There was a time when obsolescence in the technology and media spaces was a death sentence once the next biggest and shiniest new thing came to market. But we now live in an age of collectors who scour listings for 1st generation iPods or 80s iMacs. And this doesn’t just hold true for Apple products. A pristine condition Sony Walkman can go for big money these days. In the span of 15 years or so, retro video games have gone from dusty relics worth a few bucks on a fold-out garage sale table to being highly sought-after 3-, 4-, 5-, and even 6-figure valued collectibles. I remember a time just after college (roughly 2010) when I could hop onto eBay and purchase a PS2 for $30 and grab some games anywhere from $5–15 apiece. That’s unheard of now. A fan recently gave actress Inde Navarette (Obsession) a sealed copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for Xbox 360 that is worth $1,000. The game isn’t even two decades old yet.

All of this is to say that there are collector’s markets expanding for bygone media formats and technology. VHS (Video Home System) cassettes are the latest to see a surge in public trading and exchange. I know what some of you are thinking. Why would anyone prefer a magnetic tape’s fuzzy image over that of a 4K Blu-ray? Well, there are likely several reasons at play.

Collectors are breathing new life into the VHS format

Where’s the appeal?

Let’s start with the obvious. Millennials are now grown-ups with grown-up money and nostalgia sells big these days. There’s a certain amount of comfort I feel pushing a tape into a VCR, hearing it clank into place, and begin whirring as the film appears on-screen with tape lines and fuzzy quality. It’s like a cozy blanket or a bowl of mac n’ cheese and hot dogs. Of course, the emotional quality can’t be understated. For many, it’s a time-and-place situation that simply allows them to relive the simpler days of their youth. That much is obvious.

But there’s also another angle here. It’s the very same angle that causes young music lovers today to buy vinyl, a music format that came and went long before they were born. Of course, vinyl has received new life in a way that VHS likely will not. Vinyl records are actively being produced for new albums each day because of their modern popularity. I don’t foresee VHS receiving the same treatment. However, there are massive stockpiles of the format that already exist in the world, making buying, selling, and trading on a secondary market a popular approach. Film buffs simply want to appreciate a piece of cinema history. This includes younger fans who came of age long after VHS had left store shelves.

Artwork has been another key factor among collectors. The covers of VHS boxes often include artwork that is not present in modern releases. Additionally, the frayed edges and worn appeal of the covers give VHS tapes a genuine and personal quality that people simply don’t have anymore in the digital age. It’s a quality that offers tapes an aesthetic appeal, much like distressed jeans. Horror fans are especially keen on collecting VHS tapes simply to decorate their shelves with striking artwork and the history ingrained within the creases and cracks of the cover.

The thrill of the hunt

You can’t just pick up a VHS movie from chain retailers

A lot of collectors are driven by the hunt. Unlike the aforementioned resurgence of vinyl, VHS is never going to make a commercial comeback. Therefore, collecting boils down to finding pre-owned copies on the market. Thrift stores, garage sales, eBay, and other outlets are great options for collectors to begin. The lucky ones will land copies that are still factory sealed in the plastic film, boosting collectibility. VHS tapes can even be graded by professional grading services like CGC if you never intend to slide that black brick into a tape deck.

There are also several rarities that you can find in the VHS format that you won’t ever receive in modern formats. A top mark for many collectors are likely the Star Wars trilogy releases prior to George Lucas’s famous 90s edits. Those edits have become a mainstay with each future release of the trilogy. And believe it or not, there are many movies that never even made the jump to DVD and remain in VHS limbo. These are movies that are sure to be considered obscure and undiscovered by most younger generations.

There are many reasons for film connoisseurs to begin collecting VHS tapes in the modern age. As we march ever forward into the future, different facets of outdated technology and media will become increasingly more rare and collectible. And with preservation, ownership, and other related subjects top of mind for physical media buyers, VHS tape collecting may be a worthy new hobby.