IT IS HIGHLY SUGGESTED THAT YOU FAST FORWARD AND THEN REWIND ALL USED CASSETTE TAPES THAT YOU PURCHASE BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO PLAY THEM, AS THEY MAY HAVE COME LOOSE IN SHIPPING AND COULD GET CAUGHT IN THE MACHINE YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO PLAY THEM ON. THIS IS ALSO THE CASE WITH VHS TAPES I LEARNT THE HARD WAY WHERE MY PURCHASES GOT CAUGHT BY MY EQUIPMENT AND WERE RUINED.