any more, not even to make plantpot holders.

BUFF

MalMonroe said:

. Charity shops didn't want them. 

Sadly, nobody wants old vinyl any more, not even to make plantpot holders.

Oh, I don't know - here in Glasgow charities even have specialist  music shops e.g. https://www.oxfam.org.uk/shops/oxfam-music-shop-byres-road/

annabanana82

I think it all comes down to what the vinyl is, some is worthless and others incredibly collectable. 
Vinyl is certainly having a revival and taking up more and more space in our local HMV's 

Whatever the medium it'll come down to the genre and specific artist. 

annabanana82

Just a thought, how about offering it to an arts college they may be able to incorporate it into art installations 

Margo54

Thankyou all for your suggestions ,i did call a expert on the records vinyl but they werent rare enough for them,dvds have to list them individually i havent got time for that there must be 500,i have my own dvds as well,video's there is to many and i have some already of my own and i do not want to be flooded with to much in my house,i need to  get rid as quick as possible.there is lots of own recorded stuff as well,otherwise chuck in the bin and theres nothing wrong with anything ..I prefer all the old stuff but theres not much market for it,i have VHS player and record player.

mnbvcxz

There are buying sites that give you an app where you just scan the barcode and it gives you a price  Often pennies for DVDs but something. Perhaps you have access to a kid who would spend an afternoon scanning DVDs and CDs and might be overjoyed to get thirty quid from it or something and you would be rid of them without throwing them away.   

Video cassettes are harder. See how many fit in a large cardboard box, still small enough to post by Hermes cheaply and do a bulk listing on eBay for a penny start and someone may well take them off you hands, maybe. Only idea I have. Or out a big picture of a pile on Facebook marketplace saying any offers for collection?

Ectophile

VHS tapes are pretty much worthless now.  I couldn't even give them away on Freecycle last time I tried.  I recycle the paper inserts, and the boxes if they aren't black plastic.  The rest goes in the bin, to be burnt for electricity at the local incinerator.

DVDs and CDs are slightly more than worthless.  Charity shops may still take them.

annabanana82

Margo54 said:

Thankyou all for your suggestions ,i did call a expert on the records vinyl but they werent rare enough for them,dvds have to list them individually i havent got time for that there must be 500,i have my own dvds as well,video's there is to many and i have some already of my own and i do not want to be flooded with to much in my house,i need to  get rid as quick as possible.there is lots of own recorded stuff as well,otherwise chuck in the bin and theres nothing wrong with anything ..I prefer all the old stuff but theres not much market for it,i have VHS player and record player.

If you have a CEX by you they may take the DVD's but will likely only take 100 at a time and only pay 10p each