Reviews of Match.com

I'm sure there are some great success stories out there, as well as some from those not so fortunate as I was. I was contacted immediately by someone whose profile was glorious with handsome photos. Widow with one son at home, world traveler in the gold biz. Five weeks of online chat was leading to our meeting after his trip overseas. Upon his departing even sent roses so that I would 'think about him while he was away.' And of course during that trip he lost luggage and ultimately asked that I send a laptop to south africa so he could complete business and get home. There were many signals along the way that things did not add up - bad grammar, no phone calls and repetitious emails with long romantic messages, an error in communicating with too many women and not keeping track. His photos can be found on several scammer websites under 3 different names. These scammers are professionals, pick up photos from modeling sites, etc. and know all the right words to say. Buyer beware. The more reliable are locals within your specified radius, short chats and meeting sooner than later, or moving on. Match should perform due diligence in background checks.

One person, Seagal2610 was among my headaches. I'm always paraphrasing movies/TV/pop culture (think of the dialogue used on "Gilmore Girls" and you know what I mean) to express myself. However, she didn't "get" anything I said and misinterpreted my humor as being condescending towards her. She wrote something back to the effect of "get lost." For some reason, she took great offense to one sentence and literally ignored the rest of my letter, which I talked about her profile and compared it to my own, with a nutshell description of who I am to go along with it.

With that off my chest, I agree with nearly all of the detractors. I went in with nothing and came out with nothing after several months. Match took my money and didn't do anything. By far the BIGGEST problem is that either none of the women are actually on there or are so stuck up and picky they contradictory to their profile. They are not as open as forthcoming and compassionate as they say they are. I got so fed up at having to write (not just wink) personalized hellos and making specific references to their profiles and them not even having the courtesy to write or wink back.

Sure there were plenty of fake women winking at me; it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. It's like their profiles were randomly generated by a software program to make it appear that you were an ideal candidate for someone out there. That way they keep you in the service. But the problem was what little information was provided in the profile was either so vague or farfetched or had information that didn't match any of my criteria, it sent up a lot of red flags. Also in the "nice try" categories were all these women who were just fronts to get you sign up for some adult related site in Russia or one of those countries that now seem to be the biggest source for this sort of thing.

I am not that particular about a woman's background, whether if it's her ethnicity or how highly educated she is, or how much she makes. As long as she has a nice personality, is funny, and can see the inner beauty of others, great. Maybe she can appreciate the geeky side of men, the type that has to go movies on opening day or ones that still collect Star Wars toys after thirty years. Yet so many of them expect too damned much -- a lot of it superficial! You could be the greatest guy in the world, but if you're not (for example) white, have a Ph.D, or earn X amount of dollars annually, you can't and won't be considered. That was an issue I had; plenty of women would match my preferences, yet I matched little or none of theirs. A lot of profiles were sloppy and lazily put together. Without them making certain specifications clear it made it appear you would match their criteria -- when in fact, you don't!

"It's okay to look." is one of Match's advertising slogans. They take actual members, make them look like supermodels and the class of Match. But once you look at these profiles, you realize there's nothing special about them; it's the same picky, picky, picky people who always ignore you.

By the time I quit, of course I got more winks than I had as a member to lure me back. But I didn't buy into that since I knew from all the reviews (long before I was even a member) this happened all the time.

In all fairness, I believe I should also add this link to the rating I posted below.

http://www.online-dating-review.toptenreviews.com/

It seems to give a pretty good side-by-side analysis of several dating sites.

I haven't really been a member for all that long, a month, so I'm certainly no expert on match.com's practices yet. What I can tell you is this: Like about 75% of the people on here stated - you do get winks from "fake" profiles. Especially when you are first starting out.

You'll probably get a wink from some amazing sounding person shortly after you've joined and before you have actually posted a photo. When you check out the profile, it'll say there is no matching profile. They've obviously got a subroutine in their programming that sends new users "winks" from non-existing profiles.

That is very dishonest, and most likely illegal. If they continue with it and enough people contact the Better Business Bureau, match.com will probably hit the skids like Napster did when they got in trouble.

Another bit of advice: Read every profile with "blurred glasses". In other words, don't believe everything you see in someone's profile. Doing things like noticing if they claim to be very religious but one of their turn-ons is erotica. And you shouldn't believe that most of the women out there are into camping. I know a CRNP who told me she has a profile on there. I checked it out. She put on there that she likes camping, her REAL idea of roughing it is having to drink domestic wine.

Be totally honest about what you're looking for, and be totally honest about yourself in your profile. Also, don't believe that just because you're being totally honest, everyone else is too.

If, on the first date, you notice big discrepancies,
1. Bring them up in the conversation.
2. Let them know that you don't appreciate it then let them know it's not working out and politely excuse yourself from the situation.

To everyone that's genuinely looking: good luck. Dating sites can work, but don't let them work you over.

I met alot of women with my three month subscription. I generally had a date or two every weekend. I give match three stars for that. The site was easy to use, and I had none of the trouble cancelling my membership that others had. However, the concept of internet dating is seriously flawed in so many ways. First of all, no matter how much you like their profiles, or how much you talk on the phone, your never going to know what that person is about tell you meet them. Alot of them have pictures that are not current, have anger management issues, are still married, and/or they turn cold when they meet you. One told me that I was the only one for her, and that she was seeing no one else, and like that. When I was at her house she left her e-mail open. Suffice it to say that was far from the truth.

Believe me, people have 20 other contacts lined up behind you, so when you meet them, and you think you have hit it off, don't be surprised if your e-mails and phone calls are not returned. They probably found a minor flaw they don't like and they are onto the next person. Happened to me like that all the time. Their are alot of reprehensible people like that who won't even give you the courtesy of saying something like "your a nice guy, it was good to meet you, but your not for me". They go silent. I say to myself if that is how they are, thank god I did not get involved

Also, the profiles are BS. I love how everyone is a social drinker only. I only believe the ones who say they dont drink at all, or the rare one that said, frequently. Also, alot of them say they want someone honest. Just by saying that they are asking to be lied to. What guy is going to read that, and not contact her because he thinks of himself as dishonest. And the cliches are enough to make you want to step in front of a bus. If I ever hear "I am not into drama" again, I'm gonna pour gasoline on myself and lite a match.

Also, when you see someone you like, your not already supposed to know how many kids she has, if she smokes, what she does for a living, if she's into drama (where's my gas can). Your supposed to go up to her and strike up a conversation. If she is single get her phone number. That's how it is supposed to work. Not anonymous e-mails, and silly winks. One thing I have learned with this was how to be more socialble with women. It can be very intimidating to introduce yourself to a woman, but with practice, anyone should be able to do it. If you get rejected, suck it up and move on.

So my opinion is that the last three months on match was a big waiste of time and money. I did make one platonic friend and she is great. Everyone else sucked. And don't get suckered into those free dating sites either like POF. The quality of the people on the pay sites are low. Can you imagine what you would find on one of those?

My experience on Match was a mixed bag of tricks, lol! I've met a lot of nice men, as well as a few jerks. My biggest piece of advice is take your time. Don't be in a hurry and really DATE. Don't hop into bed with someone just because they appear on paper to be the perfect mate and you have great chemistry. It's easy to get caught up in it, because if you don't think it's working out there are 15 other emails waiting for you to go out with them. Too much of a good thing. People also tend to see their dates as disposable because there are so many people on Match. Common courtesy has flown out the window for a lot of people. No matter how uncomfortable it is to tell someone you just aren't feeling it, you should always be honest. It's only fair and right.

And by the way ladies, watch out for Santorini398 in Indy, he's a total player! He has a girlfriend in a another city and is on two dating sites, eewww!!! What a jerk!!!

Beware of a man who has posted a profile indicating that he is a world traveler with extensive business ventures overseas. I met one man and did a background check on him because he was extremely glib and elusive. He has a criminal background.!!!. Match.com needs to run background checks on all their users! Anyone can fabricate stories.

I've been using Match.com on/off for about 3-4 years with varying degrees of success. My first experience with a woman came about when she contacted me first. We got along well emailing each other for a while until her "broken ankle" healed and a few days before our first date, I got unhinged and broke the date. Why? Because I was just about to be granted divorce and was psychologically NOT READY.
This caused her no end of upset (I don't blame her) and she will not write me to this day.
My advice to separateds/widow(ers)/newly divorced: DON"T USE DATING SERVICES UNTIL YOU ARE REALLY READY!

As to Match itself, I really do think it's a woman daters' market: they can pick and choose with total safety. The guy who complained that it's difficult for a genuine, but lonely guy is right; we guys get:

* viewed stats that inexplicably rise, but with NO profiles showing. Huh?
* women who look like supermodels viewing us, but whose profiles sometimes mysteriously vanish when you try to look at THEM! And you can't tell me that these gorgeous women "don't drink". What???
* women who live in other countries, for God's sake. And just how am I supposed to meet them for a drink when they live in Latvia, for example?

My payment experience with Match goes like this: yes, you're auto-renewed, but once your period ends, even though Match never lets you quit - just cancel your next period and hide your profile. You can always come back. And I've never been charged when I cancel.

Frankly, I've had better experiences IRL (in real life) but, let's face it, guys: even on a FREE dating site, if your profile sucks, if your attitude sucks (women KNOW), and if your LIFE sucks - well, you'll never get a date. Women can always smell a loser. But, gals -- so can we.

I was thinking to subscribe for 1 month but after read all review, I am afraid of difficulty of cancellation membership. So, I think if men is really interested in my profile they will try to contact me.

Where can I begin?
The overall venue of the Mach.com online dating sight, is really good given the fact that is is very easy to use thier website....in comparing to others.
The quality of men were great. No match for me, however because I have a over rated standard of what I am looking for or will settle with.
All of the men I met (over 25 of them!) which was all in less than a month, were very nice (ok, one was a drunken jerk and another was an angry type) and had true intentions of meeting a good friend or match for a relationship.
The only negative things I noticed about, not the sight, but the people on match, are the following. You really have to take into consideration though and be able to ask the person for more info before meeting them:
The pictures the men posted of themselves,were very poor and yes almost NONE were recent. Most resembled NOT a fraction of reality.
Physically fit to someone is different than that of another. (hah)
I can offer some very good advise though, when using this or other dating sites:
Ask for their cell number before meeting them to have a grown up 2 way conversation instead of penpaling and make beleiveing a text/email can develop into something more....
Ask for a recent 'few' pictures to be sent to you immediatly.
Ask how long they have been divorced OR have been separated from their significant other.
Ask them why THEY believe thay are divorced.
Upon meeting them, ask them WHERE exactly they live.!
If they talk about the 'negative' things in their lives scrap them and move foreward and do not waste time being a sounding board for someone who wants pitty.
Ask them 'why' they wanted to meet you/ If the answer is your photos, ask them about your profile and see what they thought matched you up to theirs.
If they smell like alcohol when they show up for the meeting...move on...and fast, so you dont becomethat pitty party later.
If they want you to drink alchohol (more than one drink on a first or second date) you BETTER be an alchoholic, or move on.
Do not give them your number before youhave thiers and have placed a call to verify. Never give your home number out or exactly where you work if possible. Never leave your drink on the table when going to the bathroom...(hello date rape) Get to the meeting place 'first' if you need to know what car they drive and never meet at a place such as their home (no matter how rich they are). By the 3rd date you should ask to meet thier friends or a family member in some way.
If you have more than 4 dates...do a back ground check on them!
Good LUck out there! It is great fun!

...so give me a call and I will help you!!!!!