DuracellEnergizer said:

^A VCR not even a full three years old dies just like that? Damn, SilverWook must be right about how cheap last-generation VCRs were made. All the VCRs I ever owned (minus the three VCR/DVD combos I have/had) were bought second hand, and the one I held onto the longest lasted from 2002 all the way to 2007/2008.

If a VCR is light enough to be held up comfortably with one hand, it's probably cheapo. The other trick is to peek past the cassette door, and see if there's more plastic parts than metal.

I was amazed that ION playback only VHS deck with the USB output was so well constructed, and actually a bit heavy. I was tempted to pick one up, except it's mono sound.