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Source: Ancestry Weekly Journal

Affordable prices? But affordable to whom I wonder?

Everyone, or just the very rich few....

I am not sure. I haven't fully read the article but it's worth a try looking into to it for more information. Maybe I'll inquire and see what they say.

Here is what is listed on the site. Is $50 per hour plus a $5 administration/document fee reasonable? Is the $5 fee levied for each document?
If the resources are as extensive as they claim and their database is well constructed, they should be able to retrieve quite a bit of information in an hour.

Quote::

Unlike some other research companies who will only do a minimum of 10 – 20 hours research, our minimum is only one hour (at $60), although most of our clients request three to five hours. Although our initial report will include suggestions for further research, there is no obligation to continue.

So..all this really does for you, is save you the time of doing it yourself...right? If they dont have certain information (like say, a town whose records are 1808-1865, making that gap between then and now) they arent going to get you the records needed to fill it.

I guess this is a good deal..for those who dont want to have the fun of researching themselves, but want whatever info the FHL has.

I also want to say..this will ultimately cost big bucks. I think we have all used their records and I, for one..know..it took me a whole year (2-4 hours a week) to do just my fathers side..and I only took..grandparents..and their children.

Just my opinion.

I enjoy doing my own research. There is something gratifying about it. When I so it myself, I can make notes and look at other things along the way. I don't know if it's right for me. My guess is that it's not although it may be worth it for some other people who don't have the time or interest to do it themselves.

I can only compare the joy, wonderment, despair and satisfaction that I felt when I set out on my genealogy research adventure in a 'serious' way. I say 'adventure' because that it just what it turned out to be. An experience I would never have wanted to miss.

Everytime a new page opened on some site or other where I was searching, that little feeling of a butterfly in my tummy appeared in eager anticipation....that 'Will I find it on this page?' feeling. I know you ALL understand what I mean...

I have only needed to resort to a paid researcher once - and that was because I could not understand how to access the British National Archives for a Military Service record from the mid 1800's. But having found a researcher who 'specialised' in such matters, there was little left to chance and he knew exactly where to look and what to do. The result was that he provided on a CD a full photographic copy, in colour, of the record I required - all 17 pages of it - plus some background on the regiment concerned. It took him five days to turn round my request and I recieved the CD by post four days later. His charge - £38 (€48 or $67US) - now THAT is reasonable!

But now as I face further research, I want the enjoyment of doing it myself, all-be-it with the help of people like our own researchers here who will, I know, 'guide me' on what and how to do things. Tha is what makes it all worthwhile for me.

But having said that - I bet that new group will make a 'bomb' before many realise that there are far too many imponderables for them to make any guarantees, and all the while their 'meter will be ticking'!!!

Your point is well taken Carole and I agree with you. There are times when you need a professionals help. I know that I have on more than one occasion and so far I haven't been disappointed. Not only did I get what I needed, but I learned a lot as well in the process.

There are professionals out there that really want to help without targeting the persons wallet. We have a few here (for those of you who need to know who they are, look at the avatars..we have identified them as researchers). While they normally charge for their services (as well they should) they also offer a lot of free information to sites such as our Gente. We get a chance to see what they have to offer...and I thank them for this.

I guess the main thing to remember here is to ask for references and/or referrals whenever possible so that you will ensure a good experience. Like everything else, you need to research the person who you are hiring and any credited researcher will not mind one bit. Ultimately though, the final decision lies with the person doing the hiring regardless of what anyone says.

Just my two cents worth...