| IM turns me off.
Posted: 4/16/2009 6:33:39 AM |
You will lose members by the thousands. Please fix the IM. Otherwise, you are just another site.
Let me show you to the door.  | |
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| IM
Posted: 4/16/2009 6:46:29 AM | | it's definitely a terrible decision to permanently disable IM. | |
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| IM
Posted: 4/16/2009 6:54:14 AM | | I couldnt have said it any better than Steve ............... really such a simple concept. I dont drink coffee and there is no way id have a restaurant not serve it just because i dont like it. Comon on POF, you had a great thing going with then IMs, and if individuals can shut it down by themselves, then dont gives us the run around saying some dont like it. WE are adults here. | |
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| IM turns me off...not so much
Posted: 4/16/2009 6:56:55 AM | Damn.....so much to say but it is not worth risking a trip to banned camp.
Play nice folks........... | |
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| IM turns me off...not so much
Posted: 4/16/2009 7:35:30 AM |
I couldnt have said it any better than Steve ............... really such a simple concept. I dont drink coffee and there is no way id have a restaurant not serve it just because i dont like it. Comon on POF, you had a great thing going with then IMs, and if individuals can shut it down by themselves, then dont gives us the run around saying some dont like it. WE are adults here.
Then act like one and be patient. Unless you're paying for the service you can't complain. It takes time to find something if he chooses to go that route. | |
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| IM
Posted: 4/16/2009 7:52:03 AM | I have noticed that the IM is showing once and a while for paid members..
I understand that it costs money to run a site, But has the segregation between paid and non paid members started ?
I also notice that paid members show up in my town but not as users online
I also agree with someone who posted a little while ago that the IM was a great way to weed out the rotten seeds b4 handing out my MSN
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| IM turns me off.
Posted: 4/16/2009 7:59:48 AM | | Does that mean they are trying to get us to pay for site or will we be able to im for free after this .Considered site is suppost to be FREE. | |
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| This is SO FUNNY!! BWAAHAAAHAAA!!!
Posted: 4/16/2009 8:45:44 AM | People should try reading the posts. All of them. In their entirety. First, if anyone really wants a laugh, read the Subject lines throughout this thread. I changed the subject line first in post 11 to "IM turns me off." People who are asking for IM are posting under this subject without reading it. Then in post 66, I point out this hilarious oversight and change the subject line again to "Nobody reads the subject line." And it's proven, they don't. I put about as much credence in their posts as I do their reading comprehension. Especially:
We need to get our facts straight.
I'm assuming that Markus went with the integrated install. The reason for the change probably has something to do with not being able to display ads... (Italics added)
Lastly, I'm enjoying seeing the people believe what they think is true without doing any research into the matter.
You've got to be kidding me!!!! Your research into userplane isn't in question. Userplane itself isn't in question. It is Markus who makes the decisions and all you can do with him is assume and speculate probably on his motives. So maybe it is YOU who should get the facts straight. *rolling eyes* Again, I love the fact that you & MBA don't bother to READ this thread before trying to sound like you KNOW anything. Read the whole thread before you post. I pointed out an obvious change in the subject line (post 66) and you ALL keep going on in your little minds that what you know is fact. "Nobody will continue..." "nobody will go on... " Well, I must be nobody because I'm sticking around. But then, "Nobody's perfect."
Again, asking politely is one thing, but to insist, bully, threaten to leave and accuse him of wanting to profit (who cares?) isn't the way to go about it. Personally, if I was Markus, I'd delete and ban all your whiny, ungrateful @sses and say good riddance! You're giving him a lot of grief for getting something for free. Grow up and kwitcherb!tchin. No one is forcing you to stay. JMHO.
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| IM turns me off.
Posted: 4/16/2009 8:54:17 AM | | Hi there, just a question, How about make a survey for IM on or IM off? I think that IM was a very good tool to meeting ppl and being able to get a quick response wether they are interested in chatting or not. I can tell you this, that if the IM remains disabled that i would like many others probably wouldn't stay on this site, so plz consider keeping IM available to many many members. | |
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| IM turns me off.
Posted: 4/16/2009 8:55:58 AM | | 10% increase in active users so far... No way i'm bringing back the IM now... There is a reason no other major dating site has an IM. | |
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| IM turns me off.
Posted: 4/16/2009 9:10:33 AM | Marcus, I thought that POF was to be different then the other sites ?
So now why the compairasin now ?
Again not pushing buttons just trying to understand the logic | |
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| And the shady statistic starts to dwindle...
Posted: 4/16/2009 9:24:19 AM | | First it was 14% increase in the UK...now it's just 10% increase in active users...why so vague and short in your explanations? Are you hoping if you keep it short that people will just forget about it and move on? You seem just a bit too over-eager to pronounce the death penalty on IM. As I said before...something fishy is going on here... | |
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| I hate that stupid IM function!
Posted: 4/16/2009 9:29:52 AM |
...no other major dating site has an IM.
I beg to differ, but I know of some. One that I used to "access" also has/had userplane but you had to be accepted as a friend before they could IM you. Not sure about now. Another, where I'm a paid member, requires a d/l and turning on the IM every time you enter the site. "That space" also has a d/l IM that requires activation at log-in as well. But again, I find it an intrusion and if I want to IM, I will invite someone to the Y. And don't forget people, you can open an anonymous account for this purpose only.
*Note: None of these have forums like this.
Thank you Markus, for providing the best free(ish) dating site around. I'm happy with what I have. Now, I'm gonna step back, watch the subject lines and have a good chuckle at other's expense. *evil laugh*
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| The solution to make everyone happy
Posted: 4/16/2009 9:39:02 AM | I'll be interested to see how long the traffic increases for. I think that while the number of users who don't appreciate being IM'd will increase the traffic, it will eventually decrease as users who like IM move elsewhere. I will.
I don't know what can be done about the technical IM issues. However, it seems to me that if the measurement of success is traffic numbers, it could be simple to appeal to both those who want IM, and those who think it's just a PITA, increasing the traffic longterm:
1) Bring back IM
2) Make it an opt-in feature, and don't try to charge extra for this. Simple, no?
3) Do this before IMers go elsewhere | |
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| Nobody reads the subject line when they post. *S*
Posted: 4/16/2009 9:55:15 AM |
Definately, food for thought.
I hope if this system is going to be unavailable, that another could take it's place. It may not have been 100%, but it did allow you to talk before you decided to exchange personal email addresses for other chat systems. Let's all hope that total consideration is given to this case.
I personally have found the IM's on PoF, a value to this web site.
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| IM turns me off.
Posted: 4/16/2009 10:12:45 AM |
10% increase in active users so far... No way i'm bringing back the IM now...
Define active users. I find it very hard to believe that removing a feature would result in increased usage. Additionally, I would postulate that the majority of users are not even aware that the IM feature has been removed. I am a very active user of the site and I was not aware of the demise of IM until I happened upon this forum posting yesterday. Previously it has been noted that active forum users make up a small portion of this sites population and we are in fact not the target demographic of the site. As no email notification was issued to the general membership how can you assume your membership is aware of the demise of the IM function. Thus, you cannot assume any minute positive blip in "active use" is due to the removal of the feature.
Some members do feel very strongly in a negative way about the IM function on this site. However, these people have the ability to disable or selectively enable this function so I don't see the IM function driving traffic down. If the function was not able to be disabled then there would exist a strong possibility that it would drive away users.
From a business standpoint I would be very hesitant to celebrate based upon such a small sample size over such a short period of time when there could be a multitude of factors skewing your traffic numbers. You can choose to position the numbers however you wish. However, that does not lend much credibility to such a small sample over such a short time period. Let's look at the numbers over a month or three months so that you can legitimately ascribe and increase or decrease solely to the removal of the IM function.
This pseudo statistical analysis is reminiscent of the claims made at the start of the Serious Member upgrade. Sure people with the new Badge of Seriousness had increased profile views and increased message rates. However, to imply that the Badge of Seriousness will consistently increase those two factors was misleading. Again, small sample size and limited sampling over time makes those numbers meaningless. Of course there was increased profile views and messaging. People were looking at profiles to see what the gold dot indicated and looking to see who would pay for the use of a free site. Additionally, once it became known that the Badge of Seriousness upgrade was being given away for free message traffic increased as inquiries were sent questioning if the member paid for or was given the upgrade.
Markus, you have developed a wonderful site that provides a wonderful service to your members and a substantial income to yourself. For that I respect you greatly and I also respect your right to manage your business as you see fit. Additionally, you have accomplished something most other dating sites have failed to do. You have created a unique social network unified by our quest for companionship, dating and love. This community you have created benefits you in that people continue to use the site even after they have been successful in finding someone to date. This not only says a lot about the social community you have developed but it boosts your bottom line as well.
This site is something you should be truly proud of and something I am proud to be an active part of. However, as with any business I deal with I expect a certain degree of honesty. Over the last several months I see less and less of this. Positioning the Serious Member upgrade as a benefit to the members rather than a method of gaining back lost ad revenue was the start. This was followed by implying increased profile views and messages of the serious member badge when in fact it was probably nothing more than curiosity. Now we see the removal of the IM feature being touted to increase traffic by 10%. Again, unattributable to this feature due to sample size and time.
Disabling the IM function and not pursuing another option was not done as a benefit to your members. It simply reduces your costs and administrative time. There are many IM clients out there that could be easily integrated into the site if you were so inclined. I recall a member offering one such client to you for free in the forums a month or so ago.
There is a reason no other major dating site has an IM.
You say there is a reason no other major dating site has an IM feature. Since when are you building any other major dating site? The beauty of POF is that it has flown in the face of the norm. You were free in the age of pay sites. You offered more for less. You were unique in a sea of sameness. Do you really want to lose the things that differentiates your sight from all of the other growing free sites? Will the forums be gone next in order to further save costs?
Despite what you may think there are a good many intelligent people on this site that can clearly see a pattern here. Why not be upfront about your plan to further develop the site? Are you going full pay? Are you going to a tiered membership where paid member gets functionality that non-paid members do not? Or are you cutting cost and increasing margin in an attempt to position the site for sale? I guess as members of a free site we really don't have the right to know or ask this. But many of us are curious.
Hopefully you will see this post in the respectful, inquisitive light it is intended. I struggled with posting this at all. However, I felt some things needed to be said. | |
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| Why does everyone have their IM turned off?
Posted: 4/16/2009 10:56:10 AM | One could also make the point that an increase in traffic is thanks to a bunch of folks eagerly awaiting the return of instant messaging. When a site has a "problem," users to tend to periodically check in more often to see if it has been fixed. I doubt they've been in the forum to find out what's up. I haven't seen a site wide notification of the change. Nothing like a little panic and intrigue to generate a little traffic.
On an additional note, we should not be so eager to show folks the door. Taking a "love it or leave it" stance is a horrible attitude to have. We've seen that sentiment elsewhere in society. Not good at all. | |
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| The solution to make everyone happy
Posted: 4/16/2009 11:00:15 AM | | I'm wondering if the recession is the main reason being taken off. But don't care much for the IM function. Prefer yahoo version better anyway. | |
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| IM turns me off.
Posted: 4/16/2009 11:33:40 AM | as a women who is very cauious I liked the IM and only the people who i trusted would I send to yahoo and give them that info I do not wish to put everyone I want to check out on my yahoo cause even when I take them off they can keep me on theirs. Does it cost you to have the IM? For me and many many other I am unemployed and can not pay for the serious member status! please let us IM again!
Indianpolis Indiana | |
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| IM turned off forever??
Posted: 4/16/2009 11:57:07 AM | | Please bring it back - its a great way of getting to know someone before you agree to meet them!! Why would usage be higher with it turned off? that doesnt make sense to me. I shall stop using this site as this was the only reason it stood out from the rest!! | |
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| IM turned off forever??
Posted: 4/16/2009 12:29:04 PM | Markus, Why are you lying about Userplane shutting down? I myself use Userplane on a site and contacted them about this. They are not going away at all, for those that want to see for themselves:
http://www.userplane.com/
So what does this lie tell me?? That your greedy ass is looking to implement a new IM but only too paying members. This site is quickly turning into just another shitty pay site. | |
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