What You'll Need

💡 Where to get boxes

Australia Post sells sturdy satchels and boxes at any post office, and many supermarkets and liquor stores will have spare boxes available for free. For large collections, a medium-sized moving box works well.

Step-by-Step Packing Guide

1

Rewind all tapes before packing

VHS tapes should be fully rewound before shipping. Tapes stored or transported mid-play are subject to uneven tension that can cause warping and damage. Take a few minutes to fully rewind each tape before packing.

2

Keep tapes in their cases if possible

If you still have the original cassette cases or sleeves, use them. They provide an extra layer of protection and help keep dust off the tape mechanism. If you don't have cases, a layer of bubble wrap around each tape will do the job.

3

Wrap film reels carefully

Super 8 cartridges and open film reels are more delicate than video cassettes. Wrap each reel or cartridge individually in bubble wrap before packing. For open reels, make sure the film is securely wound and the reel is protected on both sides.

4

Pack tapes upright — like books on a shelf

VHS tapes should always be stored and transported upright on their edge, not flat. Laying tapes flat puts stress on the tape pack inside and can cause warping over time. Stand them up in your box, spines facing the same direction.

5

Fill all empty space in the box

Movement inside the box during transit is what causes damage. Use scrunched packing paper, bubble wrap or foam to fill any gaps so nothing can shift around. Shake the box gently — if you can hear or feel movement, add more padding.

6

Include a printed copy of your order

Print your order confirmation and include it inside the box with your media. This helps us match your parcel to your order quickly and ensures there are no delays processing your conversion.

7

Seal the box thoroughly

Use strong packing tape — not masking tape or sellotape — to seal all seams of the box, including the bottom. Run tape along all edges and across the centre of the top and bottom flaps. A well-sealed box is much less likely to pop open in transit.

8

Label clearly and send tracked

Write our address clearly on the outside of the box. Always use a tracked postage service — Australia Post's Parcel Post with tracking is reliable and reasonably priced. Keep your tracking number until your order is confirmed received.

For Large or Particularly Valuable Collections

If you're sending a large number of tapes, or if your collection includes very old or particularly precious footage, consider the "box inside a box" method:

  1. Pack your tapes securely in a smaller inner box
  2. Seal the inner box completely
  3. Place the inner box inside a larger outer box, surrounded by at least 5cm of padding on all sides
  4. Seal the outer box

This provides a second layer of protection against impacts and drops during transit. For truly irreplaceable footage — wedding videos, baby recordings, footage of people who have since passed away — it's worth the extra effort.

⚠️ Don't use these

Avoid padded envelopes or satchels for VHS tapes — they don't provide enough rigid protection. Also avoid packing tapes in newspaper alone without bubble wrap, or putting anything heavy on top of film reels.

What About Return Postage?

When we've completed your conversion, we'll return your original media along with your converted files. Return postage costs are added to your invoice — or you can opt to have us dispose of your originals responsibly, which saves you the return postage cost and is a good option if you no longer need the physical media back.

💡 Keep the box

If possible, keep the box you used to send your media — we'll repack your originals in the same box for return. Just let us know when you place your order if you'd like us to use the original packaging.

A Quick Checklist

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