When we were doing our research for our new book FAST FOOD DATING YOUR 2 CENTS we examined all of the different types of dating services and venues people were using. In the end, professionally facilitated services tended to provide the best bang for your buck and time. Our findings showed people looking for dating and romance who used fee per service venues were the most “satisfied”. For all intents and purposes fee per service dating services are not to be confused with “pay for play” services offered by sex trade workers. From what some people told us, you would swear some of the dating services could have been mistaken for brothels with Guido the Pimp as match making consultant.
The people we spoke with and interviewed often stated the reason they used paid dating services was time, quality and fate. Many were professionals in highly demanding careers with little time to get out and meet. Most of these people frowned on office romances. Basically, they didn’t believe in crapping where they ate! Since many of the people using these dating services were professionals or had good careers they pool to draw from possessed many of the same socioeconomic qualities and goals. Note: Many of these dating services were expensive so you basically needed a good paying job to afford it. I often wondered the longer members stayed that if they actually started working overtime or taking a second job just to be a member of this dating service. No one did ever tell us if a hot towel came with the initial in-take meeting!
Perhaps the number one reason people paid for these dating services was they decided to make their own fate. They were tired of waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right and decided to grab the proverbial bull by the horns and yank! Many had grown tired of the hamburger helper they were finding in bars and decided they wanted grade A prime rib. Some thought the longer they waited, life was passing them by and so were the chances to meet someone of quality. Youth was still in their headlights and they wanted to act before they became beef jerky!
Even though many of the high profile dating services are expensive, people say they work. Even if they meet someone and become friends, it has still given them a new quality friend. Sure, many claimed they paid more than they anticipated for the service, but in the end most said they didn’t regret it. As with all of the services we looked at, we made both TOP 10 good and bad lists for using paid dating/introduction services. Here is our TOP 10 good reasons for using these services:
1) The person you are introduced too is an actual live, real person. And best of all, they’ve actually been seen by someone else who can give an eyewitness account of their size, shape, height, weight, IQ and… pulse! Sorry folks, if you are into rubber dolls, fetishes and partialism then dating services are definitely not for you!
2) The person is usually close to you in proximity. Your date doesn’t have to become a challenging game of “where’s Waldo” nor do you have to call Miss Marple to try and find your date. You can usually use a local map or navigation rather than using a compass or pilot to try and locate your potential love.
3) Since you are paying, you will get the catch of the day, cream of the crop or grade A prime depending on whether you are a carnivore, vegetarian or vegan. You wanted the best. You paid for the best. Hopefully, you will get the best!
4) You are set-up through an impartial person called a moderator/agent. What’s great about this is before hand, this person is not a best friend sending you out on a blind date which you will hate them for, nor are they a pimp called No Neck Louie who will break your legs if you disrespect their girls! However, if you should fall in love, get married and then become miserable, this same moderator who brought you together is useless. At this point, you will require a mediator otherwise known as a lawyer. Please refer to self-help books on separation or divorce!
5) You get to feel special/important whenever your dating service agent calls you. Hey, you kind of feel like an athlete or actor getting a gig. You get paged or messaged whenever a potential mate is found for you. Your friends might start thinking, “Hey, you’re important! Are you a secret agent by chance?”
6) The service is great because it’s safe and discrete. Today, it seems background checks are done on potential daters. Gee, these services provide better security checks than airports and government background checks! You can expect to meet someone who is “normal” and hopefully not psychotic. They wouldn’t tell us, but do dating services actually use an MMPI test?
7) Some dating services actually use psychologists and counselors as part of their screening processes. Hey, this is great! Our concern though, once you’ve screened out all the “crazies”, how many potential dating clients does that actually leave you with? Does it take more than two hands to count them all once you eliminate the; OCD’s, manics, borderlines, addicts, anxious, compulsive eaters, etc. Hey, isn’t this why dating services were created in the first place, for people like us?
8) They’re cost effective. The time you spend surfing the web for dates, bar hopping, being a lounge lizard, writing classifieds can be time spent making money or indulging in your favorite activities or hobbies. Well, if these fore-mentioned activities are things you love doing, then we apologize! They are great activities, who are we to judge!
9) Catalogue shopping has never become so easy. Yes, home shopping on television and Internet has sort of lessened the excitement of going out and shopping through traditional means such as stores and catalogues. Dating services still provide the excitement, anticipation and fun of ordering your own customized mate! All dates are to your specs! Can car manufacturers give you color, style, air and premium packages like this? And do these cars come equipped with intelligence and emotional testing? We think not!
10) You are always guaranteed to have a date. Even if you go through the whole catalogue once, twice or thrice, you can alter your criteria, lower your standards or use recycled dating. You never have to be home alone on a Friday night or a long weekend! Excitement of some sort is always a phone call away and a few bucks out of your pocket book!
There you have it, 10 good reasons to try introduction/dating services. If you can get past the membership fees without blushing or flinching, then you are half the way there. Now it’s up to you make it through that first date without blushing!
|