Terms, in plain words

Your tapes and discs

Old tapes can be fragile. Some break, stick or turn out to be blank. We handle every tape with care and tell you about any that won't play, but we can't promise every tape will, and we are not responsible for damage beyond taking reasonable care. Your originals always come back to you by hand. We never mail them anywhere.

Only your own home movies

We copy home movies you made or have the right to copy. We don't copy store-bought or other copyrighted commercial tapes or discs. We don't take Betamax, MiniDV tapes, film reels (8mm or Super 8 film), audio cassettes, store-bought movies right now.

Timing

For drop-offs, you see your private website with the first videos within 24 hours. The full collection usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how many tapes you bring. Family history research takes as long as the records need; we agree on the plan with you first.

Paying

Prices are on this website and are agreed before any work starts. 50% when you drop off your tapes (or at pickup), the other 50% when your family website is ready. For family history, half when we agree on the plan and half when your tree site is ready. Pay by cash or check.

Deposits and cancelling. If you cancel before we start copying your tapes (or researching), your deposit is refunded in full. Once the work has started, the deposit is non-refundable. Tapes that turn out blank or won't play aren't charged: we lower your balance.

Pickup. Drop-off near Wolftrap Elementary in Vienna, VA is free. Pickup and return costs $15 within 10 miles of Vienna and $25 from 10 to 25 miles, by your ZIP code. Farther away, we agree the pickup fee with you before we come.

Satisfaction guarantee

If you're not happy with your family website, we'll make it right or refund you. Here is how it works.

• To ask for a refund, email [email protected] within 30 days of your site being ready, and tell us what you're unhappy with. We'll first offer to fix it.
• If you still want a refund, we take your family website down for good and delete every copy of your videos and files we made. We keep nothing. You give back any USB drive or discs we made for you. Your original tapes and discs are already yours.
• Then we refund what you paid (your deposit and any balance paid) within 14 days, the same way you paid.
• Family history research is refunded the same way: we take your family tree website down for good, and we don't keep the research notes.

Your family website

Your private family website is yours to keep, with no yearly fee. You also get a copy that plays without the internet (as a download, or on a USB stick for $10). Every video file is yours to download at any time.

Privacy

Your footage and family details are never shared, never posted and never used to train AI. Once your site is delivered we delete our working copies; your private site keeps your videos for as long as you want it, and we take it down whenever you ask. Read the full privacy promise.