As the headline of a "Boston Globe" article stated "Online services don't always add up…Flawed screening, fraud, abuse on personals sites can leave negative impression." (See "Boston Globe, Living Arts" section, October 7, 2002)
The article presented a litany of complaints and flaws related to internet dating services. Here at LunchDates we were not surprised, as we have heard many stories of deception by people who have used the internet and the personals. Here are two t true examples:
Explaining why she had decided to join LunchDates, a professional woman recounted that two of her best friends were "doing" the internet personals. One of her friends had lied about her age by five years, while the other, who was divorced, had stated in her ad that she had never been married. "If two of my best friends are lying, I can just imagine what the men are saying," the exasperated woman stated.
A divorced woman with two children contacted LunchDates. She mentioned in an off-hand comment that she knew her ex-husband (and the father of her children) was meeting women through the internet, and that in his ad he had stated that he never had been married!
At LunchDates we meet and interview every member in person. We check each person's identification and make sure every member signs a contract, which stipulates that "if any information is found to be false, membership may be terminated…without any refund."
As with any type of "personal ads," people tend to exaggerate who they are on an internet dating service. (Both men and women are known to use photos that are 10 years old.) One TV "sitcom" joked "everyone marks themselves up by 40% in personal ads." Since we screen everyone in person, everyone must show us a driver's license or birth certificate. We stand by our matches by "guaranteeing the quality of every date."
At LunchDates you have the opportunity to discuss your dates with a counselor, so you can "fine tune" your dating criteria. Therefore, every date is not a separate "flip of the coin." The more people you meet at LunchDates, the more feedback you give a counselor, the better we get to know you and the type of person you are seeking. Ultimately, the chances of you "clicking" with someone are far improved at LunchDates.
There is a perception that dating services charge far more than the internet personals. That may be true for the "franchised" dating service, but LunchDates prices are MUCH more reasonable. By the time you add up all the peripheral costs of internet dating services, the cost of joining LunchDates is not that much more expensive.
Moreover, that price difference may actually be beneficial, as it screens out people who are just "fooling around" on the internet, including people already in relationships, who just want to "check out" who else might be available. A vast majority of LunchDates members are looking for a serious relationship. And over 90% are educated professionals.
There is a good balance between men and women at LunchDates. Overall, there are slightly more women than men (because of our emphasis on safety and confidentiality).