I'd look on eBay.  That's probably your best bet to find something cheap.

I'll admit I'm no expert on these matters, but VHS tapes are used in both North America and Europe.  In North America, we have NTSC VHS tapes.  In Europe, they have PAL VHS tapes.  If you buy a run-of-the-mill VCR here in North America, you won't be able to play PAL VHS tapes.  I suspect, then, that you've acquired a PAL tape.  

What's the difference and why the hell does it exist?  If I knew, I'd tell you.  I suspect I know what Jonathan Rosenbaum would say about why there is such a difference:  it's those damned greedy capitalists.  Sadly, he'd probably be right about that. 