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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: CaroleW on Tuesday 24 November 09 18:58 GMT (UK)

Title: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: CaroleW on Tuesday 24 November 09 18:58 GMT (UK)
Has anybody received an email from Ancestry asking them to take part in an online survey?   

http://www.ancestry-survey.co.uk/?sssdmh=dm13.224611&q=2009LAP&source=44040741

It says -
Quote
We want to find out more about our customers to help us make improvements to the products and services we offer in the future, to better suit your needs.

Ideal chance to air my views I thought so off I went.  The first 22 questions I could relate to improving Ancestry but then we got into the following questions at which point I quit out - I feel they could be selling details to other organisations and I would expect lots of "spam" could result

23) What is your marital status?
24) How long have you lived in your home?
25) How many charities do you donate to?
26) What type of charities do you donate to? (Tick all that apply)
27) Who lives in your household?
28) What is/was your occupation?
29) What stage of your career are you at?
30) What is your household income?
31) What is your Postcode?
32) Are you a member of any of these organisations? (Tick all that apply)
33) How frequently do you use the Internet?
36) How many hours on average do you spend watching TV each day?
38) How long do you spend on average listening to the radio each day?
40) How often do you visit the cinema?
& so forth and so on

Does anybody know how the answers to those questions help improve Ancestry???
Title: Re: ANCESTRY QUESTIONNAIRE - BEWARE!
Post by: tjugg on Tuesday 24 November 09 19:04 GMT (UK)
I got one this evening!   Thanks for the warning they are a nosey lot and as you say its pretty irrelevant, I will just delete it.

Linda
Title: Re: ANCESTRY QUESTIONNAIRE - BEWARE!
Post by: CaroleW on Tuesday 24 November 09 19:17 GMT (UK)
I have sent it back to them as a reply and asking what relevance those questions have

I reckon everybody who gets one should do the same until they get the message
Title: Re: ANCESTRY QUESTIONNAIRE - BEWARE!
Post by: jds1949 on Tuesday 24 November 09 19:18 GMT (UK)
I got one - and I don't even have a subscription!

jds1949
Title: Re: ANCESTRY QUESTIONNAIRE - BEWARE!
Post by: cjl on Tuesday 24 November 09 19:18 GMT (UK)
I also got one today and started to complete the questionnaire, got to question 23 and thought I am not prepared to answer the rest of the questions for exactly the same reasons as you did,  so deleted the e mail.

CJL

Title: Re: ANCESTRY QUESTIONNAIRE - BEWARE!
Post by: mike175 on Tuesday 24 November 09 19:45 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the warning, and for saving my time! I received the email this morning and would probably have started on it later . . . I don't mind helping to make Ancestry better, but I sure can't see how some of those questions are relevant.

I'll just keep sending in the corrections to their transcripts as I find them, which seems a more effective way of improving the site. Pity they don't reward us with some discount off the subs for correcting their mistakes though . . .  ::)
Title: Re: ANCESTRY QUESTIONNAIRE - BEWARE!
Post by: jc26red on Tuesday 24 November 09 19:51 GMT (UK)
you don't have to complete the "nosey" section.. just the bits that are relevant to Ancestry

I only did the bits I thought they needed to know... yes I have subscribed to most of the sites listed at some point! that should keep them on their toes.

Notice there wasn't a question on what we thought of value for money and whether the sub was pitched at the right level  :-\

You don't have to have a sub to receive one, even a free registerd users of the community boards will receive it.
Title: Re: ANCESTRY QUESTIONNAIRE - BEWARE!
Post by: kerryb on Tuesday 24 November 09 19:52 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the warning, I only got as far as about question 5, and found there was not enough space in the boxes for other website or other software package, obviously they didn't really want to know that!!!!!

So I gave up.

Kerry
Title: Re: ANCESTRY QUESTIONNAIRE - BEWARE!
Post by: ricky1 on Tuesday 24 November 09 20:06 GMT (UK)
I got one today from them

I could do with some bottles of wine for Christmas , if nobody fills it in, then I have a good chance of getting the wine ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: nigelp on Tuesday 24 November 09 20:39 GMT (UK)
I received a questionnaire this afternoon.

I glanced through it and was left wondering what they meant by "physical searches"  ::) for question 5, gave up looking at the lengthy list of options for question 12  ??? and was very puzzled as to how my membership of a breakdown service (e.g AA, RAC, Green Flag) might improve my experience of researching family history for question 32.  ???

Nigel
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: LizzieW on Tuesday 24 November 09 20:45 GMT (UK)
I got one this evening, but I deleted it.  I have a sub to Ancestry and use it when it suits me, but much prefer FindMyPast, which at least is UK based not USA based.

Lizzie
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: geniespot on Tuesday 24 November 09 20:55 GMT (UK)
Haven't received one yet but thanks for warning. Guess it improves their bank balance!
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: CaroleW on Tuesday 24 November 09 22:18 GMT (UK)
Hi Nigel

Quote
and was very puzzled as to how my membership of a breakdown service (e.g AA, RAC, Green Flag) might improve my experience of researching family history for question 32

Probably because you need to be a good driver to steer your way through Ancestry's new search system and are liable to encounter a lot of breakdowns!!!
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: c-side on Tuesday 24 November 09 22:50 GMT (UK)
I read this earlier and thought that I'd been ignored by Ancestry - just checked my emails again and they have kindly sent it to me TWICE!

C
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: carol8353 on Tuesday 24 November 09 22:53 GMT (UK)
Had to laugh at Nigel's reply, I got to about number 5 as well and gave up.
There were just too many questions,options and the writing was so small too  :o

Carol
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: jc26red on Tuesday 24 November 09 23:03 GMT (UK)
 ;D ;D ;D

Ricky, looks like we're be sharing that case of wine between us if no one else replies to the questionaire. lol!
Only problem is the draw isn't till mid January 2010 - too late for Christmas!

Jenny
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: ricky1 on Tuesday 24 November 09 23:07 GMT (UK)
;D ;D ;D

Ricky, looks like we're be sharing that case of wine between us if no one else replies to the questionaire. lol!
Only problem is the draw isn't till mid January 2010  - too late for Christmas!

Jenny
;D ;D ;D ;D

Hi Jenny

oh well, it  will be just intime for the OH birthday then ;D ;D ;D. if people dont answer the questions, wonder if we get more than one case each  ??? ???
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: groom on Tuesday 24 November 09 23:08 GMT (UK)
Deleted mine as well.

Are you sure it's not a trial run of the 2011 census  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Jan
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: tofgem on Wednesday 25 November 09 09:13 GMT (UK)
I received two copies!!!
I didn't get very far before I gave up. If I'd managed to get as far as the personal details I would have deleted it anyway. I'll definitely delete both of them now.
Tofgem
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: kerryb on Wednesday 25 November 09 11:57 GMT (UK)
So was I the only person with boxes too small to type my answers into?

Perhaps its my computer  ::)

Kerry
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: ricky1 on Wednesday 25 November 09 12:00 GMT (UK)
So was I the only person with boxes too small to type my answers into?

Perhaps its my computer  ::)

Kerry

nope the box's were small, but you dont want to answer them. Jenny and I are after the free wine ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: carol8353 on Wednesday 25 November 09 13:08 GMT (UK)
So was I the only person with boxes too small to type my answers into?

Perhaps its my computer  ::)

Kerry

No Kerry I said that too( yesterday at 22-53)  ;D

Carol
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: kerryb on Wednesday 25 November 09 16:10 GMT (UK)
Ricky, I concede you can have the wine, it probably won't be one that I like anyway  ::) ;D ;)

Carol sorry that wasn't what I was complaining about, the box would only allow me to type for instance

other FH software package

Family histor instead of the full Family Historian 4

I started off trying to abbreviate but then got bored and gave up!

Kerry
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Old Mother Reilly on Thursday 26 November 09 14:18 GMT (UK)
I didn't complete the survey, either.  However, I did send them an e-mail pointing out my reasons (similar to those stated above by others) as to why.  I also suggested that, as the inclusion of questions about matters other than research/family history seemed unpopular with a number of their users (again, see above), the results they obtained from such a survey might be skewed and unrepresentative of their subscribers. 

You don't suppose they'll send me a bottle for trying to make a positive contribution, do you * sigh *  ;)

Rachel
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: AngelaR on Thursday 26 November 09 14:26 GMT (UK)
I don't really want any more marketing stuff to bin, but I wonder why I haven't had a questionnaire? Perhaps they know the rest of you are really millionaires in disguise and therefore worth pursuing....  ::)

Angela
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Old Mother Reilly on Thursday 26 November 09 14:30 GMT (UK)
I wish!  8) 8) 8)

However, as you mention marketing I'm sure that's why they have included all the "lifestyle" questions.  They do advertise quite heavily and must want to know which TV channels, magazines, etc to use for effective advertising.  The company shouldn't try to "dress it up" as a kind of consumer satisfaction exercise, though!

Rachel
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: ricky1 on Thursday 26 November 09 14:41 GMT (UK)
I don't really want any more marketing stuff to bin, but I wonder why I haven't had a questionnaire? Perhaps they know the rest of you are really millionaires in disguise  and therefore worth pursuing....  ::)

Angela

I wish ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Keziahemm on Thursday 26 November 09 14:46 GMT (UK)
I've binned #3   >:(

I cancelled my sub a couple of weeks ago, when I received the first questionnaire thought it was a ploy to get me to re-join  ???

Susan
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: AngelaR on Thursday 26 November 09 15:05 GMT (UK)
So I am being left out..... I wonder why I'm different... can't be the green blood, surely...
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: tjugg on Thursday 26 November 09 15:30 GMT (UK)
Cor Angela can I take your next blood sample?  I've never seen anyone with green blood before, and I always joke when I'm  taking blood about people with blue blood but haven't seen any of that either. 

Linda
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Sloe Gin on Thursday 26 November 09 18:20 GMT (UK)
One thing they never ask is whether one uses Ancestry for research projects other than personal family history.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who does.
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Alan b on Friday 27 November 09 20:28 GMT (UK)
So I am being left out..... I wonder why I'm different

If you are different then so am I as I haven't received this either and there is no way I would give out such personal details in this day an age.
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: csh on Friday 27 November 09 22:48 GMT (UK)
Thanks for pointing this out.

Deleted without opening.

We decided some while ago not to answer any questionaires from anybody regardless of who they came from.

You have to make yourself as safe as possible these days with all the fraud etc going on.

Thanks again to all.
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: DUNMAC on Sunday 29 November 09 14:14 GMT (UK)
Hi,
    I too received this request and thought strange, I had only filled one in two weeks previously, which was short and only about Ancestry, nothing personal asked. The spammers are good at getting their information by copying bank and building insurance forms, so perhaps this is not from Ancestry themselves but a spammer who has forged their headings etc. Just thought I'd add this to the mill.
                                                                                           Regards,
                                                                                                   Duncan.
P.S. I ignored this request as well.
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Maggie1895 on Sunday 29 November 09 14:21 GMT (UK)

So I am being left out..... I wonder why I'm different... can't be the green blood, surely...

Angela, you're not alone.    I'm a subscriber and haven't been sent a q'aire either.
And it's definitely not the green blood.. mine's pure claret! (and I don't necessarily mean the colour)
Maggie 1895
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Pels. on Sunday 29 November 09 14:35 GMT (UK)


The spammers are good at getting their information by copying bank and building insurance forms, so perhaps this is not from Ancestry themselves but a spammer who has forged their headings etc. Just thought I'd add this to the mill.


That's interesting, I deleted it without checking, does anyone else feel it might have been spam ??  Will go and check to see whether it's still tucked away somewhere ??

Added It's gone .. only one I could see that I hadn't read was asking me if I would like to preserve history by helping them transcribe the British Postal Service Appointment books !!

Pels.
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Redroger on Sunday 29 November 09 14:41 GMT (UK)
Thanks for the tip Carole, not had one yet, but it will return unanswered.
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Tsu on Sunday 29 November 09 19:35 GMT (UK)
The link in the email definitely went to Ancestry.

I completed all the relevant bits (leaving out quite a lot) and was annoyed to see they hadn't given me a freeform bit at the end to say what I thought, so I used the space they had given for feedback on the newsletter to tell them the reason my tree there wasn't updated was because you can't update a tree by importing a ged file, only delete and create a new one.
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: CaroleW on Sunday 29 November 09 19:49 GMT (UK)
I emailed a formal complaint to Ancestry about this questionnaire and asked what relevance questions 23 onwards had on improving their website

I have not had any reply to date - I wonder why??
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: ambers on Tuesday 01 December 09 13:57 GMT (UK)
I only filled in the relevant bits, and thought the rest of the questions were out of line  >:(

I have only seen those sort of questions asked when there is an opportunity to win something so say free on-line..... I wouldn't give that sort of information to anyone :-\

Ambers
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Sloe Gin on Tuesday 01 December 09 15:05 GMT (UK)
I really don't see what the problem is - there's no obligation to answer all the questions.  I didn't.

What is a shame is the missed opportunity here:  they haven't allowed any scope for specific comment.  It would have been good if they'd included room for suggested improvements.  One of my pleas would be to enable use of wildcards at the beginning of a word when searching. 
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: ricky1 on Tuesday 01 December 09 19:51 GMT (UK)
I really don't see what the problem is - there's no obligation to answer all the questions.  I didn't.


dont tell em that, they'll all be filling it in, and I wont get me crate of wine ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Redroger on Friday 04 December 09 15:59 GMT (UK)
That they have to put a bribe with it suggests they are getting a low response.
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: miw on Friday 04 December 09 18:16 GMT (UK)
Did anyone else notice that the case of 12 bottles of 'fantastic' wine is worth £60! my daughter who works for a wine merchant was less than impressed.  I couldn't be bothered to even look at the questions. :)
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: CaroleW on Friday 04 December 09 18:35 GMT (UK)
Message for Ricky

Quote
and I wont get me crate of wine


Quote
Did anyone else notice that the case of 12 bottles of 'fantastic' wine is worth £60! my daughter who works for a wine merchant was less than impressed

Oh Ricky - I thought you had a more discerning palate than that!!!   
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: ricky1 on Friday 04 December 09 19:18 GMT (UK)
Hi Carole

The doc says wine is good for me, have to admit he hasnt offered to buy me any though ;) ;) ;)

ricky
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: CaroleW on Friday 04 December 09 19:24 GMT (UK)
Red wine is good for your heart and as you have such a big heart I think you need to drink plenty. ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ancestry questionnaire - Beware!
Post by: Redroger on Saturday 05 December 09 18:04 GMT (UK)
Personally I stick to Scottish Cough Mixture, I once suggested to a friend that I imported my recreational drugs in bottles from Scotland, he didn't understand, must have led a very sheltered life!!