| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 3:42:41 PM | alright - I've seen this happen before.... with a dating site called campuskiss (also known as casualkiss)
A FREE dating site starts small - - grows in size over the years - and then for whatever reasion the site owners (perhaps in a fit of greed) decide to bring in the PAY-site structure...
They start slowly at first - initally telling people that paying a membership (in this case only $25 for a whole YEAR) would make their profiles more visble and increase the number of pics they could upload -as well as making them appear first in any profile searches. But at first both paying and non paying members could still message people for free
Then over time they slowly restricted who could message people until ONLY the paying members could make first contact.... once that happened - campuskiss as a site basicly died - the users fled in droves - many of them actully ending up here on pof!
and now - to my horror what do i see but the same thing happening, is this the begining of the end of pof????
the ONLY thing that makes this site great in my mind is the fact that its always been 100% totaly free.
I don't know if anyones raised this point before now - if so forgive me for repeating it
but feel free to talk about this - - i don't feel we should have to pay for whats always been free - esply since the sites owners make money hand over fist with selling add space..... | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 4:04:20 PM | Hi razor,,,,,,,I agree with you wholeheartedly. I think Markus is going to ride on the backs of other paid sites in hopes of making more money then he does already. If you go into your browser and enter .......... www.techvibes.com,,,,,,,,,you'll find all sorts of articles regarding POF. After going through a number of them, I found it interesting at how contradictory Markus was in some of his comments, regarding free versus paid dating sites. For a guy who claims to work out of his apartment, has no staff, etc., etc., did his rent go up by that much?? Me thinks not all is as it is claimed to be. He's hit on something that has obviously drawn loads of attention through usership and now sees the potential to make even more money. Sadly, there are those who will happily pay for him to get even richer, while their online dating ventures remain the same. It's all just smart business.
He claims "serious" suitors will pay. A person is what they are and paying to go on a dating site won't change that. That's already been proven time and time again. Does having a 'gold star' by ones name make them more desirable? More honest? More trustworthy? I think not.
I for one, won't pay a dime for any online dating site, let alone hand out my credit card number to any online business. That's just simply not good business sense. | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 4:21:21 PM | I just love on the top they still boast the "100% free put away your card"
If this turns in to a pay site I'll just simply leave..and go about dateing the old fashion way..by going out and meeting people. I agree with gladragsnsmiles..I won't lend my car number out to any online business. | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 5:08:52 PM | Yes I know of a few different singles sites that all started as free sites.
And one was a voice chat site that use to be called firetalk.
It was good and also 100% free and then 4 years later it became a pay only site and now brags only $39.99 per month for best singles all over the world ! LOL
Yeah right and what turnip truck did they think we singles fell off of ??
Well as for markus's little yellow icon as an upgrade and one you pay for !
All it really does is remove the advertising that appears beside your profile pic.
And I am not paying for advertising to be removed from my profile that I didn't get paid for having put up in the first place.
As for my credit cards theres no online safe site any where to use your credit card on.
And there will never be anything online or singles site I will use a credit card online for.
As for being honestly looking for a long term mate I can not see where this yellow icon is gonna make the women hunt me down any better. But if it makes someone feel better or think its the only way to do then hey its their money and they can spend all they want as long as it is not mine their wasting ! LOL  | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 5:12:11 PM | Of course it will go to pay-only..... it's pretty inevitable.
But then, there will be another free site that will start up and all the fishies will swim over there. But then, we'll all have to put up with the "plentyoffish, yes we are different than the rest of the sites" commercials, starring actors posing as actual users. hee hee...... | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 5:23:53 PM |
there will be another free site that will start up and all the fishies will swim over there
hmmmmmm your on to something..I do have graphic design skills..web formating skills..and too much time on my hands.
note to self...scrap working on the next facebook/myspace and make a dating site | |
|
| |
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 6:47:49 PM | damn..... you know thats actully a really really good idea
lol
so far most of the "serious" users ive seen are people in their 40's and 50's lol hopefully the younger more "in touch with reality" crowd will keep their profiles free and the way its ment to be! | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 8:00:11 PM | "so far most of the "serious" users ive seen are people in their 40's and 50's lol hopefully the younger more "in touch with reality" crowd will keep their profiles free and the way its ment to be! "
Hey, take that back..I'm in my 50's, and you won't find one of them gold stars by my name. 
I can't say that I agree with any of this either, which was clearly stated in my posts from the threads that were shut down when it was decided the debate was over. And I agree, no one is going to get my credit card information online either. The one time I was involved with a pay site was strictly because I got talked into doing that stupid speed dating thing by a friend, which allowed me one month of free time on the dating site (which in fact wasn't really free, because you had to pay for the speed dating). But I did not have to give my credit card information online to do it. I called their toll free number and they told me where to send the money order. But I guess maybe that's the difference with paid sites, and one thinking about going paid......at least the paid site had the staff to handle that kind of thing.
Time will tell where this is headed, and how many will jump on the paying bandwagon. Until then I'll keep swimming in the pond, seriously looking, but no gold star to draw attention to myself.  | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 9:47:39 PM | | I'm 36, didn't upgrade to a paying membership and woke up yesterday to one after checking out the info on the upgrade pg. So technically speaking I didn't jump on the band wagon as i have been on and off this site for 3 years and refuse to pay for membership....just am wondering how it happened to me. | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/11/2009 10:04:05 PM | I already had a few things to say about what I thought of how going to a paysite model wouldn't work . . .
seems they're still pushing it? well . .. if that's the case I'll use this site until it becomes like every other paysite that blocks people from talking if they don't want to pay . . pretty sure I can find something on google. | |
|
| |
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 7:17:25 AM | It really doesn't matter if it turns to a "pay-only" site.
Those that want to pay will just have another site to go to, as if there aren't enough already. What confuses me though is why make it pay now? The economy is bad, less people are going to pay sites, as "internet dating" sites are pretty low on the priority list when times are tight. Either he needs a influx of "quick" cash, or he is planning on selling the site and wants to get all he can before he gets out. Either way I think going to a pay only is a sign of impending doom.
The only thing that gets me is his reason for going to a pay site, he stated that customers wanted it, that they only see a benefit when paying, and that paying indicates seriousness. I'd like to see his data, as it seems to contradict everything he has stated on his blog. | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 7:36:45 AM | | well we have been getting this for free for years... "markus" has been running this for years and not charging us.. but getting $$$ by advertising from other site... i thought we would have to pay for this site sooner but he gave all of us a free ride.. right on markus... now it may turn into a pay site.. no big deal either you pay for it or leave.. just ask your self... would you do a much work as markus does and do it for free?? | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 7:41:24 AM | Well now it's been said, good for you! I think most of us have already been thinking this if not doing it. The power of the consumer is the ultimate factor that will determine how this plays out. But rather than the cut and run approach how about we all try and help him with his objective.
I dont think there is anything wrong with Admin. looking for avenues to generate greater revenue. That said I believe that with some serious brainstorming he or us helping with responsable suggestions should be able to come up with a WIN WIN scenario.
I'm not the tech type so I can't offer much up on that level however I do know enough about business to know that if you are not offering a WIN WIN scenario over the long term the end result is failure.
Something simple just kind of blue skying here, Admin what about some sort of partnering with another company. Maybe something like a free consumer card to members of POF where if they use it at a store or coffee shop, that it will get recorded there and you get a cut on every sale. ( LOL think coffee dates thinkTims or drug stores or cloathing the possabilities are endless) (Buy the way Admin if your reading this and its resonating with you I'm available and would love the challange) Like I say I'm not a tech person but I would think the technology is there to do something like this. | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 7:53:47 AM | | Admin just a few more thoughts on my prevous idea. I know this can work I mean heck Air Miles cards, Optimum cards , Branded credit cards the possabilities are endless and so are the revenues. This will set you apart and if your first out of the gate with this and your already free nobody will be able to "catch us". | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 7:54:53 AM | to add to AFUNLOVINGUY comments, there are many ways to generate income using POF
POF branded visa
POF swag for sale on site
POF could make agreements with some bars/coffee shops etc to host parties and split profits from said parties (though this is hard and time consuming)
There are many ways to generate income.....
POF could go public, then users could also be share holders!
Go public Marcus..... | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 1:21:15 PM | Geesh...the info you miss out on when you've been offline for a couple of months... Is this for real?
or is everyone being set up for something at the end of the month? Marcus does have a sense of humour. I sure hope that's the case.
Failing that, I'm with AppleGeek on this one:
Social protest.
HnH  | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 1:37:01 PM | | I have been talking to a coworker of mine who is also on POF, but doesn't hang out here on the forum. I was telling her what was going on lately. Today she comes into my office and tells me that she received a one year free serious member badge, along with an email informing her of such????? A couple of others here have mentioned that they have received these stars without paying as well. So is this a promo, or is someone determining who is serious and who isn't, and "rewarding" them??? Kinda makes you wonder eh? Hmmmmmmmm. | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 2:20:02 PM | Hmmmmmm wouldnt it be interesting to know just how many have been paid for, I would hazzard a guess not enough to warrant the backlash that it has caused.
Hmmmmmm wouldnt it be interesting to see a thread from all the people who have recieved the one yr. free sticker.
Hmmmmmm further to that wouldn't it be interesting to see the pattern which would evolve as to who had been selected, yes read between the lines think ; age. looks. body type etc. | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 3:32:49 PM |
would you do a much work as markus does and do it for free??
um, i hate to break it to you, but Plenty of Fish has made Markus a millionaire.
and that information is easy enough to find on Google... | |
|
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 4:39:55 PM |
One solution to that is to boycott the "serious" members. And let them know your doing it so they complain to the admin. Social protest.
Already did that, twice. I had two "serious" members message me. Funny both of their profiles stated they are looking for "like minded serious members".
I just told them sorry, I guess I didn't pull out my credit card so I am not serious enough for you. | |
|
| |
| POF starting the long slow slide to a Pay-only site?
Posted: 3/12/2009 7:10:50 PM | you guys might find this interesting - its an artical about pofs creator :-p
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20090101/and-the-money-comes-rolling-in.html
sounds like hes not exactly short for cash lol makes you wonder why go pay then? | |
|
| |
Home
login 
