General Chat

If you read my replies further back John, you'll see I never met anyone.

I really don't know what feedback anyone wanted from GR, they have a stickied thread "New Look Site - Feedback So Far " which has been there for yonks.

I've replied to an earlier thread saying that I went to give my opinion. So I really don't know what the secrecy thing is about. GR offered up to £50.00 to go, that would have given them a fair amount of people to ask.

If there were lots of people who went, I can see why some wouldn't say they did, they may not even use this board, but it's like being given the 3rd degree.

In short, GR asked if anyone wanted to give there opinion on the new layout, they would pay up to £50.00 on travel expenses, and get a platinum subscription. If you wanted to do that, you applied, I did. I got what they said, I'm happy.

That's it

Had no idea it was not a meet till Lynda and Sylvia told us what had happened. Even an experienced editor like me could not read into the original message that it was one hour slots by appointment. Did Lynda meet the other two that day, or were they ushered around by G4S?

So is that three only who turned up - or maybe more. Will we get a report of those one hour slots from Genes (no names, no pack drill).

I think it´s more a matter that there was no feedback from the Genes team after the event.
No one was suggesting that the actual event was kept secret. In fact there were numerous comments at the time about the fact that the money offered wouldn´t get most people to the nearest airport/train station.
The fact that it was publicised so widely led members to expect that Genes would report back on the success or otherwise of the day.

It was advertised on here. No secrecy involved!


You applied, and then I think there was to be some sort of lottery if too many people applied.


I know of 2 people who went .................... it seemed that there were approximately 1 hour slots reserved for each person. So there was undivided attention between member and GR staff.

Both people I know did indeed report back .................... but there was no general thread posted where everyone could say they'd been and what was done/said, etc.


Obviously, I didn't even respond ................. I did consider it, but thought spending well over £1,000 to get was a bit much :-D


There certainly was no secrecy about it!!


In fact, here is the Announcement ....... from Announcements Board .................


http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/announcements/thread/1302773

Genes Advisor 25 Jun 2012 14:34

We have been spending a lot of time over the last few months listening to what you have been saying and reading all of your feedback on our message boards. We have taken everything on board and the whole team have been working really hard behind the scenes to make Genes Reunited bigger and better. It is all very exciting, but before these updates go live we want you to let us know if we’ve got it right.
We are inviting members to join the Genes team for the day in London in July. You’ll be able to spend some time looking at the changes we have made and then give us your feedback and suggestions.
We will reimburse up to £50 for your travel expenses. Also, anyone who takes part will be given a 12 month Platinum subscription to the site.
If you are interested please email your name, phone number and postal address to theteam@genesreunited.co.uk. This information will not be passed on to any 3rd parties and will be used by Genes Reunited only.
We look forward to hearing from you,
The Genes Team.


and, in the usual fashion, threads pointing out the appearance of this announcement were posted on at least 2 Boards (General Chat and Genealogy Chat) by members to ensure those who did not normally look on Announcements would see it




sylvia

Ain't it just Jo :-D

By the way John, the heading on this thread says it was meet, it wasn't :-)

Yes Lynda - Sods Law !

That's a shame Jo, it'd of been good to express your opinion.It's always the same, when something good comes up, there's always something else happening on the same day :-|

No Lynda ..... It is week commencing the 24th and as I have new windows on order don't want to take the chance that the fitters may want to come in then. So I haven't replied expressing an interest of taking part.

Jo

Are you going Jo?

On the same subject ...........I received an email from A*****y inviting me for something similar this week. Research to evaluate parts of their website by an external company in London ............. for one hour ......expenses the same as GR. :-)

Jo

I said that I went Marion, but nobody asked what happened when I did :-)

Thanks for that Lynda. At least it gives an idea to those of us who were unable to even think of attending.
I wasn´t suggesting it was a secret. just a bit surprised that there was no mention either by attendees or GR after the event.
Nice to know you had a good day.
Marion

I don't know how many people went Wisechild, as it was done on a time slot basis. I didn't ask how many were to attend, and never asked about members who weren't going to, well there are a couple of million, so knew everyone wouldn't attend :-D

I tried the new layout, and thought it was done really well. As I said, I did ask a few questions of my own, can't recall what they were now, but they were answered.

It was interesting to see the office, where it "all happens" I had a very lovely time there, and would do it again, if asked.

By the way there was no secret about the meeting, it was open to all to go, I just applied like anyone could of., I have said on here before that I went, so no secret.
I can see why they had to limit the amount they paid for travel, after all this is a worldwide site, paying someone to come from outer Mongolia for an hour, isn't very cost productive:-)

Just out of interest Lynda, how many of you were there & was anything said about reporting the outcome of the day to members who weren´t able to attend.

I went , and found it very interesting, I was asked what I thought about changes they were making, mostly I liked them.What was discussed? The new changes.

Seems GR are keeping very quiet about this......if it ever happened........& whoever took part has signed the Official Secrets Act.
Perhaps a way forward would be to go back to the days when members just paid a small membership fee to put their tree on the site & join in the forums & were offered a reduced price membership of FMP for searching records.
Most of the major problems with GR have arisen since they bit off more than they could chew.

Was this the meeting where GRU formed opinion that there was positive feedback to the new and exciting format? Nice to know who went, and what they thought.

Ann Roses on one side, Buttercups on other. And lots of lovely holly. :-D :-D

Nice one John - thanks for leading us up the garden path ;-)

I think there has been one GR member who said that they had gone. I don't think many of us even know the date it was held.