With the industry of VHS tapes having dwindled down since the mid-2000s, trying to sell your old Disney collection might seem like an uphill battle. However, thanks to the authenticity and nostalgia that these tapes signify to many, there’s still a market for second-hand Disney VHS tapes, and if your collection is extensive or unique enough, you might even end up making a lot of money out of it.
For example, most VHS tapes today are worth anywhere between $5 and $25, with limited releases and first editions being valued even more. This means that if you have ten tapes in your collection, you can expect to make between $50 and $250 from its sale. The bigger your collection, the higher your potential revenue will be.
Best Platforms to Sell Disney VHS Tapes:
| Platform | Fees | Competition | Average Price | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | Listing fees, Final Value fees, PayPal fees | High | $5-$20 | PayPal, credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, pay upon pickup |
| Amazon | Referral fees, variable closing fees, subscription fees | High | $5-$30 | Amazon Pay, credit/debit cards |
| Etsy | Listing fees, transaction fees, payment processing fees | Low | $5-$30 | Etsy Payments, PayPal, credit/debit cards |
| Bonanza | 3.5% selling fee | Low | $5-$30 | PayPal, credit/debit cards |
| Facebook Marketplace | Free | High | $5-$20 | Cash, PayPal, Facebook Pay |
| Mercari | 10% selling fee, 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee | Medium | $5-$20 | Direct deposit or debit card, PayPal |
| OfferUp | 12.9% of your item’s final price (excluding shipping costs) with a minimum fee of $1.99 | High | $5-$20 | Cash, OfferUp Payments, credit/debit cards |
| Craigslist | Free | Medium | $5-$20 | Cash |
| Gumtree | Free | Low | $5-$20 | Cash, PayPal, bank transfer |
| Discogs | 6% commission, with a $0.10 minimum | Low | $20-$50 | PayPal, credit/debit cards, Stripe |
| 5 Miles | 10% selling fee | High | $5-$20 | Cash |
| Decluttr | Free | Low | $2-$5 | Direct deposit, PayPal |
How To Price Disney VHS Tapes?
Pricing Disney VHS tapes can be a bit tricky, as the value of each item will depend on factors such as condition, rarity, and demand. So, if you want to set a fair price, research its market value on as many of the platforms listed above as possible.
Then, factor in whether your tape is still in its original packaging, rare, hard to find, or a Black Diamond edition, and adjust the average market rate as needed.
To help you out a bit, here are some of the most popular Disney VHS tape titles and their average prices across US markets:
| Tape Title | Average Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Beauty and the Beast | $20-30 |
| Aladdin | $15-25 |
| The Lion King | $15-25 |
| The Little Mermaid | $10-20 |
| Cinderella | $10-20 |
| Snow White | $10-20 |
| Sleeping Beauty | $10-20 |
| 101 Dalmatians | $10-15 |
| Pocahontas | $10-15 |
| Bambi | $5-10 |
What Are Black Diamond VHS Tapes?
Black Diamond VHS tapes refer to a series of Walt Disney Home Video tapes that were released between 1984 and 1994. These tapes were characterized by a black diamond on the spine of the cover, which made them easily recognizable to collectors.
Black Diamond tapes were highly sought-after due to their limited availability and the fact that they were the first VHS releases of classic Disney movies. Some popular titles in the Black Diamond series include “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” and “Aladdin.” Collectors still consider them valuable today, with some of them fetching hundreds of dollars on online marketplaces.
How To Sell Disney VHS Tapes?
Here are some of the best tips from current sellers and collectors on how to sell Disney VHS Tapes:
- Thoroughly inspect your collection beforehand and clean the tapes as necessary.
- Research the market value of your item before setting a price.
- Take high-quality pictures.
- Consider advertising your collection on multiple platforms.
- Respond to inquiries as promptly as possible.
- Make sure to pack the collection securely before shipping it.
Is It Worth Selling Old VHS Tapes?
Whether it’s worth selling your old VHS tapes depends on several factors, such as:
- The condition and rarity of the items.
- The time and effort you’re willing to put in.
- The sentimental value of the tapes.
- Whether you can find a suitable marketplace.
So, if you have some rarer, harder-to-find pieces in your hand and they don’t hold much of a sentimental value, it might be worth investing some time and effort into finding the right marketplace and reaching out to potential buyers.
Though some tapes can be sold for hundreds of dollars, these are extremely rare, and, generally speaking, you can expect to make anywhere between $5 and $25 per piece.
Best Places To Sell Disney VHS Tapes:
eBay
eBay is probably one of the best choices when selling Disney VHS tapes. For example, on eBay US sell-through rates for new items are 56.3% and 39.8% for used items. Keeping in mind that in 2023 Q3 eBay had 135 million eBay users (buyers) this platform is great for selling used items
The prices of old Disney VHS tapes on eBay will vary depending on the rarity and condition of the tape.
Here’s a table outlining some current offers for Disney VHS tapes on the site so that you can get a better idea of how much you’re set up to make:
| Tape | Price | Number of Listings |
|---|---|---|
| 101 Dalmatians VHS | 2 | 5900+ |
| The Lion King Celebration VHS | 6 | 17 |
| Beauty and the Beast VHS | 40 | 9300+ |
| The Little Mermaid Black Diamond VHS | 200 | 628 |
| Aladdin Black Diamond VHS | 1470 | 4400+ |
Though there are some extreme prices on certain VHS tapes, most listings fall within an average of $5-$20.
Keep in mind that eBay charges a selling fee that ranges between 5% and 15% of the sale price, and PayPal also takes a percentage if you use it as a payment method. So if you were to sell 10 tapes at $5 a piece and pay an average fee of 10%, you’d make $45 in revenue. On the other hand, if you were to sell the same tapes for $20 a piece and pay the same fee, you’d make $180.
Though competition on eBay can be a bit high, since there are currently more than 160,000 listings of Disney VHS tapes, this is still a great site to try out if you’re looking to sell your Disney VHS collection. The time it takes to make a sale will vary anywhere between a few days and a few months, depending on how well you market your product.
Successful sellers on the platform give the below tips on boosting sales:
- Write a detailed description.
- Use high-quality photos.
- Offer free shipping.
- Maintain fast response times.
Amazon
Amazon is an e-commerce platform that has cemented its place as one of the world’s largest publicly traded retail companies. One of the greatest perks of using Amazon in the context of our list is that you can sell your tapes through the Amazon Trade-In program, which allows you to send in your items and receive an Amazon gift card in return.
Here’s what you can expect to make on Amazon for Disney VHS tapes based on recent listings:
| Tape | Price |
|---|---|
| Tarzan VHS | 14 |
| Bambi VHS | 20 |
| Disney Sing-Along Songs: Heigh-Ho VHS | 24 |
| The Lion King VHS | 28 |
| Peter Pan (45th Anniversary Limited Edition) VHS | 29 |
Amazon charges a referral fee, which varies between 8% and 15% depending on the category of the item being sold, and there are additional fees for using the Trade-In program. The competition here can also be a bit tough, so it might take a while for you to find a buyer.
Say you have 10 tapes and you’re thinking of selling them for $10 a piece – that’s $100 total. From that, you’ll have to subtract the referral fee. Let’s assume an average percentage (11%) and say you’ll have to pay $11 in referral fees. Subtract another $3.5 in fulfillment fees and you have a total revenue of $85.5.
If you also have an Amazon Subscription, you can divide it by the number of sales you make in that timeframe and subtract the subscription cost-per-sale from that total as well.
On the flip side, the website has an excellent reputation among users as far as safety goes. Amazon sellers give the following tips on optimizing your sales:
- Use Amazon’s fulfillment service.
- Offer competitive prices.
- Optimize your product listing with relevant keywords.
Etsy
Etsy is an American e-commerce company founded in 2005, whose focus is handmade or vintage items. This is a community of creative sellers and buyers who value unique and one-of-a-kind items, which is why your old Disney VHS tapes might be highly valued here.
The average price of a Disney VHS tape on Etsy ranges between $5 and $30.
Here are some of the prices of recent listings:
| Tape | Price | Number of Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Walt Disney’s Sing Along Songs Very Merry Christmas VHS | 12 | 379 |
| Pinocchio VHS | 15 | 580 |
| Bambi-Fully Restored 55th Anniversary Limited Edition VHS | 22 | 1 |
| Robin Hood – The Original Animated Classic VHS Tape | 40 | 121 |
| Rare Black Diamond Disney’s “Aladdin” VHS | 2000 | 380 |
Etsy charges a listing fee of $0.20 per item and a transaction fee of 6.5% of the sale price. However, in return, you benefit from a higher safety level while selling. Moreover, the competition here is low, with only 2930 Disney VHS listings currently on the site, so you can expect to sell your collection within a few weeks.
Sellers on this site give the following advice:
- Write detailed descriptions, especially if you have a rare release.
- Offer free shipping.
- Use high-quality photos.
Bonanza
Bonanza is an award-winning marketplace with over 5 million visitors a month.
The platform’s unique focus is on creating a personalized shopping experience for buyers and sellers. As a result, the competition here is relatively low, with just over 5,000 Disney VHS tape listings. As long as you price your collection reasonably, you have a pretty good chance of having it sold.
Here are some of the current Disney VHS listings on the platform:
| Tape | Price | Number of listings |
|---|---|---|
| Toy Story VHS | 6 | 129 |
| Lot Of Two Disney VHS’ – Little Mermaid and Aristocat | 12 | 1 |
| The Lion King VHS | 16 | 185 |
| 1961 Babes In Toyland Christmas | 40 | 2 |
| The Little Mermaid VHS Black Diamond | 1080 | 29 |
The average price of Disney VHS tapes on Bonanza is $5-$30. However, the platform charges a 3.5% commission fee on sales and offers several payment options, including PayPal, Stripe, and Amazon Pay. Current sellers recommend providing excellent customer service and competitive prices if you want to boost your sales. Promoting your listing on social media can also help.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is another great platform for this purpose. The average price of Disney VHS Tapes sold here is $5-$20.
Here’s what you can expect to make from old Disney VHS tapes on the site based on recent listings:
| Tape | Price |
|---|---|
| Cinderella VHS | 5 |
| Fantasia VHS | 10 |
| Cinderella + Beauty and the Beast VHS Tapes | 25 |
| 2 Hercules VHS Tapes | 40 |
| Beauty and the Beast Black Diamond VHS | 400 |
The best thing about selling on Facebook Marketplace is that there are no selling fees; however, it’s important to be aware of potential scams and to meet buyers in a public place when selling your items.
Current sellers advise you to be as safe as possible throughout the selling process and set competitive prices so as to get ahead of the tough competition.
Mercari
Mercari is a Japanese e-commerce company founded in 2013 that will display your listings for a flat 10% selling fee. A processing fee of 2.9% is also included once you make a sale. However, how much can you actually make for your old Disney VHS tapes on this site?
The table below outlines some of the current offers:
| Tape | Price | Number of Listings |
|---|---|---|
| The Lion King VHS | 5 | 1000+ |
| Oliver & Company VHS | 20 | 415 |
| 14 Disney VHS Tapes | 80 | 1000+ |
| Bambi Factory-Sealed VHS | 90 | 1000+ |
| Hercules Black Diamond VHS | 114 | 1000+ |
Though the table shows a vast price range, most items of this nature are sold at $5-$20.
Mercari has a good reputation among users for being a safe platform, and the competition isn’t too bad, so it’s definitely worth a try. Here are some of the top tips Mercari sellers give to optimize sales:
- Share your listings on social media.
- Participate in the platform’s promotions and campaigns.
- Offer free shipping.
OfferUp
OfferUp, founded as a Craigslist competitor, is a free platform for buying and selling items within your local community. The app has a built-in messaging system, so you can communicate with buyers and sellers directly within it.
Most Disney VHS tapes currently listed on the site are grouped in bundles of 10-40, and their prices vary from $10 to $80.
OfferUp charges 12.9% of your item’s final price (excluding shipping costs), with a minimum fee of $1.99. For example, if you were to sell a single VHS tape for $10, the 12.9% fee would translate into $1.29. However, given that there’s a $1.99 minimum, that’s what you’d have to pay the platform for the sale you made, leaving your total revenue at $8.
If you were to sell the same tape for $80, 12.9% of that would be $10.32. After paying the fee, you’d be left with $69.68.
Users praise the platform for its user-friendly interface and the overall safety it provides, so listing your VHS tapes here and paying the 12.9% fee might be worth it.
Craigslist
Craigslist is a privately-held American company operating a classified advertisements website where you can sell just about anything, including Disney VHS tapes. The site focuses on creating a simple and no-frills interface for buyers and sellers, so you’ll have an easy time navigating it.
Here are some of the current listings on the platform for Disney VHS tapes and their prices:
| Tape | Price |
|---|---|
| Pinocchio VHS | 5 |
| Sleeping Beauty VHS | 10 |
| Hunchback of Notre Dame VHS | 40 |
| 20 Disney VHS Tapes Collection | 100 |
| Dumbo Black Diamond VHS | 250 |
The average price of a Disney VHS tape listed on Craigslist is $5-$20, and the listing itself is free for this category or product.
Craigslist has a mixed reputation when it comes to safety, so it’s important to exercise caution and read the company’s safety tips before using the platform.
Gumtree
Gumtree is a UK-based online classifieds platform that allows you to buy and sell items within your local community. In 2007, the company also entered the US market. The average price for a Disney VHS tape on the platform ranges from $5-$20.
Here are some of the most recent listings in this category:
| Tape | Price | Number of Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Tarzan VHS | 5 | 1 |
| 3 Disney VHS Tapes | 18 | 1 |
| Rare Disney Classics VHS Collection | 120 | 1 |
Selling on Gumtree is 100% free; however, if you want to increase the visibility of your ad, you’ll have to pay extra. The platform has a good reputation for its safety, so current sellers highly recommend trying out the platform for selling anything you don’t need.
The competition isn’t too high, with only 50-100 Disney VHS tape listings on any given day; however, you’ll still want to set competitive prices on your listings.
Discogs
Discogs is an online marketplace that specializes in selling music-related products, including old Disney VHS tapes that feature music. If you want to learn more about what types of products can be sold here, check out their Submission Guidelines. This is a truly unique platform with a clear focus on creating a community for music lovers and collectors.
Generally speaking, you can expect to make between $20 and $50 per tape on the site. However, here’s a table outlining some current offers for Disney VHS tapes so that you can get a better idea of how much you’re set up to make:
| Tape | Price | Number of Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Pocahontas VHS | 15 | 15 |
| Fantasia VHS | 20 | 30 |
| The Jungle Book VHS | 55 | 9 |
Discogs only charge a 6% commission, with a $0.1 minimum. Say you have a VHS tape you’re planning to sell for $5. Once the sale is complete, you’ll only be left with $4.7, as $0.3 would be paid as commission.
On the other hand, if you were to price your tape only $1, you’d have to pay a $0.1 commission even though 6% of $1 is $0.06 since that’s the minimum fee the platform has set.
Though the competition here is low, with only 67 Disney VHS tape listings, remember that this is a music-focused platform, so selling your old Disney VHS tapes here might take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Still, online reviews show that this is a safe platform with plenty of sale opportunities if you choose the right description and selling price.
5 Miles
5 Miles is a mobile marketplace app that allows users to buy and sell used items, and it even comes with a brand-new auction feature. The platform encourages face-to-face transactions between buyers and sellers, which can be beneficial for both parties, as buyers can inspect items before making a purchase, and sellers can avoid shipping fees and receive cash payments directly.
The prices of old Disney VHS tapes on 5 Miles can vary greatly, but you can expect to get around $5-$15 for a popular title in good condition.
5 Miles is free to join, but it charges a 10% fee upon any sale you make. For example, if you sell 10 tapes at $5 a piece, you’d make $45 in total, not $50. If you sold the same batch at $15 a tape, you’d make $135.
On the other hand, 5 Miles has a good reputation for being safe, and most current sellers recommend giving it a try.
Decluttr
Decluttr is a platform that specializes in buying and selling second-hand tech, including old Disney VHS tapes. If you don’t have any unique releases, this is also the best place to sell your collection in bulk.
Keep in mind that the prices of old Disney VHS tapes on Decluttr are $3-$20 lower than on other platforms because the company buys the items from sellers and then resells them to buyers. So, this is only a good solution if you need some money in a pinch.
Most items of this nature go for $2 to $5 a piece, and even less if you’re selling them in bulk. On the flip side, competition is low, shipping is free, and the platform is completely free to use, so sellers are generally satisfied with it.
Moreover, you can type in the barcode on the back of your VHS into the site’s valuation engine and receive an instant offer. So, if you have a big collection you’re desperately trying to get rid of, this is the platform for you.