12 Things That Were Always Stuck in the VCR
These 12 things often ended up stuck in or around the VCR, causing frustration, damage, or confusion in many homes.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
VCRs were a central part of home entertainment for years, but they also attracted clutter, accidents, and misuse. Many people found strange or unintended items inside the machine or jammed near the tape slot. This list covers 12 non-movie objects that frequently ended up stuck in the VCR.
1. Coins
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Children often inserted coins into the VCR slot out of curiosity. The opening looked similar to other machines, like vending or arcade systems. Once inside, the coin could block the tape or damage the internal mechanism. Many repair calls were due to this simple mistake.
2. Crayons
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Kids sometimes shoved crayons into the VCR while exploring or playing. The crayons could melt if the machine got warm, causing serious internal damage. This often led to sticky tape rollers or blocked tape trays. Crayons were a common cause of jamming in homes with young children.
3. Food Wrappers
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Snack wrappers were often placed near or on the VCR and could accidentally get pushed into the tape slot. Sticky residue or crumbs could fall inside, leading to tape tracking problems. In some cases, entire wrappers were found deep inside the machine. Food-related debris was a routine issue in family homes.
4. Toy Pieces
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Small toys like LEGO bricks, action figure weapons, or doll accessories often found their way into the VCR. Children mistook the slot for a place to “hide” or “feed” items. These pieces could wedge into the gears or tape path, damaging both the toy and the machine. Many parents only discovered the issue when the VCR stopped working.
5. Pencils or Pens
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Writing tools were sometimes poked into the VCR, especially during moments of boredom or distraction. This could cause misalignment of internal components or scratch the tape heads. The sharp tips could bend metal parts or snap off inside the device. This led to tracking issues or full mechanical failure.
6. Chewed-Up Tape Ends
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VHS tapes that had been rewound improperly or damaged during playback often became stuck inside the VCR. The tape itself would bunch, twist, or snap, especially if it was already worn. This created a mess of ribbon inside the machine. Repairing this often required manual extraction and head cleaning.
7. Stickers
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Stickers, especially from children’s books or toys, would sometimes be inserted directly into the tape slot or fall off from nearby surfaces. They could stick to rollers, gears, or heads inside the machine. Once stuck, they affected tape movement and playback quality. It wasn’t uncommon to find sticker residue deep inside during repairs.
8. Dust Bunnies
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Because VCRs had ventilation gaps and were often placed near the floor or on open shelves, dust could collect inside. Over time, dust buildup could block fans, sensors, or even coat the tape heads. This slowed down tape motion and caused playback distortion. Dust was one of the most common non-object reasons for malfunction.
9. Unlabeled Tapes with Broken Spools
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Unlabeled or cheap VHS tapes often had damaged or poorly made spools. When inserted, they sometimes wouldn’t spin properly, causing the tape to jam. People would leave these stuck inside until they had time to fix or remove them. Many stayed in the machine unused for months.
10. Playing Cards
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Children occasionally inserted trading cards, game cards, or regular playing cards into the tape slot. This was usually done out of experimentation or imitation of inserting a tape. Cards could jam the tape tray or get caught between rollers. Some households reported removing cards that had been stuck for weeks.
11. Batteries
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Loose batteries from remotes, toys, or handheld games were sometimes placed on top of the VCR and accidentally rolled inside. If they reached the slot, they could fall into the machine or get wedged in the tape door. This caused both jamming and the risk of corrosion. It was a surprising but not rare find.
12. Paper Notes or Homework
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Loose papers or torn notebook pages were sometimes pushed into the VCR, especially by young children playing pretend. In some cases, kids used the slot to “mail” drawings or secret notes. Once inside, paper could block the tape mechanism or get wrapped around moving parts. These incidents often went unnoticed until the machine failed.