Seven Things to keep in Mind When Joining a Matchmaking Service

There are good and bad matchmaking services. Your time and money are precious, so ask questions before you sign up with a service. Don’t be afraid to visit more than one until you find a service that feels right for you. Some things to check out are:

Compare prices. Both dating and matchmaking services can be quite expensive, but there are services to fit every budget. You can be sure if a company refuses to discuss price over the phone, it will be costly, usually in the thousands. Be careful and be sure to comparison shop. A benefit of choosing a fee-based service is that it may screen out people who are not serious about finding a long-term relationship. In other words, if they are willing to pay, they are more likely to be truly looking for a soul mate. In some cities, there are matchmaking services that do not charge the ladies as long as they meet certain criteria. Usually these services require that the woman look like a model.

Make sure that they have members in your part of town. Many services insist that members meet potential matches in other counties, cities, states or even countries. Most people do not want a long-distance relationship.

Don’t feel pressured by aggressive salespeople. Matchmaking and dating services are businesses. They want your patronage. Don’t let them talk you into joining before they have answered all of your questions satisfactorily. And don’t let yourself be conned by a salesperson saying that the price is only good if you join right now. That is a sales tactic.

Ask how long they have been in business and what their track record is. Ask for testimonials from satisfied customers. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been complaints filed against them.

If you do join, read your contract. Know what you are getting yourself into. Most people don’t even know what they have signed.

Make sure that you feel comfortable with your matchmaker. If you don’t feel he or she is really listening to your needs, don’t hesitate to ask to work with another person. Sometimes another personality will be a better fit for you.

Realize that the service can only match you to people they have in their database. Most places don’t go out and do special searches for the right partner. They work with people who have come in and joined. You can tell them exactly what you are looking for, but if they don’t have it, they don’t have it. Also, you will never really know how many members they have, because most services exaggerate that aspect. So if you are too specific—for example, you want a Brad Pitt look-a-like, over six feet tall, who makes a million a year, never married, no kids, wants kids, speaks French, loves teacup poodles, and can cook—well, good luck!

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