Buying a DNA Kit on Ancestry as a gift

[Ruskie]

Thanks Phil. Yes, there was some kind of postal confusion here with much discussion on social media at the time. Presumably the issues were covid related.

[Essnell]

Hi Ruskie,

I am still simmering,  but I chose to just let it go. as long as i get the package before Xmas i will be thankful.
My Order was as follows

 The kit was A$117.27
Standard Shipping  A$ 27.26
Tax A$ 14.46

Total A$158.99.   

If there are any hassles with it I will be on their case.

I don't even know what kit I actually got.

I am still waiting to see whether my own kit has reached Ireland.

Yes as Phil57 says  the sample goes in a smallish cardboard box but it is quite strong-  prepaid postage so any postbox will do the job. There is a removable sticker over the address which you must remove with some instructions on it.
I wondered at the size of the box in amongst all the packages but it seems to work alright.

I got my own kit a few weeks ago and it arrived fine . It was on special and it didn't cost anything like this latest one.

I have not been near any FH  today - spent the day in my garden re-potting some paperbark trees for the creek bank.    I feel better even though it was big pots and good sized trees which were awkward and heavy.
If the special is up again grab it while you can.
Essnell

[Ruskie]

Thanks for the breakdown of costs Essnell. That’s ended up being quite expensive, but I suppose if family get the answers they are seeking it will be worth it. I think Ancestry only have the one DNA kit so you just have ordered the right one. 

Good luck with the plantings. It’s nice to do something constructive and worthwhile.

[Cell]

Hi Ruskie,

I am still simmering,  but I chose to just let it go. as long as i get the package before Xmas i will be thankful.
My Order was as follows

 The kit was A$117.27
Standard Shipping  A$ 27.26
Tax A$ 14.46

Total A$158.99.   

If there are any hassles with it I will be on their case.

I don't even know what kit I actually got.

I am still waiting to see whether my own kit has reached Ireland.

Yes as Phil57 says  the sample goes in a smallish cardboard box but it is quite strong-  prepaid postage so any postbox will do the job. There is a removable sticker over the address which you must remove with some instructions on it.
I wondered at the size of the box in amongst all the packages but it seems to work alright.

I got my own kit a few weeks ago and it arrived fine . It was on special and it didn't cost anything like this latest one.

I have not been near any FH  today - spent the day in my garden re-potting some paperbark trees for the creek bank.    I feel better even though it was big pots and good sized trees which were awkward and heavy.
If the special is up again grab it while you can.
Essnell

The postage is a  standard fixed  price  add on  by Ancestry AU  to deliver anywhere here in Aus . All customers are charged this price in Aus ( it  always had been this way - which is where ancestry gets people with added costs, as it certainly  doesn't cost $ 28 to deliver  anywhere here within Aus with the light , small
 package lol).
The postage  you were charged by Ancestry Au  to post it out  within Aus is   normal  by ancestry  and it has been this way for years .

You were extremely unlucky that you ordered the kit  at full price $129 with tax   ( 117  is without tax ) , and not  the *$89 offer (* which that $ 28 postage would have  still been on  top of  the $89,) They've  always done this.

  When I  had mine , which I bought on offer   ( over two years ago) , that  over  the top postage  to  just get to your doorstep was   $28 then ( which came by  Aus post ,  and not a private courier company). 
  Kind regards.

[Ruskie]

Don’t read this post Essnell!!

I received some junk mail today.

Ancestry DNA kit:

$89*for just the kit
$90* for kit plus three months World Heritage Membership
*AUD. Offer ends 28 Dec 2022 at 11:59 p.m. AEDT. Excludes shipping, includes taxes.

I put one in my cart but baulked at the additional shipping charge which is around a third the cost of the kit as an additonal charge. No extra taxes though which it seems poor Essnell was pinged for. 

Offer runs for a couple more weeks so I will think about it - must say I am tempted. 

[Cell]

Don’t read this post Essnell!!

I received some junk mail today.

Ancestry DNA kit:

$89*for just the kit
$90* for kit plus three months World Heritage Membership
*AUD. Offer ends 28 Dec 2022 at 11:59 p.m. AEDT. Excludes shipping, includ⁸es taxes.

I put one in my cart but baulked at the additional shipping charge which is around a third the cost of the kit as an additonal charge. No extra taxes though which it seems poor Essnell was pinged for. 

Offer runs for a couple more weeks so I will think about it - must say I am tempted. 

.

 For the three month  access to world heritage trial - you will have to put your credit card in when you activate the kit / make your account. When I did  mine it was 1 month free trial with the kit    which I didn't  need - as my main account is a fully paid up  subscribed  account - I am sort of managing my free account from *my  fully paid up subscription  account -( *which is a long story and not really relevant )
They will ask you to put your credit card in for the free trial  when you set up your kit .

if you  do want to take up that three month offer when ( if) you get the kit  - make sure you cancel before that free trial ends if  you don't want an ongoing sub bill( or they will bill you for next month's  and so on unless you cancel the" free "trial)
Kind regards
Ps excuse the typos I am typing on my phone - hence the edits .

[Ruskie]

Yes thanks Cell. Apparently you need to cancel a couple of days before the trial ends otherwise they charge you the annual fee. Similar with all trials. 

I thought three months for $1 was a good deal, but my concern is that if the trial begins immediately and the DNA results take maybe 8 weeks to come back (maybe longer with the Christmas rush) then there will only be limited time left on the trial to take advantage of the DNA related features.

Or. Can you delay starting the trial until the DNA results arrive, does anyone know?

[Cell]

Yes thanks Cell. Apparently you need to cancel a couple of days before the trial ends otherwise they charge you the annual fee. Similar with all trials. 

I thought three months for $1 was a good deal, but my concern is that if the trial begins immediately and the DNA results take maybe 8 weeks to come back (maybe longer with the Christmas rush) then there will only be limited time left on the trial to take advantage of the DNA related features.

Or. Can you delay starting the trial until the DNA results arrive, does anyone know?

. I can't  quite remember the exact  terms  of the trial  as I didn't need it, but when you get your kit, you set it up, and the unique no in. I can not  for the life of me remember if when you set that account up you want that free trial you need to take that  trial  up at the time of activation , or within  a certain  time or lose it.
Kind regards

[Ruskie]

Thanks Cell. I think they have some kind of chat function so will ask there.