How can you possibly say that about Match, without at least giving some reasons, they are the market leader after all, so they must be doing something right ?
A while back I used datingdirect and match - match was by far more expensive. There were FAR more people registered on datingdirect, far more winks/emails/views. Match was dead! Not worth the money at all.
HOWEVER, now datingdirect and match now seem to have merged...
A while back I used datingdirect and match - match was by far more expensive. There were FAR more people registered on datingdirect, far more winks/emails/views. Match was dead! Not worth the money at all.
HOWEVER, now datingdirect and match now seem to have merged...
Yes, the OP does say that dating direct did merge in to match, probably match taking them over to buy market share and give a flagging brand a boost. I seem to be hearing nothing but bad reviews about match lately, and it will be a shame if that gets carried over and infects dating direct with the same problems. Thankfully, there are other more contemporary options out there, i and others have made alternative suggestions further up in this thread of competitors who have large, active and growing memberships, and it's with these new guys on the block where you tend to find the best action and chance of success, not with the old has-beens like match.
i and others have made alternative suggestions further up in this thread of competitors who have large, active and growing memberships, and it's with these new guys on the block where you tend to find the best action and chance of success, not with the old has-beens like match.
But what is this assumption based on? Surely if Match has the largest membership base, then that means chances of meeting someone compatible are higher here. I have nothing but glowing reviews about Match.
Yes, the OP does say that dating direct did merge in to match, probably match taking them over to buy market share and give a flagging brand a boost. I seem to be hearing nothing but bad reviews about match lately, and it will be a shame if that gets carried over and infects dating direct with the same problems. Thankfully, there are other more contemporary options out there, i and others have made alternative suggestions further up in this thread of competitors who have large, active and growing memberships, and it's with these new guys on the block where you tend to find the best action and chance of success, not with the old has-beens like match.
I'd wager the bad reviews from the Dating Direct influence on Match, rather than the other way around. Match.com effectively turned into Dating Direct when the merger happened and I *hated* it. I hated using DD for a number of reasons which then got adapted into the already-fine Match... Still irritates me that a once good website has been significantly cheapened following the merge.
I'd wager the bad reviews from the Dating Direct influence on Match, rather than the other way around. Match.com effectively turned into Dating Direct when the merger happened and I *hated* it. I hated using DD for a number of reasons which then got adapted into the already-fine Match... Still irritates me that a once good website has been significantly cheapened following the merge.
So that just helps prove the point, it's no good judging match on past performance from months or even years ago, pre-merger, if here and now the site has been corrupted by influence from DD. It's probably as simple as a number of the DD staff / management being integrated in to key roles within the newly merged business, and the DD people get to work changing the match processes to fall in to line with the way they always did it at DD. So don't expect match to ever again be the product it used to be, it becomes like the ConLib coalition where everything gets watered down in a mish mash of compromise and pork barrel wrangling.
But what is this assumption based on? Surely if Match has the largest membership base, then that means chances of meeting someone compatible are higher here. I have nothing but glowing reviews about Match.
Probably the reason for the match / DD merger was a decline in match member sign-ups, notice how match bandy market leading membership figures around, but these relate to an accumulation over years that include a vast number of inactive accounts, whereas probably the true recent picture is more likely a like for like year on year decline in active members (i.e. excluding those acquired through mergers / takeovers) . That means the true underlying picture is one of people leaving match in greater numbers than joining, which can only be bad for people searching for new dating partners.
I have commented before that there are other far better competing big independent chains that are giving these long established monopolies like match a run for their money, hence, the only answer that match have is to buy some of them up / merge when they become too much of a threat. Which in turn costs them serious money as they pay through the nose for someone elses membership list, and they then have to recoup that money spent from the existing members with ever higher charges. And that's why everyone comments on the expense of match compared to other cheaper / totally free to roam sites.
Therefore, to answer the OPs orginal question, i don't think match can any longer be viewed as one of the best decent dating websites in the uk today.
Smooch isn't bad, and is free. Avoid GirlsDateForFree though, which is so over-ridden with Bots it's not funny.
Match.com is useless, and doesn't live up to the hype.
I agree with your sentiments regarding match, but theres not too many places to go to find a good detailed list of recommended sites, except one i have used is http://www.ukbestdatingsites.co.uk/ , what's needed is somewhere that works a bit like Trip Advisor, only relating to dating sites, speed dating venues, lap dancing clubs and massage parlours. That way there would be some independent assessment of what you get for your moolah.
I find the most worst place to find a date is not on any dating site but Facebook! all girls Ive met from there have been flashes in the pan and one screwed with my emotions. I try to get out and about, one night out a month is only viable at the moment. As for generally meeting someone when your out in the daytime.... well that hasnt really worked I guess the powers that be think I'm not ready or something, or just seem to ship me a load of tarts with baggage and emotional problems.
Does anyone have any fresh NEW suggestions for a decent dating website, as i have exhausted or rejected most of the ones mentioned above. Do brand new sites offer a better chance as they attract fresh blood, as opposed to the places where you find the same old losers, jilted johns and liars clogging up the profile list?
Thye best free one I have found is OKcupid. Not so many weirdos and the tests are fun and match you with people.
Out of 15 Quiver matches one week, I wasn't interested in any of them. I'd love to know how it matches you up with someone, cos it's certainly not using any of the info in my profile ...
Also I was matched with a man who was looking for a teenager for casual sex.
Match is miles too expensive - I got 40 odd replies over a weekend, couldn't read any of them unless I was willing to pay a few hundred euros.
Its all luck really. I dont think anyone can advise on the best dating site as it depends on who happens to be on there at the time...if you're lucky you will find a mate. That being said, joining the bigger sites...ie POF and Match are more likely to yield a result, simply because there are more members to choose from.
back in late august I had a random email from matchaffinity.com, I was on match over a year ago with no luck at all
I looked at matchaffinity and they offered me a 1 month full membership for free to trial it
I did and only went on 1 date.. we have been seeing each other for 2 months now
I think it was luck though, and right place right time, rather than how good the site is
back in late august I had a random email from matchaffinity.com, I was on match over a year ago with no luck at all
I looked at matchaffinity and they offered me a 1 month full membership for free to trial it
I did and only went on 1 date.. we have been seeing each other for 2 months now
I think it was luck though, and right place right time, rather than how good the site is
I think with any of these sites the process involves an element of luck. I wonder whether in your case it was the fact that you had taken a break and then returned with a new profile some time later, you would have been viewed as a new joiner and was quickly snapped up. Maybe we shouldn't stay in one place for too long, and start afresh somewhere new if we don't get any positive news after a month or so? Hope things develop well for you and your new partner.
I think with any of these sites the process involves an element of luck. I wonder whether in your case it was the fact that you had taken a break and then returned with a new profile some time later, you would have been viewed as a new joiner and was quickly snapped up. Maybe we shouldn't stay in one place for too long, and start afresh somewhere new if we don't get any positive news after a month or so? Hope things develop well for you and your new partner.
I tried 'Love and Adore' which is a site specifically aimed at over 45's. As I'm a 54 year old Lady I got tired of seeing men of my age only looking for younger ladies on Dating Direct (dream on guys!).
I also noticed Dating Direct is really expensive lately. After a few dates from both sites, I've given up recently though and may try again after Xmas.
Does anyone have any suggestions of site for older people?
CM
(Incidentally, Love and Adore seems to be a cover for other sites and I wondered if it just takes people over 45 from them and lists them on L&A)
Does anyone have any suggestions of site for older people?
Another popular site for mature dating is Golden Match, some of these independents do pool their members to give them added scale, i think so as to be able to compete with the likes of POF and the other big TV advertised brands.
The next few days are supposed to be a good time for the unattached to find new people joining / rejoining many of the big dating sites. Me thinks that, as with the start of any new year, many people decide to finish with someone and start afresh. So i for one will be staying alert, as the most eligible newbes can get snapped up pretty quickly. So if the predictions are correct places like match and pof could end up with a new year sales stampede!
I find the most worst place to find a date is not on any dating site but Facebook! all girls Ive met from there have been flashes in the pan and one screwed with my emotions. I try to get out and about, one night out a month is only viable at the moment. As for generally meeting someone when your out in the daytime.... well that hasnt really worked I guess the powers that be think I'm not ready or something, or just seem to ship me a load of tarts with baggage and emotional problems.
I am absolutely unsurprised by this as Facebook isn't a dating site.
I've had a few blokes I don't know try to add me, possibly through also misinterpreting the site's purpose, and I would never add a complete stranger to my friends list; my general rule of thumb is that if I'd walk past someone in the street without stopping to say hello, they're not a 'friend'. I'm sure a lot of other people feel similarly.
I have a friend who randomly added some guys whilst drunk, and is currently finding out that one of them is a complete letch and only interested in sex. I have to wonder what she expected, trying to befriend someone she didn't know- what kind of message that gives out.
From a female point of view I wouldn't trust any bloke who added me on FB without knowing me; their motive seems very clear and undesirable. :rolleyes:
Well I hope 2011 is lucky for us. and we all find someone or whatever it is we are looking for.
I just hate on these sites that you spend a good while talking to someone, and suddenly one day they stop messaging you! :mad: All that chatting for nothing. Complete waste of time.
Would be nice to talk to/meet someone who is serious.
Well I hope 2011 is lucky for us. and we all find someone or whatever it is we are looking for.
I just hate on these sites that you spend a good while talking to someone, and suddenly one day they stop messaging you! :mad: All that chatting for nothing. Complete waste of time.
Would be nice to talk to/meet someone who is serious.
bumped this one back to life as i have just seen your hopes for 2011 above from earlier in the month, and remembered that you were asking for some porn dvd links a few days back, so, are your new year hopes dashed already? have you given up on the dating circuit and settled for a movie and toast instead
so who's got some site names that are delivering the goods in the here & now, and don't charge the earth ?
Comments
A while back I used datingdirect and match - match was by far more expensive. There were FAR more people registered on datingdirect, far more winks/emails/views. Match was dead! Not worth the money at all.
HOWEVER, now datingdirect and match now seem to have merged...
Yes, the OP does say that dating direct did merge in to match, probably match taking them over to buy market share and give a flagging brand a boost. I seem to be hearing nothing but bad reviews about match lately, and it will be a shame if that gets carried over and infects dating direct with the same problems. Thankfully, there are other more contemporary options out there, i and others have made alternative suggestions further up in this thread of competitors who have large, active and growing memberships, and it's with these new guys on the block where you tend to find the best action and chance of success, not with the old has-beens like match.
But what is this assumption based on? Surely if Match has the largest membership base, then that means chances of meeting someone compatible are higher here. I have nothing but glowing reviews about Match.
I'd wager the bad reviews from the Dating Direct influence on Match, rather than the other way around. Match.com effectively turned into Dating Direct when the merger happened and I *hated* it. I hated using DD for a number of reasons which then got adapted into the already-fine Match... Still irritates me that a once good website has been significantly cheapened following the merge.
So that just helps prove the point, it's no good judging match on past performance from months or even years ago, pre-merger, if here and now the site has been corrupted by influence from DD. It's probably as simple as a number of the DD staff / management being integrated in to key roles within the newly merged business, and the DD people get to work changing the match processes to fall in to line with the way they always did it at DD. So don't expect match to ever again be the product it used to be, it becomes like the ConLib coalition where everything gets watered down in a mish mash of compromise and pork barrel wrangling.
Probably the reason for the match / DD merger was a decline in match member sign-ups, notice how match bandy market leading membership figures around, but these relate to an accumulation over years that include a vast number of inactive accounts, whereas probably the true recent picture is more likely a like for like year on year decline in active members (i.e. excluding those acquired through mergers / takeovers) . That means the true underlying picture is one of people leaving match in greater numbers than joining, which can only be bad for people searching for new dating partners.
I have commented before that there are other far better competing big independent chains that are giving these long established monopolies like match a run for their money, hence, the only answer that match have is to buy some of them up / merge when they become too much of a threat. Which in turn costs them serious money as they pay through the nose for someone elses membership list, and they then have to recoup that money spent from the existing members with ever higher charges. And that's why everyone comments on the expense of match compared to other cheaper / totally free to roam sites.
Therefore, to answer the OPs orginal question, i don't think match can any longer be viewed as one of the best decent dating websites in the uk today.
I agree with your sentiments regarding match, but theres not too many places to go to find a good detailed list of recommended sites, except one i have used is http://www.ukbestdatingsites.co.uk/ , what's needed is somewhere that works a bit like Trip Advisor, only relating to dating sites, speed dating venues, lap dancing clubs and massage parlours. That way there would be some independent assessment of what you get for your moolah.
I don't reply to men who clearly didn't read my profile, or did a copy & paste blitz ...
Out of 15 Quiver matches one week, I wasn't interested in any of them. I'd love to know how it matches you up with someone, cos it's certainly not using any of the info in my profile ...
Also I was matched with a man who was looking for a teenager for casual sex.
Match is miles too expensive - I got 40 odd replies over a weekend, couldn't read any of them unless I was willing to pay a few hundred euros.
I think I'll stick with my cats!
after many 'odd' responses to my profile & false starts I met my soulmate.
We now have a gorgeous baby girl & are engaged to be married next year.
(all at the advanced age of 41 lol )
I looked at matchaffinity and they offered me a 1 month full membership for free to trial it
I did and only went on 1 date.. we have been seeing each other for 2 months now
I think it was luck though, and right place right time, rather than how good the site is
I think with any of these sites the process involves an element of luck. I wonder whether in your case it was the fact that you had taken a break and then returned with a new profile some time later, you would have been viewed as a new joiner and was quickly snapped up. Maybe we shouldn't stay in one place for too long, and start afresh somewhere new if we don't get any positive news after a month or so? Hope things develop well for you and your new partner.
thanks Shoobeedoo
my pleasure, sorry for delay in spotting your comment, are things still going well?.
I also noticed Dating Direct is really expensive lately. After a few dates from both sites, I've given up recently though and may try again after Xmas.
Does anyone have any suggestions of site for older people?
CM
(Incidentally, Love and Adore seems to be a cover for other sites and I wondered if it just takes people over 45 from them and lists them on L&A)
Another popular site for mature dating is Golden Match, some of these independents do pool their members to give them added scale, i think so as to be able to compete with the likes of POF and the other big TV advertised brands.
I am absolutely unsurprised by this as Facebook isn't a dating site.
I've had a few blokes I don't know try to add me, possibly through also misinterpreting the site's purpose, and I would never add a complete stranger to my friends list; my general rule of thumb is that if I'd walk past someone in the street without stopping to say hello, they're not a 'friend'. I'm sure a lot of other people feel similarly.
I have a friend who randomly added some guys whilst drunk, and is currently finding out that one of them is a complete letch and only interested in sex. I have to wonder what she expected, trying to befriend someone she didn't know- what kind of message that gives out.
From a female point of view I wouldn't trust any bloke who added me on FB without knowing me; their motive seems very clear and undesirable. :rolleyes:
Hi, just seen this when the thread was bumped
yes all is going well thanks
I just hate on these sites that you spend a good while talking to someone, and suddenly one day they stop messaging you! :mad: All that chatting for nothing. Complete waste of time.
Would be nice to talk to/meet someone who is serious.
bumped this one back to life as i have just seen your hopes for 2011 above from earlier in the month, and remembered that you were asking for some porn dvd links a few days back, so, are your new year hopes dashed already? have you given up on the dating circuit and settled for a movie and toast instead
so who's got some site names that are delivering the goods in the here & now, and don't charge the earth ?
Try the Golden Match Dating site as they are Saga forums recommended with a good database of members in the over 50's bracket.