Whatever Happened to OtherDays.com?

OtherDays.com is (or was) a major online provider of Irish genealogy information. The site contained more than 100 databases on Otherdays.com. The databases include Griffith's Valuation; Placenames of Ireland; census and census substitutes; a variety of different types of directories; newspapers; gravestone inscriptions; vital records; wills and deeds; and land and property records. The centerpiece of OtherDays.com databases is the Griffith's Valuation of Ireland from 1847 to 1864.

The company's web site started experiencing problems a week or more ago. It then went offline for several days. I just checked a moment ago; apparently there is a web server in operation, but as soon as I go to the URL of http://www.otherdays.com, I get prompted for a user ID and password. That is not the normal operation of the site. It used to display a lot of introductory information and then asked for user ID and password only after the user clicked on a link to the various databases.

I have called the company's telephone number in Ireland several times in the past few days, but the phone just rings and rings. Nobody answers, and no automated answering machine ever answers. That is disturbing by itself, but it looks like the FAX machine also never answers. I can understand that a glitch causes the regular phone system to stop operating for a bit, but FAX machines should always answer an incoming ring. The fact that both the voice lines and the FAX lines are not being answered for days at a time makes me suspicious that the company has shut down.

Does anyone know what is going on?

Comments

[Dino (All Dino, All the Time)]

Doesn't look good, does it?

Regarding the FAX always answering...Most companies run their fax lines through their phone system. It makes it easier to track usage, move and administer. But I don't know if Otherdays is big enough to do this. Maybe a half-dozen people?

I met them at the NGS conference in Milwaukee, and was one of their first subscribers and have found their site to be extremely user-friendly with new content being added frequently. If they've gone belly up, I'll miss them.

I haven't seen ads for them recently. As a matter of fact, in the most recent Family Chronicle magazine there was a large ad for Enneclann (not sure of the spelling), but nothing for Otherdays.

Hopin' for the best...

[Elaine]

I have just recently joined a 3 month subscription about 3 weeks ago..... Not very happy if they have gone belly up.

If they were on the way out, why did they accecpt my payment.

Would like to know more if and when any one else does

[Rosemary]

I don't know what is happening with Other Days today but a few months ago they were included in with my NEHG subscribtion.

[Richard M. Doherty]

Here is the reply I received from info@Otherdays.com:
"Dear Customer,

The Otherdays.com website has been down for almost two weeks, it has proven more difficult to trace the problem than first envisaged.

We initially thought is was a hardware issues and when the new parts arrived the problem was still there. We now believe it is both a hardware and software issue, and we have a team of experts arriving to help sort out the problems.

We are not getting all our e-mails, so please except our apologies for the tardy replies.

We will of course keep you fully informed and we do hope to be operation very shortly.

Best regards

Alan Ryan
Otherdays.Com"

[Aethel]

Otherdays.com was a part of the research level membership of NEHGS for 2005. Suddenly, a few days ago, the link from NEHGS wasn't working properly; so I emailed to inquire if I had done something incorrectly. A prompt reply came from NEHGS, aplologizing for the problem, that would soon be sorted out. The Home page of NEHGS indicated something similar for a few days. Now any and ALL reference to Otherdays is gone from the NEHGS site. NOT a good sign!

[Mary Jo O'Rourke]

I MISS otherdays.com I paid for a year just a few months ago and was happily finding the ancestors. Is there another site that offers the actual pages and won't go away? Thanks for any info MJ

[Kate]

Anything resolved with otherdays.com? That was my only link to the Griffiths!

Kate in Chicago

[Pat Connors]

I really like OriginsNetwork better for the Griffith's Valuation. Their copies are cleaner, better to save and print and their program is easier to navigate. I have subbed to both programs. However, I believe Otherdays had more databases than Origins.

[Patricia Regan]

I am also upset about "Otherdays" as I had thought twice about the $65. Subscription Charge due to personal FL Hurricane Losses. But felt it would prove to be a good Ivestment. I am usually careful before jumping on something that sounds too good to be true, but all the reviews were praising the site as outstanding and I felt it was truly a safe investment vs a Scam. But I was wrong.

The Lack of Communication with the public is the part that bothers me the most. If it was on the up and up I feel that a Public announcement would of been sent to the proper channels. Live and Learn is all I can say at this point.

[Terry Eakin]

I really liked the otherdays.com site as I had renewed for another year last August. The site provides excellent Griffith's Valuation pages and found both the lessor and lessee. I feel sure it is only temporary as I visited their premises in Bray in April 2004 and met Francis Dowling, the manager. I'm sure they will be up and running again soon. Eneclann have the Griffiths as well but you pay for copies. I have not used it yet.
Terry Eakin, All Ireland Sources Newsletter editor

[Paddy Matthews]

The site seems to be back up this (Saturday) evening, at around 1900 Irish time. Many of the resources, though - maps etc. - don't seem to be available yet, but that's probably a case of getting things going again after the problems they'd been having. But the main site IS now live again.

[Ian Galbraith]

Terry Eakins says "Eneclann have the Griffiths as well". I guess he may be referring to our Irish Origins service (www.irishorigins.com) which has the definitive version of Griffiths online. This was created by The Origins Network in partnership with Eneclann Ltd, in association with the National Library of Ireland and with the assistance of several other Irish institutions and individuals. If you are a subscriber you do not pay for copies.

See also Pat Connors posting of 10 Feb.

Ian Galbraith, CEO, The Origins Network

[jprie]

I signed up for a year's subscription to Otherdays just before the site went off-line; after it came back it didn't recognize my username of password. I have e-mailed them at least five times but get no answer; does anyone know what’s going on?

[Mike]

I was wondering if you have any new info on Otherdays?

Mike

[Whoever]

They don't have a ****** clue what they are doing.