A collection that changed with the camera
A family may have an early birthday on VHS, a school performance on MiniDV and older relatives pictured on slides. Hackett's published format list covers those three types, plus DVD, Mini DVD, 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm film reels, photos, negatives and audio cassettes. That breadth gives you a reason to describe the whole collection when making your first inquiry, even if VHS is your immediate priority.
Group items by the labels you can actually read. Keep uncertain formats in a separate group and photograph them for identification. A written inventory helps you explain what you have without guessing. If the budget requires a smaller first order, choose recordings whose people or occasions you can identify while relatives are available to help.
USB, DVD or a Google Drive upload
Hackett's FAQ says USB flash drives are its most common conversion medium. DVD copies are available if needed, and the business also offers to upload files to Google Drive for sharing with family and friends. These are delivery choices worth discussing before the work begins, because the right choice depends on how you intend to watch and keep the recordings.
For computer viewing and future archiving, ask what video file type you will receive on USB and whether your devices can play it. If you want a DVD, clarify how it will work with your player. For a Google Drive upload, ask whose account will hold the files, how you will obtain your own copy and whether any additional charges apply. Delivery media do not tell you the file specifications or the full price of an order.
Arrange the handoff before traveling
The FAQ describes starting by email, text or Facebook Messenger to arrange a time to bring items in. It also says customers beyond driving distance can mail their media. The contact page publishes a Woodstock address, so local handoff and mailing are both options to discuss rather than reasons to arrive unannounced.
Send your format list and approximate item count when you get in touch. Request a current quote, the expected completion time, any delivery costs and the arrangements for returning originals. If mailing, agree on the destination and packing instructions first, then keep an inventory and photographs of the items sent. Neither a broad format list nor a choice of delivery media establishes the cost or schedule for your particular collection.
Keep the clues attached to each recording
Before handing over a VHS tape, give it an inventory number and record its existing label separately. Distinguish something written on the cassette from a date someone remembers. A label naming a particular Thanksgiving is helpful, but a relative's tentative identification should remain tentative until the footage provides more clues.
Mention cracked shells, loose tape, unusual smells or visible mold before anyone attempts playback. Ask Hackett's whether it can assess the particular problem; the published format list is not a promise of repair or restoration. Avoid testing a suspect tape in an old machine just to find out what is on it. For clean, intact items, preserving the original labels and order can make it easier to match returned files to the physical collection.
Check the files while the tapes are still identifiable
Once you receive the conversion, compare the files with your inventory. Open each one and sample the beginning, middle and end, checking both picture and sound. Make a note of anything that appears missing or unexpectedly cut off, then raise specific questions with the converter. Keep the original tapes while you review the results.
Save another copy in a separate place before reorganizing filenames or sharing the collection. A USB drive is convenient to carry, but it should not be the only copy of recordings you value. Invite a relative to help identify unfamiliar faces, locations and voices, and capture those notes alongside the video rather than leaving them in a conversation that will be hard to find later.
Turn converted footage into a shared family occasion
After conversion, Memrial provides a separate private family archive for digital photos and home videos. It does not convert tapes and is not part of Hackett's service. The free allowance is 2.0 GB shared across the archive, with no card needed. Check your video file sizes when deciding what to add first. Timeline accepts exact or approximate dates, helping relatives find memories by year even when the original label is incomplete.
For a reunion, a Live Watch Party can synchronize an uploaded home video while the host controls play, pause and seeking, with voice and text chat for relatives nearby or far away. The free plan includes 3 monthly hours and up to 6 participants. Event Memories can collect new reunion photos and videos through a secure occasion link. Contributors sign in but need no archive membership; uploads go into the event album, and closing the link keeps the memories already collected.