In this blog post, I’ll share my personal experience with iMemories. I’ll explain how the process worked, how long it took, and what the final results were like. I’ll also give my thoughts on the quality of the digitized videos and photos, and whether I think iMemories is a good choice for anyone looking to save their old memories.
TL;DR
I had a mostly positive experience with iMemories when converting my old VHS tapes to digital. The process was easy, and the quality of the converted videos was good. There were a couple of small issues, but overall, I was happy with their service. If you're looking to convert your tapes, I’d recommend giving them a try.Bonus: Use promo code 50SAFESKIT for 50% off their SafeKit package when you order!
See their Official Website >>>
If you’re thinking about using iMemories, keep reading to find out if it’s worth it!
While searching online for a reliable service to convert my old VHS tapes to digital, I stumbled upon iMemories. My wife and I had been talking about converting all our old family videos—things like our wedding tape, the kids' early birthdays, and those fun holiday gatherings that feel like a lifetime ago. The tapes were starting to degrade, and we knew we had to act before the memories were lost forever.
One day, my wife suggested we just head to Costco and get it done there. But after doing some research, I found out that iMemories offered a more convenient and, frankly, less expensive option. So, I decided to reach out to iMemories to learn more about their services and pricing.
When I contacted them, I learned I would need to send in my tapes using their special kit, which I’d have to purchase. It seemed a little strange at first that I couldn’t use my own packaging, but I figured it was all part of the process. The customer service rep explained that everything had to be sent in using their box, and they even recommended I use their DVDs or USB drives for the digital files, which meant buying those directly from iMemories.
I went ahead with their USB drive option, even though I knew it would cost a bit more than buying one in a store. I also paid the $9.99 shipping fee. In total, I spent close to $50 to convert two sets of VHS tapes, including shipping.
Pricing: How Much I Paid
When I decided to convert my old VHS tapes, I had two specific tapes in mind: one was a recording of our wedding anniversary, and the other captured my wife’s birthday celebration. Both tapes held a lot of sentimental value, and I wanted to ensure they were preserved digitally before they deteriorated further.
Here’s a breakdown of what I paid:
- $49.99 for the full conversion of two VHS tapes (one wedding anniversary and one birthday).
- $9.99 for shipping (this was an unexpected cost, as I had assumed shipping would be free).
- $3.99 in taxes.
Before I settled on iMemories, my wife suggested a simpler approach: why not just take our tapes to Costco? She’d heard that they offered a good conversion service, and after doing a quick check, I saw that Costco charged $20 per tape—much cheaper than iMemories. On top of that, Costco didn’t charge for shipping or any other hidden fees, which made it seem like a much better deal, especially for a couple of tapes.
The convenience of Costco didn’t stop there. Turnaround time at Costco was also much faster—around 7-12 days—while iMemories estimated a lengthy 6-8 weeks for the same service. At that point, I was really starting to second-guess my decision. Why pay nearly three times more for a service that took a significantly longer time? I felt torn between saving money and getting my tapes back in a reasonable timeframe.
However, we ultimately decided to go with iMemories, even though the costs were higher and the wait longer. Part of me wanted to believe the extra price might translate to better quality or a more specialized service. But looking back, I do wonder whether it was the right choice, especially when Costco seemed like a simpler, more cost-effective option for just a few tapes.
At the end of the day, the choice was made, but I was left asking myself: Is the extra cost and wait time really worth it for the convenience and speed Costco offers?
Questions I Had for iMemories:
Before committing to iMemories, I had a few questions about their services. I wanted to know more about sending in photos and other media for digitization. Here's one of the questions I asked them:
"Hello, I have about 8 photo albums and 2 8"x 11" boxes of photos to send in. What is the best packaging solution, and what will this endeavor cost, approximately? Thank you!"
I also checked out Google reviews to ensure iMemories was a reputable company before making my decision. Their ratings were quite impressive:
- 4.8 stars from 3,973 reviews on Google, with many customers praising their attention to detail and the quality of the final products.
For instance, one customer shared their experience saying:
"I found this box of old films my father took when I was a child and thought I would never be able to see what was on them. Now I can watch them anytime, and they came out amazing!"
This gave me a sense of trust in iMemories as a reliable company to handle my precious family videos. After all, preserving these memories was important, and I didn’t want to risk sending them to just anyone.
My Order: Getting the iMemories Kit
Two days after I placed my order with iMemories, the conversion kit arrived at my doorstep. It came with everything I needed: clear instructions on how to pack my tapes, a prepaid shipping label, and barcodes for tracking each tape. The kit was designed to make the process as simple as possible, which I appreciated, considering how important these tapes were to me.
My wife and I carefully packed up our two VHS tapes—one from our wedding anniversary and one from her birthday celebration. We made sure everything was secure, double-checking the instructions before heading to the UPS store to ship them out. The whole process felt pretty easy, but there was still a bit of nervousness about sending off those precious memories.
Once the package was in transit, I used the tracking system to follow its journey. The package took about three days to travel from Massachusetts to Scottsdale, Arizona, where iMemories is located. As the days passed, I found myself checking the tracking updates more often than I expected, wondering when it would finally reach its destination.
Finally, the moment I had been waiting for arrived: iMemories sent me an email to confirm that they had received the tapes and were ready to begin the digitization process. It was a huge relief to know that my tapes were in good hands, and I could now look forward to seeing them transformed into digital format.
At this point, the hard part was done. The only thing left was to wait for the conversion to be completed. In the next part of my review, I’ll dive into the results and discuss whether the service met my expectations! Stay tuned!
Turnaround Time: Waiting for the Conversion
Once I shipped my tapes off to iMemories, the anticipation grew. I wanted to get my old memories back in digital form as soon as possible, but I knew it would take some time. Here's a look at the timeline from when I placed my order to receive the finished product:
- March 8: I placed the order and received the conversion kit just a few days later.
- March 10: After carefully packing up my two tapes, I dropped them off at the local UPS store using the prepaid shipping label provided by iMemories.
- March 20: iMemories notified me that they had received my tapes and started processing them.
- April 2: The digital files were ready and my original tapes were sent back to me.
When the return package arrived, I was pleased to see that everything was carefully packed. The original tapes were wrapped in bubble wrap, and everything was in good condition. Inside the box, I found both my converted digital files on a USB drive and the original VHS tapes, which were in the same condition I had sent them in.
However, as I opened the package, I noticed a small red sticker on one of the tapes. The sticker indicated that they couldn’t convert the tape due to an issue, either from mold or a damaged tape. I was a bit puzzled by this, as the tape played just fine on my old VCR, and there were no noticeable issues when I tested it.
iMemories had reached out to me to let me know they had tried to fix the problem, but I felt like the issue wasn’t fully resolved. They mentioned that they would issue a credit for the tape they couldn’t convert, but I never received any sort of refund or discount. This was a bit frustrating, especially considering the high cost of their service and the fact that the tape was still perfectly playable.
To see if the problem could be fixed elsewhere, I took the tape to a local shop in Newtown, Massachusetts. They used a standard VCR setup, and to my surprise, they were able to convert the tape without any issues. Sure, there were a few static flickers here and there—common with old tapes—but the overall picture quality was good. And the best part? The cost for the local conversion was just $20, which felt like a steal compared to the price I paid for iMemories.
Despite the high price and the delay, the quality of the converted files from iMemories was good, but I couldn’t help but wonder if the local store might’ve been a more cost-effective choice. The slow turnaround time, the additional charges, and the issue with the tape that wasn’t converted left me questioning whether the extra cost was worth it. In the next part of my review, I’ll dive deeper into the final results and discuss whether I feel the conversion service was truly worth the wait and price. Stay tuned!
Conclusion: Mostly Positive Experience with iMemories
After using iMemories to convert my old VHS tapes, I had a mostly positive experience. While there were a couple of small issues, overall, the service delivered good quality and was fairly easy to use. If you're looking to preserve old memories, iMemories could be a solid choice, but it might not be the best option for everyone.
Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons based on my experience:
Pros:
- Safe Packaging: My tapes arrived safely, well-packed with bubble wrap.
- Good Communication: iMemories kept me updated with clear communication throughout the process.
- Faster Turnaround: The conversion process was quicker than expected, completed in about 3 weeks instead of the 6-8 weeks they mentioned.
- Easy Return: The original tapes and digital files were returned in a timely manner and in good condition.
Cons:
- Minor Quality Issues: There were occasional glitches and static in the converted files.
- Audio and Video Sync: In some cases, the audio didn’t sync perfectly with the video.
- Frame Rate Inconsistencies: A couple of videos had slight frame rate issues, making playback a little less smooth.
If you decide to go with iMemories, just make sure your tapes are in good condition and reach out to customer support if you have any concerns. I would recommend it to others who want a straightforward, hassle-free experience converting old tapes. Check out other websites to learn more about iMemories and other VHS conversion services..
iMemories FAQs: What I Learned from My Experience
After sharing my review of iMemories, I’ve gotten quite a few questions from others who are thinking about using their service. I thought I’d answer some of the most common ones based on my own experience. Here we go:Is iMemories a trustworthy company?
Yes, iMemories is a trustworthy company. From what I’ve seen, they have a great reputation online. They have a 4.8/5 rating on Google with over 3,900 reviews, which is pretty impressive. Most people, like me, were happy with how their tapes turned out. The company also communicates well throughout the process, so you always know what’s happening with your order.That said, some people have had issues with delays or unexpected charges—like extra fees for add-ons or shipping. But overall, I felt good about using iMemories, and my experience was positive. They kept me updated the whole time, and the digitized files I got back were great quality.
Bonus: Use promo code 50SAFESKIT for 50% off their SafeKit package when you order!
See their Official Website >>>
Which is better, iMemories vs. LegacyBox?
Between iMemories and LegacyBox, I personally think iMemories is the better option. Here's why:- iMemories is reliable and efficient. They’re known for their quick processing time and excellent customer service. For example, I was kept in the loop with updates about my order, and I didn’t have any issues with delays or poor communication.
- LegacyBox, on the other hand, has had complaints from customers about delays and poor service. Some people have shared stories about their tapes being stuck in processing for weeks longer than promised. In my case, the iMemories service was much faster and smoother.
See their Official Website >>>
How much does iMemories actually cost?
When I looked at iMemories, I was surprised to find that the pricing is a bit higher than I expected. For two VHS tapes, I ended up paying around $60 after adding up the conversion cost, shipping, taxes, and a USB drive for storage.Here’s a rough breakdown of what I paid:
- $19.99 per tape for conversion
- $9.99 for shipping (which I didn’t expect)
- $3.99 in taxes
- $9.99 for the USB drive to store my digital files
If you’re converting a lot of tapes or want extra features, iMemories could be worth the extra cost.
Which is better, iMemories or Capture?
I haven’t personally used Capture for converting tapes, but based on my research, it seems like iMemories offers more options and better customer service. For example, they keep you updated with real-time tracking and offer a variety of ways to receive your digital files. Plus, iMemories has a higher customer rating across several platforms.Capture is cheaper and could be a good option if you’re on a tighter budget, but if you’re looking for a more professional experience with lots of support and options, I’d say iMemories is the better choice.
iMemories on Consumer Reports: No Rating Yet
Some people have asked if iMemories has been reviewed by Consumer Reports, and from what I can see, they haven’t rated iMemories yet.Consumer Reports is known for reviewing products and services, but it looks like they haven't gotten around to reviewing video tape conversion companies like iMemories. This doesn’t mean the service is bad; it just means they haven’t focused on it yet.
Even though Consumer Reports hasn’t rated iMemories, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a good option. I’ve personally had a mostly positive experience with them, and many others have left good reviews online too. You can find reviews on Google and Trustpilot, where people talk about their experiences with the service.
If you're trying to decide whether to use iMemories, you can check out reviews from regular customers. And if you want an expert opinion, you might want to keep an eye out for any updates from Consumer Reports in the future.
Final Thoughts
After using iMemories, I’m happy with the results. My tapes were digitized quickly, and the quality was excellent. The service was a bit more expensive than I expected, especially with the extra fees, but the quality of the conversion and the customer service made it worth it.If you’re considering iMemories, I’d say go for it, but just be aware of the added costs. It’s definitely a reliable option if you want your memories preserved in a high-quality way.
And as always, do your research! If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help!
