After receiving 50+ email alerts, I broke down and signed up for Singlesnet so I could email people and see how the system works for paid users. It’s arguably the dating site with the most traffic and I wanted to evaluate the experience and see what types of people use the site.
In short, Singlesnet has figured out a way to drive an incredible amount of traffic to a site which for the life of me that I can’t imagine anyone more serious than newbie casual daters actually using.
Let’s take a look at what’s wrong with Singlesnet.
We start with the first-of-its-kind dynamic registration process. Next, we feed your information into our sophisticated compatibility matching technology identifying traits and similarities to find your true love.
This means there is no search capability except for screen name or zip code. Based on the information gathered about members, there really isn’t much for their system to search on.
When I try to email anyone the system says my message is empty and won’t send it. It turns out the emails area actually being sent, which means people are sending multiple emails, thinking that maybe the next one will go through.
I’ve sent a dozen emails and my “Send email” remains empty.
Why is it called “My email” when the communication center contains email, flirts and “match notifications.”
Overall profile quality is low. I’d give it a 3 out of 10. They couldn’t have made it more difficult to understand what the other person wants and if you are a match.
Deleting one or more messages in the main message are displays the text “The selected message(s) have been removed, this may take a short period of time to update your inbox.” Clicking “ok” displays the profile you just deleted. Huh?
Deleting a message while reading the message is just painful, reloading the main messages window along the way.
Match clearly has the best messaging system in the business. It couldn’t be any easier to get an immediate snapshot of who you’re talking to, have added to you favorites list, has winked at you, etc. I wish more sites would learn from their design.
I’m not sure there is a user experience designer at Singlesnet. Did anyone who is not a developer ever look at the site? Looks like user testing didn’t make it into the budget.
What is a “One to one match notification?” What are we matching on? There is so little information captured in profiles, no wonder the only search option is zip code.
The Help section doesn’t come close to providing any value past logging in.
Photos display in improperly-sized pop-up windows powered by javascript. Why is there even a pop-up window? To increase pageviews?
“There are 15 members in your area that we think are interested in you.” Can they be more ambiguous? Is this different from match notifications? How does Singlesnet “think” people are interested in me? What is this assumption based on? Again, back to the paltry amount of information in profiles to base level of interest.
Someone is interested in me. “You can respond back to the user by flirting (for free) or upgrading to a featured member to send patty156 an email.” I’m a paying member, why am I seeing this and why can’t I send a message?
Finally, it appears that 100% of the emails I’ve received have been from scammers.
What Works
About the only thing that works on the site is the credit card processor. They have their priorities straight.
Summary
If my seat of the pants analysis is in any way indicative of the quality of the site, the Singlesnet motto should be, “Where singles remain single.” I’m being harsh because the company is doing such a disservice to its members. They have absolutely no idea what they are doing, instead focusing on driving a lot of traffic to the site and making as much money as they can. That’s capitalism, but it still smacks of inauthenticity and I hate to see people being taken advantage of.
The site will not rank in the top 10 for much longer, save your effort and money and join a site that works that is focused on providing a high-quality experience and members.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Glad you did this review, Dave. What’s funny is that I would never recommend this site in a million years for the reasons you explained above. By the same token, one 62 year old woman client who was being ignored on Match signed up on SinglesNet and is now inundated with dates. Maybe because it’s simpler/cheaper, the older set is more likely to utilize it.
Dave,
Yeah I check it out a while back too. Pretty much the wost paid dating site I have ever seen. It’s about on par with plentyoffish, and as everyone knows even though plentyoffish is terrible it’s free. We’re launching the new site (collaboradate is now going to be called something new), and it’s accompanying facebook and opensocial apps in January of next year, I think we hit a home run with this one. Stay tuned…
Looks like singlesnet’s parent company has been violating an FTC settlement:
http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/zango/zango/index.php
Ain’t no way this site is trustworthy.
What do you think of http://www.pluscupid.com?
I’m Glad you did this review, Singlesnet.com is the worst dating in the world!
yes the site is lame but it must depend on were you live………. the zip code I used when I sighed up didn’t get much attention but I moved changed my zip in feb. and I have been on one date after the other but all the points you made are true the spam is getting real bad lately I called singlesnet and they said there working on it big lie but the site work for me
Yes, Singlesnet has the worst matching system, if you can even call it that. However, if you make the effort to actually write a good description and post some pics, it can work. And it is one of the cheaper pay sites, but still not worth it.
The best dating site I’ve seen that is FREE is okcupid.com.
As anybody been approached by women from russia?
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Thanks for this review Dave. Singlesnet is certainly very hit & miss & obviously has no matching algorithm except for zip codes & serendipity. They let the whole industry down with their lack of integrity & transparency on their website. I did a review of their lack of relationship assessments @ http://www.astramatch.com/blog
Pemo Theodore AstraMatch
This review is dead on. My experience thus far is every woman I meet is in Africa or headed there. They all want money to return or to have something shipped back – it’s usually a large sum. I haven’t sent anything – not that dumb yet. Also, they are in love with me and dream about me without ever seeing a photo. I must me magic :)
I want to get off this sight now or I will contact someone higher up.
All I have to say about this company is that it is unethical…..the owner, a cheap “entrepreneur” recently laid off his complete U.S & CANADA staff to out source all of the employment to India, for CHEAP LABOR. So if you think you’re going to get good ” quality customer service” think again about who you’re giving your money to. They can’t even do the job right to begin with, and were pretty much depending on the N. American staff to assist them the whole time. I wouldn’t be surprised if you lose out on money, or when you call for assistance, can’t even comprehend who is trying to help you. Not to mention that if the OWNER who goes by “QUINN” would ask employees for either their opinions, or thoughts, HE WOULD EITHER THREATEN THEIR JOB, or, in worst case scenario, FIRE THEM, if they didn’t comply with what he intends to do! Wish I was joking. The field of business that is NOT affected by the economy are dating website! So why the cheap labor, when you rack MILLIONS to YOURSELF every year.
So you worked there and you’re upset or am I missing something?
I am not saying its a good thing to layoff your staff and outsource you business but it seem to be the trend in the whole of Western economy, they all meet with varying degree of success, some are complete failure and they end up bringing their development back to where it was before being outsourced.
Singlesnet seems to be a scam , all the e-mails i have gotten dont seem to respond when you mail them back , so what are they doing ? seems if I view a profile that person seems to have just viewed mine and sent a flirt or e-mail , agian after that nothing .
I don’t wanting any more
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