A gentleman sent me his personal review of Chemistry.com. Reviews of dating sites tend to me somewhat negative, and this one contains it’s share of barbs, but it is much more detailed than most reviews. Some very astute observations here. He had me at his mention of Jacob Neilsen.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
What an excellent review! Someone should find the home addresses of the entire Chemistry executive team and tape copies of it to their windows.
Nice to know that I’m not the only one out there who thinks that Chemistry is a rip-off… :)
I personally think it’s more than a rip-off – it’s verging on an outright scam IMHO.
I would bet money that the majority of the profiles on there are Match users that “automatically” get signed up for Chemistry, but are not active/paying members.
Major hint of this: The profiles that say “my subscription has lapsed so please wink at me because I can’t read e-mails” = carbon copy of their Match profile, which is in all likelihood out of date too!
In general, though, you have no way of knowing who is a paying member when they present your matches to you, so you more than likely end up paying to “contact” some one who isn’t a paying member (chances of response in this scenario – NOT good). And then the fact that you have paid (expressed interest in this person) is used to hook them into paying to “contact” you (assuming they are interested).
I would say that more than half the people on Chemistry have been on Match or are still on Match – so why pay $50 per month for a bunch of Match retreads?
I still do like Chemistry’s concept of matching on personality attributes/tests – which is why I did sign up for it originally – but since discovering OKCupid (which is free!) I don’t see myself ever, ever returning to Chemistry.
Was subject to an untwated billing renewal after I discontinued the service and they would only give half my money back. I will never use this dating site again.
Good security initially. Average in all otherways. VERY expensive for what you get compared to similar services.
Got lots of matches at first, but then figured out most of those matches were old and/or deactive. Once I started getting matches they were the same people I saw on the local free dating pages.
File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I got my money back that way.
I agree with all of the above, and had a similar experience re: the auto renewal EXCEPT they wouldn’t refund any of my money. Reputable companies give clients a warning before the auto renewal kicks in so they can opt in or out. Chemistry.com doesn’t. I would never do business again with this company (and am suspicious of any affiliates).
I’m glad others think the Chemistry matching service is terrible. I have sent dozens of e-mails to their customer service asking how to do something that should be obvious. It is the most UNintuitive website I’ve ever come across. And nothing seems to work as it should. It just does not make any sense! And their customer service responses are almost always unclear. Sometimes I have to ask a question 3 or 4 times before I get a straight answer. One big problem is that the various features on the site often do not work as they are supposed to. But I don’t find out till later that it was a flaw on the website and not my own incompetence. (Now I know better!) I told their customer service that I think they should refund all members their money until they improve their website functioning! They are awful!!
I have just discontinued chemistry.com today, as I am not satisfied with the matches provided (and general lack of navigability of the site). I sure hope that I do not get mired in the “auto-renewal” nightmare, although the customer care person I spoke to today (in Nicaragua) said that he would turn that off AND refund the remainder on the account. Plus, I sent an email stating similar reasons for discontinuing my membership.
I too agree that it is overpriced for what the site features. At least with some other web sites one can see the pool of available matches and freely move around in that regard. Chemistry.com is a very inflexible overpriced web site compared to most.
The company is located out of Dallas, TX, so any problems with refunds, I guess one would need to refer complaints to the state attorney general in Texas and the Better Business Bureau in Dallas, TX.
I am really starting to be grateful that I have not sent Chemistry money.
These people are such crooks that they send you an email from a guy and then ten minutes later tell you he is no longer available. Oh please!
And if you contact them you get a stupid form letter that either ignores the question or tried to cover up the fact that no legitimate company would conduct matching in this manner.
They must think that singles are really stupid.
I hate that some of these guys will think that I’m the total loser because I never get back to them, when it’s Chemistry that’s the real jerk!
Hopeless and rip off. First of this site is owned by Match.com thus if you cancel with them don’t move to the next trap. Seems they operate under various names to maximize the number of customers they can scam. You have to cancel otherwise you are billed again. No refund available, you never make their 3 day dateline as you can only cancel via postal mail.
E-mail system doesn’t work well either and more than 80% of their matches are likely inactive. Save your money, go into a nice coffee shop and talk to a real person the likelihood to meet someone who likes is very real there.
It is a rip off and here is why:I’m very disappointed when talking to Chemistry regarding this sight. I have been provided with matches from people that are not even members and matches from people that don’t have photos either, mostly these are probably from people that have not yet signed up. When questioning Chemistry about this, they beat around the bush trying not to provide a truthful answer and this is unethical and the practice of the aforementioned is a poor business provision in attempt for them to keep and make more money, how disheartening to know that a company is based on the almighty dollar and not the welfare and benefit for their users. Imagine, an actual Dr. has the audacity to be associated with this, I guess the hypocritical oath doesn’t apply here!
I am highly sorry for everything about chemistry, i have been working on a project for how singles can meet and be very well secured without losing there money and i have got it out, Kindly join my community and like my page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/CherieCheriMeetcom/150007365111780
BEWARE….FEELS LIKE A SCAM….After being given a complimentary week and having to give up my credit card information, with assurances if I cancelled on the 7th day, I would not be charged…well gues what? I was charged inspite of the fact that I was sent a confirmation of my resignation with a confirmation number. My account was no longer active. When I called Chemistry to complain the person on the phone who was difficult to understand, wanted to charge me for a month and then cancel my membership. He said it did not look like I had resigned at all. Finally a supervisor agreed to to refund my money but I will have to wait 3-5 days to get it back.
As far as the matches…seems like there are some questionable people who I was matched with. Think they may have been writing from Russia or another country. And there were several of these types. In summary, I found Chemistry’s business practices to be sleazy.
It’s easy. File a complaint online with the Better Business Bureau and you will get your money back asap.
Match Com, L P Corporate Office | Headquarters
8300 Douglas Ave.,Ste. 800 Dallas, TX 75225
(214)576-9352
I never had any of these problems, and met my, now, wife on Chemistry.
Sent 100 messages but i got 3 only.
Chemistry isn’t working. I checked no kids but they found someone who has kids.
If i were you, i’m not gonna spend money here.
Fortunately, I spent 49 for 3mons by promotion.
Trust me, chemistry doesn’t work as you think. Joining is wasting time.
I thank you for taking the time to post this. I joined Chemistry.com three weeks ago and am frustrated to the point of screaming with how bad the program works. I have reported twice that I am getting no feedback from any potential matches. Both times the bored rep told me to post more pictures of myself to encourage responses. So I did- still no responses. The program is defective. It can’t be that 50 guys all thought I was not their type. Plus, even the ones they matched me with did not write back.
I was feeling like I was too old or something was wrong with me, but it is nice to know it is Chemistry. com that is screwed up so badly!
Chemistry.com is the biggest rip-off I’ve come across. They don’t follow any of your matching criteria (i.e., distance, age, appearance), constantly send you profiles with no photos and the site is difficult to navigate. STAY AWAY!
I have been a member of 2 other sites and had great response. But this has got to be the worse site. Same matches sence I joined and absolutely no response at all. I am very disappointed and would not advise anyone to join Chemistry.com It is a total ripoff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chemistry.com is a scam, a waste of money and a waste of time! I would say that over 90% of the people that they present to you are not active/paying members and therefore they cannot answer your mail. As a matter of fact the company is trying to use your mail as bait to have some of those people pay their dues. Only the stupid ones do that. They also make one “jump through hoops” to make it look as though they individually match you. Nothing further from the truth, a dart thrown on a list would do better. They seem to be owned by Match.com who is trying a new way to dip into your pocket.
Hey Guy’s sounds bad and I just joined how do I get out before I get ripped off I only did one month should have did more research shame on me!!!!!
Thanks Carl ( is there a good & fair site or are they all just scam’s)
have been working on a project for how singles can meet and be very well secured without losing there money and i have got it out, with this i have now open a community that will lead to a my new dating site, Kindly join my community and like my page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/CherieCheriMeetcom/150007365111780
HI, I agree with these comments. I complained several months ago in no uncertain terms, got my money back and they still send me matches ‘if I would sign up again”.
Most folks were not current members. Very discouraging and the staff try to tell you it is your fault. Post more pictures, change your search area, etc.
Susan
chemistry.com is the worst website every. i live in montreal and they keep sending me matches from NYC. when i cimplaint, they said that they don’t take distance into account. when i asked money back, they did not reply.
I also agree with these comments. They r a rip off. I was on March.com. for 3 months, had 2 dates, they were both Bi. They did not say that in their profiles tho. Those were the only dates I had. Im very picky. I did get alot of guys trying to scam me and sending me a computer viris. All the dating sites r the same. The commericals r paid people, not even on the dating sites. SCAMS.
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