Donating VHS Tapes, Books, and More: When Reselling Isn’t Worth It

Sometimes, when you’re going through inventory, you find items that just aren’t worth the effort to sell online. That’s what happened to me this week with a big stack of VHS tapes and books.

The VHS Donation Pile

I ended up with 99 VHS tapes, mostly animal videos. Out of curiosity, I scanned them with the Amazon Price Check app and found that most were listed for just $0.01 used. I still don’t know how Amazon sellers make money on items priced that low, but one thing was clear – these weren’t worth the time to list.

Instead of tossing them, I contacted our local school district, which serves a lower-income area. The administration gave me the green light to donate the tapes, since they occasionally use movies for classroom downtime or when substitute teachers need a backup activity. I loved knowing they’d get put to good use.

The Book Round-Up

While I was at it, I also scanned through a bunch of books. Anything that came up as a penny on Amazon, had a resale shop sticker I couldn’t remove, or included a name from a previous owner went straight into the donation pile. Between the books and tapes, I filled the back seat and trunk twice over!

Extra Puzzles, Extra Smiles

As a bonus, I sifted through some puzzles. The local senior center didn’t need them (a good sign – it means they’re already well-stocked), but I was able to donate them to an adult foster care home instead. It feels great knowing the puzzles will provide some enjoyment there.

Decluttering Feels Good

Not everything is destined for eBay or Amazon. Sometimes the best decision is to donate items where they’ll bring joy, entertainment, or comfort to others. And clearing out space at home while helping others? That’s a win-win in my book.