Another Vent

Lost a project I was looking forward to working on yesterday. I had bid 1060 on a UK research jaunt, which included myself paying for up to three UK documents + research. Bid was 1-3k. I know who won the bid...but that is not the kicker. The winning bid was $1051. Huh? I was underbid $9?

I feel more sorry for clients than myself when they choose an expert over me :) Move on...

Expert Connect Discussion Group

It has been almost three months since the inception of the Google Groups Discussion Board which allows experts within the Expert Connect program on Ancestry.com to communicate, sharing ideas or even just venting!

To date we have 62 members (1 dropped and still not sure why) and over 1500 posts. Won't be usually posting to the blog here as the real discussion is going on over there.

Josh

Enjoy Your Project

I'm curious how a project evolved from a $600-$900 initial bid to an award of $25. I wish someone could explain that to me. I wish when I asked EC the question they'd actually give me an answer that made sense. I suppose no one is ever supposed to find answers to those types of questions...things like that in life just happen and your supposed to live with it.

I figure the researcher:

1)Low-balled the bid for one or one-half hour of research in an effort to gain some information, only to create a substantially larger continuation project

2)Someone is a hobby genealogist that should not be on EC

I revisited another project I'd bid on today...as it has not been awarded yet. An "Expert" had given the client the information she needs to order the record - on the CMB! I'm so sick of having to police the boards and narc on people. Why is EC not doing this?

Just venting...

Census 2010 (Off Topic)

Very interesting website tracks percentages (by state) that have returned 2010 census forms. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/

Interesting fact:

Return your 2010 Census forms! The cost to the Government (and you eventually) for us returning census form via mail: $.42; cost for them to find you $56! Total cost of 2010 Census - $11.8 Billion total!

So worth every penny :)

New EC Update!

Did you see the recent update? I can't imagine how many suggestions EC has received from experts determined to try and make EC a friendlier and more efficient place to work. The update I'm speaking of is the money counter. Why do we need to know there is 1.3 million in projects? Furthermore, how many of these projects are old? I counted...only 33% of the projects listed as "available" for custom research are less than a month old! Many projects are sitting there for months with 7+ bids on them. At least if they were going to update something lame it could be more accurate and not so misleading.

Closed Polling

1)How many projects do you normally work on concurrently?

1: 4, 13%
2: 4, 13%
3: 7, 24%
4: 6, 20%
5+: 8, 27%

2)Do you work as an EC Expert exclusively?

Yes: 1, 3%
No: 29, 93%
I plan on it: 1, 3%

3)How many online databases (pay membership) do you subscribe to?

1: 1, 11%
2: 1, 11%
3: 2, 22%
4: 2, 22%
5: 1, 11%
6+: 2, 22%

How Much Do You Charge?

I know this may seem like a touchy subject...and frankly I don't want to disclose what I charge normally. But I found a solution. I'm going to post a poll on the main page. Feel free to vote - it is anonymous - I don't see who voted or what your specific answer is. Really curious to know.