FTM 2009

I thought I'd give an update to the FTM 2009 free upgrade situation. The afternoon of my last post, I received an email from The Generations Network apologizing about the situation. They said that their store was overwhelmed and that they'd have it resolved in a few days, at which time they'd issue a new coupon.

A few days later, I did receive the email with a new coupon. It had a link and said that I had to order through it. When I clicked on the link, it said that I had to wait over 2 hours for my time in the store. I promptly went directly to the store in another browser window, ordered the upgrade and the coupon worked. I'm so glad that I didn't sit there and wait.

I was very pleased that they even gave free shipping. The free upgrade was absolutely free! I didn't expect that.

Although there were so many problems getting my order in, the upgrade was shipped very fast. I had expected to wait a month or so, but I received it last Thursday. I've got it all installed and it recognized the database that I had pulled into FTM 2008. I can't speak on features since I use Legacy instead of FTM now but will probably fool with it sometime.

I have to say that the Generations Network faltered but did deliver (at least the physical product, not sure on the promises that they gave with the software). Thank you Generations Network.

Free FTM 2009 upgrade, although their store isn't allowing it

I switched from Family Tree Maker to Legacy Family Tree software to record my genealogy a few years ago. It was a big transition, mostly for the user interface and how to do typical things like sourcing, which was much different but easy once you know how. Legacy helped me standardize my information and included a lot of error reports that I still use often. I could not believe the crazy stuff that FTM did with my data and it took me months of clean up. I'm not kidding--I spent all winter cleaning up data and I still work on it off and on to this day, 1-1/2 years later.

I found Family Tree Maker 2008 at BJ's for $19. I decided to buy it, more for the postcard collection CD that came with it than for the software. Although it had a neat new interface, it seemed like their big selling point was their online printing of books, which is not something I'm interested in. It also did not pull in GEDCOMs properly from Legacy in any format. I had a long list that I forwarded to the FTM developers. Most reviews that I read online of the software raved about it--not for the program but more for records they found on Ancestry.com which comes bundled with different versions.

Well, the Generations Network knew people were unhappy with the new software (which was missing most of the printing options and therefore not very useful) and nicely offered to give registered users of FTM 2008 a free upgrade to FTM 2009. I received the email last night, clicked the link and their website wasn't functional. I thought I'd go on and see how much they were going to hook me in fees and shipping to get this. I would have much rather had a download, but they don't seem to be offering it.

This morning when I try to get on the site, I get the message "Due to the high popularity of our FTM 2009 free upgrade offer, we are unable to fulfill your order at this time. Please check back later. Thank you, The Generations Network, Inc." If I go straight to the store, it won't accept my coupon. It seems like the full price of $39.95 for an upgrade of this software is rather steep, especially when they're giving it away for free.

It's kind of laughable. They're trying to make it up to people and then tell you "sorry". Way to go, Generations Network!