Paid Dating Sites

LegacyUser

Hello all,

I have decided to five internet dating a go. While I appreciate that there is topics on these both the the Gentlemans Club and Ladies Lounge, they seem to really only mention Plenty of Fish and OK Cupid, both of which are free sites and not what I was looking for. I'm more interested in the paid/subscription sites.

So, can any of you give me any info/tips or advice on what are good and bad sites?

Any info is appreciated!

nickobrien1985

Lots of mingers on those sites

Ickle Magoo

nickobrien1985 infracted.

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Many thanks.

My own parents, believe it or not, suggested I join a dating site. My dad was under the impression that those on a paid site would be more serious about their intentions and I'd be inclined to agree with him in theory. In practice I'm not sure though, have heard reports of some sites having fake profiles to lure you in.

Cutie18Ireland

try match.com

without paying you can only send winks, need to pay for any proper interaction

LegacyUser

I would completely agree. Match.com is an excellent dating site. I met my OH on it 4 months ago and we are both very very happy. I think you need to join it expecting to meet nice people but be wary that there are lots of time wasters too. Give it a go and you never know, you might be surprised Good luck!

LegacyUser

Would also second the suggestion for match.com, I know of 5 couples that meet through it.

John 187

Im on Match.com myself. I don't think it's much good. I been on a few of them one's you pay/free.
The paid sites get an older crowd (if that's what your seeking) The free one's seem to have a younger crowd.
If your female your going to get loads of mail mostly slimy guys so be carefull. If you male your going to get a lot of un-answered e-mail. Don't take it personaly.

Be brave and put a picture up it helps and don't talk to others who don't have a picture.

Sorry for going on there, been on these sites for too long so just giving my advice on it.

magneticimpulse

I find there are the exact same people on match.com all the time...as in the same people have been on it since 5 years and theres been no change...none of them ever seem to go off the site, so i wonder how successful it really is.

Also they are very sly with your money. If you do decide to pay, they will automatically keep taking money out of your bank account unless you go through huge loops and cancel your subscription. You used to be able to just click a few numbers but now you have to phone up some customer service website and the phone number they have listed never works for me.

I find there is more selection on plentoffish and you seem to see people disappear from it after about 2 weeks. As in if your not quick to reply they seem to have met someone else and closed their account. I find thats not the case with match.com

Besides, I see all the same guys on match.com and plentyoffish. In fact they send me emails on plentyoffish saying hello as they know me from match.com

So in theory...i dont think the paid ones are better...because there are the same people on both sites. If someone is serious about dating, they are going to sign up to both sites right?

johnboysligo

Former okcupid and match.com (unpaid) user here. As far as I know match.com does not filter paid or free users so if you pay a subscription you can never be sure the person you want to contact can actually reply and vice versa.
okcupid doesnt have that problem but as John 187 said

If your female your going to get loads of mail mostly slimy guys so be carefull. If you male your going to get a lot of un-answered e-mail. Don't take it personaly.

Remember your profile should give views a window into your personality choose you photos and profile content carefully
If you try to contact someone make an effort to write something more than "hi, i saw blah blah wana talk"

forest gunner

John 187 wrote: »

Im on Match.com myself. I don't think it's much good. I been on a few of them one's you pay/free.
The paid sites get an older crowd (if that's what your seeking) The free one's seem to have a younger crowd.
If your female your going to get loads of mail mostly slimy guys so be carefull. If you male your going to get a lot of un-answered e-mail. Don't take it personaly.

Be brave and put a picture up it helps and don't talk to others who don't have a picture.

Sorry for going on there, been on these sites for too long so just giving my advice on it.

Pretty much agree with John there. Ive been on anotherfriend and plentyoffish. Plentyoffish is full of time wasters and certainly has a younger crowd.
Anotherfriend has been slightly more worthwhile for me. Infact, I have a date this week which Im hoping goes well .
Ive been on and off for a year and half on it. I join for a month in a moment of weekness and then get tired of it and come back a couple of months later. This will be my third date I believe - you can make you own mind up as to why my strikerate is low:rolleyes:.
The average age, I find, is late 30s. Im late 20s myself and Id estimate about 15-20% are between 25-30yo.
A picture is essential. Guys and girls dont wear paper bags in a pub!

mood

magneticimpulse wrote: »

I find there are the exact same people on match.com all the time...as in the same people have been on it since 5 years and theres been no change...none of them ever seem to go off the site, so i wonder how successful it really is.

But they could say the same about you!!!

Wompa1

I'm on plenty of fish at the moment. I'm not a time waster or just looking for sex but the girls I've been chatting to so far do seem to be time wasters. They are just there to see how many guys will compliment them as far as I can see.

Could be back to the crappy pub/club scene for me I'm afraid

Birdsong

I do think the paid websites such as anotherfriend.com or maybefriends.ie are the way to go. If some body has to pay with their credit card, unless they have more money than sense, they are serious.

I know 3 couples who met on both of the above websites happily married now. Am using anotherfriend.com myself, and have been on a good few dates, lovely guys just not for me.

Don't give it too long before meeting someone, its only when you meet face to face you will know if some one is for you, you can't reallly get to know somebody from messages

magneticimpulse

mood wrote: »

But they could say the same about you!!!

Well sure exactly. My main point was that...im not having success and the other guys are obviously not having success either, at least the ones ive gone on a date with and have kept in contact with as friends.

Had date there the other night. Im completely exhausted from online dating. Was on match.com but as mentioned before it was the same guys on it and over time became limited selection. Lately Ive been on plenty of fish.

My experience so far, I would compare it to Copper Face Jacks. You hear of a friend of a friend (garda and nurse type of story)...who meet, date and get married. So you go there, thinking just maybe can meet someone from the huge selection. Not convinced after scanning to place. However go about 2 more times and then conclude that you wont be joking on your wedding day that many moons ago yis met in Coppers.

I find Online dating in general (POF and match.com...even after paying), to have similar experience. Its so exhausting in my experience. Very little rewards for the amount of time to set up profile, screen other profiles and emails. Try to remove the sleazy one night stand guys. Exchange a few emails, photos and phone calls.

Get it down to one person, go out on the all big atticipated date. Think it went ok...although you might want to sleep with them, hold off as theres plenty of time. Then get the message the next day:

"Your really nice but just no spark".

Then what? For me, its just so deflating experience. Its just so difficult to decide on someone to go on a date in the 1st place and then either one of you could be disappointed because you had greater expectations or neither of you were very clear on if it was ONS or relationship thing.

Im flying the flag for just old fashion, meeting the person upfront via friends, club, work or whatever. Maybe there is more success and less disappointment that way.

Ickle Magoo

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On this thread, please keep replies on topic and helpful to the OP and be aware that off-topic and unhelpful posting can earn you a ban from this forum.

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Many thanks.
Ickle

Mikewr

In Short ,

From my experience , I found Anotherfriend to be the better (paid) dating site , and POF to be the better (free) site. Had a few dates from both , but nothing more. I find internet dating to be very time consuming for little rewards as the other users have said in the tread. On the other hand I have spent many more Euros going out to pubs and clubs with little rewards too, although being a bit shy doesint help me either. I think generally though it is harder to find someone for dating these days as people are a bit more cautious who they hook up with,as there are many hazards out there. The down side of the internet is that it is 'cold' or 'cold calling' when exchanging messages on a dating site. People can write what they like ,and is often misunderstood, or 'what did they mean by that' . The only way to make up your mind about someone is to meet them face to face , and you will soon know if the person is suited for you. In this day and age I would say do a bit of both , keep your fingers in all the pies as they say.

dealhunter1985

Yeah I couldnt recommend match.com either.
The free sites seem to have many more users but what I didnt like about match is the way if you pay by card, they automatically sign you up for autorenewal.
I got an email to advise that my account was debited for the renewal but I had no intention of renewing.
I spoke with customer service and explained I didnt wish to renew (but forgot to cancel the auto renewal.. my fault I know)
The customer service rep said that he wouldnt be able refund me because I had sent 1 message after the renewal date.
So basically that one message cost about 80 quid!

Ickle Magoo

Guys, this thread is from 2011. Please read the forum charter & don't bump old threads.

Cheers