Mother's Day Sales on Genealogy-Related Items like Memberships, Books, DNA

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Hint, hint it is this Sunday, May 13, 2018. If your Mom, or you yourself regardless of your gender, are interested in genealogy there are a bunch of sales out there to save on your favorite hobby!

Ancestry
Until May 13th at 11:59 p.m., save 30% on a gift membership to Ancestry.com website. A gift membership is a one-time, non-renewing membership. At the time of purchase you can choose the start date of the gift membership as any date between the date of purchase and August 31.

U.S. Discovery (Access All U.S. Records)
6 months regularly $99, sale price $69
12 months regularly $189, sale price $129

World Explorer (Access U.S. and International Records)
6 months regularly $149, sale price $99
12 months regularly $299, sale price $209

We missed announcing the Mother's Day Sale on AncestryDNA but remember, Father's Day is just a month away.

FamilyTree DNA
At Family Tree DNA the Mother's Day sale runs until May 14, 2018. 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. On sale for Mother's Day are:

FamilyFinder (autosomal for male or female) regular price $79 ... now $59
FamilyFinder and mtFull Sequence bundle (for one male or female) regular price $278 ... now $199 
mtFull Sequence (for one male or female) regular price $199 ... now $149
Big Y-500 bundle of the Y-111 + Big Y tests (for one male) regular price $799 ... now $649

Family Tree DNA autosomal DNA test (Family Finder) 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.

Family Tree DNA also offers autosomal DNA transfers. So if you have already tested at another genealogy DNA testing company you can upload your RAW DNA data to get your test into another "pool" of potential DNA matches. The transfer is initially free which lets you see all your matches and use the FamilyFinder-Matrix to compare up to 10 matches. To access additional FamilyFinder tools the cost is just $19 to unlock them.

Family Tree DNA currently accepts autosomal transfers from:

• Ancestry DNA (V1 and V2 chips)
• 23andME (V3 and V4 chips) but not its V5 chip in use since Aug. 2017
• MyHeritageDNA (Transfers from kits tested directly at MyHeritage are completely free with no unlock fee.) 

One thing to note is that transfers of tests on the AncestryDNA V2 chip and the 23andMe V4 chip receive all but the most speculative matches (6th cousin to remote cousins) because these chips are not fully compatible.

23andMe
For this year's Mother's Day, 23andMe has put its tests on sale for 20 percent off plus free gift wrapping until Sunday, May 13th.

The Ancestry Service (autosomal DNA test) regularly $99 is now $79.20. The Health+Ancestry Service regularly $199 is now $159.20. Taxes and Shipping are extra.

Or there is the Family Offer of buy 2 Kits at regular price and Get 1 Kit Free. Customers can mix and match kits. One free kit per order, additional tests are 20 percent off. See specific offer details at the 23andMe website.

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 mtDNA haplogroup. No subscription is needed to see/use all the DNA matching features. See the 23andMe website to learn more about the Health service option.

23andMe also sells its test kits on Amazon.com and at sale prices when they are having a sale. (Make sure the seller shown is 23andMe fulfilled by Amazon and not a third-party.) 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.

MyHeritage
MyHeritage has also put its autosomal DNA test on sale too. MyHeritageDNA (autosomal) tests regularly $99 each are on sale for $59 each until May 14, 2018. Shipping and taxes are extra.

MyHeritageDNA is one of the newer players in the DNA and genealogy testing niche. Its customer base is more international. As of earlier this year, the company has added a chromosome browser feature and has 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.

MyHeritageDNA is still offering free DNA transfers so if you already tested at another DNA testing company you can download your RAW DNA data from that site and upload it to MyHeritage. MyHeritageDNA accepts raw DNA data from Family Tree DNA, AncestryDNA (V1 and V2 version chips), and 23andMe (V2, V3 and V4 chips.)

MyHeritageDNA can also be found on Amazon.com sold and shipped by Amazon. But at this time the current price (as of today) is similar to the regular price and not the sale price. Non-AmazonPrime 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. So for this sale it is cheaper to buy it directly from MyHeritage.

LivingDNA
LivingDNA is a newer genealogy testing company based in the United Kingdom. It is also an autosomal DNA test that males and females can take. The regular price of the LivingDNA test is $159 but is on sale for $99.99. Taxes and Shipping are extra. According to the website, shipping takes 7-10 working days to get to the USA, longer during the holiday season, and is about $9.95. [Note: an MCGG member recently ordered a LivingDNA test kit during a previous sale and it was sent from Kentucky.]

LivingDNA (autosomal DNA) offers an ethnicity estimate (80 world regions including 21 in Britain and Ireland); a general look at your Y-DNA haplogroup (if male) and mtDNA haplogroup; and a view of your ancestry in the context of history and the migration of them. LivingDNA results are updated for free as the system and technology are updated. Later this year it is expected that Family Matches (seeing your DNA matches among those who have tested) will be released.

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. 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.

Where to Test?
Testing in as many "ponds" as possible is the advice genetic genealogists often give because you never know where someone has tested. Sale times and DNA data transfers are ways to make it easier to fish in multiple ponds to find your DNA matches.

Other Sales
Family Tree Magazine is having a sale on genealogy books.  There are also genealogy e-books on sale at the Amazon.com website. Find these under Kindle e-books>Reference>Genealogy and then sort matches Low to High. You can learn about which books at the GenealogyBargains.com website and at the website learn of additional sales on genealogy-related items like electronic devices, including one-day only sales.

See you soon at Mt. Clemens Public Library!
LE