# How to locate a rare videotape? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 23, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751 "2006-07-23T22:27:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751/1 "2006-07-23T22:27:17Z")
I have a sentimental attachment for “DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE,” which I actually own a videotape of, but which I’ve taped over (a Seinfeld episode) by mistake. Unhappily, this videotape is out of print, and I’ve been unable to locate a copy anywhere. I’ve tried looking for it for years in used videostores, at garage sales, on-line, through Amazon, and I’m simply stumped. Anyone have suggestions for places I might look that I haven’t tried yet? This is the part for Carrie Snodgress btw that so entranced Neil Young that he fell in love with her and had a LT RL relationship with her years later, after he met her. Maybe he bought up all the available copies? ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751/2 "2006-07-23T22:53:04Z")
How much are you willing to pay? [Amazon listings](http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00000F37T/ref=dp_olp_3/002-0887713-3061627?ie=UTF8) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751/3 "2006-07-23T22:53:35Z")
Half dot com has it also – I just emailed you the link. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751/4 "2006-07-24T00:24:53Z")
Wow, thanks. Those are expensive copies but I’ll try 'em. Sometimes Amazon’s had it, and when I ordered I got back a message saying “Sorry, out of stock.” How’d you find a list of places to look? (So I need not post this lame request whenever I tape over an old favorite.) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751/5 "2006-07-24T00:32:07Z")
I always start at half dot com for books, cds, and movies. ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751/6 "2006-07-24T01:00:04Z")
Amazon, [half.com](http://half.com) and [moviesunlimited.com](http://moviesunlimited.com) are my first stops for movies, [powells.com](http://powells.com) for books. Failing that, a Google search in the format: title media buy will usually find what I need on the first page, so _“Diary of a Mad Housewife” vhs buy_ returns [this](http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-40,GGLG:en&q=%22Diary+of+a+Mad+Housewife%22+vhs+buy). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751/7 "2006-07-24T01:04:16Z")
I wish there was an online service similar to [bookfinder.com](http://bookfinder.com) for videotapes. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751/8 "2006-07-24T11:54:26Z")
Go up into the woods, book a cabin, and ask if they have a lending library. Find the tape that doesnt have cover, and or prefessional graphics on the tape casing. Take it to your room. Die 7 days later. ---
**Author:** ![Gene\_Frenkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gene\_Frenkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gene_Frenkle)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-locate-a-rare-videotape/365751/9 "2006-07-24T14:21:21Z")
[http://www.vlibrary.com/vlibrary/moviedetail.asp?id=32654](http://www.vlibrary.com/vlibrary/moviedetail.asp?id=32654) Rent it for six bucks plus exact postage (around three dollars) and make a copy. Assuming it is in the public domain, I am not advocating illegal copying.