With the radical wave of ’80s and ’90s nostalgia crashing over us like a welcome relief from the blazing heat of modern reality, one particular element of that longing for the past is the rekindled fondness for slabs of analog horror.
Fervent collectors and armchair fans alike have a hunger for titles like Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Frankenhooker, and Street Trash, and also latter influential titles like the Scream franchise, Donnie Darko, and even Lost Highway.
FRANKENHOOKER Talking Box – Source: Josh Schafer
Inside this rumbling resurgence of affection for horror on home video, often comes the question of value. The monetary worth specifically, rather than the intrinsic value of having complete autonomy to watch these films no matter if they’re plucked from streaming.
… which can happen at any point, without warning or reason.
STREET TRASH – Source: Reddit r/vhs; u/strickenbymetal
The question of how to value these horror tapes, along with thousands of other cult favorites, is a constant question raised in the contemporary VHS collecting culture.
Here is a quick and essentially definitive guide on how to find the value of the bloody slab in your hand, or the tape that screams your name.
KILLER KLOWNS – Source: Reddit r/vhs
For starters, eBay is your friend.
You can (usually) see current listings, and what people are ASKING for the tape. But what you really want to do is enter the tape in question, and use the filters for “Sold Listings” and then “Highest Price First.” This will show results of listings that have actually SOLD from high to low, with date and time stamps to give you realtime results and numbers on the VHS tape’s value.
SCREAM – Source: eBay
It’s important to note that you should look at the average sale number, and not always the highest (or lowest) number. This data is best used as whole, and in a comparative sense to find a median price. It’s the best way to get current “market value” for a videotape. Do note that at times, when the best offer is taken, the original price is shown, and does not reveal if the best offer was used or not.
It’s also imperative to take condition and completeness into account. Cut-box or ex-rental tapes aren’t considered as desirable as fully intact slipcases or factory sealed specimens. These criteria will virtually always reflect on the value of the video, and will skew pricing accordingly.
Source: eBay
This all said, there might not be enough data to discern, and sometimes, no data at all. In this case, it would be helpful to ask forums on Reddit, or Facebook forums and groups such as r/VHS or VCR: VHS Collectors Resource, respectively, to ask the community for help.
Be ready for some snarky remarks here and there, but if the info isn’t on eBay, this is your best bet. There are people in there willing to help you.
If all else fails, ask yourself this question: “What is this worth to ME?” Ultimately, you are the deciding factor on how much a horror tape is worth to you, and how much you’re willing to pay for it. Things are worth what people are willing to pay for them; and that’s the cardinal rule when it comes to any collectible market.
LOST HIGHWAY – Source: Josh Schafer
This crash course can be helpful, but I want to use this last paragraph to remind you all, that next time someone asks you “What’s this tape worth?” – the answer is always, “It’s worth a watch.” VHS tapes are viable pieces of media that unlock entertainment passageways with idiosyncratic aesthetics, nostalgia imbued experiences, and a ticket to complete autonomy when choosing what you watch, when you want to watch it.
Tapes aren’t just trophies. They’re movies made for watching. Keep that in mind when evaluating your tapes, and I believe that’ll allow you to find its most true value.
Josh is an eternal champion of the VHS format. He has steadily spread the rewind-inclined word with Lunchmeat Magazine and LunchmeatVHS.com, along with the book and supplement series STUCK ON VHS. He is also one of the founders of Drive-In VHS Fest, which is the largest VHS film festival in the world. His passion for the VHS format has allowed his voice to be featured in The New York Times, L.A. Times, and Washington Post, while a number of his written works are preserved in the Yale Library.
When he’s not watching tapes, he enjoys playing basketball and eating nachos, but not at the same time. Though he’s willing to try.
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