When it comes to protecting your most precious memories—old VHS tapes, photo albums, 8mm film reels—the last thing you want is regret. For many families, the choice often comes down to LegacyBox vs Costco. While both offer photo and video digitizing services, the experience, reliability, and results can be vastly different.
Let’s walk through what each service offers, where they succeed, and where they fall short—so you can feel confident about preserving your past.
Costco Photo and VHS to DVD Service: What Changed?
Costco once offered in-store media transfers, but today all digitizing services are handled through an online partner, Capture (formerly YesVideo). This service is now part of Costco Next, a curated collection of third-party providers.
What’s included:
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VHS to DVD conversions
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Photo scanning, including prints, albums, slides, and negatives
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8mm film reel transfers to digital
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Access to files via a temporary cloud (MemoryCloud), USB, or DVD
Starting price: $16.99 per tape or photo batch
Turnaround: 3–4 weeks
Delivery method: Mail-in only (FedEx/UPS)
For basic needs, Costco’s offering is a relatively safe choice—especially if you're already a member. But the service lacks personalization, and your digital files are only stored temporarily in the cloud.
Learn more about our America’s best digitizing service.
LegacyBox Complaints and Customer Concerns
LegacyBox built its brand on convenience—offering pre-packaged kits that let you send your media by mail. However, there’s been a growing chorus of LegacyBox complaints, including:
- Lost or damaged tapes
- Delays exceeding 10–12 weeks
- Poor communication and customer support
- Low-resolution or poorly edited files
- Receiving DVDs instead of cloud links
Despite aggressive marketing, LegacyBox has struggled with consistent quality. If you're concerned about irreplaceable memories, this service may feel like a risk.
Want to dig deeper? Read our guide on what to know before you send your memories.
Costco vs LegacyBox: Head-to-Head Comparison
In short, neither service offers much hands-on care—but Costco’s digitizing partner is faster and more affordable, while LegacyBox relies heavily on volume at the expense of reliability.
Looking to convert VHS tapes to digital? Make sure your provider handles tapes with care and offers clear, cloud-based access.
What to Watch Out For
Whether you go with Costco or LegacyBox, keep these tips in mind:
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Always back up your digital files once you receive them.
- Ask if they handle tape repair or mold remediation before sending damaged items.
- Check if you're required to pay before they inspect your media (some services invoice only after reviewing your order).
- Avoid companies lacking live customer reviews, not verified from a reputable third party website.
Want to know how to convert photo slides to digital or preserve 8mm film reels with higher quality? These details can make a major difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a big difference between Legacybox and Costco digitizing?
Not really. For most customers, Legacybox and Costco digitizing feel very similar because both rely on a large, high-volume processing model. You ship your memories away to a big, faceless operation where the goal is speed and scale, not careful, hands-on attention.
Do you have to ship your tapes and photos away with both Legacybox and Costco?
Yes. With both services, you package your memories and ship them off to be processed elsewhere. That can be convenient, but it also means your priceless originals leave your home and enter a factory-style workflow with limited personal guidance along the way.
Can I talk to a live specialist about my order with Legacybox or Costco?
Sometimes—but many customers report long wait times. Online reviews often mention telephone hold times that can reach up to an hour when trying to reach a real person for order questions, quality concerns, or missing items, which can feel stressful when your memories are involved.
Are Legacybox and Costco okay for specialty items like moldy or broken tapes?
Usually not. Both are big-box digitization factories, which may be fine for a few standard tapes, but specialty situations—like cassette repair, jammed reels, or mold cleaning—often require a more professional service with trained specialists and careful recovery workflows.
Why do some people regret using Legacybox or Costco for digitizing?
Many reviewers describe the quality as mediocre and say they wish they had spent a little more time finding a professional digitizing company. Common regrets include dust in scans, playback issues, missing content, and the frustration of paying once—then needing to ship again elsewhere.
Recommended Next Reads
The History of Video: How We Captured Life One Frame at a Time
VHS Player Memories: How to Rescue Family Moments Trapped on Tape
Still Using a VCR Player? It’s Time to Convert to Digital
VHS Tapes: Decoding SP, EP, and SLP Tape Speeds
VHS to DVD Converter? There’s a Better Way to Save Your Tapes
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