VHS VCR 15-year average reliability data (1978-1993)...

[Ed in Tx]

At least some of those JCPenney VCRs were made by Matsushita Panasonic. They would come into the shop out of warranty, usually with worn out heads and other wearing parts from heavy usage. Many had switching mode power supplies which when one went dead was probably the final blow. By that time VCRs were being sold at grocery and drug stores cheaper than you could rebuild one, so out with the old, in with the new.