Chances are, you have a lot of old VHS tapes and are now wondering where to have them converted into digital files. I recently took some of my VHS tapes to CVS and Walgreens for video conversion to preserve memories. Here is a listing of my experiences at both stores, with some pros and cons and my final recommendation.
Conversion of a VHS at CVS
I began with CVS because I had heard they partnered with iMemories for their VHS-to-digital conversion. I thought this could be a good option to try.
What I Took:
Some family videos were mostly birthday parties, vacations, and a TV show or two taped off the television in the ’90s.
In-Store Experience:
Friendly and cheerful, the cashier staff at CVS was very welcoming. They, however, lacked complete knowledge of the conversion process. They took my tapes, issued me a receipt, and told me that they estimated the time for conversion to run somewhere in the ballpark of 3 to 4 weeks. I was a little apprehensive about the wait, but I thought it would be okay to try.
Pros:
- Staff friendliness: The staff were polite and made the process smooth; lacking expertise about the details of conversion.
- Digital download option: Once completed, I was able to pull and download my videos online on their website; easy and convenient.
- Value for the money: Priced at around $30 per tape, the service was reasonably priced, though it was not the cheapest option.
Cons:
- Long wait time: It almost felt like forever waiting about 4 weeks to receive my tape back. That wait felt extremely long, especially when you are just itching to see your memories once again.
- Quality issues: Upon viewing the digital files, some parts of the video appeared blurry, probably due to the tapes’ conditions. It wasn’t really up to my standards, and once or twice I noticed glitches in the video.
- Inadequate info: Staff had very little information on the conversion process, and it put me in the dark regarding how my tapes were being handled.
Thoughts Overall on CVS:
CVS is very good while one doesn’t mind a slightly longer wait. This service-friendly option provided a pretty accessible way to get your digital files. But a step up in quality would have made this service worth it; it is just a little long on the wait, which made it feel awfully inefficient.
Conversion of VHS at Walgreens
The second took place at Walgreens, where it offered VHS-to-digital conversion services through YesVideo. I had heard mostly good things about the conversion process, so I wanted to see how it compared with CVS.
What I Took:
To Walgreens, I took a couple of tapes of recent family events, that is, a wedding and a few holiday get-togethers. These tapes were in much better condition than the older ones I gave CVS, so I was expecting a clearer outcome.
In-Store Experience:
The staff at Walgreens seemed to know a bit more about the conversion process when the tapes were dropped off. They offered some expectations and told me the conversion would take around 3 weeks; a tad speedier than CVS, adding to the bonus.
Pros:
- Faster turnaround time: The conversion was done somewhat faster than at CVS in just about 3 weeks instead of 4.
- Quality Issues: Walgreens had a slightly better standard of conversion. The tapes I brought were clearer, and there were far fewer blurry patches to the video.
- Trained Staff: The staff at Walgreens understood the mechanics of conversion far better. They answered my questions and reassured me about the whole process.
- Digital Options: The digital from Walgreens is just like that of CVS. I could either download the digital files or get a DVD.
Cons:
- Higher Price: It priced the same as CVS-pretty much $30 per tape-well above my opinion of what price should be.
- Sound and Video Sync Problems: Though video quality was improved overall, I did detect some issues wherein the sound did not sync well with the video. This wasn’t major, but I could still tell when watching the tapes.
Thoughts Overall on Walgreens:
Walgreens was a little quicker in their services and a bit more reliable than CVS. However, I did notice the sound and video were slightly out of sync, which did not ruin the whole experience for me; rather, it made Walgreens feel a more upfront service than CVS.
Final Recommendation:
After trying CVS and Walgreens, here is what I would suggest:
- If you want a quicker service with slightly better quality, pick Walgreens. They were ahead of CVS in more ways than one. There were apparent sync issues during a few plays of the conversion, but the minor annoyance was more than worth the price.
- If you choose CVS, you don’t mind a longer wait for what appears to be a no-fuss service. CVS may seem to have problems with waiting longer and some quality issues, but they are not a bad deal for those who prefer a quiet, no-fuss kind of affair. Just be ready for some minor video glitches.
Overall:
If you want it fast with good quality, I probably would choose Walgreens. If you don’t care about time and just want a relatively simple service, CVS would get it done, albeit slower. Both are decent options, but Walgreens definitely shone through a little more in my eyes.