Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Shaver.
Hi Jim, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a parent, I took many many videos of my children as they grew from infants to adults. I would sit occasionally and watch these precious memories and laugh and cry. One day, my video cassette camera simply stopped working. I had no way of playing the tapes! I panicked, worried that I had lost these priceless memories forever. After some searching, I found a used replacement camera that cost me hundreds of dollars. It enabled me to watch my cassettes… for now. I realized that this technology was obsolete. There were no new devices being manufactured that would allow me to play my tapes. It was only a matter of time until this camera stopped working. Would I be able to find a replacement then? Who knows how much it would cost! I decided there must be a better way to preserve my memories. After a ton of research and investing in specialized equipment, I learned how to digitize video tapes. I saved my memories forever! Now, I am not dependent on a device to play videos; they will play on any computer or smart TV. After going through such a terrible ordeal, that finished in a happy ending. I realized that if I had this problem… many others probably did too. That realization launched Digitize Your Memories. Since these early days, we have digitized tens of thousands of tapes, real-to-reel movies, and other audio and video media devices.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
By definition, everything we receive from a customer is old. Sometimes it is 20 years old, sometimes much older. The oldest item we’ve digitized was a reel-to-reel movie from 1948. Every movie, videotape, photo, or another type of media that a customer asks us to digitize is deteriorating. Some are going away slowly, some much quicker. It is these tapes and movies that are the toughest. I’m holding someone’s memories in my hands. It could contain the sound of their long-deceased mom’s voice. It could contain their wedding video. It could contain all of their memories of their kids’ childhoods. And, if they’ve waited too long… it’s deteriorated to the point where it simply won’t work. It’s gone. These are heartbreaking. I remember a phone call with a divorced man who didn’t have very much contact with his grown children. All he had left was videotapes of their childhood. And those tapes had deteriorated to the point of being completely unviewable. We both had tears in our eyes as I told him that his memories were gone. This doesn’t happen too often, but it’s very hard when it does. This the hardest part of our job. That’s why we encourage people to stop procrastinating and digitize their memories…before it’s too late.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in digitizing video tapes, reel-to-reel movies, audio tapes, slides, and photos. We are a local, family business that provides service locally. We don’t mail away any tapes, where you take a risk of losing them. We provide free pick-up and delivery at your door. We handle your memories like they are ours. We pick them up from your front door, keep them in our custody while we’re being digitized, and deliver them back to you when they are done. All the work is done by our family. Our customers recognize us for our exemplary customer service and caring for their needs. We are passionate about what we do, because we’re preserving the customer’s precious memories… forever.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Understand you are dealing with old tapes, old cameras, old devices of all types, and be ready to repair and replace them constantly!
Pricing:
- $18 per videotape – all types
- $35-$75 per reel-to-reel movie based on size
- Slides and photos priced based on size of job
- Free pick-up and delivery
Contact Info:
- Website: www.digitizeyourmemories.online
- Instagram: @digitizeyourmemories
- Facebook: digitize your memories
