Why can't I open my Ancestry tree to a DNA match?

[jillruss]

This has happened twice now.

I try to invite a DNA match to view my tree using their user name and both times I get a prompt 'please enter a valid user name'. Both usernames are just ordinary forename and surname - not a fancy made up name.

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong (though its worked for other people) or could it be that they don't have an Ancestry account? I asked the first lady this but she said she did when she took the DNA test.

If I'm right, will it work if I ask them for their email address and send the invite via the email address box?

I do find Ancestry so very wearing......

Jill

[groom]

Not DNA, but I've had problems with inviting people to view my tree on Ancestry when I invite them via their user name. However, if I do it by their email address they get the invitation straight away. This works with people who subscribe to Ancestry and those who don't.

[jillruss]

Thanks, groom. I think that must be the key to the problem. I'll have to ask them for their email addresses - just thought at this early stage it might scare some people off, but if there's no other way of doing it!

I also have a grumble with Ancestry's 'message centre! When you go into the outbox, there's absolutely no indication as to who each message was sent. Very offputting when you've sent quite a few messages, all with more or less the same wording, to try to get people's interest.

Plus, I'm still amazed at just how many people don't bother to reply. If someone bothered to message me, even if I wasn't interested, I'd still reply politely to that effect. Some people haven't got the manners they were born with! 

[ggrocott]

I've had problems too, I think it is just another bug in Ancestry's system, there are also multiple bugs in the messaging system, you may think you have sent a message and actually it never went, or you think it has failed but actually it hasn't!  Lots of people, including me, are complaining about both.

[Pheno]

'There are many reasons why people may not be responding, but one important reason is that they may not have seen your message in the first place.  I have discovered there is an inconsistency in the messaging options available to DNA testers.

If you have DNA tested with Ancestry, there are two options available to contact matches - there is a GREEN messaging button on the DNA Profile page, and a BROWN (some will say ORANGE) messaging button on the Member Profile page.

Both buttons result in a message going to the recipient through the Ancestry messaging system.  However, only a message sent via the brown button results in an external email alert being sent to the recipient.  A message sent via the green button does not result in an external email alert.

What this means is if the recipient does not log onto Ancestry (or only logs on infrequently and is unfamiliar with the messaging system), they are not aware you have sent them a message.

I have also been advised that members who access Ancestry through some mobile devices don't have access to the messaging system and without an external email alert they will not know that you have sent them a message.

Anecdotally, members of the Facebook DNA groups I am in have reported a far better response rate to messages sent via the brown button.  Unfortunately, you can only send messages via the brown button if you have a subscription.

If you do have a subscription, I highly recommend sending your messages via the brown button on the Member Profile page rather than the green button.'

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=766368.msg6191921#msg6191921

The above is a quote from this thread aired about a year ago - I wonder whether something similar is happening again.  It may be better still to use the brown button rather than the green one.

Pheno

[jillruss]

Well, that was interesting, Pheno.  I wondered why I was getting email notification of some incoming messages but certainly not all. What a shambles! Is Ancestry too big to worry about the small stuff, I wonder?

I'm pretty sure I've sent most if not all of my messages via the green button - its the first one you come across after all. However, I shall use the brown button in the future. I'm now wondering whether to repeat some of my messages - trouble is, you don't want to come across as too persistent or you'll put people off!!

[Jill Eaton]

I'm now wondering whether to repeat some of my messages - trouble is, you don't want to come across as too persistent or you'll put people off!!

Jill, perhaps have a look at when they last logged in?

if it's very recent then the chances are they are aware you have tried to contact. if it's several months then it might be worth trying again?

Regards

Jill

[rsel]

'There are many reasons why people may not be responding, but one important reason is that they may not have seen your message in the first place.  I have discovered there is an inconsistency in the messaging options available to DNA testers.

I have tried using the different buttons in the past, and also reporting to Ancestry support that I think messages are not being delivered/received, and they just respond there are no reported issues. Even though I am reporting an issue :-)   The whole message system needs a rework !!! 

[jillruss]

I think they probably have exactly the system they want!  They allow us to complain and we allow them to ignore us.