The current rank of Eharmony compared to others

[Hyperfocal]

So Eharmony was the premium site ~7 years ago. As for me, I'd be interested in about 10 really interesting candidates to pick from (women in their 30's) and that's it. This is contrary to, for example, POF which has hundreds of old and dysfunctional candidates. Anyone used both and care to comment on the current crop at EH compared to Match, or OKC?

What is their profile quality, i.e. I understand Match and OKC, same level of detail? My area is between rural and "small city." i.e. I have 200k people in my dateable region.

 

My fears:

1) pay EH and find that there's nobody of interest within 1/2 hr.

2) Find candidates by the dozen who are free, non payers, and thus do not count (cannot contact, etc.)

 

Thx,

[carhill]

How do the returns on Match look within a 10 mile radius? 20 mile radius?

 

Figure 10% of that for EH. That's generalizing, sure, but rural areas are thin, generally and, unless they're affluent, EH's fees are generally unaffordable. You'd probably have better luck going to a church on Sunday.

[PegNosePete]

I would stick to free sites. As you point out, on paid sites, there are dozens of free non-payers and you'll be wasting a lot of your time writing to them.

 

The site doesn't tell you that the recipient is a "trial user" and can't read your message. In fact it's in the site's interests for you to waste as much of your time as possible writing to trial users, in order to tempt them into paying.

[Lobouspo]

I've met way more people on OKC and POF over the years. I did Eharmony a few years back, and recently have given it another shot, but so far, I've only met one person on there. As mentioned earlier, I hate that on paid sites you are not told who are the trial users are and can't respond. Its like ordering something on Amazon or Ebay but not knowing if the product is available.

[Hyperfocal]

Thanks folks. So on Match, I pay a premium so that I can message the non-payers. My area is a bit rural, but 1/2 of my area is over-educated, wealthy. So EH's fees are not driving people off. Stats' on memberships of sites is elusive, I'd say on POF that 20% of members are active, 80% or inactive, false, photo-less, etc.

Figure 10% of that for EH.

OK.

 

How do the returns on Match look within a 10 mile radius? 20 mile radius?

So in my area, within a 45 minute driving range, Match has 210 candidates (If I factor out smokers only as a dealbreaker). I currently find ~3 that are of interest. My limitation includes, I don't want to make children, I am attractive and expect same, I prefer "IN**" mysers briggs personalities; their profiles speak for themselves, few people are that set. So yea, I like 3 out of 210; that's 1.4%

 

there are dozens of free non-payers and you'll be wasting a lot of your time writing to them.

True, the sad thing is, some are false profiles for browsing purposes only (I did that during my separation, he he!). So they trump up their stats of having millions, to me a profile is valid if it has been visited within one week, the person has sent at least one message... that is a smaller group.

 

Different topic, I recently tried Tinder, wow. so many top level candidates, that it made me feel that Tinder may be stuffing their ranks with false profiles?!? Soo many. I do not like the short data/hookup approach of Tinder, just found it to be loaded with women.

[carhill]

I'd compare the subscription prices between Match and EH as the next relevant factor.

 

Are you talking 45 minutes round trip or one way? I can get into the next county and then some in 45 minutes, also being rural, like 45-50 miles. That's a long ways to drive. How do I know? I met my exW on OLD ages ago and it was 120 miles roundtrip to her place, essentially an hour each way. Unless you like driving, I'd rethink the 45 minute thing if that's one way.

 

TBH, if I was doing OLD these days, having gone through the transition of Yahoo to Match when my exW and I split up and I tried OLD then, I'd use Match. Your demographic may better support EH, IDK. Women around here, especially those who can afford EH, generally don't need OLD anyway. YMMV on that.

 

Arguments can certainly be made for the free sites and I wouldn't discount them. I tend to look at it as levels relevant to the investment matrix one is willing to throw at the mating issue. If you have a lot of time and little money, try free first. If you have a lot of money and time is short, try EH first, or a matchmaking service. Somewhere in the middle, a mix of free and lower cost paid. Unfortunately, there likely isn't a mathematical equation which can guarantee results in line with one's desires. It's a crap shoot, generally, kinda like life.