As someone who grew up with a VCR and a love for Disney movies, I can confidently say that I was taken aback when I stumbled upon the astronomical prices being asked for a simple VHS copy of “Beauty and the Beast.” Having fond memories of renting this classic film multiple times from our local video store, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw some sellers asking for as much as $15,000 for a copy.
As someone who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, I can’t help but feel a strong sense of nostalgia for those times. It seems like just yesterday we were rushing home to catch our favorite movies on VHS, and now as we enter middle age, that longing for the past is stronger than ever. One thing that has become quite a trend is the hunt for long-lost, out-of-print films from those decades. Among these rediscovered gems are family movies that made movie nights a special occasion for everyone, regardless of their background.
One cardinal example of this phenomenon is Disney’s Oscar-nominated version of “Beauty and the Beast.” Legendary in any format and frequently re-released, the VHS version of the movie appears to bring in a pretty penny if you know where to sell it. But there’s a giant twist to those high prices: they appear to be inflated by secondary market scams and speculation. In some places, a VHS cassette version of the film can be found up for sale for an astronomical amount of money — but you shouldn’t pay that much. Here’s how much “Beauty and the Beast” is being sold for on the secondary market and why you shouldn’t pay $10,000 for a copy of the film in any format.
How much is a Beauty and the Beast Disney VHS really worth today?
The cost for the VHS version of “Beauty and the Beast” fluctuates based on the collector’s market, yet some tapes are currently being sought at higher prices due to speculation. It is said that the most valuable edition is called the “black diamond” release, which can be identified by a diamond-shaped image in its spine. For those looking for films on practical media, the cost may range from quite expensive to relatively affordable.
On eBay and other secondary markets like Etsy or Poshmark, you can find copies of this item priced as high as $700, $9,000, $30,000, or even $15,000. However, these astronomical prices are not typically realized by the sellers. At best, they’re earning around $200 to $150 per tape, which is impressive for old videos but far from thousands of dollars. A specific version of the film – a Work in Progress copy released by Disney in 1991 – has fetched more, reaching nearly $600 at one point. Today, though, it’s not fetching more than $200. Some fans view these high prices as a reflection of the ever-changing collectors market, while others suspect it’s a scam due to inflated pricing by sellers.
Why does the Beauty and the Beast VHS seem to be worth a fortune today?
The exorbitant prices for some VHS releases of “Beauty and the Beast,” particularly the black diamond editions, are attributed to a mix of factors such as supply and demand, perceived scarcity, and alleged manipulation in the secondary market. These special editions were among the initial prints released shortly after the movies completed their theater runs, and Disney only produced them in limited quantities during the 1990s and early 2000s for VHS and DVD releases. As a result, those who wanted to own these titles had to either purchase them during the brief periods when they were available, repeatedly rent them, resort to illegal methods like recording broadcast versions or buying foreign bootlegs, or buy cut-out copies from video stores once they discontinued their stock.
Many Reddit users suspect that the recent increase in costs for Disney VHS tapes on the secondary market might be due to money laundering, excessive pricing, and artificial creation of scarcity. They point out that the rare “black diamond” titles are not difficult to obtain at all, often for quite affordable prices. Some have even labeled it a hoax inflated by “shill bidding” – the tactic of using fictitious accounts to make an item seem more valuable than its true worth – to raise the tape prices, highlighting that numerous locations such as Salvation Army or Goodwill stores nationwide offer these Disney titles like “Beauty and the Beast” at reasonable costs.
These other Disney VHS tapes are also part of the current price gouging
Not only ‘Beauty and the Beast’, but several other classic Disney VHS tapes have become subject to inflated prices in the secondary market. These valuable videos are often referred to as Black Diamond editions, and their cost can vary greatly based on who’s selling them. For instance, an ‘Aladdin’ tape might cost around $12,000 or less than $10; while ‘Dumbo’ could be the most expensive Disney VHS in the secondary market, with prices ranging from $44 to a staggering $20,000.
Naturally, the version of “The Little Mermaid” with its withdrawn, banned cover goes for more cash; some auctions have it priced at $9,000 or more, while other copies sell in the mid-$40 range. It’s a buyer’s market, and when it comes to VHS, these prices will vary and fluctuate, but fans definitely shouldn’t be spending thousands of dollars on copies when they’re so common. That said, nostalgia can definitely be pricey, so don’t be shocked if the lower prices actually do rise over time and those extremely valuable VHS tapes hiding in your closet become even more lucrative.
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2024-11-09 18:59