Should You Really Pay to Date Online?

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 Let me start by saying no matter what online dating site you choose; Never Ever Ever go to anyones house or meet them in a remote area where you can't be seen or heard. I say this because there are some real live predators out there so please be safe and smart!

So I decided to get back into the modern way of dating and sign up with an online dating site. In the past, this always seemed to be a bit more convenient and it allows you to weed out all the jerks easier and at your leisure. But the site I joined is called Plenty of Fish plentyoffish.com/ and I didn't have to pay one penny because joining is 100% free. They do have an upgraded version you have to pay for if you plan to upgrade but the basic membership still puts you right in touch with potential matches and once again, it's free. I mean when you really think about it, why should you be paying to date? Do you pay to use the rest room? Did you pay to wake up this morning? Do you pay to lay down in your bed at night? The answer is probably no so I have to ask, Why Pay To "Hopefully" Meet Someone Online? Key word hopefully! I mean people are everywhere all over this world and each time you go outside your house, or apartment or even hotel room; you're bound to meet someone whether you're looking to or not. If you did by chance meet someone while you happen to be out running errands, would you pay to exchange numbers with him or her? I sure hope not.

I did a little research on a few paid dating sites such as E-Harmony eharmony.com/ and Match.com match.com/ who both pretty much guarantee to help you find love for a small fee of-coarse if a few hundred bucks a year in a struggling economy is considered small. Well anyway I signed up for Plenty of Fish plentyoffish.com/  and what I noticed was I have a choice on who I choose to get to know further and who I don't. The paid sites make it appear as if they screen and assure no jerks or boneheads are signing up and that the folks on there are really compatible with you. My question is, who's at home or in the office watching the people sign up on the paid dating sites? Just because someone paid doesn't mean they aren't a jerk or a moron, they just may be a jerk or a moron with a little extra money. What's stopping anyone from lying online to get past the gate keepers? Absolutely nothing! Which brings me back to my point; should you really pay to date and hope for true love? I'd rather go through a few profiles and get a few emails from strangers for free than to pay to pretty much do the same thing; go through a few profiles and get a few emails from strangers. 

Now I'm not trying to bash paid dating sites to each its own, but I would like to share a few complaints that I found about these paid dating sites I mentioned.  See for yourself, Please excuse any poor grammar or spelling as I quoted these just as they were posted on complaintsboard.com/

           E-Harmony

I was an on and off eHarmony user for several years. During that time I have not been on one single date with any person. Match after match led nowhere, the worst were the few that passed all the communication phases and before exchanging phone numbers, all of a sudden they decide to take a break from dating? Huh? Online dating was supposed to revolutionize the singles scene and making dating 'easier, ' but in fact all it's done is make consumers wallets lighter. The problem with online dating services is that people don't seem to take it seriously enough to go past the initial communication/flirting stage and onto actual physical meeting. In that respect eHarmony is not unique. However, I do find fault with the way eHarmony seems to flood the airwaves and commercial spaces with this rosy picture of couple after couple that met, fell in love, and married through eHarmony. Not to mention the high rates they charge for their services. I also have several friends that have used eHarmony and none of them found success. I'd say successful couples that met through eHarmony are the exception and not the rule. Just my 2 cents. ( complaintsboard.com/complaints )

          E-Harmony

Met a girl here in 08. we married and i was scamed. divoice pending. you need to select clients and screen more carefully...girl is from del rio. texas. entire family crooks as well. i will never use eharmoney again. thanks for the memories.. (complaintsboard.com/complaints)

           Match.com

I recently joinned match .com was contacted be a women i liked started communicating with her then she asked me for money to help her injerd daughter in nigeria she ended up hacking my pay pal my checking and my face book i called match .com they said they would investigate they took the profile down twice since then i found the women with two differnt profiles from two diffent states along with several other profiles with the same pictures and all differnt places i even found a known pornstar by the name wifey with a profile match .com is a crooked business and should be investigated and shut down by the law enforcement people i have a good mind to file a complaint with my local district atttorney this is the person (complaintsboard.com/complaints/matchcom)

          Match.com

 I joined match.com to find my last true love, i joined for 6months, with a 6mo guarantee. After my 6months where up, i didn't get my 6mo free, i followed all there rules, i notified them of the problem, i even wrote the president of match.com, still they have not kept there word, my advice to people thinking of joining match.com is find a site that keeps there word & has customer service people that take care of the customer. I think match.com is running a racket! Don't join!

I found a few complaints about Plenty of Fish but not from me, why would I complain? That's just like getting a free coffee from Starbucks and complaining to the manager that's it was not what you expected! IT WAS FREE!! The choice is yours but in my opinion it just does not make sense to spend your hard earned money to pay in hopes of meeting that special someone. While I'm sure jerks exist everywhere online and offline; it feels good knowing you don't have to pay to be bothered with them. I'd like your opinion; should you pay to date?

Thanks for stopping by

Sincerely: Tinzley B