A tape count makes the price discussion easier
DCD publishes a quantity-based price list for video tape transfer to USB. One tape is £15; 2-10 tapes are £14 per tape; 11-20 are £13.50 per tape; 21-30 are £13 per tape; and 31 or more are £12.75 per tape. These are video tape figures, so they should not be used to estimate the cost of a cine reel. Confirm the applicable total, any duration conditions and whether the USB or other charges affect your order before handing anything over.
Start with a count of the actual cassettes, rather than the number of events written on their labels. One recording may cover several occasions, while a long celebration may occupy several tapes. Make a short inventory with a number for each cassette, its format and any readable label. This helps you describe the job clearly and match the returned files to the originals.
Local handover or a postal order
The video transfer page advertises collection and drop-off in Chorley and surrounding areas, and says Dave covers a 20-mile radius. If that sounds suitable, agree the handover arrangements directly rather than assuming an appointment or collection charge. For people outside those areas, postal orders are welcome, with customers responsible for covering return postage.
Before posting, confirm how to address and package the order and how the return will be arranged. Keep a copy of your inventory and use protective packaging that prevents cassettes moving around. Tell DCD about a cracked shell, visible mould or a tape that previously jammed before trying to play it again. Ask whether it can be assessed; transfer availability does not establish that damaged recordings can be repaired.
MP4 on USB: plan the first viewing
The stated delivery is MP4 files on a USB stick, delivered or mailed back with your original tapes. That gives you a defined output to discuss. If your main aim is watching on a television, check its USB playback requirements and ask about compatibility before ordering. If you want to edit or share excerpts, explain that too, so any questions about the supplied files can be settled early.
When the order comes back, compare the files with your inventory. Open each one, check the beginning and end, and sample picture and sound through the middle. Listen for the voices you expected and note any missing material or playback problem. Keep the original tapes and make a second digital copy on a separate device before relying on the USB alone.
Do the checks while extra copies may still be available
DCD says digital files are normally stored for 30-60 days after completion in case additional copies are needed, then securely deleted unless instructed otherwise. This is a reason to check your order promptly and discuss any extra copies or retention request directly. It is not a substitute for organising your own backups.
If the collection includes old film as well as cassettes, DCD also lists 8mm cine film transfer to USB. Its cine page specifies MP4 files on USB and the return of original reels. Keep reels separate in your inventory and request the appropriate cine quotation, because tape quantities and film reel measurements describe different jobs.
Turn the converted recordings into a private family archive
After conversion, Memrial offers a separate private family archive for digital photos and home videos. It does not convert physical tapes and is separate from DCD. You can begin with 2.0 GB of free storage shared across the archive, with no card needed. Choose the recordings that matter most first, then invite relatives to add comments and stories that explain who appears on screen.
Timeline can use exact or approximate dates to help you find memories by year. A recording labelled only "summer holiday" can be placed around the year the family remembers, without inventing an exact day. Live Watch Parties synchronise an uploaded home video with host play, pause and seek controls plus voice and text chat, so relatives nearby or far away can watch together. The free allowance is 3 hours per month with up to 6 participants.
For a family anniversary, Event Memories provides a secure occasion contribution link. Contributors sign in but do not need archive membership to add photos and videos to the event album. Closing the link keeps the collected memories. Pairing a converted anniversary recording with relatives' contributions can give the footage a richer context while keeping a separate backup of the files.