Hello!
I hope it's okay that I ask a question under the Trading Post, I wasn't sure where I should ask this.

I'm new to the hobby of tape trading and collecting, and was wondering if any more experienced users had some advice on how to build up a collection for trading.

I have a lot of stuff that I'm seeking, but it's difficult to acquire things when you first start out since I don't have much to offer in return. I'm assuming the best way to go about building up an inventory is to purchase things on other websites and from other collectors when that is prohibited and then slowly go from there?

I've never been able to find anything I'm seeking out in the wild yet, only from collecting sites. Maybe I should try finding people locally. Has anyone had any luck that way? (I primarily collect 70's-80's soaps).

What does everyone suggest?

If you know of other good websites for this type of thing, please let me know.

Thank you all so much.

You might start out by recording obscure TV shows and going through old TV VHS tapes you might have and transfer them. Things that are hard to find are a plus. Offer those for trade.

Buy VHS lots from ebay or storage lockers / estate sales. May get lucky. Learn to stream/webrip.

The only real advice that makes sense to me is buying VHS lots on eBay and wherever else.

Get the tapes, make detailed lists of every tape, even listing all the commercials on them. Have lists of everything you've got. Sooner or later if you want to trade it may turn out you've got some rare thing on there that someone is willing to trade for. Happening upon a recording of known lost media is probably rare, but there's all sorts of lost media I bet that people don't even know is on some guy's random VHS tape because no one really details everything that's on those things.

Just a thought. This is only if you were looking to go hardcore into this hobby though.

Yeah i echo what these guys said. Go on eBay. Search for Pre-recorded prerecorded used vhs tape lots or mess around with keywords you might find more stuff. It's good to message seller too and ask if they know what's on them or you can look at the pictures and take a gamble what's on it. Might strike gold but most of the time no lol. I used to do this and got boxes backed up from converting to dvd but i think most of the crap i bought was old pay per view or premium stuff unfortunately. :lol: I did get some good broadcast stuff though like a batman TV Version and Gremlins though so you never know what you gonna get. It's fun doing especially if you got a good setup and can do solid conversions to DVD.

Also download free stuff apps/let go. People post VHS lots for free all the time, Also facebook marketplace has a lot of blanks tapes. If you really want to go hardcore, Get in contact with junk removers or go to storage locker auctions.

If you're unwilling to buy tapes from eBay, then find someone in your circle who has a bunch of old recorded tapes and start converting them. That's how I got started with my collection - my aunt had a bunch of tapes.