Pearl Street Software, Family Tree Legends and GenCircles Up For Sale

Are you looking for a genealogy business opportunity? If so, read on.

The founders of Pearl Street Software have mostly moved on to a new project and are opening up bidding for their company to interested parties. Cliff, Chris, and Ryan still very much believe in the company they've built but think it would best be left to another party to bring it to the next level. Therefore, Pearl Street Software and its products are now for sale.

The major assets of the company as noted by the founders are as follows:

Family Tree Legends Software Line

• #1-Rated Genealogy Software and the number two position at retail as well as number two in worldwide units sold.
• Major US publishing agreement with Individual Software: http://www.individualsoftware.com/new/consumer/details/fl5_details.htm
• Major UK publishing agreement with Focus MM: http://www.focusmm.co.uk/store/productpages/productinfo/ess605.html

FTL Records Collection

• 400 million records. One of the largest online repositories for the US. This includes Search technology that can scale to much larger record sets.

GenCircles

• 10 million page views per month.
• 135 million ancestors, making it the #2 GEDCOM/family tree site.
• 300,000 monthly users.
• 160,000 registered users.
• No current advertising. Untapped ad revenues.

Technology

• SmartMatching: Most widely regarded matching technology. Built into FTL and GenCircles with auto-matching and merging process.
• Internet Synching Technology: Enables FTL to synch entire dataset to servers to backup users' files, publish them to GenCircles.
• FTL Source Code: Significant competitive technologies such as Real-Time Internet Backup & Publishing, SmartMatch merging, GenGrams, charting, etc.

Interested parties should inquire at offers@pearlstreetsoftware.com.

Comments

[Trishymouse]

I'm not sure what to think. I use Family Tree Legends, GenCircles, and LOVE the SmartMatch feature. I find it an amazing genealogy software package and can see it has a lot of potential for more. I hope someone not only buys it, but continues developing it as well as it has been...

[Pauline Wade]

I notice your article regarding Pearl Street Software. I would like to state that this company never replies to any of my emails regarding my purchase of Family Tree Legends online when the connection was broken after I had entered my bank account details and personal information. As soon as I clicked on to download the software my computer screen came up with "Family Tree Legends has encountered a problem and has had to close etc.."

Do you think they will return my money as I have been trying to get a reply to numerous emails since the 21st March 2006.

All I can say is what terrible customer service they provide and my computer will allow then to send a reply as I have cleared them access.

Perhaps you would like to advise other customers what to expect.

Thanking you.

Pauline Wade

[Rod Dav4is]

Well, they moved on without leaving an attendant, and GenCircles is now well and truly broken. I have been trying to contact them for a week about one of my files being "stuck" in processing, to no avail. Just finding an email address to contract them is a challenge.

Other folks are complaining of similar problems and I just got a "disk full" failure trying to update a different file.

It won't be long before it totally falls over, is my guess. Maybe then they will notice something's wrong.

[Sad n'Angry]

Looks like GenCircles and Family Tree legends has died.

For several days last week the web site was offline. Could not see my file and the forum was down so could not pass along the problem.

I really loved GenCircles and Family Tree Legends. I really liked having a site that competed with Ancestry. It caused them to work a little harder! Ancestry's version of smartmatching is a debacle and it shows the Cliff and team were very special. I usually got pretty good support from Cliff and team. I found that the FTL program provided much more capabilities than most people could learn to use and I believe that caused some of the complaints.

As with most entrepreneur inventors, they don't really want to take on the role of service and support to become and big business! So they decided to sell and move on to another invention...

I guess the sale is not going well....

[Kristin Kuhlman]

YAY Gencircles is back up !!!

[Dusti]

I opened my bank statement last week to find that Pearl Street Software had charged my account for $29.95 - but I don't know what for since I purchased the software from an individual. I've made many, many attempts to contact the company with no success.
No one answers their support emails, even though it says someone will within 24 hours, their phones are answered by an automated person who connects you to either sales or tech support - neither of which are manned. Another recording tells you to leave your name and number and someone will call you back. NOT.
My next stop is the Better Business Bureau and whatever consumer groups I can find to help me because I'm out of options.

[Jason Presley]

Yes, when it's working, and the support team are actual in the office, GenCircles is a great site and FTL is a perfectly adequate genealogy program. However, support is only available once in a blue moon. I sincerely hope someone with deep enough pockets and good enough programmers can buy and revive the product. As it is, the asking price must be dropping by the day as the site and program stagnate unattended.

[David Duncan]

GenCircles/FTL is an excellent, user-friendly product
and provides advanced and unique advantages not found
in other similar products. I sincerely hope that someone will pick up this program and continue the good work that has been started.

Sure, there have been snags. Response has seemingly been lacking...yet, on second thought, what level of
support does one get from other programs?

This is too good a thing to allow to just die. If you want accuracy, smartmatching beats One World Tree going away. Ancestry has it's advantages..but no more than GenCircles and FTL. Each compliment the other..but only if they maintain their identity.

GenCircles/FTL is one of a kind...someone pick it up and run with it!!

[Wilmer L. Kerns]

I just subscribed to the premium service ($30). It will not allow me to log in for this service; I am shut out. I tried to find an email address to talk with someone, but apparently there is no way to reach anyone. I am filing a compaint with the Better Business Bureau and notifying my credit card company that this appears to be fraud.

[Ron Hallberg]

Service at GenCircles seems to have reached a new low. Although I can still use the search engine, the program will not allow me to log in to update my files. Requests for log in assistance have gone unanswered for more than 24 hours.

[aggravated]

Well, GENCIRCLES and PEARL SOFTWARE seem to be CON-ARTISTS, based on the following info THEY THEMSELVES have put into the WHOIS REGISTRY for their domain, FAMILYTREELEGENDS.COM:
(They have BOGUS PHONE NUMBERS and their DOMAIN SERVERS are named CYBERCON !!!)

Check for yourself by visiting the Whois Lookup at domainwhitepages.com and enter Familytreelegends.com .

This is truly aggravating, as some reports claim their software really is "good," but how can it be, when the developers appear to be out-and-out CON ARTISTS??

If anyone has used their software, please post here:
Does it really work right?
Can it import FTW files directly and not screw them up?
Can it create PDF files and export them in a printable format and not screw up that?
If it works so well, WHY have these people "disappeared" and why is everything about them so SUSPECT??

-------------------
Registrant:
Pearl Street Software
1630A 30th Street
#106
Boulder, Colorado 80301
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: FAMILYTREELEGENDS.COM
Created on: 03-Jun-02
Expires on: 03-Jun-08
Last Updated on: 09-Aug-05

Administrative Contact:
network@pearlstreetsoftware.com
Pearl Street Software
Pearl Street Software Boulder Colorado,80301 Fax. +00.0000000
United States
1630A 30th St, #106 Fax -- Tel. +1.3035551212

Technical Contact:
network@pearlstreetsoftware.com
Pearl Street Software
Boulder Colorado,80301 Fax. +00.0000000
United States
1630A 30th St, #106 Fax -- Tel. +1.3035551212

Domain servers in listed order:
NS2.CYBERCON.COM
NS1.CYBERCON.COM

[stillaggravated]

More damning news at amazon.com (see URL below) about Family Tree Legends & Pearl Software. Somebody should contact the Colorado Attorney General and find out what the &*&#&*$# is going on with these guys and their product!?

There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for such B.S. online or offline! These guys are clearly cons! Predict a lot of LAWSUITS over their irresponsible & probably criminal behavior--not to mention what they're doing with all that DATA they are allowing people to upload, against the knowledge, wishes, or permission of many LIVING individuals--in these days of ID theft & privacy violation!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002Z45FY/ref=olp_product_details/104-2256947-1834344?v=glance&s=software

[Notso Fast]

Heh Ron: try going to http://cybercon.com/ and you will see that they are a real hosting service.
You are obviously so angry about something that you can't read the manual to understand how to use the software. It works great for me. Of course I hope a good buyer will pick them up and add more features.

[Wonders Never Cease]

Heh Aggravated - The answers to all of your questions are yes. The FTL software works great and I can do everything that you asked about. It is highly functional and some what complex so you have spend some effort learning how to use it. The Pearl Street gang is like most start up businesses, they have reached a point that they want to reap some rewards for their work and move on to other new opportunities. Hopefully a new owner will make things even better!!!

[Steve Herman]

I've owned FTL Ver5+. It is a great program, price was good, and many useful tools which do work but do have problems. What support remains does their best. GenCircles is great as is Smartmatching. Customer Support is especially bad with the company being sold. I'll keep plugging along with the hope that it will be purchased. If not, I will move to another program. To all my cousins out there, I'll find you soon. The Cap't

[Howard Smith]

Hi Steve
I totally agree with you. FTL is a great program and I look forward to a new owner that will make the investments that will take it to the next step. The majority of problems that people have complained about are resolved with a little time in the extensive manual or on-line FAQs.
Good luck with your cousins!!
HLS

[Lee Jacobs]

Hi All

Until a few months ago, I had no problem with Gencircles. However, now my file has got stuck. I've been mailing Gencircles constantly to resolve the issue for the past two weeks, but nothing has changed. They are just not interested. If this is their attitude to people's data, then I'll remove my file for good (if it ever gets fixed)

For those of you, who need help with your Gencircles files, try support@gencircles.com. If your lucky enough to receive a reply, don't reply to the supportdesk@gencircles.com address, as your email is more than likely to bounce

For those of you thinking of using Gencircles and FTL, don’t bother. Use Family Tree Maker and post your GEDCOM’s to Rootsweb (even though both are controlled by Ancestry.com)

R.I.P Gencircles

[A. Moore]

Rest In Peace - Pearl Street Software, Family Tree Legends and GenCircles /// A sad day...my "first love" for software and the beautiful automatic up-load feature. FTL seems to be in its last gulps for breath. Will someone call 911 for them, please?

I am noting now that the auto-upload feature is no longer functioning. Last up-load for me was in early November....... No contact info any longer on the web sites... So much for "Premium Member" status... Bye, Bye FTL --- it is a sad, sad passing. RIP :( :(

[Carol]

Does anybody know how to contact GenCircles? I want to update my info there but I don't remember my password. When I try to retrieve my password, they send it to my OLD e-mail address. When I try to update my e-mail addy from Old to new, they want username and password! Its a vicious circle!

Their Help section is NO help!

[Jason Presley]

Basically, post to the support forum at their website and pray.

[Ralph Link]

It is extreamly unfortunate that such a company is now providing absolutuely no support. It definately was a great product.

If there were going to cut support to a minimum, the least they could do it alert the current users and warn people considering buying the product.

Ralph Link
genealogyPro Professional Genealogy Services
Web Site Development, Hosting and Promotions
http://genealogyPro.com

[Donna T. Carwile]

I just learned of the upcoming sale or not of GenCircles. I have used GenCircles and it's features for several years and loved the fact that it was not run or owned by Ancestry. I honestly would not have objected to paying a fee to allow me to place my research on line as long as the search remained free and I recommended hundreds of people to this site over the years. It was extremely easy to use and the Smartmatching has brought me together with many family members. It will be a sad day for researchers if this site goes down, as I truly believe it was a great asset to genealogy research. I also believe with a little tender-loving care it could be turned into a profitable site.

[Adele Borg from Australia]

I have been aware of the sale for some time now and have been hoping that FTL and Gencircles remains, it seems that things are starting to go down hill with backup's and smart matches not happening, I've been a member since Feb 2004 and found the program fantastic also Gencircles has linked me with several relatives that I didn't even know existed, please someone buy this fantastic program, i've tried several other free and paid sites and programs and nothing has been as great as these,

[larryls]

Total disgust with GenCircles/FTL where I had been a subscriber since 2002. Whoever developed and supposedly operated this program owes it's subscribers an explanation. On Dec 22, 2006 access to my FTL program on my PC was blocked and I have been denied access since then. There seems to be no avenue of appeal or explanation that I have found. Finally I sent a letter to their postal address asking for help or explanation. No response. Apparently they have abandoned the program. Hopefully I can retreive my data via GEDCOM to other repositories such as FTM and Rootsweb. Disgusted!!

[Lorelee]

I'm also stuggling trying to get ahold of anyone from gencircles. I took my gedcom off a few years ago and because I have new surnames decided to put the gedcom back on. BAD IDEA! It is stuck trying to upload and now I have no way to take it off of the site. I have looked everywhere to try to get ahold of them to no avail. Thank goodness I did not give them any money. What a bunch of crooks.