You've made the decision. The tapes are coming out of the loft, the cupboard under the stairs, the box your parents handed you at Christmas. Now comes the part nobody looks forward to: actually sorting and posting them.
It's easier than you think, and it's the one step that makes everything afterwards smoother — for you and for us.
Step 1: Gather everything in one place
Before you sort, find it all. Wherever they may live. If you've still got a working player, it's worth giving anything precious a quick test. Depending on how they've been stored, some tapes can become non-functional over the years. Don't panic if one won't play; we'll always let you know what we find once it reaches the studio. And if it doesn't play, you don't pay :)
Step 2: Label what matters
You don't need to catalogue everything, but a little sticky note will help enormously. It'll help us label the files we send back to you. So if you're able to give names, dates, or a short note on the subject matter of what's on each tape or item - "Mum & Dad wedding", "kids 1994", "Greece trip". That's it.
If a tape has a date written on it already, leave it. We'll log every tape as it arrives.
Step 3: Pack them properly
Tapes are tougher than people think, but we don't want your memories getting damaged in transit:
- Use a sturdy box — a double-walled cardboard box is ideal. Don't use a padded envelope; tapes will crush each other.
- Wrap in plenty of bubble wrap - a layer between tapes stops cases cracking and labels rubbing off.
- Stack them flat, not upright - this protects the tape inside the casing.
- Fill the gaps - nothing should rattle. Scrunched paper in every corner.
- Double check we've packed everything - We don't want you sending us more or less than what you've paid for!
Step 4: Send them our way
Once the box is sealed and labelled, post it to us using whichever shipping company you prefer - Royal Mail, Parcelforce, DPD, Hermes, it's entirely up to you. Use tracked and signed-for if you'd like the peace of mind.
That's the whole posting process. You can track your order's progress with us anytime at fadedglory.co.uk/track.
What happens when it arrives
Every tape is logged, and stored in conditions designed to stop any further degradation. We digitise in the order we receive, and you'll get an email at each stage — received, captured, and dispatched — so you're never wondering where your tapes are.
Your originals will come back to you if you've paid to do so, via tracked post. If you've not paid to receieve them back, we will dispose of them correctly and environmentally friendly.
That's it
The whole job - find, label, pack, post - depending on how much you send us, it could take 30 minutes. The part that takes courage is starting. Once the box is sealed and the label is on, the rest is ours.
