Pricing
Flat quotes.
No hourly surprises.
I quote before I start. The number I give you is the number you pay. Not a "starting at" with asterisks. And if I can't get your data back, you don't pay at all.
No data, no charge.
If I can't recover your data, you don't pay for the attempt. No diagnostic fees, no "well we tried" invoices, no hourly charges for time spent. I get paid when I deliver results.
Data Recovery
Recovery pricing
Quoted after evaluating the specific failure. These brackets reflect what the work typically costs. Your exact quote will be within or below the range shown.
Most common
Logical Recovery
$150–$250
The drive works mechanically but the file system or data has been lost. Most common type of recovery.
- › Accidentally deleted files
- › Quick or full format
- › Corrupted file system (NTFS, APFS, HFS+)
- › Partition table issues
- › Drive mounts but files missing
Degraded Drive
$250–$400
The drive is mechanically struggling: bad sectors, slow reads, intermittent detection. Still spinning, but failing.
- › Bad sector remapping
- › S.M.A.R.T. errors accumulating
- › Very slow performance
- › Intermittent detection
- › Clicking or grinding (light cases)
Light Physical
$350–$500
Physical component failure: PCB, USB controller, motor controller. The drive itself may be fine.
- › Burned PCB / circuit board
- › Failed USB bridge controller on external
- › Seized motor (some cases)
- › Dropped laptop drive (some cases)
- › WD My Passport controller failure
Out of scope / refer out
Cleanroom Cases
Refer out
Requires specialized cleanroom equipment I don't have. I'll point you to the right lab.
- › Head stack replacement
- › Platter transplant
- › Firmware corruption (some models)
- › Fire or severe water damage
- › Physically destroyed platters
VHS & Tape Digitization
Digitization pricing
Priced per tape. Volume pricing available for 5+ tapes: contact me to discuss. Payment after delivery.
VHS / VHS-C
$25–$40
Standard VHS cassettes and compact VHS-C camcorder tapes. VHS-C adapter included.
- › Per tape pricing
- › Output: MP4 (H.264/AAC)
- › Delivery: USB or download
Hi-8 / 8mm
$30–$45
Sony Hi-8 and standard 8mm camcorder tapes. Higher quality format than VHS.
- › Per tape pricing
- › Output: MP4 (H.264/AAC)
- › Delivery: USB or download
Common questions
- What if you can't recover my data?
- You pay nothing. No diagnostic fees, no "we tried" charges. If I can't recover your data, the only thing you're out is shipping.
- Do I pay before or after recovery?
- After. You'll receive a quote before any work begins. If you approve it, I do the recovery. You pay when you confirm you have the data you needed.
- How long does data recovery take?
- Logical recovery typically takes 2–5 business days. Physical cases can take 1–2 weeks depending on complexity. I'll give you a timeline with the quote.
- What payment methods do you accept?
- Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, and cash for in-person drop-offs. Check for business clients.
- How do I ship my drive safely?
- I'll send you a packaging guide when you submit a case. The short version: anti-static bag, bubble wrap on every surface, snug box so it doesn't move. Never use newspaper. The ink particles are bad for drives.
- Are these prices fixed?
- The ranges are my standard brackets. The exact quote depends on the specific failure after I evaluate the drive. I give you a firm, flat number before I start. No hourly rates.
Ready to get a quote?
Describe what happened. I'll evaluate and give you a firm number before anything else.
Start a Case