Genealogy Chat

I think the answer to all our questions could be answered by this response that GR gave me about 2 months ago ............


" we're currently assessing the best way for the Genes boards to be managed"


it's obviously taking a long time to work out which way to go.

I think it will be to revert back to how the site was before 2009 ........a place to build trees for free, and the Boards will still be here for those who wish to pay a small (??) subscription

I see all the records and several other "improvements" being removed. After all, GR has not transcribed any records themselves ....... they access records from other sites, principally FMP so far as I can make out.

The other option could be to sell off GR to someone else for whatever they can get.

Closing GR or rolling it into FMP in its entirety would, I think, involve discussions with the Competitions Board as to what is and is not allowed under the approval to buy that was given in 2009.


Until they resolve the issues caused by bad decisions, bad designs, and poor staffing, then we can expect nothing more than we have right now.

My sub runs out in September, and I will then have a decision to make

To be fair, Community Manager is probably an add-on to her main task. It must be soul destroying not to be able to sort out IT problems handled by a different section let alone get someone to commit to an answer to be published on the boards

So no new Genes Extras or competitions

No sign of the Community Manager

The rot is well and truly setting in

Disgraceful :-P

She has acted as go-between regarding the Book Club!
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/hobbies_crafts/thread/1353312

No disrespect to book club members, but as this is a genealogy website, one would have hoped that genealogy-related queries were more important than book club queries.

I've posted a message to Alison on the book club thread, as she seems to read that.

I'm afraid that our designated Community Manager has no grasp of the situation.

Doesn't seem able to comprehend that she is expected to help to deal with problems and queries raised by the PAYING members

The Book Club is of no interest at all to me as not the type of books I would be interested in reading.

So come on GR when are you going to sort out your home page:

Anthony Adolph is still showing
Genes Extras have not been updated for months
What has happened to any competitions which you are supposed to have on site

On 15th July the Team posted on FB that they would be updating the Homepage very soon.

So when is "very soon"? This year or possibly next year or never ??



One very unhappy long term member who is beginning to wonder why they bother using this site.

Just took a look at Genes extras

they are STILL offering a discount on Tea for Two.

Clicking the link to the site produces the following



Important Notice

AfternoonTeaForTwo will stop taking new orders on Friday 20th February 2015 at 9AM.

IF YOU HAVE AN EXISTING VOUCHER OR ECODE - Great news you can still use your voucher to order one of our products. To order please browse the site, select your product and call our friendly customer service team to confirm your order on 08445 008 061.

Any gift vouchers bought are still active and can be redeemed until the date they expire.

Close Message

I guess they are still discussing the "direction for GR to take", as I was told on their FB page 2 MONTHS ago

Good afternoon everyone

The information on the page cannot be edited by the CM unfortunately or the team here I am afraid.

However I have a meeting with other departments tomorrow so will ask again if we can get the information on these pages updated.

I am afraid I don't know what if any new special offers are available but if I find anything out, I will post a message in announcements so that everyone can easily see that.

I understand this is all very frustrating for you and I do empathise but I will post if I receive any update on this for you.

Alison

The Community Manager has about as much info as the paying members - NOTHING.
I think it was Sylvia who suggested that this site might be being run down? As a genealogy site I agree entirely. I asked a very long time ago why General Chat, Hobbies and Quizzes were given more prominence on the Boards Index than the proper genealogy boards, never got an answer.
If the staff are not interested, what hope is there?
I'm another disgruntled member who is thinking very seriously about leaving - especially when my renewal fee is at the top rate of over 20€.. There are other sites where one can help and ask for help totally free, and they are much better organised than this one is.

Alison -

What about our requests and complaints re Advanced Search and Quick Search ? - see posts on page 4 of this thread.

Your last reply about that was in May:

"The quick search and more importantly I think, the order for these ?
I can see that Shelley responded in February but I can't see if she actually said she would make the suggestion and I can't find that in the suggestions round up I am afraid in February but I will add that in my next one."

When can we expect some action on these points, please?

Advanced Search hasn't worked for many months, and nothing has been done about it.

Nothing is being done about anything........and isn't likely to be, as far as can be deduced

I couldn't actually care less about so-called special offers.....they are a waste of time

Much better offers on Groupon and Amazon Local - and they can be relied on.

My wish would be for the site to be purely a genealogy forum.............and for it to WORK as it should.

No point in offering 'tools' which are useless.

Perhaps we should all be contacting the Trading Standards Office............

Another thorny issue is the 'marked as answered' tag

Anyone with half a brain can see that in its present format it is simply ridiculous.

No surprise that nothing has been done

Homepage has not been altered as still showing AA
Genes Extras - waste of space
No new competitions
Book Club nothing for two months

And worst of all no sign of the Community Manager

:-P

It is the holiday season, they are bound to be short staffed at the moment.
:-) ;-)

They always seem to be short staffed whether it is holiday season or not

There are plenty of unemployed who would be glad of a job if GR are short staffed

they ARE short staffed .......... they have never had a very large staff, and the best experts have been moved over to FMP.