How to Choose the Best Video Transfer Service

Most people have at least some old video footage in their homes. In most cases, they’re in the form of VHS tapes that contain some of the most precious memories from the family’s past.

But because VHS tapes aren’t great at holding up against deterioration, it’s important to consider how you’re going to ensure that those memories remain preserved for you and the future generations of your family.

And that’s where a video conversion service can be so helpful.

Instead of trying to figure out how to digitize the footage yourself, you can outsource it to professionals who have the right tools and the necessary expertise to ensure you’re happy with the results.

But how to choose the right services provider?

Well, to answer that, let’s look at some of the most important considerations below.

Look at The Range of Their Services

The first thing you should look at when considering different providers is the types of digitization services they offer.

For instance, if you have a VHS tapes collection, you want a VHS to DVD service that can handle them. If you have 8MM or another format, you need to find a provider that can handle that as well.

Looking at the range of services is crucial because it will allow you to instantly eliminate providers who don’t offer what you’re looking for.

That way, before considering the next essential aspects we’ll outline below, you will at least know that if the company checks out, they will be able to help you and will have the necessary equipment to handle your video footage the right way.

Consider the Reviews

As you browse through the websites of video conversion service providers, you will probably notice that all of them promise similar things, such as a fast turnaround, fair price, and high-quality service.

But the problem is that without trying the company’s services yourself, you can’t be sure that those claims are actually valid. Anyone can write anything on the internet, so you need a way to verify the claims that those companies are making.

However, the great thing about the internet is that you can find information about almost everything. And that includes customer reviews about most companies that have been in business for a while.

You can read about the experiences of others when working with particular companies, seeing what they liked, didn’t like, and whether they were satisfied overall.

If you read reviews that concern video digitization, you will know exactly what you can expect, which will make deciding whether you want to use those services too much easier as well.

When a company does a good job consistently, it usually has reviews showcased right on its site. The more social proof elements you can spot, the better you should feel about the chances you will walk away satisfied with the results you get.

Ask About the Cost

No matter how you look at it, the price will play an important role in your decision. Sure, you want to protect the precious memories in the videos, but you also want to pay a fair price that reflects the services you are getting.

So, after you shorten your list to a few companies you’re considering, ask them to quote you for the project and see which one offers the best price.

However, don’t just go with the cheapest option either. In many cases, something that costs significantly less has other drawbacks that you might not be okay with.

So, always ask what goes into the quote for a project and what types of services or unique perks you can expect to get.

Sometimes, you may find that even though one provider was able to offer a lower price, the best value was provided by another, who has more expertise, better equipment, and a faster turnaround time.

Is Turnaround Time Important?

Finally, one of the aspects that will determine how much your project will cost is how fast you need the tapes delivered. If you’re in no rush and just want them digitized, you might be able to get a better deal.

But if you have decided to digitize the videos for a special occasion such as the holidays, you may be on a tight schedule and might need them delivered on short notice.

Talk with the providers that you’re considering about how the turnaround time might impact the price and think whether the extra cost (if any) for a faster turnaround makes sense in your situation.

You should also consider that depending on your order’s size, the turnaround time will also become longer or shorter, as a few tapes will take much less time to digitize compared to an extensive collection with hundreds of items of video footage, especially if it’s in different formats.