VHS and the other formats sitting beside it
QC Digitize Me lists VHS, VHS-C, MiniDV, Hi8 and Video8, as well as 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm film. Its wider list includes photos, slides, audio cassettes, vinyl records, DVDs, CDs and floppy disks. That range makes it worth discussing a mixed collection rather than assuming every item needs a separate specialist.
Begin with an inventory that distinguishes videotapes from film reels. An 8mm camcorder tape and an 8mm film reel are different media, despite sharing a name. Write down the label on each item and photograph anything you cannot identify. Pick out the recordings your family most wants to see, then ask whether grouping several media types changes the quote or collection arrangements.
Read the $10 tape price alongside the storage choice
The published pricing page has a $10 tape category covering VHS, VHS-C, 8mm tapes, MiniDV tapes, Betamax, audio cassettes and vinyl records. It separately notes an additional $5 for audio cassettes. For a VHS project, the $10 listing is a starting point for the conversation; ask how recording length, blank sections and any extra work affect your specific order. The quoted details do not establish duration limits or tax treatment.
Storage has its own published prices: a 32GB USB flash drive is $20, a 64GB drive is $25 and a 128GB drive is $30. A 1TB external hard drive requires an enquiry. Ask which capacity suits the expected files and whether a storage charge applies to your proposed order. Keep film pricing separate: 8mm and Super 8 transfers start at $10 per reel, with an additional $5 for 200-foot reels and $10 for 400-foot reels. Slides and photos are listed at $.50 each.
Arrange the handoff before packing your tapes
The contact page says contact is available seven days a week, while drop-off and pickup are by appointment. Treat those as different arrangements: availability to get in touch does not mean an unscheduled visit is suitable. The website describes conversion for the Quad Cities and beyond, but confirm the handoff that works for your location.
Number your tapes and make a matching list of their labels, including uncertain dates or names. Mention cracked shells, loose tape, suspected mold or a cassette that previously jammed before handing it over; ask whether the business can assess the problem. Avoid testing a visibly damaged tape in an old player. Agree on the expected completion date and how you will be contacted when the work is ready.
Make the returned drive useful from the first viewing
QC Digitize Me describes USB flash drives and external hard drives as storage options for digitized videos, photos, audio and other media, viewable on a computer or compatible TV. Its FAQ also describes shipping original media back with the drive containing the digital files. Confirm how return of originals works with your own local or shipping arrangement.
Before choosing an output, ask for the video file format and check whether your intended computer or television can play it. A drive's capacity alone does not answer that question. When the files arrive, compare them with your inventory, sample the beginning, middle and end of each recording, and listen for sound. Keep the originals, preserve an unchanged copy of the returned files, and make a second backup on separate storage.
Let relatives supply the dates and the stories
After conversion, Memrial offers a separate private family archive for digital memories. It does not convert tapes or form part of QC Digitize Me. You can invite relatives, organize photos and home videos in albums, and add comments and stories. Free signup needs no card and includes 2.0 GB of storage shared across the archive, so check file sizes before deciding what to upload first.
Timeline lets you give a memory an exact or approximate date and find it by year. If a recording only says 'summer holiday,' a relative may recognize the children or the house and help place it. Live Watch Parties synchronize an uploaded home video, with host play, pause and seek controls plus voice and text chat for relatives near or far. The free allowance is three hours per month with up to six participants.
For a family reunion, Event Memories provides a secure occasion contribution link. Contributors sign in but do not need archive membership; their photos and videos collect in the event album. Closing the link keeps those memories. It is a practical way to put newly recorded moments beside older footage once you have chosen what to preserve.