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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/13/2009 11:39:24 PM |
This is truly The Thread That Will Not End
I started this thread because I found it hilarious that a man that bragged about his site being a free site, better than all the others blah blah blah.....came up with the idea that paying would somehow make it better.
I don't care about the paying or not paying, I don't intend on paying, never have and never will, there is always somewhere to meet men for free, and no matter where or how you meet them, there will be good and bad.
I have met many good people on this site, had a couple of very serious relationships. I am grateful that it was here and it was free, I am not angry I am just baffled by the turnaround done by Markus. I just don't know how you can build something that has done this well for him, with one attitude, and then turn it completely around and think you are gonna make it better. Maybe it will work, and more power to him, there is a never ending supply of single people, and with the rate of divorce he will never run out of new customers, however he built this site on those of us that wanted something that was free and casual, and now even though he asked for our opinion, so far he has not listened to us.
Why bother asking ??
Had he announced it in a way that didn't offend many people here, saying something like, thank you all for making me all this money, but now I find with times changing I need to start charging, it would have been a different story I am sure. But telling us that only those that are "serious" will pay and all the other put downs he has thrown out, has only insulted and offended many people, not a smart business move in any way shape or form. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/14/2009 10:43:23 AM |
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?
BINGO!!!!!!!! Pure and beautiful intelligence!  | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/14/2009 12:13:05 PM | I am sure that there are many more important subjects we can all protest, but I was not protesting, just stating an opinion. Hell I didn't even fight in my divorce so I am not some woman on a mission to change the world one dating site at a time LOL
The one thing I wonder is where do you start to speak your mind, and how many times has someone done something that went against their stated principals that was just a simple thing, and then it led to bombing innocent people, seems like a rather ridiculaus concept but maybe if a lot of people spoke up on the little things the big things wouldn't have gotten out of hand. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/14/2009 2:47:16 PM | | No Miracles needed...You were RIGHT to start this thread, I'm sure, all over the world different chapters of POF are up in arms. He "sold" his POF on the premise, no, the FACT that it was free. He has turned turtle, he has given in, sold out, whatever you wish to call it. I'm waiting for my membership to be cancelled by him then I will for sure have had him down to a tee. Yes, those that dont want to post here, go to another thread, I think this is relevant and interesting. You dont often get someone publicly do a 180 without any logical reason or explanation. To create a 2 tier membership is awful. keep the thread going folks....... | |
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Xavery
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Joined: 4/22/2007
Msg: 133 | |
| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/14/2009 4:27:16 PM |
while we respect your opinion, no one forces anyone incl you to post, we get it and we see it over and over again with many and that's when threads are pulled...someone gets their panties or jocks in a bunch and goes to report the thread...
forums are discussions of varied conversation, remarks and interruptions of commercial laughable comments.... so like a tv, if you don't like the channel, turn it to another or turn it off....
If people want to discuss something and you don't have to listen/read, don't listen/read. It is simple.
I think many of us are just curious about the direction POF will take, because often one change leads to another.
I just signend in and it said something like double your email, upgrade. Now this makes me skeptical. How does the admin know that your email will double if you upgrade? The upgrade has only been around a couple of weeks and already data has been collected on how it impacts on the number of email you will receive. This type of claim interferes with trust. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/14/2009 4:42:34 PM |
How does the admin know that your email will double if you upgrade? The upgrade has only been around a couple of weeks and already data has been collected on how it impacts on the number of email you will receive.
With so many POF users it would not take long to gather the statistical data to state with high confidence how big an impact the upgrade has had on email correspondence.
The servers handle the traffic and the software on the server records the data and it would be easily accessible and thus quite easy for admin to make such statements.
In fact I suspect better data collection would have been a contributing motive for giving some users the free upgrade. More data yields better trend analysis. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/14/2009 6:24:49 PM | | Xavery, good point. but then, if you are in charge of email you can predict the amount, especially if you have the ability to control it. Its the thin edge of the wedge, the "free site" is going to be a thing of the past soon. Its a shame. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/14/2009 6:45:08 PM |
How does the admin know that your email will double if you upgrade?
simple logic....lol
the new feature while few have it will draw attention and if the profile/picture are anything near acceptable to the viewer they will attempt to send a mail simply because it is reasonable to assume the user who has labeled him/herself as more desperate and is more likely to reply.
I tested that and the result is that four of six mails sent receives a reply while before the odds were one in 20. Certainly this effect will wear off as more pay users will appear, then it will be back to the usual.
if you are in charge of email you can predict the amount, especially if you have the ability to control it. Its the thin edge of the wedge, the "free site" is going to be a thing of the past soon.
IMO that is pure nonsense, at best it is a guess predicting human behavior. Just like offering any other novelty or a sale, certain types of people are drawn to that and they will have some followers. People are like sheep they follow the first ewe that goes off running and when all comes to a stop all you hear is a beahhhh, beahhh as everyone is wondering why they ran. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/14/2009 8:12:58 PM | most people don't even post 8 so no biggie....
Its the thin edge of the wedge, the "free site" is going to be a thing of the past soon. Its a shame.
so enjoy it while it's still here just like 4 years ago when MSN chat rooms were free,....... then we all found/ migrated over to POF and if push comes to shove I am sure there will become yet another free spot for those of us who want to have our cake and eat it too.( Ya I know it is a stupid make no sense saying LOL.) | |
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Xavery
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Joined: 4/22/2007
Msg: 140 | |
| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/14/2009 9:03:08 PM | I think it depends on the pictures whether or not posting 16 is worthwhile. I have noticed even with 8 people a lot of people manage to post one picture that takes away from their profile. Still, I wouldn't mind being able to post more than 8 and yes, I would probably post one unintentionally that would detract from my profile, but it is worth the risk.
As for the comments about the golden members getting twice as much email, is this because some of them are new to POF and have been seduced by the golden touch? Also, it it quality email? When I read about twice as much mail, I was horrified, because I really don't care for the stuff that is coming my way, but I am a forum poster and we are supposedly picky.
Well, we are what we are, what we are, what we are . . . | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/15/2009 2:01:53 AM | Realistically, so long as it's free to browse, receive emails, and respond to emails, the "2-tier" memberhsip concept doesn't mean much to me. I'm just worried that this is a gradual morph from "100% free" to "100% pay", like the majority of dating sites, where you can browse profiles for free, but if you want to receive an email, or respond to an email, you have to shell out a monthly fee.
At that point, this site essentially becomes LavaLife, and a complete waste of time. The simple fact is, people who have such little luck with their preferred sex that they have to pay money to talk to other people who have equally little luck, are a wee bit depressing. So far as I'm concerned, pay dating sites are today's equivalent of 'lowered-expectations'. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/15/2009 5:39:16 AM | basically what well happen after the 100% pay is everyone will have to literally step outside their doors and ......................meet people
Well .......there is a bright side to this after all !!!!
That would be what I would call "serious" | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade ?
Posted: 3/15/2009 9:57:37 AM | | this is a joke!! What benefeits do you get if you are a paying member, aside from the pretty gold star? If you dont get ANY benefeits from paying to be on a free site, then that lil gold star is like a dunce cap, cuz you're paying to be on a free dating site. And if someone is so high and mighty about glod stars showing how seriously they want to date someone, it's almost as if it's pointing out who the desperate individuals are! It's not gonna get you a date any sooner, and not gonna increase the caliber of suitors! | |
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Xavery
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Joined: 4/22/2007
Msg: 146 | |
| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/15/2009 9:59:06 AM | I believe the admin stated that this site would never become entirely a pay site.
I just joined this site called the forums. I notice that everytime you post they give you points. I think forum posters here should get some sort of reward, too, because we do give the masses something to read. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/15/2009 11:14:32 AM | I understand that Markus saw how many ads for paid sites were being place on POF by Google Ads... all those ads around your profiles are all done by Google Ads AND a LOT of people click on them going to those paid sites... and I believe Markus thought about something like IF those people are clicking off POF and folowing the ad links to paid sites, maybe they think they have to be successful... so why not offer that option here?
Then, to prove the number of Serious Searchers who do get increased exposure and improved responses, a number of free upgrades were offered to members so he could actually get a tracking of those responses... I think those went to about 500 random female members. Only way to prove something works is to have people try it... PLUS it makes the other members actually see the gold dots and Serious Searcher profiles and consider it themselves..
In the meantime, POF life in the pond goes on as normal. Just some get a gold dot that helps them rise to the top, as it were, while others, myself included, remain bottom feeders
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/15/2009 1:42:35 PM |
Only way to prove something works is to have people try it... PLUS it makes the other members actually see the gold dots and Serious Searcher profiles and consider it themselves..
That may be true, but it is a risky undertaking when it shows not to work. What will the alternatives be, loosing disappointed pay users or non-pay users?
IMO, create a real value bestowed upon the users while sticking with one of the best concepts internet dating has ever seen rather than follow the pay competition and become just another pay site.
To give in to the negativity that surfaces now and then, ranging from bottom feeders to sociopath doesn't make any user feel welcome, and that may be true for even more the women here who are more conscientious of such things.
The users on this site are no different than the ones on the pay sites, that has been my experience and I'd dare to have someone prove the opposite. | |
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| Isn't BC talking about the Upgrade to Serious Member?
Posted: 3/15/2009 8:02:41 PM | Pay sites, ornot, they usually have the same, or similar, that you are going to meets some good ones,and then not so good ones.
If your going to pay for a serive, ya might as well pay for a matchmaking service, that is done by professional people that specialize in their services.
Professional people, that take your interests at heart,and matchyou up with people who have same, or very much similiar interests and common goals and objectives.
It is more of a one on one service,and they are like your coach and mentor, but, these service are not cheap.
Where aswith dating sits, you are taking your chances, and they become more ofa hit and miss,thenbeing professonally match.
People who go for the professional servics, are also screened as well, because,they also do an interview wih you to find out WHO, and WHAT YOU REALLY ARE.
That reduces the chances of being matched up with the wrong person, and weed out the weeds. | |
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