Call toll free 1.866.386.6843or Chat Live
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You Have Questions We Have Answers!
Please look at this before you order. It answers many of the general questions that you have no matter what type of media you need transferred.
General FAQ
If you have general questions about ordering, editing, sharing and shipping your home movies and images they are answered here.
Film FAQ
If you have questions about our process, here are your answers!
Video Tapes FAQ
Do you have questions about how we convert your VHS, VHS-C, Hi8, Video8, Betamax, MiniDV, and Digital8 vdeotapes to DVD?
Scanning FAQ
Do you have questions about how we convert your Slides, Negatives, and Photos to DVD?
Flat Fee Easy Box FAQ
Do you have a lot of media? Here we answer all your questions about how the Flat Fee Options work.
Flat Fee Gift Box FAQ
Do you want to give the opportunity to transfer media as a gift? Here we answer all your questions our flat fee gift box.
Hard Drive FAQ
Here you will find all the technical specifications and information regarding the USB external hard drive that we offer.
General Order Questions
- Why use Home Movie Depot?
- What type of formats do you transfer?
- How much does it cost?
- How long does it take?
- What do the different status' mean?
- Is it safe? Will you return my originals?
- What if I'm not satisfied?
- How many DVD's or hard drives will I get?
- How do I order more copies?
- Do you have any restrictions regarding the content of my movies or images?
- Can I download my movies from your website?
Home Movie Editing and Sharing
- How does the Facebook link work?
- How does the Email This Movie feature work?
- Will I be able to edit and share my movies?
- Will my new DVD play on my DVD player?
- Can I edit my new DVD on my home computer? Can I simply drag and drop my DVD files onto my computer?
Shipping
General Order questions
Why use Home Movie Depot?
Home Movie Depot is a group of professionals you can trust with your precious memories. We would like to offer answers that we think you might ask when considering having your memories preserved.
- Home Movie Depot has over a decade of experience transferring home movies.
- Home Movie Depot has been recognized by The New York Times, Parade Magazine, PC World Online and various newspapers and radio stations. We have transferred home movies and video productions for clients across the US and around the world. We have posted some of their testimonials.
- Home Movie Depot provides two different transfer methods for 8mm film: Professional and Premium. This provides for better options for our customers.
- There are no hidden handling fees, processing fees, or storage fees. Our pricing is available online and allows the customers to see exactly what we include with each package.
What type of formats do you transfer?
- Film - 8mm, Super8,16mm
-
Images - Slides, Photographs up to 8"x10", *Negatives.
*For non-35mm slides and non-35mm negatives please use the customized option. - Video - VHS, Hi8, Video8, VHS-C, Betamax, MiniDV, or Digital8
How much does it cost?
Pricing varies depending on the amount of film, video and images you may have as well as what other services you order. Click on the below links to visit our individual pricing pages:
Film Pricing Page.
Videotape Pricing Page.
Scanning Pricing Page.
Flat Fee Pricing Page.
How long does it take?
Most orders are completed in about 2-3 weeks after being received at our facility. Due to an increase in order volume around the holidays our turnaround time may vary.
What do the different statuses mean?
You can track the progress of your order at anytime! Just login to your account and look at the status next to your order.
- Not Received- Means that you've placed an order with us, but it has not arrived at our facility.
- Received- We've received, opened, and verified the contents of your order.
- Transferring- Encompasses all the "hands on" interaction that a technician has with your media- cleaning, splicing, inspection, and transfer. This status will take the longest, as it is the bulk of your transfer.
- Transferred- Your media has been transferred and will be put on a DVD or hard drive.
- Burned- Means that your order is ready for packaging and shipping.
- Shipped- Your order has been shipped. Back to top
Is it safe? Will you return my originals?
We receive orders from around the world on a daily basis. Your images and movies are not destroyed or damaged in the process and you'll be able to view or even transfer your media again! We return everything that you send to us- film, cans, boxes, reels, video tapes, albums, negatives, slides, carousels.
A technician is with your movies and images during every step of the process. You can read about some of our efforts to ensure the safety of your film, videotapes, and images.
Back to topWhat if I'm not satisfied?
Customer satisfaction is very important to us. We are committed to fixing any problem that is not inherent to the original media in a timely manner. Visit our guarantee policy for more information.
Back to topHow many DVD's or hard drives will I get with my order?
As many as it takes! You do not have to calculate how many DVD's or hard drives will be needed to complete your order. We only need to know how many complete copies of your movies you'd like to receive. If your order takes 10 DVDs to create a complete copy, that is what we deliver. The cost of your media is calculated when you place an order - so the number of DVDs needed will not further affect your price.
Back to topHow do I order more copies?
To ensure that we can accommodate your copy order, please place your copy order within 30 days after it's shipping date.
Basic Copies: Film and video customers can purchase basic copies, the copies that are identical to your screening DVD, by logging into your account and choosing the "Online Editor & Order Copies." Proceed directly to the "Finalize" tab and click the "Order Additional Copies" button. Enter the number of copies that you'd like and your credit card information and we'll send them to you. Image scanning customers will have to contact us at 1-866-386-6843 or service@homemoviedepot.com to order additional copies
Customized Copies: Once you've had a chance to use our editing tools available for film and video, you can order more customized copies from the editor. Log into your account and choose the "Online Editor & Order Copies." Once in the film editor, you can use the tools to add titles, music, and change reel sequence. In the videotape editor you can customize your titles and menu backgrounds of your DVD. When you are finished, choose the "Finalize" tab and click the "Order Additional Copies" button. Enter the number of copies that you'd like and your credit card information and we'll send them to you.
Back to topDo you have any restrictions regarding the content of my images, videotapes or film reels?
There are several instances where your media will be returned without being converted to DVD. If we do not transfer your home movie or images for any of the following reasons, the associated transfer costs will be refunded to your card (Not Applicable to Flat Fee Options):
- Blank or undeveloped film
- Non-supported Format
- Objectionable Material
- Copy Protection
- Copyright*
- Media with extreme physical damage
*If you do have items under copyright protection, or have permission from, the original copyright holder, please include this copyright waiver and we will be happy to transfer your film.
Back to topCan I download my movies from your website?
Yes! In order to do so, you would need to purchase a My Online Memories™ subscription, as this service is not included in our 30 day trial. The files could then be downloaded one at a time in H.264 MPEG-4.
Back to top
Home Movie Editing and Sharing
How does the Facebook link work?
The Facebook link on the edit/order copies page allows you to add a link to your home videos onto your Facebook account. After clicking on the "Share on Facebook" link, a pop-up box will appear. Log into your Facebook account then hit the "Share" button. Then, the video(s) can be seen by those that have been added as a friend. They will, for a limited time, (30 days from the shipping date of the originals back to the customer) also be able to order a copy of it.
How does the Email This Movie feature work?
This allows the customer to send a link for a friend or relative to view his or her streaming videos to any email address. The videos will appear as embedded QuickTime video files. The recipient of the email will be able to purchase a copy of the DVD for 30 days following the ship date of the originals back to the customer.
Will I be able to edit and share my movies?
Yes, there are many ways to share and edit your movies.
After your original order is shipped back to you, you'll have 30 days of free access to the online editor.
For customers with very specific editing needs, we suggest ordering an External Hard Drive, which contains video files you may edit at home using your personal computer.
You can also send your movies via email, share on facebook, or have Home Movie Depot provide custom editing.
Film and video customers can also place their films in the Home Movie Depot Archive! The archive is a place to share home movies with friends and family. Click to learn more about the Home Movie Depot Archive.
If you would like to edit your images, Home Movie Depot provides every slide, negative, and photo scanning customer with a Data DVD. Each data DVD will contain a JPEG file of each 35mm slide or negative image, which can be used in any software that edits JPEG images.
If you have a large order- 250 images or more- we strongly suggest that you order the external hard drive. This is the only way to guarantee that all of your photos will be in one location.
Back to topWill my new DVD play on my DVD player?
For your film and videotape transfer we use brand name DVD-R which has been shown to be the most compatible general use media. Our discs have been found to be compatible with over 95% of home DVD and Blu-Ray players made in the past three years.
For your image scanning, a data DVD is used. The data DVD is a DVD-ROM disc for your computer and it is not intended for viewing purposes in any DVD player or in a CD-ROM drive.
However, slide (35mm slides and others), negative (35mm negative and others), or photo scanning customers who order the additional Slide Show DVD will be able to play their new DVD on a home DVD player.
Back to topI want to edit my new DVD on my home computer. Can I simply drag and drop my DVD files onto my computer?
Although our DVDs are not encrypted, editing your new DVD would require DVD authoring software which we do not provide and cannot support.
If you want to edit your films or videotapes on your computer, we highly recommend getting a hard drive:
Hard Drives are available for Premium transfers only. They are the best media for home editing because the files can quickly be dumped onto your home computer, edited, and turned into your own DVD!
Back to topShipping
How do I order, how should I send my media?
- Let us know what you are sending and what you want as your finished product. Calculate your transfer estimate with one of our pricing pages.
- Please visit our Shipping Instructions page to learn how to safely package your media.
- Keep a copy of any information that is written on the outside of each reel, videotape or image. Film customers may need this information when creating the titles during online editing. Reels will appear online in the sequence you have indicated with our printable bar codes (not available for flat fee options).
- Send your media and the checkout confirmation to:
Home Movie Depot
101 West Broadway
Ashland, Missouri 65010We recommend FedEX shipping.
- We will email you once we have received your movies.
