Columbia House VHS

TenLubak · August 25 2012, 10:05 PM

I bought about 16 of the old Columbia House VHS TNG tapes from Goodwill for 50 cents each. They are not opened up and in thier box sealed still, excpet for 3 of em. I watched them the open ones and they are nice. I picked ones I liked mostly from the later seasons because the 7th was the first one I saw on TV and I've seen it the least, and I own more of the early season ones already.
They had like the whole series at goodwill, I went back a couple days later to get a couple more, but they were all gone. I didnt want to be an ass and buy all of them, but it looks like some one else maybe did.
So anyway there's no reason not to open em up right, I mean they are worth anything really are they?

dg1379 · August 25 2012, 10:14 PM

I remember when that first came out. I joined up and received a tape every month, each with two (sometimes three) episodes on it. At the time, it was a great way for me to catch up from the very beginning as I only started around season 4/5. But the tapes grew and storage became a problem. Then they degraded and I ended up getting rid of all of them. Moisture problems mostly.

TenLubak · August 25 2012, 10:36 PM

dg1379 wrote:

I remember when that first came out. I joined up and received a tape every month, each with two (sometimes three) episodes on it. At the time, it was a great way for me to catch up from the very beginning as I only started around season 4/5. But the tapes grew and storage became a problem. Then they degraded and I ended up getting rid of all of them. Moisture problems mostly.

Oh well i the ones I watched look very nice, they were all dusty and most of em werent open. I mean every tape was there. I got a few of em and the next day or so poof all gone I wish i got em all now.

But oh well I got to buy 2 packs of cigarettes instead

TheSeeker · August 27 2012, 12:24 AM

I used to get the Columbia House tapes too but it just cost too much. I canceled my subscription ans ended up giving all my tapes to my Uncle and that was the last time I bought any star trek episodes.

Now that the remastering projects have started I have decided the time is right to start building up my Star Trek library again.

Use of Time · August 27 2012, 01:53 AM

Could you imagine the storage required to house all seven seasons? I had most of them from season 1. The process moved to slow for me so I too cancelled.

billcosby · August 27 2012, 02:16 AM

^ And the price. Does anyone on these boards have the entire TNG library on VHS? If so, what's the price taggery?

dg1379 · August 27 2012, 03:13 AM

In the end, I did have EVERY tape. Yes, space was a problem. But, living at home with my parents, I had them in the attic and basement. Bad move with the basement. And the monthly fee from CH was rougly $25, if memory serves. It may have been $20. The overall investment was probably just over $2k, over a few years.

trekker670 · August 27 2012, 02:25 PM

Use of Time wrote:

Could you imagine the storage required to house all seven seasons? I had most of them from season 1. The process moved to slow for me so I too cancelled.

We got my dad the entire series on VHS for father's day one year, except it was the individual episodes as released by Paramount. We had them stored in a huge box (probably 3 ft x 4 ft. x 3 ft.) for a while and then custom designed a set of shelves to hold all 7 season (1 season per shelf). The best part was that about a year later they came out on DVD and cost just about the same amount as what we paid for the entire series!

davejames · August 27 2012, 04:59 PM

Actually, just out of curiosity I hooked up my old TV and VCR yesterday and threw in an old Trek VHS.

Wow, it's amazing how crappy that resolution looks now. Even from a distance the horizontal lines really jump out at you!

Maab of the Ten Tribes · August 27 2012, 06:08 PM

Use of Time wrote:

The process moved to slow for me so I too cancelled.

That's why I cancelled as well. Wow, we got 2 whole episodes a month! I had started a subscription with TOS and cancelled very early in the process as it was just too slow a process.

Ar-Pharazon · August 27 2012, 10:35 PM

If they are anything like the books from Sci-Fi Book Club, they're worth less than the "standard" VHS tape version.

So the VHS club had a monthly fee? The tape/CD club didn't have that, just a minimum quantity to buy.

TenLubak · August 27 2012, 10:36 PM

I wish I had purchased more while they were sitll there. I suppose I should open them up and watch them because they aren't are rarity or anything then right, the demand for un opened TNG Columbia House tapes in not great then, I am correct in understanding?

davejames · August 27 2012, 10:50 PM

TenLubak wrote:

I wish I had purchased more while they were sitll there. I suppose I should open them up and watch them because they aren't are rarity or anything then right, the demand for un opened TNG Columbia House tapes in not great then, I am correct in understanding?

Probably no more than for any OTHER old VHS tape.

And I seriously doubt there's many Trek fans who are collecting those things. Most, like me, probably threw them out the second they got their DVDs.

LOKAI of CHERON · August 27 2012, 10:58 PM

davejames wrote:

TenLubak wrote:

I wish I had purchased more while they were sitll there. I suppose I should open them up and watch them because they aren't are rarity or anything then right, the demand for un opened TNG Columbia House tapes in not great then, I am correct in understanding?

Probably no more than for any OTHER old VHS tape.

And I seriously doubt there's many Trek fans who are collecting those things. Most, like me, probably threw them out the second they got their DVDs.

I had all of TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, VOY and ENT season 1 on two episode a tape VHS. I took the job lot to a local charity shop!

Trekker4747 · August 27 2012, 11:53 PM

Hell, I just recorded the show when it was on TV, reruns and all to "collect" the show. Of course it was in "as it aired/syndicated" order and not episode order. For space sake I recorded them with the VCR set to "EP" which got about 6 episodes or so -but looked like utter ass. I also rarely paused-out commercials as it required too much work and attention to the show and it'd create some serious clipping when the commercial ended.

Yeahhh.... I don't think I got through even half the series recording that way and buying the episodes on official tape just wasn't practical for me then (a high schooler.) So I just accepted watching the show in reruns on cable.

When it re-appeared on TNN in the late '90s/early 2000s I was excited though the episode was squashed a bit so TNN could run a ticker/advertisement bar at the bottom of the screen but not do it over the video. Looked like ass.

Then, AHHHHHHHHHH, the DVDs started coming out and I bought them up right away. Loved it.

Now here we are with BDs and I'm even more in heaven.

August 25 2012, 10:05 PM	#1
TenLubak Commander Location: Baltimore MD USA	Columbia House VHS I bought about 16 of the old Columbia House VHS TNG tapes from Goodwill for 50 cents each. They are not opened up and in thier box sealed still, excpet for 3 of em. I watched them the open ones and they are nice. I picked ones I liked mostly from the later seasons because the 7th was the first one I saw on TV and I've seen it the least, and I own more of the early season ones already. They had like the whole series at goodwill, I went back a couple days later to get a couple more, but they were all gone. I didnt want to be an ass and buy all of them, but it looks like some one else maybe did. So anyway there's no reason not to open em up right, I mean they are worth anything really are they? __________________ "Now, how are we progressing, Mister La Forge?" "About like you'd expect, sir." "Splendid. Splendid. Carry on."

August 25 2012, 10:14 PM	#2
dg1379 Lieutenant Commander Location: Lakewood, OH, USA	Re: Columbia House VHS I remember when that first came out. I joined up and received a tape every month, each with two (sometimes three) episodes on it. At the time, it was a great way for me to catch up from the very beginning as I only started around season 4/5. But the tapes grew and storage became a problem. Then they degraded and I ended up getting rid of all of them. Moisture problems mostly.

August 27 2012, 12:24 AM	#4
TheSeeker Vice Admiral Location: New York, NY	Re: Columbia House VHS I used to get the Columbia House tapes too but it just cost too much. I canceled my subscription ans ended up giving all my tapes to my Uncle and that was the last time I bought any star trek episodes. Now that the remastering projects have started I have decided the time is right to start building up my Star Trek library again.

August 27 2012, 01:53 AM	#5
Use of Time Fleet Captain Location: Va. Beach, VA	Re: Columbia House VHS Could you imagine the storage required to house all seven seasons? I had most of them from season 1. The process moved to slow for me so I too cancelled. __________________ Searching for something, a million miles and a ways to go.

August 27 2012, 02:16 AM	#6
billcosby Commodore Location: billcosby	Re: Columbia House VHS ^ And the price. Does anyone on these boards have the entire TNG library on VHS? If so, what's the price taggery? __________________ My 1st Edition TrekCCG virtual expansion: http://billcosbytrekccg.blogspot.com/

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

August 27 2012, 03:13 AM	#7
dg1379 Lieutenant Commander Location: Lakewood, OH, USA	Re: Columbia House VHS In the end, I did have EVERY tape. Yes, space was a problem. But, living at home with my parents, I had them in the attic and basement. Bad move with the basement. And the monthly fee from CH was rougly $25, if memory serves. It may have been $20. The overall investment was probably just over $2k, over a few years.

August 27 2012, 04:59 PM	#9
davejames Vice Admiral Location: Sac, Ca	Re: Columbia House VHS Actually, just out of curiosity I hooked up my old TV and VCR yesterday and threw in an old Trek VHS. Wow, it's amazing how crappy that resolution looks now. Even from a distance the horizontal lines really jump out at you!

August 27 2012, 10:35 PM	#11
Ar-Pharazon Admiral of the Rear	Re: Columbia House VHS If they are anything like the books from Sci-Fi Book Club, they're worth less than the "standard" VHS tape version. So the VHS club had a monthly fee? The tape/CD club didn't have that, just a minimum quantity to buy. __________________ Rimmer, on what period of history to live in- “Well, It’d be the 19th century for me, one of Napoleon’s marshals. The chance to march across Europe with the greatest general of all time and kill Belgians” - (White Hole).

August 27 2012, 10:36 PM	#12
TenLubak Commander Location: Baltimore MD USA	Re: Columbia House VHS I wish I had purchased more while they were sitll there. I suppose I should open them up and watch them because they aren't are rarity or anything then right, the demand for un opened TNG Columbia House tapes in not great then, I am correct in understanding? __________________ "Now, how are we progressing, Mister La Forge?" "About like you'd expect, sir." "Splendid. Splendid. Carry on."

August 27 2012, 11:53 PM	#15
Trekker4747 To boldly go... Location: Kansas City	Re: Columbia House VHS Hell, I just recorded the show when it was on TV, reruns and all to "collect" the show. Of course it was in "as it aired/syndicated" order and not episode order. For space sake I recorded them with the VCR set to "EP" which got about 6 episodes or so -but looked like utter ass. I also rarely paused-out commercials as it required too much work and attention to the show and it'd create some serious clipping when the commercial ended. Yeahhh.... I don't think I got through even half the series recording that way and buying the episodes on official tape just wasn't practical for me then (a high schooler.) So I just accepted watching the show in reruns on cable. When it re-appeared on TNN in the late '90s/early 2000s I was excited though the episode was squashed a bit so TNN could run a ticker/advertisement bar at the bottom of the screen but not do it over the video. Looked like ass. Then, AHHHHHHHHHH, the DVDs started coming out and I bought them up right away. Loved it. Now here we are with BDs and I'm even more in heaven. __________________ Just because it's futuristic doesn't mean it's practical.