One tape package, several recording formats
Look2 lists VHS, S-VHS and VHS-C alongside Video8, Hi8, Digital8, Mini-DV, DV and MicroMV. Its video and camcorder tape price section also names PAL, SECAM and NTSC worldwide formats. If your collection includes recordings made abroad or a small camcorder cassette, describe the label and recording system when enquiring; the cassette's size alone will not tell you everything about its contents.
The published prices are £25 for one tape and £40 for two tapes, for recordings of up to three hours each. These entries include MP4 and DVD, plus a standard USB stick. Ask for a quote if any tape runs longer, and confirm the total for a larger batch. The quoted details do not specify VAT treatment, so establish the final payable amount before handing over the recordings.
Keep cine reels separate from the tape quote
Look2's cine film price section covers Standard 8, Super 8/Single 8, 16mm and 9.5mm. It quotes per reel: 50 ft at £6.00, 100 ft at £12.00 and 200 ft at £24.00. Those are film prices, so they should not be used to estimate the cost of a VHS cassette.
For cine film, the published price includes a DVD copy as standard and email delivery of the MP4. It also includes a copyright-free soundtrack chosen by Look2 at no charge. If the character of the original film matters to you, discuss the soundtrack before ordering. A mixed collection is easier to quote when you list reels by gauge and length, and tapes by format and likely running time.
Arrange a Troon handover with a quick call
The contact page gives 22 Walker Avenue, Troon, Ayrshire, KA10 6SA, and lists Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm and Sunday closed. Drop-off and collection are available without a formal appointment, but the same page asks customers to call ahead. A call to the published number, 01292 22 22 11, is therefore a sensible part of planning your visit.
Look2's FAQ says most orders are completed within 24 hours of arrival during weekdays, with longer waits at busier times and a current timescale advised when the order arrives. Treat that as a qualified estimate. Its separate reference to a 72-hour UK-wide Royal Mail tracked return postal service describes return delivery, not a promise that every conversion takes 72 hours. Confirm both stages if posting your collection.
Match the MP4 copy to your family's viewing habits
Look2 asks customers to say which devices they will use, explaining that some televisions and computers require different file systems or file types. It says its USB sticks work on most modern televisions and computers. Take the television model or computer details into that conversation rather than assuming every USB socket plays video.
As preparation, number the tapes and photograph their labels. Note suspected mould, a cracked shell or a tape that previously jammed, and ask whether it can be assessed before playback. Avoid testing a visibly damaged cassette yourself. When the files return, check the beginning, middle and end, listen to the sound and compare the contents with your inventory. Keep the original media and make a second digital copy on a separate drive before relying on the USB stick alone.
Add the names and dates that a transfer cannot supply
Once conversion is complete, Memrial offers a separate private family archive for the digital memories. It does not convert tapes and is not part of Look2's transfer service. The free plan includes 2.0 GB of storage shared across the archive, with no card needed. Choose a few meaningful videos first and keep your full backup elsewhere.
Invite relatives to identify people or explain an occasion. Timeline accepts exact or approximate dates, helping you find a memory by year even when a tape only says 'summer holiday'. Albums, comments and stories can preserve the context alongside the recording.
For a birthday gathering, a Live Watch Party can synchronise an uploaded home video while the host controls play, pause and seeking, with voice and text chat for relatives nearby or far away. Free Watch Parties allow three hours per month and six participants. Event Memories provides a secure occasion contribution link: contributors sign in but need no archive membership, their photos and videos enter the event album, and closing the link keeps the collected memories.