GNN: How to shock a duck

Ha! Gotcha! You thought this would be about some cruel animal experiment, didn't you? No, it only has to do with my subscription to Ancestry. I was checking my Visa balance a couple days ago and to my *shock, surprise and chagrin* there was a $299.00 charge from Ancestry! I have been a full subscriber for a few years now, but last year they talked me into changing over to a 'new' plan. Well, the new plan is good for them, but not so good for me if I am not warned in advance that the charge is coming. They "say" they send out an email two weeks before the renewal date, but I didn't get one.

Now, I am trying to decide if I really want to keep my subscription or not. If I do, I may have to pay for it by taking on clients who need documents. I am not a certified genealogist, but what would that matter if someone just wants a census record or something and I know how to find it? If I go that route, I have no clue what to charge....so many decisions, so few (working) brain cells.

Comments: 12

♯ ♪ Feb 18, 2007, 12:19pm EST

That's why I no longer participate with them. Someone's making money.

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Rob Appell Feb 18, 2007, 1:59pm EST

I didn't think that at all. My initial reaction was, "Oh no, Webduck is doing THAT again?" Oops...sorry...I didn't know I wasn't supposed to tell

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Ms. Meacham: Money Maven Feb 18, 2007, 2:24pm EST

Webduck, This could be a good thing, if you can turn this into a business opportunity. I'm thinking something along the lines of $29 for basic searches, which you can market here and through your own website. I'd pay that much for personalized services from someone who knows how to navigate the system. Ten of those per year and you've paid your costs.

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Corina Carrasco Feb 18, 2007, 3:26pm EST

That's why I don't use Ancestry.com any more either! Yes, charge people for looking things up. Charge depending on how long it takes you to track it down. I would charge and I would also pay!

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Eyvonne H. Feb 18, 2007, 4:06pm EST

That is why I am no longer with them myself. They harpooned me about three years ago. The bad thing is with them no matter what, once they get the money you don't get it back no matter what.

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Eyvonne H. Feb 18, 2007, 4:11pm EST

I think a lot of people charge by how hard it is to find what they are looking for. Or charge per page of info. I doubt this will help because I don't know what they charge per hour or per page. Hmmm sorry I guess that doesn't help at all. sorry.

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Carol Lloyd Feb 18, 2007, 4:23pm EST

thanks for the update

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Webduck * Feb 18, 2007, 5:06pm EST

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I think my greatest fear would be that I would have too much business and not be able to keep up with it.

Rob, Rob, Rob....I have it on a surge protector! LOL

Shocked Duck: tastes just like chicken?

Jennifer, thank you for the vote of confidence and advice. I will let everyone know if I decided to do it for pay.

As for Ancestry, it seems that it is mostly now for the hard-core genealogist, and I may not be one when my husband retires. Since I have already eaten this payment for the year I think it would be best for me to use it to update my family trees and get my husband's family book done so I can get that out of the way. That may take me a year!

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