| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade ?
Posted: 3/11/2009 9:54:53 PM | I have got more important things to do with my money, then to spend it on a gold membership, marketing, and business stratgy ploy.
Becauae, that is baically what it all comes down to, is a marketing, and business stratgy ploy.
He knows it, but, just won't say it is, except, in a way to cover it up with all these goody features, so that we won't recognize it is a marketing, and business stratgy ploy.
Ya cannot fool us, dude. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade ?
Posted: 3/11/2009 10:34:12 PM |
he also upgraded people for free who had Hang out, Intimate encounters go figure
Oh I am sure that the IE contingent is totally serious about what they are looking for and would gladly paid the $6 dollars for the Seal of Serious; but getting it for a gift is AWESOME! | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade ?
Posted: 3/11/2009 10:57:31 PM | ^^^^^^I just wonder, for how long that freebie will be for.
Sure it is a nice feeling to get, BUT, my bet, that eventually, he will be charging for it, sooner or later.
Just a matter of time, of oh, by the way, ya have had this free gold membership for awhile now, that will be X amount of dollars, should you decide to keep it. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/12/2009 12:57:48 AM |
Ok..Now it has gone from "whatever" to ridiculous...lmao...it seems none of the people I have talked to, that are highlighted, have paid for it? Makes the whole thing futile doesn't it?
Ah well..whatever...lol
Found that as well ...something fishy in the pond????
Oh well, turbulent waters attract fish, gotta bait the hook and look for the lil goldfishies, they say they're hungry and bite | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/12/2009 5:51:27 AM | Ok.
It's simple and I am suprised it hasn't been figured out.
Women are being given the "status" marker for free for a very simple reason.
The hope is that the "men" will feel compelled to purchase the status to be able to "get" with those women who have been given it for free. The ploy is that the men won't know that the women have not purchased said status.
Simple marketing and not unlike other dating sites where women pay nothing or considerably less in hopes of getting the men to "step up".
This is in no way a "new" thing. Just a new strategy used by POF. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/12/2009 9:16:30 AM | ^^^^^ ^^Yup, have heard of that strategy as well, infact, they used to do that one years ago, by telephone as well, kind of party chat line.
Where if you are a woman, they would charge you nothing, to use the service, where as if you were a guy, then they would charge ya for use of the service.
Anyhow, I don't plan on making the already rich, even richer at my expense, by upgrading to the status of gold membership.
No thank you. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/12/2009 9:39:14 AM | This Serious Member scheme reminds of "Ladies Night" at night clubs.
One night a week, usually mid-week, the ladies get in free, and the larger number of women attending attracts more men, and they do pay admission. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/12/2009 2:38:33 PM | I don't get what the big deal is personally. I think its a simply another option for people. If you choose to identify yourself as a 'serious member', good for you. It's not like he is FORCING any of us to pay it.
Will I subscribe? No, because its not going to prevent the sex-trollers from contacting me. Now THAT is something I'd pay for. lol
My 2 cents, cheers everybody! | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade ?
Posted: 3/12/2009 6:18:24 PM | I just found out what the dots are about today.
The guy who developed and runs this site is supposed to be a multi-millionaire already from the advertizing he sells on the pages. For most people that should be enough but greed finally got the better of him. It's a disease that gets worse with the more a person has they never have enough and want more and more. It eventually becomes a game at the expense of anyone they can fleece. Just look at our gas prices, still up around a dollar and oil has only been a little over $40 avg. for months, now they can't let go of the greed. 
As for the idea that it gets someone more attention, maybe it does but I think only because someone might have been curious about what the dot meant like I did. People get serious when they see someone to get serious about.  Dots belong on clown suits.
As for the idea that people will respond more because they think you are more serious for paying, I don't buy it. I think desperate might be as good of a word. If it were so, then everyone serious would never be here and instead be on all the sites that have always been pay sites and the fact of my eperience is nobody is anymore serious there than here. It doesn't matter a bit how serious someone is if they are not desireable and compatible in the view of someone looking at them.
At least it is optional so far and if fools think it will make a difference, remember a fool and their money are soon parted.  | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/12/2009 6:35:24 PM |
This is just a callous promotional technique that is supposed to have the effect of making it look like scores of people are jumping on the bandwagon so you should too, to really be with it. I just lost much respect for Mr. POF. He must truly think we are fish and all swim in a school.
Evidently if you get the Gold Star upgrade and don't want it the only recourse is to delete your profile and start over.
Shades of Microsoft Windows updates. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/12/2009 10:06:42 PM | Me thinks this all is "Much ado about nothing" ... if you don't want to pay for it, don't do it! Simple
Some people believe that if you don't pay...you get what you "paid for" ie. nothing. So... give 'em what they want to make them happy.
Now that the site owner has hired staff and set up an office (at his cost) he probably has seen a revenue erosion, so a simple addition to the features has gained it back....duh?
If this is really a problem for people they can always go start a free site on their own...nothing says you can't.
I for one don't have any problem with the owner doing what will enhance (for some) their experience in a way that will not impact the other users.
Why would anyone complain if they don't have to do it??
JMHO | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 6:20:11 AM | | B&TD - the point is that it's disingenuous to advertise one thing and sell something different. To do all your media and promotion mocking or criticizing something and then become that thing. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 1:32:28 PM | ^^^^ Well, as far as I can see the site is still free and you don't HAVE to spend a dime if you don't want to. How is that disingenuous?
Perhaps I am missing something, if I am please enlighten me.   | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 2:43:50 PM | ^^^ you are both right.
As apparent from the recent changes made by Markus and some of the explanations given Internet dating is going through a shift.
With Plentyoffish Markus had set a very significant benchmark for Internet sites, which to this day may have only scratched the surface of the full potential. He has proven that some services can be offered free to the user and still generate adequate income. This was a risky venture and its tremendous success sent the pay sites running for cover. As POF grew they lost clients and we can see today looking locally that many “fish” can be found on more than one site. Hence the goal of for pay sites was to recover clients lost to the competition who offers the same service free.
One may guess the reasons are based on the success of POF forcing the for pay competition having to come up with marketing strategies to prove and justify the benefit of their concept.
As advertisement goes it can and does form a public opinion which may or may not be factual. The result is that people are influenced subconsciously and the goal is met. This has become evident by some people following the belief that if a service is free, they themselves are of lower value. Of course every one knows this is utter nonsense. However it has contributed to the behaviour shift of people on dating sites and I suspect particularly on POF where a global community also uses the site for socializing which is an options for people to connect with more people. Does it matter how we meet a potential partner? Not really, as long as we do.
General experiences are that there is not little difference in the responses from users between POF and pay sites, nor are there any guaranties that information posted by users is either timely or accurate. There are and can be no guarantees given by any site as to the character and intentions of the user.
In that sense nothing has really changed. There are still people who are very sincere hoping to find a mate; others are looking for more casual connections.
What has changed is the tremendous amount of “offers” allowing every one to bypass a contact if only the slightest thing does not match. We have become spoiled and picky. That of course reduces the chances to actually find someone, specially in the over 40 crowd where women really begin to outnumber men. (perhaps not on dating sites but rather in the real world).
The exceptional poor experiences most users have had on occasion have lead to generalizations the “all” must be similar when they are on a free site”.
Such stereotyping plays directly into the hands of the for pay site and has been used by them giving their users the illusion that because someone has paid for a service they must be honest and sincere. That too is utter nonsense and defies any logic.
It is my opinion here that the recent implementation of a pay option is a direct defensive response to the opinions created by the pay sites having loosing ground. Unfortunately but not unexpected, Markus has received many nasty and negative comments for this change.
Would it not have been better to expand the user base using the proven success concept of POF? People’s opinions can be influenced and that is an positive move.
Wouldn’t it be better to promote this site and its users as more reasonable people than those who pay for the same results?
Whatever the direction of this site the decision is for Markus to make. | |
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Xavery
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Joined: 4/22/2007
Msg: 117 | |
| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 5:56:19 PM | Before we all hug, I have noticed as I read through these posts that it is being suggested that some members are been given gold stars without paying for an upgrade.
If this is the case, I think people should not just have gold dust sprinkled upon them. They should have a choice. It has been suggested that once King Midas or King Markus touches certain posters they are permanently gold.
And if this is the case, how are certain members selected to become golden? What demographics attract the Markus touch?
I am also bothered when I hear that people looking for things other than a serious romantic relationship can become golden. Even regular forum posters can buy a gold star despite the suggestion that we are less serious than people who do not post.
If we take all these things into account, the gold star does not mean one is seriously seeking another for a romantic relationship, but that one is seriously is able to waste money.
Fellow forum posters: you are all golden to me, so let's have a virtual hug in. The last time i checked this is free. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 7:21:30 PM | | Well, what can I say? Its was just a matter of time. The "man" sold out to the mighty $$$. Of course its optional but when all the newbies sign up, pay their pound of flesh, the old sharks like us will go to the bottom of the pile. 100% free, he sold out. Its going to be just another Lava life or one of the other rip off sites. He sold out, plain and simple, shame on you whoever you are. | |
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Xavery
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Joined: 4/22/2007
Msg: 120 | |
| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 7:31:59 PM |
so are golden showers...ahmmm some[/qupte]
Oh, you mean, like, pennies from Heaven, which makes the point that the best things in life are free.
As a pay dating site - I never found Lava Life bad, because you could shop as you went, buying credits as needed. I object to the sites that charge a monthly fee because you do not know what you are getting into until you fish around a bit.
I have written about Lava Life in past tense because once I found POF, my relationship with Lava ended. I thought it was a good site before I became a Forum junkie. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 7:46:26 PM | | I kinda feel like a bit of a flake being on here anyway, like I'm yesterdays meat, having to put yourself out like a piece of meat to checked, prodded and poked by like people of the opposite sex lol!!! Its fun but I can only drink so much coffee you know? I might go back to the old tried and true, trip to Safeway, prowl the fruit aisle, a little old fashioned melon squeezing lol, just joking ladies! I'm thinking of getting a T shirt stating my availability, prferences etc and just strolling downtown. Its gonna cost for the shirt but still cheaper that a "special" membership on here. Any of you plain, non worthy, non special ladies in Vancouver?Feel free to contact me lol!!! | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 8:12:40 PM | personally i can't understand how anybody could become a forum junky on a dating site. the threads are mostly boring and there's too much moderation.
that being said. the dating part of this site is excellent. markus has obviously done a fabulous job and most of you owe a debt of gratitude.
when the time comes to pony up for all these benefits i'll be there. until then i will enjoy POF for what it is. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 8:27:00 PM | This is truly The Thread That Will Not End
enuff already... some are angry...some are mad...some are plain rude..but I think we have all agreed to disagree or agree at some point.
All points good and taken...so damnit...now let go this bone and move on.
Strange.. some pple here have made it known that they are fed up with politicians and govt policy...some decide not to vote... fine..your choice.
But an issue about upgrades on a free dating site has pple up in arms... indignant even... where are you pple when social injustices are being done?... where are your voices?.... letter writing campaigns?... protests?... banding of people power?
Small things folks....let it go.. ..really incidental in the big scope of things.
Use all this energy and creativity... vocal activism for better causes..bigger fish. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 9:13:47 PM | | you just dont get it. The guy, the "man" Marcus, prided, advertisesd, gloated even that this was free. It AINT free anymore, thats the point, it will crerate 2 levels of membership, period, if the dogs dont wanna let go the bone, let 'em chew. The "man' needs to have his feet put to the fire. He made fun, he derided the pay sites, now he has one of his very own. | |
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