Shipping private VHS tapes, homemade adult recordings, or sensitive family videos does not need to be complicated. The safest approach is also the simplest: use a plain box, protect the tapes from movement, and send them with tracking.
Private Video Transfer accepts eligible adult and discreet media by mail. You do not need to describe intimate content on the package, contact a stranger by phone, or identify the subject matter to the carrier.
1. Start your order before mailing anything
Visit our Start an Order page and provide your contact details, return address, and an approximate count of the tapes or printed photos you plan to send. You do not need to list intimate scenes or explain the personal history behind the recordings.
Submitting the form helps us recognize your package when it arrives and associate it with the right customer. It is not an upfront payment or a guarantee that every tape is transferable.
2. Make sure your media is an accepted format
We currently handle VHS, VHS-C, miniDV, Video8, Hi8, Digital8, and compatible standard 8mm camcorder videotapes, as well as loose printed photographs. Check the wording on your cassette if you are unsure.
We do not accept Betamax, PAL or SECAM recordings, U-Matic, movie film (including 8mm and Super 8 film), slides, negatives, albums, or scrapbooks. Our Accepted Formats page explains the distinction.
Only send content you are legally entitled to possess and submit for duplication. Explicit recordings must involve adults and consensual material; commercial recordings can have separate copyright restrictions. Review our Legal Content Policy before shipping.
3. Choose a plain, sturdy shipping box
Use an ordinary corrugated cardboard box large enough to hold the tapes and protective padding. A rigid box is preferable to a thin mailer, especially for older, irreplaceable recordings.
Avoid:
- Envelopes without rigid protection
- Loose tapes that can rattle or slide inside the box
- Oversized boxes with large empty spaces
- Visible descriptions such as “adult tapes,” “porn VHS,” or “private sex videos”
- Packaging that reveals personal or sensitive details on the outside
There is no need for special markings. A standard shipping label is enough.
4. Protect the tapes so they cannot move
Place the tapes together and cushion them with bubble wrap, packing paper, or similar clean padding. Fill any empty space. Close the box temporarily and gently tilt it: you should not feel tapes moving freely inside.
If a tape has a cracked cassette or another obvious problem, keep its parts together in a separate small bag or wrap. Do not try to play or repair an aging tape yourself if doing so could cause additional damage. Contact us through the private contact form if you are uncertain whether to ship it.
5. Include your contact information inside the box
This is an important step. Packages can arrive with damaged or unreadable outer labels. Having identifying information inside the box helps us match the media to your submitted order.
What to place inside the package
- Your printed order-confirmation email or a handwritten note with your name and email address
- The accepted videotapes and/or loose printed photos you listed in your order
- Any short, practical note about a damaged tape or unusual format
No printer? That's fine. A handwritten note with your name and email address is sufficient to identify the order when matched with your form submission.
Do not put passwords, payment-card information, or graphic descriptions of the recordings inside the package.
6. Address the package correctly
Use the following shipping address exactly as written:
Use your own valid return address on the shipping label. The outside of the package should look like any ordinary shipment.
7. Choose a carrier with tracking
UPS or FedEx is preferred, but USPS or another trackable carrier is also acceptable. Purchase your inbound shipping label from your carrier or shipping provider, then retain the tracking number and receipt.
You pay the cost of shipping your media to us. Standard UPS Ground shipping for returning your original media and completed deliverables is included in our service pricing; there is no separate $15 return-shipping fee.
For particularly valuable or irreplaceable material, you may wish to consider the carrier's available shipping options and coverage. No carrier can guarantee that a package will never be delayed or lost.
8. What happens when your tapes arrive?
- Your package is received and checked in.
- We match it to your online order and review the media count and formats.
- We email you to confirm receipt and provide your invoice.
- Payment is required before transfer work begins.
- After processing, we deliver your digital files and return the original tapes with the physical deliverables.
Billing may reference Memory Fortress, and tracking or fulfillment may reference an affiliated operation. These relationships are disclosed in customer communications so those names do not arrive as a surprise.
How much does Private Video Transfer cost?
Adult and discreet videotapes cost $35 per tape; accepted non-adult videotapes cost $25 per tape; loose printed photos cost $1 per photo. The minimum order total is $99.
Standard service includes digital files on a USB drive, a 30-day cloud-delivery link, one DVD for each transferred videotape, and standard UPS Ground return shipping of the originals and deliverables. Inbound shipping to us is the customer's responsibility. See current pricing for full details.
Will the return package be discreet?
Our goal is ordinary, professional packaging and practical privacy measures. Avoid explicit markings when shipping your tapes to us, and the return process is likewise intended to avoid displaying sensitive descriptions of the contents.
Physical digitization necessarily involves authorized handling of customer media. We do not promise that no human will ever encounter a tape; instead, we focus on limiting handling to what is needed to complete the work. Read more on our Privacy & Discretion page.
Do I need to telephone anyone about the contents?
No. Private Video Transfer is designed around an online order form and email communication. You do not need an uncomfortable phone conversation or a detailed description of private scenes. If something about your tapes requires clarification, you can use our private question form.
What if I have different tape formats in one box?
You can send multiple accepted tape formats together, and you can include loose printed photos in the same order. Pack them securely and make sure your order information is included. If you are sending a mix of adult and non-adult tapes, the applicable per-tape rates can differ.
For the specific services, see Adult VHS to Digital, Sex Tapes to Digital, and Private Camcorder Tape Transfer. For eligible commercial adult VHS and DVD output questions, see Porn Tapes to DVD.
What if the package is delayed or the carrier reports delivery?
Keep the carrier's tracking number. A delivered tracking status means the carrier has recorded delivery, but it may not mean the contents have already been checked in and matched to your order. Watch for our separate receipt confirmation email.
If you have a delivery concern, reach us through the contact form and include your name, email address, and the tracking number. Do not send sensitive content descriptions in a public carrier message.
Your private videotape shipping checklist
- Complete the order form
- Confirm the media formats are accepted and legally eligible
- Wrap the tapes securely in a sturdy, plain box
- Put your printed confirmation or handwritten name/email note inside
- Use the Canton, Georgia shipping address exactly
- Ship with tracking and keep your receipt
Private tape conversion for different kinds of recordings
Already know what you're sending? These pages explain how we handle each type of eligible recording.
Related Private Transfer Guides
Ready to ship your private tapes?
Start your order online, pack the media discreetly, and mail it with tracking. We'll confirm receipt and invoice you before processing.
Start an OrderAsk a Private Question