Not near Long Island? No problem. Families across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and the entire tri-state area use Scan A Lot’s mail-in service to convert VHS tapes, photos, slides, 8mm film, and audio cassettes to digital — with the same in-house care we have given Long Island customers since 2006.
Mail in digitization from anywhere in the tri-state area, handled by the same people who open your box.
Mail In Digitization: How It Works
- Call or email first — 844-SCAN-PIX (722-6749) or sales@scanalot.photos. We’ll confirm what you’re sending and answer questions.
- Pack smart: use a sturdy box, wrap tapes and reels in bubble wrap or clothing, fill empty space so nothing shifts, and include a note with your name, phone, and email.
- Ship with tracking (USPS Priority, UPS, or FedEx) to: Scan A Lot, 329 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, NY 11552.
- We digitize everything in-house and let you know when it’s ready.
- Everything comes back to you — originals plus your digital copies on USB, shipped with tracking.
Why mail to a real shop instead of a big processing center?
Large mail-away services route your package through warehouses and third-party facilities. At Scan A Lot, the person who opens your box is the person who does the work. Your memories are handled once, carefully, in one place.
Questions before you ship? Call 844-SCAN-PIX (722-6749) — we’re happy to walk you through packing.
Further reading: the Library of Congress publishes guidance on caring for film, tape and photographic materials.
Ready to preserve your memories?
Call 844-SCAN-PIX (722-6749) or email sales@scanalot.photos to book your appointment.
Mail In Digitization: Common Questions
How long does it take?
Most orders are ready in one to two weeks. Large collections take longer, and we tell you the honest timeline when we see what you have rather than promising a date we cannot keep. Rush work is sometimes possible — ask when you book.
What does it cost?
Pricing depends on format and quantity: photos are priced per scan, tapes per hour of footage, film per reel or per foot. Small jobs are often cheaper than people expect, and large collections get better per-item pricing. We quote before any work begins, and the quote does not move unless you add to the order.
Are my originals safe?
Your originals stay in our West Hempstead lab for the whole job and come back to you with the digital copies. Nothing is sent to a third-party facility. Every item is logged in and logged out, and fragile material is handled by hand rather than run through automated feeders.
What format do I get back?
Standard delivery is a USB flash drive with high-resolution files — JPEG for photos and scans, MP4 for video and film, MP3 or WAV for audio. We can also provide a hard drive, cloud download link, or DVDs if you still use a player. Tell us what suits how you actually watch and share things.
What if my tapes or film are damaged?
Bring them anyway. Mould, broken splices, snapped leader and warped reels are routine for us, and a surprising amount is recoverable. We inspect first and tell you honestly what can and cannot be saved before charging you for the attempt.
Do you handle New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and the wider tri-state area?
Yes — New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and the wider tri-state area is part of our regular service area, and it is one of the reasons customers choose a local lab over a mail-away chain.