Hi, I’m Jamie, a video editor with years of experience working on various projects, and today I’m diving into a review of iMemories. As a professional, I’m always looking for reliable ways to preserve and digitize old media, especially as more people want to save their memories in digital formats. In this review, I’ll take you through my experience testing the service, the quality of the conversions, the pricing, and whether it’s worth your time and money. Stay tuned!

Brief Summary for Those Who Don’t Want to Read the Whole Article

iMemories offers a good service for converting VHS tapes to digital, though it may be pricier than some other options. If you’re looking for a local option, Costco provides a good alternative with in-store pickup. For a more hands-on approach, local stores and DIY converters such as Elgato can also work well.

Here are my Top 5 Recommendations:

1. iMemories  – Reliable service with a good turnaround time.
2. Costco – Affordable and convenient, with in-store pickup.
3. Elgato Video Capture – Trusted service with a solid reputation.
4. Local stores – Personalized service with quicker turnaround.
5. DIY kits – Budget-friendly for those willing to do it themselves.

Review of iMemories: My Experience and What Others Have Said

On October 10th, 2024, I decided to try iMemories for converting a few of my precious VHS tapes to digital format. After seeing their 4.6-star rating on Trustpilot, with 579 reviews, I felt reasonably confident. Many customers praised their safe shipping and conversion quality, but I also noticed some mixed feedback, which piqued my curiosity.

I ordered the SafeShip Kit from their website for $15, which included crush-proof boxes and waterproof bags designed to keep my tapes safe during transit. I had a few special tapes, such as my parents’ wedding video on Betamax, some old family vacation videos, and a few birthday party tapes from the early 90s that I wanted to convert into digital files.

I shipped my tapes from a FedEx Office in Chicago, Illinois, on October 15th, 2024. The process was straightforward, and I was able to track the package until it arrived at iMemories’ facility.

What Others Have Said About iMemories

From my research on Reddit and other review platforms, I found a mix of opinions. Some users shared positive experiences, mentioning they were happy with the results after sending their tapes for conversion. Many praised the service for returning the original tapes and offering just the digital copies they needed, which was similar to what I was expecting. Some users also noted that iMemories’ less aggressive advertising compared to other services made them seem more reasonable.

However, there were also some concerns. Reddit users raised issues about incorrect conversions of certain formats, such as PAL tapes, problems with audio conversion, and a lack of support for certain film types. Some also mentioned the company overstated their ability to handle various media formats, only to find out that certain tapes or films weren’t processed as expected. A few users complained about not receiving high-definition outputs for film conversions, which is something to consider if you have specific needs.

Customer Service Experience

Before sending off my tapes, I reached out to iMemories’ customer service to confirm a few details. The representative I spoke to was friendly and assured me that iMemories has never lost or damaged a memory in their years of service. They also mentioned that once the conversion was complete, I could receive my memories in various formats, including DVDs, USB drives, Blu-ray discs, or through their cloud service. This reassurance was helpful, and I felt confident that my tapes were in good hands.

I’m now waiting for the conversion process to finish and will keep you updated on my experience in the next steps!

Note: Some readers have asked for promo codes, but unfortunately, iMemories didn’t provide me with any special discounts. However, I did get 50% off the SafeShip kit, which is a promotion currently available to all users. For the best deal, make sure to order directly from their official website.

Step 2: Getting the Tapes Back and Testing the Quality

After sending off my tapes on October 15th, I was expecting to get them back within a few weeks. I received my converted tapes on November 5th, 2024, which was about three weeks after I shipped them. It was a bit longer than I expected, but I was relieved they were returned safely in the crush-proof boxes iMemories had promised.

When I opened the box, I was excited to see that my original tapes were still in great condition. They even included a USB drive with all my converted videos, as well as a link to download the files from their cloud service. I decided to test everything right away.

Testing the Quality

I started with a VHS tape of my parents’ wedding video. I plugged the USB drive into my laptop and began watching. The video quality was decent, but it didn’t blow me away. The picture was clear enough, but there was a slight graininess that made it feel like a lower-quality conversion. I expected a bit more crispness, especially since I paid for the conversion service. The sound was good, though — no issues there.

Next, I checked the family vacation videos from the 90s. The quality on these was pretty similar — decent, but nothing impressive. My wife, who was sitting beside me, noticed the slight imperfections too. She was happy to see the tapes on the screen, but we both agreed that the quality could have been better, especially for old family memories like these.

Customer Service Response

I decided to call iMemories customer service to see if they could explain the quality. The representative I spoke to was very understanding. She told me that the slight graininess I saw was due to the old quality of the tapes themselves and that the conversion process was done as best as possible given the condition of the original footage. She offered to help me with any further concerns, but I felt like it was a bit out of their control.

She also let me know that they do their best to maintain the original look of the footage, but if I wanted a better resolution, I could always consider upgrading to HD or 4K options, which were available at an extra cost.

Family Reaction

I had paid for the service with the intention of showing the converted tapes during our family gathering on November 8th. When I played the videos for everyone, there were a lot of smiles and tears as they saw old memories come to life again. My parents were especially touched to see their wedding video, even if the quality wasn’t perfect.

Everyone was happy to see the tapes and to have them digitally preserved, but some family members did comment that the video quality was a bit old-fashioned. Overall, it was still an emotional experience, and I think everyone appreciated having these memories digitized.

So far, iMemories has delivered what I expected in terms of service, but the quality could have been slightly better for what I paid.

Note: Some readers have asked for promo codes, but I didn’t receive any. I did get 50% off the SafeShip kit, which is available to everyone. Be sure to order through the official website for the best deal.

Conclusion: Would I Choose iMemories Again?

After using iMemories to convert my family tapes, I feel they do a good job overall, but there are a few things to think about before choosing them again. The conversion process was smooth, and my tapes were returned safely and on time. However, the quality wasn’t exactly what I hoped for. Some of the footage looked a little grainy, which could be because of how old the tapes were.

I had some slight delays with getting my tapes back, but customer service was helpful when I called with questions. My wife was happy with seeing our old memories, especially at the family gathering I paid for, but there were times when I wished the video quality could have been a bit clearer.

Would I use iMemories again? Maybe, but I also looked into a few other services before making my decision. For example, I checked Costco’s photo and video services while I was there. They offer a similar tape-to-digital conversion service at a lower price. When I compared prices, Costco’s was much more affordable, and I liked that I could pick it up in-store, which felt more convenient.

Other Options to Consider

If you’re looking for other ways to digitize your tapes, here are a few ideas:

• Costco: I visited a Costco store to get some information about their services. Their prices were competitive, and they offered similar options to iMemories, like converting VHS to digital. Costco’s service seems like a good choice for those who prefer picking up their memories in person and don’t mind a more straightforward process.
• Local stores: Many local video and photo stores also offer VHS to digital conversion for reasonable prices. You can speak directly with the staff and ask questions before sending your tapes.
• DIY conversion kits: If you want to save money, you can buy a DIY VHS to digital kit. These kits come with everything you need to convert your tapes at home. It’s a cheaper option, but it will take more time and effort.
• Other services: I also looked into services like Southtree and LegacyBox, but iMemories stood out because of the good reviews. However, LegacyBox does have some mixed reviews, especially about video quality.

Final Thoughts

In the end, iMemories is a good option for digitizing your memories, but I would suggest looking around for other options, like Costco, especially if you’re after better prices or more convenience. If you want more control over the process, you could consider a local store or a DIY kit. It all depends on your budget, time, and how important video quality is to you.