My video about current Crosley's and other repro junk
 

Maybe this will keep a few people from buying these things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo6y2S-MTpo

Someone on eBay actually has the gall to ask $105 for just the guts for one of these!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New2pcs-Auto...item1c2843ec63

Direct from China! I wouldn't give $105 for a whole 18-wheeler load of complete, in the box units! They probably want that much for this because it has a high class magnetic cartridge mounted to it.

The Crosleys I've bought new about a decade ago are still in good shape and not quite that crappy, but I really would not accept one free any more as I can still find good cheap used stereo equip from the 60's-80's that is worlds better in both engineering and construction.

Yeah, even the lowest cost console stereo from the early '60's will beat a current crosley.

people will buy anything no matter the quality as long as "it looks cute".

Somewhere, Powel, Jr., is quietly spinning in his grave...I have a couple of REAL Crosleys-They may have been Cheap when new, but they're still pretty good performers.

china's finest, good for the american sheepeople

I had to work on one of those recently for a stuck CD drawer. What a pain. It is very time consuming to get the "chassis" out. Anyway, long story short, I was excited to finish so I could see what all the hype was about. What a let-down! This thing sounds like CRAP. And I mean crap with a capital "S"! My clock radio sounds better. They sell for tons on ebay though, that's the only reason I would touch the thing.

I see another perspective.

Sure it's cheaply made, but that's just a cassette type motor based cheap belt drive turntable. It looks incredibly similar to the "turntables" in all in one "rack" style systems like lloyds and Candle from the late 80s/ early 90s.

But if someone just wants to play some records they bought at a thrift store - one of these will do it.

Let's be realistic, an old 60s record player may need a recap, a new cartridge, a new idler wheel - if it's a changer a full degrease and re-lube. If someone just wants to play records, and doesn't want a project, or to buy a full blown stereo system it sort of fills a hole.

It may be a gateway to a young person discovering the joy of listening to LPs, or on the other hand allow an older person the opportunity to relive some memories, with minimal effort.

That's true, but for about the same price of one of these pieces of trash they could buy something like an Audio Technica AT LP60 and a set of amplified speakers. The AT has a good magnetic cartridge that tracks at 3 grams or maybe a hair less, built in preamp, and automatic operation. It would sound a LOT better and be much easier on records. The only thing it doesn't do that the others do is play 78s.

I think Audio Technica makes a Technics SL1200 "look-alike" DJ turntable that will play 78's by holding down both 33 and 45 buttons down at the same time.

Audio Technica turntables are surprisingly good value for the money -That's a good point. The only Crosley reproduction I've seen in real life, is the little suitcase style record player at restoration hardware in a tweed case. It looked a little flimsy, but not really worse than the low end one tube record players from the past - and especially better than the "vanity fair" record players from the eighties. I was tempted to buy one, but It's hard to even imagine what I'd use it for. Do those "crosley" cartridges track well above 3 grams?

More like 7 or 8 grams.

Yikes! OK no way that thing is coming near my records.