Where to buy a DataVideo TBC-1000?
 

First time ever posting on here, but I am looking for a DataVideo TBC-1000. I've heard they are really good for digitizing VHS tapes, but they are incredibly difficult to find. The only ones I can find are on eBay and they are for "Parts Only". I've read a lot of forums on here and have seen others sell their TBC's. I just wanted to let people know that I am on the search and if you have one you'd like to part ways with please let me know! Also, if there are other sites that tend to sell these, what are they?

Right here, in the marketplace forum. ;)

For example, I have units listed, from time to time, both budget units, and better units.
https://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/mar...bc-1000-a.html

In terms of eBay units, do not do it. No matter what is claimed or promised. Lot of threads warn and it, and explain why in detail, with examples of the nightmare experiences that can accompany them.
- https://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/new...-buy-tbcs.html
- https://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/new...buy-parts.html
- https://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/new...ideo-gear.html

That last thread is one I started, didn't get to update. What I'm going to do is start creating quarterly lists of links, to keep it current, and not get too long.

But you must be realistic about prices. Don't expect to get a quality unit for far less than normal costs, what it cost 20-30 years ago. Quality units have needed work, aka money and time put into them. Units that were not refurb'd or well maintained are the "for parts" trash you see, sometimes with irreparable damage from misuse.

I'm curious, LS, how often do you come across a TBC-1000 in the wild that is actually good or working condition? Most I've seen advertised (outside of the marketplace, here) don't appear to be in good condition. I would imagine each unit requires a lot of TLC (and the knowledge to go with it). I know I've sent you some eBay links in our previous PMs, but it still pains me to see people get scammed there, regardless of all the warnings.

TL;DR answer: Almost never, now, in the 2020s.

Longer answer...

The TBC-1000 units were available new from B&H/etc from about '98 to about '07. But EOL was in the early 00s, so anything from about 05-07 (some before, some after) was NOS. The used market had a put, a max/min resell. The only buyers and sellers were users. Bad units were rarely sold.

Other TBCs (Cypress models/rebadges, other DataVideo models, etc) track similarly.

Very often, discontinued still-in-demand/need pro gear appreciates from the used to new price (or more). But we hit the 08-09 recession, and values were instead falsely low for several years. A forced selling situation, anything with value must go, for any price. Again, all buyers and seller were users. Bad units were rarely sold. So a $250 used TBC-1000 was not unheard off, even somewhat common for a while.

As the 2010s approached the 2020s, price appreciated from supply/demand to the normal 66-200% used range, and those first two waves of buyers held on to their gear. Opportunist resellers, who new nothing of the gear, began to sell it without knowing what it was, nor cared. So bad units tricked in to the marketplace. Suddenly the majority of gear was being resold by recyclers and "Storage Wars" type resellers.

At the same time, gear was degrading. Mostly from careless handling and usage (especially college students, former lab gear auctioned off). So even good people would start to pass out bad gear without realizing it.

Starting in 2019, something major happened to the TBC-1000 especially, the market was flooded was flawed units. Most originated in Canada and the upper northern states. My guess is a warehouse of bad units (replaced by warranty, failed repairs, etc) was auctioned off. The buyer(s) thought they hit gold, but instead it was a steady stream of garbage into the marketplace.

Starting after 2019, costs started to heavily appreciate not due to simply supply/demand, but the amount of time, parts, and donor units needed to renew a unit.

Back around 2016, certain politicians seemed to give horrible people permission to be their worst selves, and it has snowballed to this day. It hit the TBC market as well starting about 2018, and the rude shady shysters were out in full force as we entered the 2020s. Almost all TBCs sold now are from recyclers -- the shady, rude, know-nothing kind.

The "good" recyclers seem to have disappeared. Several reliable recyclers used to contact me when they came across something on my "contact me list", but that has severely dwindled since 2020.

In the 2020s, gear aging has accelerated, failures are way too common now with certain models. The TBC-1000 is badly affected, the green AVT-8710 somewhat. The units can often be fixed, but not always. A broken unknown unit is NOT worth $1k+, or even $500, when irreparable is a possible outcome. When you don't know, it's only worth pennies on the dollar. I've actually sold a few problem units for a decent discount, sometimes demand outstripped my time, but I knew exactly what was wrong (and the buyer fixed it with my quick notes and guidance). Known vs. unknown.

These days, non-crap gear tends to trade offline (or at least online but off-eBay), this site's marketplace, and more rarely the used section of reliable AV gear sites (Adorama, B&H, etc).

Quite a few sellers/resellers have sought me out directly, as they know I'll buy gear for a fair price, free of fees and other BS. If there are issues, I can often fix, not have to return. And I'm far more pleasant to deal with than random eBay buyers. It's not just the eBay sellers that suck these days, but buyers as well -- as per above, politicians giving permission to be worst selves, society in general needs a slap upside the head.

I appreciate you taking the time and sharing some of the inside-baseball, here. It's unfortunate the amount of scummy buyers and sellers have increased over the years, as well as the known-bad gear being sold nefariously and flooding the market. It makes it more challenging for everyone, including those of us that are trying to enter this hobby.

Lordsmurf
I read the article in hopes of selling a TBC-1000. A friend passed away recently and his family asked me to sell off his equipment, mostly ham radio related gear. The TBC-1000 was found on a shelve still in the original box unused with the receipt dated Aug of 2000. Do you have any advise on placing a value on the devise and selling the unit. Thanks

Dave

Understand that "new in box" mean nothing for the functionality of the unit, only the cosmetics.

At this late date, now the 2020s, for a unit from the 90s/00s, DataVideo TBC-1000 units are all starting to need recap work. The units are failing en masse. Even my own TBC-1000 failed last week.

So in terms of value, condition matters.
- Untested = low price.
- Non-refurbished but passes all tests (mostly noise patterning) = moderate cost, but with allowance for inevitable refurb repair costs.

You don't want to give it away for a cookie -- but equally not rip off a buyer, giving him a used Honda when he expected an Aston Martin.

Testing a unit will require that certain VCR/capture gear be present.

And my condolences about your friend. :(