Father's Day DNA Sales -- are Not Just for Fathers! Most Sales Good Thru June 20

We have not been posting as much as in prior years, but as promised during Wednesday's June meeting on Zoom, here is a post about sales on DNA for this year's Father's Day. Remember, you can use these DNA sales for whomever you want to test as long as he/she matches the gender required for the test. 

AncestryDNA

For Father's Day the AncestryDNA (autosomal) test regularly $99 is on sale for $59, a savings of 40 dollars. Shipping and taxes are extra. This sale ends June 20, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

There are additional combination options also available.

 

For just one dollar more, you can get the AncestryDNA test and a 3-month World Explorer subscription for $60 instead of the regular price of $178. But take note that this offer is for new and returning subscribers not for renewal of current subscriptions And, the subscription will automatically renew for $79.95 every three months unless you cancel at least two days before the renewal day using My Account or by contacting customer service.

 

Or for ten dollars more, you can get the AncestryDNA test and the AncestryDNA Traits add-on for $69 instead of the regular price of $119.

AncestryDNA test results provide an ethnicity/admixture report, a AncestryDNA match list, shared matches, an internal member messaging system, and automatic updates to results. As well as some basic information from ThruLines which is Ancestry's replacement or next generation of New Ancestor Discoveries and DNA Circles. See the chart below.

Be aware that with an active paid subscription to Ancestry, there is fuller access to some DNA features such as all available information about people is shown in ThruLines; Matches' public family trees are viewable instead of just a preview of five generations; and up to seven generations of surnames instead of up to five surnames are shown for direct ancestor surnames from your matches' trees.

From Ancestry.com, a look at AncestryDNA with and without a data membership/subscription.

Access to these extra features end if you discontinue your data subscription. Some of these extra features require a public family tree linked to the AncestryDNA kit.

AncestryDNA Traits now gives a look at 26 personal traits. These traits are:  Birth Weight, Facial Hair Thickness, Omega-3, Photic Sneeze Reflex, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitaman E, Wisdom Teeth,
Asparagus Metabolite Detection, Bitter Sensitivity, Cilantro Aversion, Cleft Chin, Earlobe Shape, Earwax Type,
Eye Color, Finger Length, Freckles, Hair Color, Hair Strand Thickness, Hair Type, Iris Patterns, Male Hair Loss, Savory (Umami) Sensitivity, Skin Pigmentation, Sweet Sensitivity, and Unibrow. More traits may be available in the future at an additional cost. There may still be a Compare Feature and Around the World Feature. This add-on is regularly $20 and is on sale for $10.

From Ancestry.com

AncestryDNA is the one DNA/genealogy testing site that does not provide a chromosome browser tool which allows you to see the chromosome segments you share in common with a match which is one of the scientific ways to confirm a match is a true match and not a match by chance. To access a chromosome browser you would need to download your kit's DNA data and upload that data to one of the three companies that do provide a chromosome browser: MyHeritageDNA, Family Tree DNA, and the third-party GedMatch.com website.

We are not sure if the FREESHIPDNA code will work on the Ancestry website with this sale but it does not hurt to try it. 

Want to save on shipping costs? Remember AncestryDNA also sells its test kits on Amazon.com and often at sale prices when it is having a sale. For this sale, as of now when this post was written the AncestryDNA test is listed at $59 and AncestryDNA+Traits is also listed at $69. So, this time the sale price on the Amazon website is as good as the Ancestry website deal or a bit better because shipping is free. Amazon Non-AmazonPrime members get free shipping due to the total cost and because it is fulfilled by Amazon while AmazonPrime members just get quicker 2-day shipping for free. But be cautious and make sure the test kit you are buying is "sold by AncestryDNAOfficial and fulfilled by Amazon" to insure you are buying a genuine test kit. You will find this information just below the price. See the image below.

Look for this before adding your item to your cart.

MyHeritageDNA
For Father's Day, MyHeritageDNA (autosomal) tests regularly $79 each are on sale for $59 each (plus taxes and shipping) until June 20, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Orders of two or more DNA kits receive free shipping.

 
MyHeritageDNA is one of the newer players in the DNA and genealogy testing niche. Its customer base is more international. MyHeritage has chromosome browser feature and made its internal member messaging feature free. It also offers an ethnicity/admixture report and a list of DNA matches. No data subscription is needed to see/use all the DNA matching features including its AutoCluster feature. A few additional features were added earlier this year and last year -- like an update to its ethnicity estimates and genetic groups including viewing the genetic groups of your match and seeing what you have in common.

 
As a reminder, MyHeritageDNA also sells its test kits on Amazon.com and often at sale prices when it is having a sale. However, for this sale the MyHeritageDNA test is not on sale on Amazon. Remember when you do find a sale price, make sure the seller shown is MyHeritage fulfilled by Amazon and not sold by a third-party unauthorized seller. Non-Amazon Prime members get free shipping due to the total cost and because it is fulfilled by Amazon; prime members just get quicker 2-day shipping for free.

 

Look for this before adding your item to your cart.

Living DNA
To celebrate Father's Day the LivingDNA Full Ancestry Kit regularly priced at $99 is on sale for $79 plus shipping and taxes. (Free shipping when purchasing 3 or more kits at the same time) It is described as the full ancestry experience from your deep ancestry to DNA matching. It includes recent ancestry, sub-regional ancestry breakdown, your DNA today, extended ancestry, DNA matching and free ancestry updates.

The LivingDNA Full Ancestry Kit is the original LivingDNA test comparable to autosomal DNA tests at other genealogy/DNA testing companies.

LivingDNA is based in the United Kingdom so if you have a lot of English and Irish ancestry the more detailed regions for Britain and Ireland in the ethnicity may be of interest to you. (Part of the now LivingDNA Full Ancestry Kit.) The company is still building itself so at a sale price it may be worth a try. Perhaps you will find a clue to direct your search.

BUT we have become aware that LivingDNA is now requiring that your LivingDNA test be taken/used and sent in within one year of the date of purchase. They will not process tests older than that despite the swab test tube saying its expiration date is well after that. Based on a LivingDNA Support article this change may have been implemented in early 2019. However, we are not sure when its Terms of Services was changed to reflect this. So if you have a LivingDNA test sitting around you might want to check its purchase date. Hopefully you still have time, or you may need to pay for shipping on a replacement test kit.

As a reminder, LivingDNA sometimes sells its test kits on Amazon.com and often at sale prices when it is having a sale. However, for this sale LivingDNA is not selling its tests at all on Amazon at this time. (At the times when LivingDNA does, make sure the seller shown is LivingDNA fulfilled by Amazon and not sold by a third-party unauthorized seller.) Non-Amazon Prime members get free shipping due to the total cost if the kit is fulfilled by Amazon; prime members just get quicker 2-day shipping for free.

23andMe
The 23andMe Father's Day Sale runs through June 20, 2021. Remember taxes and shipping are extra

 

23andMe's Ancestry + Traits DNA test is regularly $99 but is on sale for $79.

23andMe's Health + Ancestry Service is regularly priced $199 but is on sale for $149. If you buy a second Heath + Ancestry Service kit at the same time that second kit is just $99 (a fifty percent savings.)

Another sale option is a bundle: the 23andMe Health + Ancestry Service test kit (regularly $199, sale $149) plus the 23andMe Membership at a sale price of just $9.99 (renews at $29/year.)

23andMe Ancestry Service (autosomal DNA) provides an ethnicity (admixture) report, list of DNA matches, chromosome browser and an internal member messaging system. 23andMe also provides a general look at your Y-DNA haplogroup (if male) and a general look at your mtDNA haplogroup. Some DNA matching features/tools are now part of the subscription service. A newer feature is the Family Tree feature which is automatically built from your DNA relationships. See the 23andMe website to learn more about the Health service features which includes 10+ Health Pre-disposition reports, 5+ Wellness reports, and 40+ Carrier Status reports.

23andMe made some changes to its service last year without any announcements to its customers before the changes happened. Be aware that with the recent ethnicity update it was learned that testers on the earlier testing chips would not receive any ethnicity updates at this time, only those on the V5 Chip. Also, a few months prior testers' DNA matches were reduced down to just 1,500 matches. (That leaves most testers with matches related at the furthest in the 4th to 5th cousin range.) The search capabilities also have been restricted from what it had been capable of before. 23andMe is now implementing a yearly subscription ($29/year) for customers on the V5 Chip who also have tested their Health too. Those that subscribe get access to three times the DNA matches, advanced search capabilities (like those that were there before and some other ways to filter matches), and a new series of health reports related to genetics and medicines as well as some predisposition reports. Unfortunately, that would mean existing customers not on the V5 chip would need to retest (yes, pay) so their DNA is on the V5 chip. But if an early tester is deceased there is no way to re-test that person on the V5 Chip.

With these changes, 23andMe reduces it usability for most genealogists to use DNA to aid their research. For adoptees, donor conceived and others searching for mis-attributed parentage (not parent expected) situations, you still never know where that someone tested and so at a good sale price the 23andMe Ancestry Only test or really good sale price for the 23andMe Ancestry+Health test it might be worthwhile. But there may be limitations if that someone they seek is tested on a V4 or earlier chip. 

As a reminder, 23andMe also sells its test kits on Amazon.com and often at sale prices when it is having a sale. However, for this sale period the Ancestry+Traits is only on sale for $88.95 which is $10.05 higher than the sale price at the 23andMe website. It is likely close to the same price as buying from the 23andMe website at current sale price and paying the shipping costs. The 23andMe Health+Ancestry test offered on Amazon by 23andMe is not on sale at this time. However, be cautious there are 23andMe Health+Ancestry tests offered on Amazon by a third-party seller.

(In the future if you do buy these tests on the Amazon website, make sure the seller shown is 23andMe fulfilled by Amazon and not sold by a third-party unauthorized seller.) Non-Amazon Prime members get free shipping due to the total cost and because it is fulfilled by Amazon; prime members just get quicker 2-day shipping for free.

Look for this before adding your item to your cart.

 

Family Tree DNA
The Family Tree DNA Father's Day Sale ends on June 20, 2021. Shipping and taxes are extra which vary depending on where the test is shipped. From a while back the shipping cost to Michigan was about $12.95 for one kit which covers the receiving and sending the test.

Prices on the DNA tests have come done (when comparing to previous pricing and sales) so while the sale price does not seem like much in some cases you are getting more test for the money. Currently on sale are: 

FamilyFinder (autosomal for male or female) regular price $79 ... now $59

Y-DNA Test (male-only, father's direct male line) 

Y37 test is now $109, regularly $119 save $10

 

Y111 test is now $219, regularly $249 save $30

Big Y-700 test is now $399, regularly $449 save $50
Expert Level. Note: formerly the Big Y-500 now the Big Y-700 includes the Y111 test which gets added to your cart as part of buying the Big Y-700.

 

Bundled Tests for one male tester are also available.

Family Finder + Y37 test bundle is now $168

Family Finder + Y111 + mtFullSequence test bundle is now $431
 

Another Bundle option can be used for a male or female. 

Family Finder + mtFullSequence test bundle is now $231.50


At this time we can't see if any of the YDNA marker upgrades are on sale or not. To check sign into your FTDNA test with an existing YDNA test and check the upgrades option at the top.

Family Tree DNA provides an ethnicity (admixture) report, list of DNA matches, chromosome browser and allows DNA matches to contact a match directly if that match allows it. Once tested, DNA samples are stored so that additional test types (upgrades) can be added if desired. Family Tree DNA is the only genealogy DNA testing company that offers all three DNA test types: autosomal, Y-DNA and mtDNA. No subscription is needed to see/use all the DNA matching features. See our previous post containing some Reminders and Cautions regarding changes with Family Tree DNA.
warnings.

As a reminder, Family Tree DNA sometimes sells its autosomal DNAtest kits (called FamilyFinder) on Amazon.com and often at sale prices when it is having a sale. For this sale it is $59 at Amazon so if you don't need a YDNA test buying from Amazon eliminates the shipping costs. (Make sure the seller shown is FamilyTreeDNA fulfilled by Amazon and not sold by a third-party unauthorized seller.) Non-Amazon Prime members get free shipping due to the total cost and because it is fulfilled by Amazon; prime members just get quicker 2-day shipping for free.

 

Look for this before adding your item to your cart.

Have a good Father's Day everyone.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library! (soon we hope)
LE