JVC HRJ692U 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR , Black
Everything Is Junk!
I too purchased this VCR thinking that I was getting a good bargain.  I guess the lousy 90 day warranty from JVC should have raised red flags right away, because from day 1, I had problems with this machine.  The setup went OK, but every time I went to eject the tape, the machine would suck it back in and start the playback again.  No major problem, I just had to hurry up and grab the tape as soon as it came out so it wouldn't get sucked back in... Obviously a design flaw somewhere in the cage mechanism.  Anyway, jump ahead two months...  With just one month to go until the warranty expires, the problems start.  The On-Off button started to work sporadically. Sometimes the unit just wouldn't power on, other times it wouldn't stay shut off.  I also noticed that the Hi-Fi sound started acting up.  Thought it might be dirty heads, so I ran a cleaner through the machine which seemed to help somewhat, however that's when the unit started to eat my tapes!  Then one day out of the blue, the unit just suddenly stopped in the middle of a movie, shut down and refused to power up again! (and my tape is still inside). This lemon of a machine couldn't even keep the right time on the clock!  It's in the junk pile as I write this.  I should also mention that this thing was a nightmare to program and the hard-to-follow remote control was ridiculously designed with a LITHIUM battery(?).  I've totally given up on VCR's since they're all mostly junk now.  I'm slowly phasing out my videotape collection anyway as the VHS format enters its twilight.    It doesn't really matter what make or model you buy anymore, it's all pretty much junk nowadays.  whether it's made by Sony/Panasonic/Toshiba/JVC/Zenith/RCA, etc, almost all of these companies are designing substandard products with a short lifespan now.  Just watch these items literally self-destruct once the warranty period is up.  Call it planned obsolescence.  The quality of most consumer electronics really went downhill after manufacturers started outsourcing to Mexico, China, Malaysia, etc...  It's pure garbage.  Basically, whoever can supply the parts for the cheapest, or build it for the cheapest gets the contract!  Back when Panasonic still built their machines in Japan, they would last you over 10+ years, if not longer.  Not anymore.  Sony, JVC and Panasonic (among others) have lost the trust of many former customers. (just read the reviews on Panasonic DVD players-a whole other story)  I've been through 3 VCR's in the past 5 years, and I've had it.  We've become such a \\"throw-away\\" society.  Getting the item fixed makes little sense because it will cost you more to repair than it would to just go out and buy a new one. (which is exactly what the manufacturer wants you to do).  It's high time that these companies are held responsible for their actions by knowingly selling defective, shoddy merchandise to the unsuspecting public.  Until we, as consumers, demand better quality products, we're just gonna keep on being a victim of this \\"throw-away\\" society that only we ourselves helped to create!  I'm fed-up, disgusted and downright sick and tired of buying junk every 3-6 months from EVERYONE.  I might as well stick with the Wal*Mart stuff!