In the 1980s and 90s, VHS tapes were the dominant format for home video. From recording TV shows to capturing family memories on a camcorder, hundreds of millions of VHS cassettes were sold during the medium‘s heyday. But the rise of DVDs and streaming video in the 2000s quickly turned VHS into an obsolete format.
Today, it‘s estimated that there are over 1 billion VHS tapes still in existence, many of them holding priceless memories that are impossible to watch without a VCR. But with VCRs no longer being manufactured and growing scarce, those tapes are turning into useless hunks of plastic.
Luckily, there‘s a solution for preserving the content on those old tapes: converting VHS to DVD. And one of the most convenient places to get it done is somewhere you might not expect – your local Walgreens drugstore.
How Walgreens‘ VHS to DVD Conversion Service Works
To convert your VHS tapes to DVD at Walgreens, start by gathering up all the tapes you want to transfer. Walgreens can handle a variety of tape formats including:
- VHS
- S-VHS
- VHS-C
- Hi8
- Digital8
- 8mm
- Betamax
- MiniDV
Bring your tapes to the photo department at your nearest Walgreens store. A photo specialist will help you place your order at their in-store kiosk. Alternatively, you can start your order online through the Walgreens Photo website, then bring your tapes to the store to complete the process.
Your tapes will be shipped to Walgreens‘ central video conversion facility, where they will be professionally digitized and transferred to DVD. You can expect to get your DVDs and original tapes back in about 3 to 4 weeks.
How Much Does Walgreens Charge to Convert VHS to DVD?
Walgreens‘ pricing for VHS to DVD conversion is very competitive compared to other popular services. Here‘s a breakdown of the cost:
- $24.99 per tape for VHS to DVD conversion
- $9.99 per DVD
- $16.99 per Blu-ray disc
For example, if you brought in 3 VHS tapes and wanted them transferred to 3 DVDs, your total would be:
(3 x $24.99 for tape conversion) + (3 x $9.99 per DVD) = $104.94To compare, here‘s what some of Walgreens‘ biggest competitors charge for similar VHS to DVD conversion:
| Service | Price per Tape | Price per DVD |
|---|---|---|
| Walgreens | $24.99 | $9.99 |
| Walmart | $23.48* | $9.96 |
| Costco | $19.99 | $9.99 |
| CVS | $29.99 | $11.99 |
| iMemories | $19.99 | $9.99 |
*Walmart charges an extra $4.98 per tape for color correction, which Walgreens includes standard.
As you can see, Walgreens‘ pricing falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. They aren‘t the absolute cheapest, but they are more affordable than drugstore rivals like CVS while still including premium features like color correction for no extra charge.
How Long Does Walgreens Take to Convert VHS to DVD?
Once you drop off or send in your order, it generally takes 3 to 4 weeks to get your converted DVDs back from Walgreens.
This turnaround time is fairly standard for most VHS to DVD services, since your tapes have to be physically transported to a centralized facility for conversion before the DVDs are shipped back. Unless you pay extra for expedited processing, expect to wait about a month.
According to a report by Current Lifestyle Technology, the average turnaround time across popular VHS to DVD services was 2.5 weeks, with some taking as long as 8 weeks. So Walgreens‘ 3-4 week estimate is definitely in line with the industry average.
What Happens During the VHS to DVD Conversion Process?
When you entrust your precious VHS tapes to Walgreens, you probably want to know exactly what‘s going to happen to them. Here‘s a basic overview of how a professional VHS to DVD conversion is done:
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Inspection – Your tapes are examined for any visible damage and to assess their overall condition. Tapes that are significantly degraded may not be viable for transfer.
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Preparation – The VHS cassettes are opened up and the actual tape inside is carefully removed and cleaned to remove dust and debris.
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Digitization – The analog video on the tape is converted into a digital format via a professional VCR that‘s designed for tape transfer. The digital video file is then saved to a computer.
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Enhancement – Basic enhancements like color correction, noise reduction and stabilization are applied to improve the quality of the digital video file.
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Burning – The final digital video is burned onto a DVD or Blu-ray disc. If a custom menu or chapters were requested, those are added during this stage.
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Quality Check – The DVDs are spot checked for quality to ensure a successful transfer. Any defective discs are re-burned.
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Packaging – The finished DVDs and original VHS tapes are repackaged and shipped back to the customer.
Throughout the entire process, your tapes are handled with the utmost care to avoid any damage. High-end professional VCRs are used to ensure the best possible digital transfer and prevent tape degradation.
Tips for Preparing VHS Tapes for Conversion
While you don‘t need to do anything special to your tapes before bringing them to Walgreens for conversion, there are a few best practices you can follow to ensure the best possible results:
- Rewind your tapes fully if they aren‘t already. Tapes that have been left "paused" or partially played can develop kinks that may affect playback.
- Keep your tapes in their original plastic cases to protect them from dust and debris.
- Label your tapes with brief descriptions of their content. This will make it easier to organize your DVDs later.
- Consider digitizing your tapes sooner rather than later. VHS tapes degrade over time, so the longer you wait, the lower the quality of the conversion will be.
If you have tapes that are visibly damaged (torn or crinkled tape, cracked cassette, etc.), manage your expectations for the conversion. No service can completely restore badly degraded tapes to pristine condition.
Frequently Asked Questions About VHS to DVD Conversion
Still have some burning questions about converting your tapes to DVD? We‘ve got you covered with answers to these common queries:
Q: Will I get my original VHS tapes back from Walgreens after the conversion?
A: Yes, Walgreens will return all of your original tapes to you along with your new DVDs.
Q: Do I have to make a DVD or can I just get a digital video file?
A: Walgreens offers a "digital only" option where you‘ll receive an HD quality video file instead of a DVD. You can then store and watch the file on your computer, phone, tablet or stream it to your TV.
Q: What is Walgreens‘ policy on copyrighted content?
A: Walgreens will only convert home video recordings like family movies or events. Any copyrighted material like store-bought VHS tapes of movies or TV shows is prohibited.
Q: How much video can fit on a Walgreens DVD?
A: A standard DVD can hold up to 2 hours of video from VHS tapes. If your tape is longer than that, the extra footage will be put on an additional DVD for the regular price of $9.99 per disc.
Q: Do I need to make an appointment to bring my VHS tapes to Walgreens?
A: No appointment is needed. You can bring your tapes to any Walgreens location during their regular photo department hours, which vary by store.
Q: Does Walgreens convert other outdated video formats besides VHS?
A: Yes, Walgreens can also digitize older formats like Video8, Hi8, Digital8, MiniDV and Betamax tapes. They do not convert film reels, however.
The Importance of Digitizing Memories
In today‘s digital world, it‘s more important than ever to convert aging media like VHS tapes to modern, enduring formats. Aside from the degradation of the physical tapes themselves, the main reason to digitize VHS is the rapid disappearance of VCRs.
A recent report from the NPD Group showed that only 2% of U.S. households still own a VCR as of 2019. To put that in perspective, in 2004 there were over 95 million VCRs in American homes according to Nielsen estimates.
What this means is that within a matter of years, the vast majority of VHS tapes will be rendered totally obsolete. Even if the tapes themselves are in good condition, virtually no one will have the equipment needed to play them back. Memories of weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and once-in-a-lifetime vacations could be lost forever.
That‘s why converting VHS to digital formats like DVD is so critical. It ensures that priceless video footage can live on to be enjoyed by future generations, regardless of what devices they use.
And while DVD is currently the most universal way to watch and share home movies, it may not always be that way. Many experts predict that physical media formats like DVD and Blu-ray will eventually be phased out completely in favor of cloud storage and streaming video.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to something as priceless as your family memories, you want to be sure you‘re entrusting them to a reputable company that will handle them with care. With Walgreens‘ VHS to DVD conversion service, you can have confidence that your tapes are in good hands.
Compared to the competition, Walgreens offers a compelling combination of convenience, quality and value:
- Thousands of locations nationwide for easy dropoff and pickup
- Reasonable, competitive pricing that includes premium features like color correction
- Ability to handle a wide variety of outdated tape formats
- Option to receive digital video files instead of or in addition to DVDs
- Consistently positive customer reviews and satisfaction with the service
No VHS to DVD service is without some downsides. The main complaints about Walgreens‘ offering are the somewhat lengthy turnaround time and the potential for inconsistent quality between stores. But in our assessment, the pros far outweigh the cons.
The hardest part of converting your VHS tapes to DVD is often just getting started. Many people put it off for years because they assume it will be a big hassle or major expense. But with Walgreens, preserving your priceless home movies couldn‘t be easier or more affordable.
So if you‘ve been sitting on a stack of old tapes that you‘re dying to rewatch and share with loved ones, there‘s no better time than now to bring them to Walgreens and have them converted to DVD. Those memories are truly irreplaceable – don‘t let them fade away on obsolete technology.
