Seaturtle880 is offline Seaturtle880 Post #1  April 10,2010, 7:36am
Seaturtle880's Avatar

is happy.

Newbie

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 3

See profile

A couple of questions, is there any way for those of us who are paying members able to tell if a match is a non-subscriber? This is one feature that bugs the heck out of me. I've had some interesting matches and I can't tell if they're just not interested or haven't paid.
Do they even get a communication message if I send them one? It would be nice if individuals using a FCW had a time limit in which their profile automatically closed, due to not subscribing, so those of us who do pay aren't scratching our heads in confusion.

Second question, I received a match this morning from a fellow who clearly states in his profile that his subscription is up on March 5th and any communication should be made before that date. Considering it's now April 10th he's either re-subscribed or I've been matched with someone who's no longer on the site! This isn't what I'm paying for.

To the eharmony powers that be, if you want to keep your customers satisfied give subscribers some way of knowing if a match is a member.
 
  Reply With Quote
Iconography is offline Iconography Post #2  April 10,2010, 9:03am
Iconography's Avatar

got her own goat!

Veteran

Joined: Aug 2009

Posts: 1,182

See profile

There is no way to distinguish paying from non-paying members. Non-paying can tell that you have contacted them but they have no way to respond without subscribing until a free communication weekend comes around.

This is one of (if not the) biggest complaint about eH. You will find your basic questions and comments made many times here in Using eHarmony.
 
  Reply With Quote
Gr8Guyn2008 is offline Gr8Guyn2008 Post #3  April 10,2010, 9:06am
Gr8Guyn2008's Avatar

I'm crippled by the fear That I've fallen too far to love

Sage

Joined: Jan 2008

Orlando, FL

Posts: 19,670

See profile

This is a very common topic and has been covered in many other threads so you may want to do a search for what has been written in the past.

There is no way to tell for sure if a match is a paying member or not. Your best indication is if the match views your profile. Most )about 95%) of your matches are going to be non-paying members. Most non-paying members are also non-active which means that they will not view or close you.

When you send a communication to a match, even a non-paying match, they will receive an e-mail that they have received a communication from you. A non-paying member will not be able to read your communication.

First thing to say about your displeasure is that all the paid internet dating sites allow people to post a profile and be matched for free. You are not paying for the purpose to receive matches, you are paying for the ability to communicate. While you may not agree with this concept when you want to communicate with a match that happens to be a non-paying member, you paid to communicate if your match has not paid then they are indicating that they are not interested in communicating (with you or anyone else). On eHarmony another benefit that you get by paying is that you can see photos. Non-paying members can communicate via the Guided Communications process on the frequent FCWs but still cannot see photos.

Now the reason that eHarmony allows people to post a profile and be matched for free is in the belief that they will either see someone's profile or receive a communication from a match and be enticed into paying their money in order to communicate with that match.
 
  Reply With Quote
Rynok is offline Rynok Post #4  April 10,2010, 10:34am
Rynok's Avatar

Newbie

Joined: Apr 2010

San Antonio, TX

Posts: 19

See profile

Gr8Guyn2008 wrote :
Now the reason that eHarmony allows people to post a profile and be matched for free is in the belief that they will either see someone's profile or receive a communication from a match and be enticed into paying their money in order to communicate with that match.
Probably the same reason they have ads on the site as well, if your a paying member or not. Who else does that? Seriously!

As far as the non-paying members go, I would be interested in knowing "How many people return to eH because they got an email that somebody was interested in them?". Maybe it's just me, but I don't think I'd pay $50 in order to sign up for 1 month just so I can send a communication back to some random person I can't even see photos of.

Personally, I think it greatly inflates their numbers, which they can then use as part of the marketing campaign. Non-internet daters seeing the ads don't think "Oh, I bet they have lots of inactive members". If the other dating sites do it, eH has to do it as well to stay "competitive". I wish they'd try advertising "We don't show inactive members." and see how far that gets them. I'd be willing to pay more for a service that had lower # of members which guaranteed they were all subscribers and active, then a service that cost half as much which gave me 75% junk matches and wasted my time. Time is money!
 
  Reply With Quote
MicMan is offline MicMan Post #5  April 10,2010, 10:37am
MicMan's Avatar

is living life to 83% of its normal capacity.

Board Leader - Sports

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 2,965

See profile

Seaturtle880 wrote :
A couple of questions, is there any way for those of us who are paying members able to tell if a match is a non-subscriber? This is one feature that bugs the heck out of me. I've had some interesting matches and I can't tell if they're just not interested or haven't paid.
Do they even get a communication message if I send them one? It would be nice if individuals using a FCW had a time limit in which their profile automatically closed, due to not subscribing, so those of us who do pay aren't scratching our heads in confusion.
As the others have said, there is no way to distinguish a paying and non-paying member. Typically, the hallmark of a non-paying member is a partial profile and a lack of photos, but that is by no means an absolute.

There always has been a part of me that wishes eHarmony would do a better job of purging the system of people that haven't logged-in in a certain amount of time.

Seaturtle880 wrote :
Second question, I received a match this morning from a fellow who clearly states in his profile that his subscription is up on March 5th and any communication should be made before that date. Considering it's now April 10th he's either re-subscribed or I've been matched with someone who's no longer on the site! This isn't what I'm paying for.

To the eharmony powers that be, if you want to keep your customers satisfied give subscribers some way of knowing if a match is a member.
Like the others have said, this is probably the biggest complaint from paying members and one that just isn't being addressed. Probably the biggest reason for that is the basic business model is that a paying customer will send a message to a non-paying one and that person will break out the credit card and pay to communicate back. That's exactly what they hope for in a situation like the one you mention.

Since I know the Development Team has been sniffing around the boards looking for improvements, I'll once again put in my plug for tagging paying members or putting in some sort of "last logged in" reference on profiles.
 
  Reply With Quote
Rynok is offline Rynok Post #6  April 10,2010, 10:56am
Rynok's Avatar

Newbie

Joined: Apr 2010

San Antonio, TX

Posts: 19

See profile

Had stuff, decided to trash it. Basically, dead profiles or not, you get the same amount of "real" profiles you would if they didn't have the dead weight included. You just feel bad because you've gone through "a ton of profiles" and only really had a small % of them be remotely available.
Only thing I wish is that they didn't limit the daily returns, because that limits how many "real" profiles you see in your limited time span that you pay for. If you charge by the month and want to keep members paying and realize it's all a #'s game, the best strategy is to limit how many #s they get. That'll lower their chances but keeps their hopes up that the "next day" will be different.

But then again, it's part of the "eH experience" I suppose...their claim to fame and such ya know.

Oh well. I think this is one of those times though that the rule "You get what you pay for." doesn't actually have any relevance.
Last edited by Rynok; April 10,2010 at 11:37am. Reason: I have the power!
 
  Reply With Quote
MicMan is offline MicMan Post #7  April 10,2010, 11:35am
MicMan's Avatar

is living life to 83% of its normal capacity.

Board Leader - Sports

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 2,965

See profile

Rynok wrote :
A business model based on deception is a business model that should be changed. Legally, you pay them to provide matches, and they do just that.
Not that I agree with the business model, but what you're paying for is the ability to communicate and see photos of matches. The commercials encourage you to create a profile and "view your matches for free."
 
  Reply With Quote
Rynok is offline Rynok Post #8  April 10,2010, 11:47am
Rynok's Avatar

Newbie

Joined: Apr 2010

San Antonio, TX

Posts: 19

See profile

Which is why I said "deception" and not "lies". An Ebay member showing you a picture of a box and letting you assume you get what's in the box is the same thing. Deception, not a lie. Totally legal, no doubt.

Advertising your member base and not mentioning that 75% are inactive? Your not lieing, you really have a ton of profiles, it's just dishonest to imply that they are available for matching.

If I sold coupon books for $20 and advertised "$1,000,000 in coupons!" and failed to add "But $800,000 worth have already expired"...I don't think it would go over so well with my customers. I fail to see how this is any different.
 
  Reply With Quote
livenlearn is offline livenlearn Post #9  April 10,2010, 12:48pm
livenlearn's Avatar

Yay! spring has sprung.

Virtuoso

Joined: Dec 2009

cosmos

Posts: 3,439

See profile

MicMan wrote :
Not that I agree with the business model, but what you're paying for is the ability to communicate and see photos of matches. The commercials encourage you to create a profile and "view your matches for free."
You are right, your paying. So maybe EH should think about letting paying EH members be able to communicate with nons. The only way a non can communicate is by nudges and getting a paying one to reply? And nons cant communicate with nons?
Remember, they still cant see your photo so they are still at a disadvantage.
 
  Reply With Quote
AndieIsMe is offline AndieIsMe — Advice Member-Moderator Post #10  April 10,2010, 1:34pm
AndieIsMe's Avatar

A letter in the mail is more precious than a 1000 IMs

Volunteer Community Leader

Joined: Nov 2009

Emerald Triangle

Posts: 8,149

See profile

I know it is a huge complaint of members that there is no way to tell if another member is paying or non-paying. Well, what about all those other sites? Should they only allow those who pay to have their profiles displayed? Are people who pay the only ones who should be able to be viewed? With some sites you can purchase the extra "Color enhancement" on your profile or get a star put by your name, but not everyone does this.

Of course you will receive non-paying member, this is the way e-dating goes. And, how else will these non-paying members be encouraged to sign up if they are never matched with anyone else.

Just a side note, send that guy your 1st questions if you are interested. Maybe YOU will be the one he is searching for and he will pay for another month just to meet you.
 
  Reply With Quote
Reply


« Hi Everyone | Using eHarmony | Top Ten Signs you spend too much time on Eharmony »
Topic Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new topics
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off

Similar Topics
Topic Topic Starter Board Replies Last Post
I am Sick and Tired of Getting Flooded with Worthless 'No Photo' Matches! Mr. Nice Guy Using eHarmony 44 May 21,2011 12:36pm
Matches dried up dreamingartist Using eHarmony 30 October 17,2010 5:41pm
Not getting any responses back from matches, ever. WildcatZ Using eHarmony 13 April 11,2010 3:57pm
Eharmony in control of sent matches passat1 Using eHarmony 1 March 2,2010 3:19pm
NEW Premium Flex Settings Idea (for Paid Subscribers Only!!!) Mr. Nice Guy Using eHarmony 20 September 21,2009 9:41pm

Looking for a Great Relationship?

Get started now. Fill out this form and take the questionnaire to receive your matches.

First Name:

I'm a:
seeking

Postal Code:

Country:

Email:

Confirm Email:

Password:


How did you hear about us?


Latest on our Dating Advice Discussion Boards

“Thanks! dmi said it best when he said the variation between races are too wide to exclude any race.” –  sun73

Join the “How much does race play in your dating someone?” discussion

“ If you know, then, that you've already friend-zoned him, I don't see much point in meeting. I misread your op and thought you were just trying to decide how you felt about him. If you know you ... ” –  singinggirl

Join the “Yellow flags...To Proceed or not to proceed, that is the question?” discussion

“You are very Welcome Simplicity...” –  legend29

Join the “Robin Gibbs Dead at 62...How Deep is Your Love?” discussion

“ We also have the same friends. Yesterday there was an outing and I decided to go regardless if he was going to be there or not. Every time he saw me he went somewhere else. One of his friends ... ” –  lynntlb78

Join the “Can I wait and move on at the same time?” discussion

“You will have the option to close a match at any time, but if it is ONLY giving you the option to close, that means the other person has already closed it.” –  eH_Advice_Host_Eve

Join the “Question, archive, close...” discussion

“ Very true, this is a high percentage of the members who use free comm weekends.” –  eH_Advice_Host_Eve

Join the “dreaded free weekend” discussion



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 3:14pm.

Discussion Boards Archive

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0