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Originally Posted by kx250rider
Sounds like a classic case of the new machine leaving the factory (Oops; I mean Asian childrens' slave camp) with poor alignment. I'd return it for another of the same model, or take your tape to the store and try it in the demo on the shelf.
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Actually, yeah, as far as that goes, you probably just got a "dud". You might want to try just exchanging it for another of the same model.
Frankly, despite how people here generally dislike Funai-made VCRs, I have to say that I bought a cheap Symphonic VHS Hi-Fi VCR about 5 years ago to use as a secondary VCR, and it's actually been amazingly unfussy, and I've found that it will sometimes even play old worn-out rental tapes that stymie my nice ol' JVC. [I've got an older Zenith (JVC) VCR though that I've also found does pretty well with well-worn tapes too, though] That Symphonic/Funai even gets along a bit better with vintage TVs than most VCRs I've tried for that purpose. I don't actually use the Symphonic much, but when I have it's actually been kind of a trooper.
As far as build-quality goes, that Funai is super-cheap-cheap. Muntz would have been proud.
It's actually quite impressive. Get yourself a Funai-made VCR made within the past five years or so (available for free at your local trash dumpster), and take a look inside. The number of moving parts have been reduced to such a minimum that it's actually amazing. Compare that with the complexity of a VCR made in the 70's or early 80's..! Also, the've reduced the number of internal connecting cables by having as many sensor switches and such as possible (including the IR LEDs for the tape sensor) mounted directly to the PC board, with standoffs and such positioned so that they'll be in just the right spot when the tape transport assembly is put in place. The remaining wiring is done with edge connectors built onto the transport assembly, so there still aren't any individual connecting wires between the two. Kinda reminds me of certain early IBM PS/2 computers that used plug-in riser boards and connectors to connect the disk drives and other internal components instead of cables, but cheaper in execution. Also, considering it's obviously designed as a "disposable" VCR, the PC board silk-screen printing is surprisingly detailed-- even many of the wire jumpers on the board are labeled with the signal and/or voltage that they carry.
Despite the mechanical simplicity, I would tend to doubt the overall *durability* of one of these Funai VCRs (most of the mechanical parts appear to be on the "flimsy" side, and most of the mechanical things that would be adjustable in an older/better VCR are fixed in place on the Funais), but the overall simplicity and compactness of the transport mechanism is pretty interesting.