[NOTE: The point of this message appears after the story.] ----- Original Message ----- From: SJSchwarze@aol.com To: diva1@dnaco.net Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 11:13 PM Subject: Ance$try.com Sandra, STOCKING THE SHELVES A company set up a swap shop where everyone could bring their goods for trading and leave them in their parking lot. The store professed to do this out of the goodness of their heart simply to support these potential customers who would in turn buy, what they could not barter for on the trading grounds, from the company store. It seemed a perfect way to draw buyers to the store premises. Then one day, the owners of the store told the traders to stay away because they were going to make some improvements for them. Anticipation grew as some imagined the parking lot might be blacktopped, others thought a pole barn might be erected and replace the little shanties that housed their wares. Several days later they were allowed to return, only to discover everything had been moved into the store. They could not go in unless they filled out preliminary applications for credit cards. They were assured this was for everyone's benefit and no one would be forced to actually buy anything. It was merely a better way of keeping track of who the traders were. Nevertheless, if they wanted to see where their missing possessions had been shelved, they would have to provide the necessary information. Store managers said this arrangement was going to be so much better because they would take good care of everyone's goods and potential customers would no longer have to be lured in with advertisements along the highway and with "goodwill gestures." Who would think to question their motives? Well, some traders were so unhappy with the company they actually insisted on reclaiming their merchandise. The managers said that would be no problem: they could have them back by filling out a request form and supplying proof of ownership for each and every item as long as they could justify why they wanted it taken off the shelf. If the company saw fit, it could choose to return their items, but was under no obligation to do so. According to the store, this was all perfectly legal and fair. Many traders encountered problems because an employee of the store, named Cindy Dahl, had put her name on most of their possessions. Of course, they were supposed to understand this was only a mistake, the company was not trying to steal their things. Who would have reason to think otherwise in light of how fair the management had been while stocking the shelves. Any unclaimed merchandise would simply become the property of the company because fear of registration would be viewed as a willingness to forfeit ownership rights. You might be wondering how this could happen. The fact is that the traders, in using the first "goodwill" facility so generously provided to them, were inadvertently agreeing to have their goods confiscated whenever the managers decided it would be beneficial to the company. The traders were out of line in complaining about this takeover because no one had forced them to use the first facility! They should have read the fine print and been aware of the company's ongoing need to keep their shelves stocked with desirable items. As spokeswoman for this fine upstanding business establishment, June Young informed the outraged traders, "There is no free lunch!" ************************** I just wanted to let you know that Stan and I will not be posting to the new single Clark Co., WI board because of the recent merger with Ancestry.com. We found out that they are claiming anyone whoever made a submission to their GenConnect project automatically authorized them full use of the post in anyway the company cares to use it. Right now they are pledging they won't require a fee to use their Ancestry/RootsWeb/GenConnect, but they have said that may change in the future. Therefore, be sure to read the AUP (acceptable use policy) for their service and be wary, even though they say you still own the copyright to your information, they make it very clear that you are granting them unrestrained use of it. Any requests for removal must be approved by them. Anyone wanting to retract their own submissions can do so by clicking out the "report abuse" form, checking "other" and simply stating they want their information removed for your personal reasons. Some outraged people are writing to the Federal Trade Commission and asking that these practices be investigated. If you feel concerned, please don't hesitate to do likewise. If not, feel free to continue enjoying Ancestry.com's services. General questions, comments and suggestions for the newly merged MyFamily/RootsWeb/Ancestry company should be addressed to JYoung6180@aol.com Please don't hesitate to inform your fellow genealogists about this newly merged company and how the closure of the GenConnect boards has brought about concerns. Janet Schwarze