As a video editor, I’m often asked for advice on preserving old memories, especially from friends and readers who want to digitize their photos, VHS tapes, and films. To help answer these questions, I decided to test Legacybox, a service that promises to convert these memories into digital formats. With mixed reviews online, I wanted to give it a try and provide an honest review of the process, from start to finish.

Legacybox has received a lot of attention, but not all of it has been positive. With a 2.4-star rating from over 800 reviews, many customers have shared frustrations with customer service, product quality, and delivery.

In this review, I’ll share my personal experience with Legacybox, detailing the pros, cons, and overall effectiveness of the service. Whether it’s worth trying out, or if you should look elsewhere, I’ll help you decide. Let’s dive in!

Quick Summary:

I used Legacybox to digitize some old photos and tapes. The process was simple, and I was happy with the results. However, after sharing my experience, I read several negative reviews from others who had problems, like lost or damaged items. While it worked fine for me, it’s important to know that not everyone has had the same experience.

After using Legacybox, I think I’d prefer using a local service or store instead. That way, I’d have more control and avoid potential issues like lost items or delays.

Here are some top alternatives to Legacybox, categorized by cost, quality of service, and specific offerings:

1. iMemories – (Best Mail in VHS Service)
2. ScanMyPhotos – Affordable bulk photo scanning and digitization services.
3. DigMyPics – High-quality photo, slide, and video-to-digital conversion.
4. Southtree – Offers digitization of photos, films, and videos with bulk pricing.
5. Costco Photo Center (via Capture.com) – Budget-friendly photo and video digitization for Costco members.

Step 1: Ordering Your Legacybox Kit

When I decided to try Legacybox, the first step was to order their kit. Legacybox helps turn old memories, like photos, videos, and tapes, into digital files. They have different kits based on how many items you want to send in for preservation. I chose a medium-sized kit, which seemed just right for what I wanted to preserve.

Ordering was really simple. I went to their website, picked the kit I wanted, and paid for it. The price can range from $75 to $500 depending on how many items you need to send, but there are often discounts (I got 50% off, which helped a lot!).

Once I placed the order, my kit arrived pretty quickly. The box was strong and well-packed, so I knew my items would be safe while shipping. Inside the box, I found everything I needed:

• A pre-paid shipping label to send my items back to Legacybox,
• A guide with instructions on how to use the kit,
• Barcodes to label each item for tracking,
• A sturdy box to keep everything safe during shipping,
• A customer service number to contact if I needed help.

The packaging was great, and the instructions were easy to follow. Some people have had issues with items getting lost or delayed, but that didn’t happen to me. Legacybox has improved their tracking system, so it’s better now, but it’s still a good idea to read other reviews to see how things have gone for others. Many people have had problems in the past, so I made sure to keep that in mind.

One tip: keep the outer box your kit comes in! It’s designed to protect your items when sending them back, so it makes everything much easier.

Next, I’ll share how I spent hours sorting through old photos and deciding which ones to send. It turned out to be a bigger task than I expected! Stay tuned for the next part of my Legacybox experience.

Step 2: Sorting Through Your Memories

When my Legacybox kit arrived, the next step was going through all my old photos, videos, and tapes to decide what to send for preservation. It took way longer than I expected! I had a lot of family photos, VHS tapes, and other keepsakes, and choosing what to keep and send was tough.

I started by opening boxes of old photos and letters. It felt like opening a treasure chest of memories. Some pictures made me laugh, while others made me a little emotional. It was hard to decide what to keep, but I knew I couldn’t send everything, so I had to be picky.

Here’s how I did it:

• Separate the Memories: I divided everything into piles based on what I really wanted to keep.
• Label and Organize: I used the barcode stickers from the Legacybox kit to label everything, so they’d know what each item was.
• Pick the Right Format: Legacybox can convert different types of memories, like photos or VHS tapes. I made sure to choose the right format for each item.

It took a few days, mostly because I got lost in the memories! But once I finished narrowing everything down, I felt good about my choices. Some people might find this step overwhelming, but it was definitely worth it. Now, I had a box of memories ready to send!

Step 3: Sending Your Memories to Legacybox (Continued)

After we took the package to the post office, I felt a little relieved, but then I started thinking about a few things. Even though I knew I had sent everything correctly, I still had some concerns.

Contacting Legacybox After Shipping

Once the package was on its way, I decided to contact Legacybox just to make sure everything was alright. I wanted to confirm that they received my package and that my photos and videos were safe. I sent them a message with my tracking number and asked for an update.

Luckily, Legacybox got back to me quickly and told me that they had received the package and were starting to process everything. This made me feel a bit better, but I still had a few worries in the back of my mind.

Concerns I Had

Even though Legacybox confirmed they had received everything, I couldn’t help but feel nervous about a few things:

1. Losing Items: I had read reviews from people who said their photos or videos were lost or damaged. I was worried that something might happen to my items, especially since they were so important to me and my family.
2. Tracking and Updates: I wondered how often Legacybox would update me on the progress. Would I know when they started working on my items? Would they tell me when everything was ready? I wasn’t sure, and I hoped for more updates during the process.
3. How Long It Would Take: I had heard that it could take weeks or even months to get everything back. I was excited to see the digital versions of my memories but wasn’t sure how long I would have to wait.

Even with all these worries, I felt a little more at ease knowing Legacybox had received my package. All I could do now was wait and hope that everything turned out well.

Step 4: Getting My Memories Back

After a few weeks, my package from Legacybox finally arrived. I was excited to open it and see my memories back in digital form. Inside the box, there was a thumb drive with all of my photos and videos.

Checking the Quality

When I started looking at the digital files, I noticed a few small issues. Some of the videos from the VHS tapes weren’t as clear as I thought they’d be. A few parts were blurry or shaky. But since the tapes were so old, I wasn’t too upset. I was just happy to have the memories saved.

The photos that were scanned also had some minor problems, like small scratches or faded colors. It was a little disappointing, but I knew it was just because the photos were old. Overall, I was still happy to have them saved in a way I could easily share.

Showing My Family

Once everything was on the thumb drive, I couldn’t wait to show my family. We all sat down together, watched the old videos, and looked through the photos. It was a special time. Everyone laughed, remembered, and shared stories from the past. My kids were amazed to see videos of their grandparents when they were young, and my parents loved seeing old footage of themselves.

Even though there were a few small quality issues, it didn’t take away from how wonderful it was to relive those memories with my family. It felt great to have those special moments saved and shared with the people I care about.

Pros and Cons of Legacybox

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons based on my experience and what others have shared.

Pros:

• Easy Process: Legacybox makes it simple to preserve your memories. They send you a kit, and you just pack your items and send them back. It’s a straightforward process, with no need to find local services or deal with complicated tech.
• Works with Many Formats: Legacybox can handle photos, VHS tapes, DVDs, and even old films like Super 8. They help turn older formats into digital files you can watch on your computer or TV.
• No Need to Leave Home: You don’t have to go anywhere. Legacybox sends you everything you need, and you just use the prepaid label to send it back. It’s convenient and easy to do from home.
• Safe Memory Storage: Your memories are saved digitally (on a thumb drive or DVD), so you don’t have to worry about losing them in the future.
• Good Customer Service: If you have questions, Legacybox has helpful customer service that you can contact anytime.

Cons:

• It’s Expensive: One downside is the cost. The service can be pricey, ranging from $75 to $500, depending on what you’re sending. It might feel like a lot if you’re only preserving a few items.
• Quality Can Vary: Some people have noticed that the quality of their digitized memories isn’t perfect. For example, old tapes can sometimes have fuzziness or fading. While I didn’t mind this too much, it’s worth considering if you expect perfect quality.
• Could Do It Yourself: If you’re tech-savvy, you might be able to do it yourself. Scanning photos or transferring videos to your computer can be done at home, and it could save you money.
• Lost Items: Some people have had issues with items being lost or damaged. While I didn’t experience this, it’s something to be aware of. Legacybox has improved its tracking, but it’s still a concern.

Comparing My Experience to Others

Looking at other people’s reviews, I noticed some similarities and differences. Like me, many people had a positive experience with Legacybox. They found it easy to use and were happy with their digitized memories. However, some people had problems with their items being lost or damaged during the process.

For me, the minor quality issues were okay because the most important thing was preserving the memories. But I understand that for others, losing precious memories or dealing with quality issues can be a big problem. Please check other websites for more detailed reviews before making your final decision.