Ancestral Books - how reliable?

[ramjo]

I have located the Ancestral Books site which offers a wide variety of facimile print versions of books of interest to genealogist.  Given the wide range of books, it all looks a little too good so I'm a bit sceptical about making a purchase.

I'm keen to know if any RootsChatters have made purchases and the reliability of the service.

Thanks

[dobfarm]

If you see words like in books as below -you'd be better sending your brass on a posh hair doo! for value as it means the they know as much about what ever!! as much as you do which is probably now't.

presumptively
familially
tentatively assumed
correlation
Intuitively I suspect
Idioms with hypothesizes
Epistemology

For good value free to all!! is to settle down and read some true to life post threads on this and other ancestry websites!, how people went about with little knowledge to conker the brickwalls/ requests by collective assistance of members of forum websites and build your own knowledge base direct from peoples own experience. Also there are carts loads of free ancestral learning websites all free. LDS and FindMyPast websites are just a few also National Archives website.
Could also try Google books, local studies libraries in town and cities.

[Ruskie]

I can't comment on the site or their product, but depending on where your research is, these look to have a very American focus and for 'copies' they look quite expensive. There is so much available free on the internet these days, that you may wish to try a general google search first.

[msallen]

As far as I understand this site is just selling reprints, they didn't produce the material, hence there can be no overall "rating" for their reliability, as each will be by a different author.

However as a general rule of thumb you should never trust what is stated anywhere (be it book, website or whatever), it should only ever be seen as a clue. If it cites its primary sources then you can check these yourself. If it doesn't then you have to try and work how the author proved the particular link - if indeed they really did.

[dobfarm]

I have located the Ancestral Books site which offers a wide variety of facimile print versions of books of interest to genealogist.  Given the wide range of books, it all looks a little too good so I'm a bit sceptical about making a purchase.

I'm keen to know if any RootsChatters have made purchases and the reliability of the service.

Thanks

In short! as we are all saying!....... Be sceptical. ..............You won't be far wrong.

[dobfarm]

I'll go futher, When it comes to spending money out in Genealogy, Ancestral or Ancestry , also enquire first about websites, for books? try and find someones opinion who has read a particular book or a book review. If you can find one in a library better to view it before you purchase  if its expensive.

Big adverts, spam,etc - usually means they want your cash! more than their concern of  your education of/in Genealogy

[Ruskie]

Are you asking about the reputation of the company? (do they post books promptly, do they have a reliable service etc?)
or
Are you asking about whether the books they sell are any good? (ie accurate in a genealogical sense, value for money etc?)

[Rishile]

When considering paying for anything relating to research, you must bear in mind that the person doing the research will want to guarantee a certain rate per hour for the time it takes to research that particular field. 

So, consider how much time you have put into your own research and how much you would want to charge someone for that time.  Then consider how many books you would be likely to sell.

I think you would find that the books would be far more expensive than the ones shown on the site.

Rishile

p.s  Don't try the above if of a nervous disposition 

[dobfarm]

Theres a link here! that may interest

http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.ancestry.ancsite/10717.1.1.3.2.1.2/mb.ashx