Genealogy Chat

Aww, not the only Jerk eh? (I now feel qualified to use gutter language, PMSL)

It has gone down hill so much hasnt it - when did the rot set in - can anyone pinpoint it? They dont listen to their members, they rely on a free service by the members for other members and poor newbies end up paying through the nose for info they can find for free elsewhere. Oh dear, what a difference to when we first joined.

JA ..... ask for a refund, please.

Well, I await with baited breath to see if my renewal price increases tomorrow. Course they might ban me instead. I really couldn't give two hoots if they do, it's you lot that make the site, not the freezing cold matches. (Do you know how many William Smith's are entered onto this site every month?)

Probably the same number as Ann Unknowns. Meanwhile I am practicing monitoring the lulls between jerks to get the lowest price possible. LOL ego

Hi Heather, In answer to your question about pinpointing when the rot started. I may have a small clue. I downloaded my GedCom from the GR site back in March 2006. I remember at the time I was worried that site changes indicated that troubles were afoot. I had begun to feel that my tree was no longer safe online and so it seemed prudent to keep a copy of my tree somewhere safe off site. Before that point my confidence in the site had been absolutely unshakeable - I honestly believed the GR site was the safest place to lodge the tree to ensure its survival for posterity and enable the data to be shared with interested parties. This had been the case for 3 years. From the start I had been satisfied with the original tree program (joined in March 2003, became full member from October 2003). The printed view feature of that original program was near perfect but of course that was sacrified, along with the one-page view, to make way for a newer tree version. The newer version was much easier to navigate but a retrograde step in most of its other features which never really worked properly. This was followed by the more recent tree upgrades and resultant chaos. All of this served to strengthen my feelings that the site as a genealogical tool was becoming seriously compromised and that it had become a completely different animal to the gold-standard site I had originally joined. I am SO glad that I saved my tree onto FTM when I did as the recent changes have corrupted a fair bit of my online material - so much for posterity! Thinking back, it was impossible to download the GedCom before March 2003 as that feature was not working. That set off my early warning system too! When in October my continuous membership fee jumped from £7.50 to £9.95 my confidence went completely. Whereas I always used to recommend this site, since October's experience I have stopped doing so. GR have lost 10 potential new members this way. Some of those folk are waiting to see if the site is going to settle down before joining but none of them will join if the membership fee goes over £10. For some reason, that is the psychological cut-off point for many people.

I joined GR in April 2003 - cost £5:00 I renewed my continuous membership in May this year - cost £7:50, up 50% from 2003 If GR are now going to increase my subs to £9:95 pa, this represents a further 33% price hike. If this further price hike takes effect, guess who won't be renewing next May. Terry