I love Ancestry. I have loved the online databases and family trees for 12 consecutive years. But I had to put a stop to the love affair.
Since early 2006, I have subscribed to Ancestry’s World Explorer Membership for $300 each year. I didn’t subscribe to just the Canadian package or just the US one. I bought the entire world package that gave me access to international records. I also purchased and now manage a dozen AncestryDNA kits.
I promote Ancestry’s products on my blog, even though I have no financial affiliation with them and do not benefit from doing so. I promote Ancestry because I like what they offer and I think others will too.
Despite this, I had to stop my subscription from automatically renewing tomorrow. I did so reluctantly.
Loyal customers do not qualify for discounts
I cancelled my subscription because Ancestry does not reward loyalty. They reward disloyalty.
Friends have repeatedly told me to drop my membership for two or three months. Apparently, they do it all the time. They allow their subscription to lapse and then sit back and wait for Ancestry’s email to arrive in a couple of months, wooing them back with a 30 or 40% discount. Apparently, it works every time. Even Ancestry associates admit this is how to get a discount.
When Ancestry offers reduced subscription prices, it is almost always for new subscribers and for those who haven’t subscribed for a while.
Loyal subscribers, on the other hand, must pay full price. (Full disclosure: I did benefit from a 40% discount last year during their late winter promotion. The sales associate made me work for it, but I finally got it.)
What would happen if stores operated the way Ancestry does? How would their customers react?
Imagine one of your favourite department stores offering a 40% off sale on some of their popular products. You shop there all the time, and you want to take advantage of the sale prices to save a bit of money.
So, you drive over to the mall and, after some maneuvering, you find a parking spot.
You get out of your car and walk toward the store.
When you arrive at the door, the store manager stops you and says, “Sorry, this 40% off sale is for people who have never shopped here and for people who haven’t bought anything in a while. Long-time, loyal customers must pay the regular price.”
Withdrawal symptoms
The decision to cancel my subscription has been a tough one. I will probably regret not being able to research all the databases for the next two months. For a quick fix, I may visit my local library to access Ancestry.
Already, I’m going through withdrawal.
Now, I wait for Ancestry to woo me back.
I am in complete agreement with you!
I had my one-year, one-time only AARP discount last year and considered not renewing, but did at a lower level. Of course, I did get the email to upgrade in less than a month. I did not bite. Your comments are timely coming on the heals of massive user complaints about problems with the website.
I enjoy your blog every day, but this really struck home. I find their approach so frustrating too! It’s such an arrogant attitude towards their captive subscribers; Ancestry’s dominance in the market doesn’t give them the right to mistreat loyalty.
You are right. However it can be useful to get off Ancestry or any database for a while and concentrate on other resources. Ancestry is addictive.
Addictive is a good description. You understand what I mean about going through withdrawal.
I totally agree. I do not understand the logic in the pricing other than trying to expand their customer base. The sad part is that the phone/wireless, and cable companies do the same thing.
Definitely with you on this! I’ve let my subscription lapse in the past only to have them woo me back, either by piggybacking on AARP (one-time only); giving myself a gift subscription during a promotion, which the rep herself suggested; or waiting for the “We miss you” email. Coming up for renewal in May, and I’m going to let it lapse again. Trouble is, not only will it inconvenience me, but I’ve got trees I’ve made for other people, who have editor access. Have to say, though, in the past when lapsed, I never heard from any of those people.
Yes. Exactly. BUT if you can hold out you might find you can live without ancestry.com. For a year, try some other subscription. I’ve filled in with findmypast and AmericanAncestors to name two. Other options are out there and lots of them are FREE. It’s more work but I have time. I don’t have money. It’s a good opportunity to use other data bases who might have something ancestry doesn’t have.
That was the major reason I stopped using Ancestry at home. However, I still need to use their Canadian Immigration database for St. John, New Brunswick records after 1912. Family Search does not have the St. John, NB after 1912 records online at this time. Library and Archives Canada does but not in their database. I have to search through page by page if I know which ship they came on.
Totally agree and will do the same thing!
I’m with you on this one! It’s just not fair for the loyal customers. My Ancestry Worldwide subscription is set to renew next month. Maybe I’ll do the same … but such a tough decision. I’ll actually have to drive to a place that has Ancestry access, a place that is only open during the day and with select hours on weekends. What will I do when I decide to research in the late hours of the night or wee hours of the morning in my comfy yoga pants and T-shirt? Sometimes I just need a 5-10 minute Ancestry research fix to find a record or confirm a relationship for a client. Cost and 24/7 access at home vs inconvenience and inaccessibility – what to do? That is the dilemma!
Cancel. Then call the day after your end date and ask what current discounts are available.
I let my World membership lapse in March. It has forced me to mine Family Search, and that has ended up being a very good thing. ?
I do the same thing every year since when I first started using Ancestry mumble-mumble years ago. The last time I got a 50% discount when I paid for a world subscription after I noticed the offer on the Ancestry DNA page. I think it appeared the day after my subscription elapsed.
I agree with you too. Now I only do Ancestry on their free weekend offers.
How can you find out when they have free weekend offers?
Totally agree. You have hit a very sensitive nerve. Loyalty gets you nothing. As a world subscriber for years, I have had to hunt and fight for every discount every year. Just like a “drug pusher”, they know you will come back for your “fix”. Very poor corporate behaviour but good for profits.
I, too, have had a subscription for eons. Mine is set to renew on May 3. When I called Ancestry two weeks ago, No special renewal incentive was available, sorry, I was told. I am so glad that you brought this out in public for more to hear and learn. Will your publication make a difference?? It would be very inviting to offer a renewal at a more favourable rate for those of us who have been faithful renewers.
Off point slightly, but my Country Club offers 1/2 off of the yearly renewal at age 70, and then the renewal fee is free after 50 years of membeship.
Just an example of the reward system for loyalty.
If, Ancestry would do the “right thing”, they would offer discounts to those long-term loyal customers; and a free membership to those over a certain age. I truly think this will come to pass. I think they will be forced to make these considerations. The customer is ALWAYS right; and at some point they will recognize that!
What happens to your family tree information and other records when you cancel and then resubscribe later?
The online family tree remains, but I am not sure about my shoebox. Time will tell.
It will all still be there. I jump on and off subscriptions all the time. Last fall I subscribed for a 6 months subscription and got a good but not best rate. A week later there was a new promo at a significantly better rate so I cancelled my subscription ( at no penalty) and waited until the new promo went live and resubscribed. Since I always want a world subscription I often look at rates from other location ( .com or UK) and if the exchange is favourable I often get a better deal. I have good luck with the customer service in this regard.
You are so right about this! I too have been renewing and now I will do this too. I need the world subscription and it is not cheap and definitely no discount for loyalty. So thanks to you, this is a reminder and it is time to do something about it and that is not to renew automatically!
I struggle with the same decision every year as well. Every year I have phoned to ask if there are any specials available as I am 77 and on fixed income and if I checked back I have been a member at least as long as you. Thank you for putting this info out there but I know arguing my case doesn’t work, trying to make them feel bad over not acknowledging our loyalty has no effect at all so I don’t know what will work. All I can say is SHAME ON YOU ANCESTRY for treating loyal customers this way.
My subscription ran out in Feb and I’m not so patiently waiting for a sale of some kind. I got 50% off last years world membership by waiting for a sale, so hoping for the same this year. I must admit I have been tempted to ‘give up’ and renew because of withdrawal, but so far…. holding out.
Been thinking about this, as my World membership expires on May 11. You convinced me. I just went in and canceled /turned off auto-renew. It really is too bad that Ancestry does not reward long time subscribers. I’d even consider a “lifetime access” subscription. Well, off to the library, and the local genealogical society that has 2 scheduled open computer lab sessions each month.
Aren’t you brave!!! I’ve thought that so many times, but feared the same withdrawal. Have thought to cancel and re-up, just to gain the discount.
How about we let Ancestry know we’re cancelling (as a group) and see if they will “woo us back.”
OR, how about we each post the SHAME ON YOU message on their FB page.
As a senior on a fixed income, I opted to access the Library edition of Ancestry. Over the past few years, however, the Library access has been restricted to North America only. In general, I find Ancestry’s crass commercialism distasteful – especially given the amount of content they carry which has been developed by volunteers over the years.
FYI I use Wikitree to keep an on-line family tree which my family members can access at no cost. And, I give all of my genealogy based volunteer support to FamilySearch.
I totally agree with this person.
When I had to renew, I phoned them to see if I could get a discount and no go!
When it comes time to renew, I may do this too – I did it once before because I didn’t have time to do any researching, and sure enough I was wooed back with a big discounted rate. Annoying……………
I’ve played the waiting game with Ancestry for years. The quickest offer came 3 days after I ended the subscription, the longest was just under 6 weeks, which I easily survived. (There is life without Ancestry access at home!) However, the wait is definitely worth it, as the discounted offer is usually 50% off. I agree with you wholeheartedly – Ancestry doesn’t value loyalty. In fact, I don’t think they care about much anymore except selling more DNA kits.
Wow – 50% off! It’s almost tempting for me to try it next year, especially as my FMP sub expires two months after my Ancestry one, so I’m pretty well covered.
Linda, they sell the DNA kits to then sell their subscriptions
They could not possibly make any money on the kits, their revenue stream is from selling subscriptions.
No matter that they have sold 8 million kits; they are not adding to their money-making subscription base. They are happy to publicize how many kits they have sold, but interestingly, they do not divulge how many subcribers they have, or are losing.
The navagational tools in the Dna matches are antiquated.
Interesting that they are the opposite of FMP – who routinely offer a 15% loyalty discount to members who renew their membership (though you have to take advantage within 30 days.) It does surprise me. I wonder if it’s worth starting an online campaign to get them to change – hard to tell if it would make a difference. I do feel for the reps on the call line, though – they’re not the ones responsible for the policy, yet have to deal with people understandably upset that specials aren’t available to current subscribers. I was so lucky last year to get someone really nice who immediately cancelled my subscription (it was about to run out) and then resubbed my at the 40% off price and was cheerful the whole time.
Has anyone ever asked Ancestry why they don’t offer this perk to subscribers, especially given that their biggest competitor does?
And, I agree – Ancestry Library Edition is a life-saver. And you’re helping your library every time you go there to use it 🙂 More feet through the door, more computer sessions, and more database hits means higher stats for the library and, hopefully, more funding 🙂
With all the recent issues, I’ve been considering this myself. And a few months away, at least, might be good for my research.
I have done this as well. It also worked with My Heritage. I downgraded my subscription and shortly afterwards they were contacting me with a discount for the Premium.
Hi Gail. A timely article. Unlike many of those who have commented, in 20+ years of genealogy research I have never subscribed to Ancestry. Not sure if I ever will. I use the library access and any free search weekends I can. I also spend my money elsewhere, subscribing to small family history societies, as well as the bigger ones such as OGS and SOG. It seems like a very mean, low-down economic tactic on behalf of an organisation/institution that purports to put Family First! Where have their goodwill and honest values of past days gone? Hopefully your thoughts which are very well respected in the genealogy community by the way, will find their way up the administrative chain to the new CEO. We’ll done.
Honestly, I’m surprised with the reach of your blog that you aren’t on the gravy train and get a sponsored membership.
I’ve been a non-paying member with Ancestry for over 10 years. I wait for the semi monthly free-access weekends and trips to my local library for access to the “Library Edition”. I’m not on a fixed income, but I also don’t search my family tree enough to warrant paying anything for access.Last year, I bucked the trend when I won a contest, 1 year free membership! When that expires, I’ll be back to the same-old routine.
Hang in there. There’s always a way to find the info you need, just not at the speed at which you are accustomed to.
I totally agree with you. I too have had the world deluxe for several years.
Gail, I look at these experiences as positive. You’re free to do things differently! Sometimes we see things differently when we’re disrupted from our usual habits. Try out FindmyPast. Try out MyHeritage.
There’s much less withdrawal symptoms if you look at this as a bold exploration into new territory. I routinely will stop my subscription for six months or more at a time and find I’ve missed the world advancing around me because I was stuck in the Ancestry environment.
And…don’t forget Ancestry does have some free databases. If you need a quick fix 🙂
I’ve been considering doing this for several years, but never had the guts – I start to feel withdrawal symptoms as soon as I get to the ‘Cancel Subscription’ page! But my subscription is due to renew next week, so I just bit the bullet, and cancelled. Thank you for giving me the strength to do it. I already have FMP and American Ancestors subscriptions, and a copy of my Ancestry tree in Family Tree Maker, so I’m sure I’ll survive.
You only have to cancel and wait for a deal you want to be posted. It doesn’t have to be a couple of months. I had mine cancelled for 2 weeks when I saw a promotion for the US subscription for $49. Called and got it.
I’m with ya! I cancelled my World subscription in Jan just before auto renewal. I was ticked when I saw the recent 50% off promo FOR NEW USERS ONLY. Dunno how I did it, but it let me purchase at the discount price. Maybe I’ve been “away” long enough.
Just a couple of hints from someone who does this all the time. If you cancel online and there is a question about why you are cancelling, always chose “cost”. A lot of time they offer you a reduced rate even before you finish the cancellation. Also be aware many times the offers don’t come by email. Make sure to check the page on your account where you can see all the subscription prices. Often the reduced rates show up there almost immediately and won’t show up other places for weeks. Also use Ancestry and try to pull up a record after your subscription has expired. Sometimes they offer a discount from that page.
My approach is to always have other things I need to do: contact churches, reach out to genealogy guilds, make a trip to Family History Centers to see familysearch records only available at those locations, organize and write up stories for my ancestors, do all that organizing I need to do so I know what I still need to find. I can also still get on my trees and clean up all sorts of things.
I also tell myself by taking a one month break, I’m giving myself a 15% discount even if Ancestry never gives me one. Hold out 2-months and I have a 30% discount built in on top of whatever they finally offer me. Honestly I usually only have to wait days for discounts.
Gail, thanks for the reminder. I did the same thing yesterday after 10 years and high costs. Hopefully a better offer will be available soon to get me back to my 43,000 tree. It’s going to be a lonely time, but it’s gardening time now so that should keep us busy.
Appreciate reading your daily thoughts here in Terrebonne.
Thank you again for the reminder, Richard
Hadn’t thought of that! But being a senior citizen and on a limited income, it would help to have a little “sale” for those of us that are truly long-term users! Listen up Ancestry! What are you waiting for?? You will find more of us having to quit, even when we don’t want to!
I am doing the same thing with Ancestry. I have not decided about Find My Past which I also use for my research. Find My Past offer discount to current customers and add on days when they have free access days.
I just called them a couple of days ago and I received a discount. I have been a longtime Ancestry user practically since they began business. If it comes time for the $300 renewal, I call up and say I can’t possibly renew at that rate. Is there something you can do? And there always is. I am polite and contrite about losing access. No anger or bullying or arguing. I just politely ask and wait patiently while they check out what they can do for me. The $299 U.S. is almost $400 Canadian so it is a big bill. In the meantime, while I am enjoying the discount, I keep watch for the specials. I have never been told the specials are only for new subscribers. Sometimes, it means I miss out on the amount of my subscription remaining but, if that works out for the better, I will do it.
Glad to learn you received a discount, but I was not as lucky. I called them twice on the weekend about a discount and my upcoming renewal. I was very polite, and they were too. In the end, both told me no discount could be offered. The second one offered to cancel my subscription for me, and she did. She told me to wait for an offer to be promoted in the next few days.
i have stopped my about 6months ago because of this and all the glitches and outdated software format drives me nutty.
i have moved to myhertige as they are listening to members and making great changes and updated
i also find ancestry are very arrogant and never make any updates that work.
they are more worried about branding
Ive been waiting for my subscription to automatically cancel in order to do this. It expired on March 3rd!!! I still have full access!!!! I havent paid anything at all. Im still waiting for them to cancel me. Im excited to get a discount but even more excited that Im two moths overdue and getting my full access.
Oh, dear. I do not think your subscription automatically cancels. You have to cancel it and get a cancellation number. Sound like it rolled over. Call your credit card company. You have probably been changed.
I checked my Ancestry account Monday, and the Ancestry rep had cancelled it and she had given me the cancellation number. I could not do any searches.
I have found this approach also works with xm/ Sirius satellite radio. Call to cancel and wait for their rock bottom price to keep you. I have paid $20 for 6 months. Did not know I could try this with Ancestry!
I can find no way to contact Ancestry when I have a problem. I get taken to a questions & answer which doesn’t cover my query. There is no link to any direct phone number or email.
They don’t make it easy to find the contact info. They encourage people to first read the FAQ section. Start with Help and work your way down. You will find the Contact Us in the bottom right of this ancestry.ca page. https://support.ancestry.ca/s/topic/0TO150000004cHHGAY/accounts-billing
1-800-262-3787
On May 1st, I wrote about my cancellation at $300/yr. Last evening I had a look at my DNA site and there was an offer for a one year subscription at 149.95$ Cdn with renewal at 299.95. Therefore a 50% price reduction offer that was accepted. Like many of us on fixed incomes, it makes genealogy a worthwile hobby to pursue and enjoy.
Hope this helps others.
Thank you for this. I am in New Zealand with english ancestors but some branches of the family have moved to different areas of the world. My last annual WORLD subscription cost me NZ$517 (tax included). That is a lot of money and the cost is now getting competely out of hand. I have finally bit the bullet and just cancelled my subscription which expires at the end of May. I think I will now download my Ancesry file into a GEDCOM then upload it to FindMyPast.
This is my 2nd reply, but wanted to let the group know of an email I received today. I canceled earlier this week, my subscription (6 month World) is set to expire on May 11. Today, May 5, I received an email to buy a gift subscription for Mother’s Day. I bought a 6 month World subscription for $99. I am giving the gift to myself. The ONLY restriction is that you cannot have an active membership. However, for a gift subscription, you get to select the start date. So, I set it to start on May 14. So, I will only be without it for 2 days, I got it for $99, and gift subscriptions are set to automatically not renew! I figure that it will expire in mid-November, and Ancestry will likely be flooding us with holiday discounts by that time.
I also have several times cancelled and then re-signed for 50% off. However, on their behalf, they are not alone, as banks and cable companies, among others, also offer favorable rates to newcomers only.
Read every comment and was surprised no one mentioned the fact that LDS Mormons receive free memberships, and yet did you look at their income (published) last year?? When I joined 10 years ago it was $200 million–last year it was $600 million.
But since LDS members obtained free access, I can sure tell the difference in the Family Trees and am thrilled with all accurate and documented info. I have been able to glean “lots and lots” of new info., pics, etc. And with the easy documentation, and I have found the sources on other trees that Until recently I went to SLC Family History Center from 1 to 4 times a year and went through microfilms, and researched diligently– haven’t been for 2 years. Now with all the indexing–connection with ancestry, I have been able to fill in many blanks and add children–sometimes I send my copy–data to show mistakes and discrepancies. I love ancestry.com and familysearch.org. Yes, I too, think their prices are very expensive, and learned about the waiting game last year after I stopped the automatic renewal. I wish I had known that before.
Have been paying close attention to all the comments while thinking what to do. Meanwhile, just saw the MyHeritage/Legacy offer of $125 annual locked-in rate! I always found MH a very difficult site to keep up with and I cancelled several years ago. I think I’m seeing that they have improved tremendously, especially after getting on the DNA bandwagon.
Am thinking of getting the MH, since i already subscribe to FMP for my UKand Canada research. I will try the $99 Mother’s Day special as Dave Lapierr suggested.
I expect Ancestry gives a refund on unused portion of current subscription. (I aut0-renewed in Apr 7.) Right now there’s a 30-minute wait, so I’ll try later in the day.
Sharon,
“Ancestry gives a refund on unused subscription.” Au Contraire! Don’t bet your britches!
Does anyone know how many subscriptions Ancestry professes to have on average?
It angers me that nearly all the data on my family that they have made searcheable on their site comes from research that I paid to have done. I would think that there would be some sort of discount for us long time users who have basically built their site for them. I keep paying to “discover” data that I mined and entered years ago. Ugh.
Amen to that! Heavy users (on Ancestry daily, with cited data posts daily) have helped their success!
I have brought this to Ancestry’s attention, by phone and email, on more than one occasion. It’s absolutely ridiculous! My last tirade, just a couple of months ago, resulted in my getting a “free ride” for a few months, so I guess they’ve successfully pacified me (temporarily), but, they really to need to address this.
Loyalty should count for SOMETHING!!!
If they would fix everything that is broken and keep it fixed, I would be willing to take a multi-year subscription, and pay even more for a subscription. Instead, I do a month-to-month as a protest.
I am totally teed with them.
I’m so glad I found this. Unfortunately I just renewed. My gripe is that I searched in vain for a way to downgrade my membership to a cheaper rate by dropping some of the extras I signed on for. I am 77 and on a fixed income. I had planned to max out my research this year, download to my Family Tree Maker page and then do the rest of my research on the free sites. It never occurred to me to drop out and let them woo me back. I resent that there is no loyalty discount. I recently had the same issue with cable….pointed out that I had been with their company for 30 years and was paying almost double what my newly signed up next door neighbor was paying. When I told cable company I was going to drop them, they came up with a “loyalty rate” which is equal to the one they offer new customers. I guess you have to threaten to leave. Sad tale.
Gail,
In Winnipeg, we have two main options for television: Shaw or Bell MTS. Both companies disrespect their current users but give deep discounts to new users. The cheapest way to get television in Winnipeg is to switch providers every year. Many people here do that.
Maybe a similar solution will work for genealogists. Periodically, i.e. whenever the next promotion comes up), switch from whatever company you’re with: Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast, and any others you may want to use to the one with the new promotion for new users. You likely will save 50% or more, and will then get the benefits from of accessing the different records available in each company. And if you were previously subscribing to all of them you’ll now only pay for one at a time and save a bundle.
That not only will save money, but could be great for productivity as well. Switching may prompt you to do another pass with the “new” company and with new excitement and motivation to check their new records and see what you previously missed.
Just had a lovely experience with David. He cancelled and gave me full refund (just got under the 30-day wire, I think!). Got new Mother’s Day gift offer (World or $99 – 6 months) for myself that takes me to Nov, at which time there will begin the seasonal offers. Easy as pie. He didn’t try to hustle me (like cable does!).
Just put a reminder on my calendar to start watching for those offers.
I cancelled my long-term membership of Ancestry last month and for exactly the same reasons. I called Ancestry to challenge why existing members were not offered discounts and said that it felt they didn’t care about loyal customers. I had an arguement with them abut a new discount offer that I had been alerted to – the customer rep told me I shouldn’t have seen that offer !. And that it had a condition about taking out a DNA test. So in essence they wanted me to spend even more money with them. They seem to have completely forgotten that customers keep their business alive.
Betty, you could make your tree Private. Since I have a dna account, I have a small tree with 700 ancestors and no records, which is Public.
My Private tree has 25,000 people, and my records. My primary reason for keeping this one Private is because I have a few questionable lines which I am working on and are not ready for prime time; and I would be MORTIFIED if people took those lines and ran with them, potentially propagating incorrect information.
I am considering cancelling my Ancestry subscription on my next renewal (August 2018), partly because of the lack of loyalty toward long-time subscribers, but also because for five years, I have attempted to contact Ancestry to effect a correction to a serious, system-wide error in their indexing of (through the Drouin collection) St Patrick’s church (now a basilica) in Montréal as “Church of England.” St Patrick’s, Montréal is the oldest Catholic church in Quebec for English speaking persons mainly of Irish heritage. It is a huge resource for persons seeking ancestors of Irish heritage in the 19th century. But I only had one answer from Ancestry: each contributor should correct individual records. All my subsequent queries have gone unanswered. This is a serious, system-wide error. It’s as if facts don’t matter. Only subscriptions do.
So I will make sure to update all my records on my own software by the end of August. Such a shame, really.
I cancelled my subscription, and the next day, when I tried to look at one of my DNA matches, a page came up offering me a 12 month World subscription for AU$269 (about US$202). But the link to take up this offer didn’t work – tried it on three different computers, and got an ‘error’ page on all of them. So I rang Ancestry, explained the problem and she said she’d sign me up over the phone. But when she looked for the details on her computer, she couldn’t find the same offer – she found a better one. So I signed up for a 12 month World subscription for AU$240 (about US$180) – just a tad over half the usual price.
If I hadn’t been reading this blog, I wouldn’t have cancelled, and I’d still be paying through the nose. So thank you!
Yes, I just cancelled and they then offered me 1/2 price, so I took it. I also appreciated this blog.
Tomorrow at Ancestry, we shall see if “the fix is in.” They promised us that by May 31th everything would be fixed. NONE of my navigational and et al issues have been fixed. They are planning to work all night to do the fixes? Doubt it.
Can you imagine the call center imploding tomorrow.
What’s the latest! I am very upset with Ancestry over this and more!
1) They reward loyal customers by auto-charging them full price and don’t allow discounts like you discuss above.
2) Their site has been unstable for months, they know about the issue, and they make it really really hard to get free subscription extensions for lost time.
3) If you DO get an subscription extension, they make you call back twice to really get it. They do not just extend the end date. They put the responsibility on you to call back at the end of you current subscription, and then again at the end of the free month (otherwise you are auto-charged for a $44.99 a month-to-month subscription).
Here’s the end of my Ancestry subscription story for the next year. http://genealogyalacarte.ca/?p=23683
How naive of me to think I was the only one who felt hard done by, by Ancestry. Not only am I angry at their arrogant way of displaying records incorrectly ie British records since time began list the records in quarters but NOT using the first month but the last month of the quarter thus March, June, September and December. If people wish to order actual certificates for bmd the quarter must be stated correctly or you could wind up paying twice for the cert. Manitoba, of course, that’s Canada and I really don’t think we count enter day, month year as their date order whereas the USA does month, day, year which also causes problems. Having pointed this out I went on to ask them to fix how many census records are set up ie the person on the top of the list becomes the parent or sibling for anyone following. This too, seems to be more of a Canadian problem.
I asked why loyalty didn’t count and why when I spend a great amount of time fixing errors that should be fixed, and aren’t, won’t they give me a discount. Half price for loyalty doesn’t seem out of line and I, too, will be cancelling in August and telling them why. Last year for Canada’s 150th I got DNA kits for 8 members of my family. I should have done them one at a time to get a discount. Oh well, so glad to see so many people actually do feel just like I do. Ancestry get your act together and reward all of your loyal customers or we will leave and perhaps never come back.
MyHeritage has become competitive in the arena and this morning has rolled out many new features, too numerous to mention. Very impressive and easy to navigate. I tested at the other 3 companies, so just uploaded my raw data there.
It was free to upload; and I can also do all the navigating I need which is free. I found many new matches I did not have elsewhere, including Gedmatch.
O…K… (takes deep breath). I waited to the last day of my World Deluxe subscription and I’ve debated about cancelling but I did it. Am going into withdrawal but darn it, I want to be wooed back. We’ll see.
So, ok. I have a quest for you. I too refuse to pay $300/annum for a World Deluxe Subscription. With all the information I have GIVEN them that they can then use to sell to others looking up the information on their ancestors that I have inputted, they should be thankful. My question here for you all is so I cancelled my “subscription” around last December as I just cannot afford their crazy azz prices. I have not received an email “inviting” me back. Do I need to “delete my entire Ancestry account” (wiping my trees clean) in order to get these emails or just “cancel my renewal payments”? I sure the hell am not paying the crazy current rates, but would be willing to pay the $150. I have over 6,000 in my tree (more than 3/4 I entered – not from their “hints”). I started making .pdf files of all their “hints” (just in case) and saving them to a USB stick. Also, if I remember correctly there are a couple times a year where they do offer discounts on their members (not DNA). Does anyone know when these are? I could hold out to then. Thanks in advance.
Good question. Perhaps I received the discount because I manage several DNA kits, and I have subscribed for more than 10 years. If you’ve waited this long, I would wait to see if there is a sale in November, around Black Friday. You do not need to remove your online tree.
I just went into my account and checked my settings. I think I know why, because I had taken all the check marks off, including promotions. I got so sick and tired of the emails of the DNA, which I am not even remotely interested in. I cannot understand all the hype with it as I have seen a number of reports from others and so it breaks down your heritage – something you can tell by just getting the world censuses in my opinion. I seem to remember there was twice a year where Ancestry gave discounts on the memberships and wasn’t sure when that was? I will wait for American Thanksgiving and see what happens? I have over 23,000 “hints” to weed through.