Professional Matchmaker

Avatar for calilawgirl
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Professional Matchmaker
7
Wed, 03-09-2005 - 7:36pm

Hello all:

I was wondering if anyone has heard anything good or bad about professional matchmakers? Since there are only a handful of new guys (in my area) on jdate, I have been toying with the idea of hiring a professional matchmaker to find me a match. I'm still going to go back to OLD, but I thought I might up my chances for success by going another route.

It's not anything I'm planning on doing right away. But I was just curious what other people's thoughts were on this.

Thanks :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2003
Wed, 03-09-2005 - 7:42pm

I have an old friend (she disappeared when she met some guy off match that was cheating on her with his ex in England)....

She tried The Orly and Millionaires Club – both scams! They’d send her on dates with guys that were $doing well financially but looking for good time gals if you know what I mean, it was a joke. Patty at M Club would say that Orly’s gals were whores and Orly would say that about her. It was all a joke. She didn’t pay anything but the guys did. My good friend in Chicago worked for one that was featured on Oprah but it’s a joke too. My friend would get her clientele off match and jdate parties – put them on dates with people they wouldn’t be interested in. If you’re going for free cuz your cute you won’t have a choice in the matter, you’ll be doing filler dates for the men who aren’t ever going to be in a relationship. You’d be better off on your own, anyone who claims they have 50% marriages or more are LYING ... .it’s all a scam! They are like hustlers for people, they don’t do back ground checks and could care less about what you’re looking for!

Avatar Image"The Small Peanu
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-02-2004
Wed, 03-09-2005 - 7:45pm
Yikes...scary...I thought about a matchmaking service for about a minute, but then figured I could take a nice vacation with the money I'd spend on the service...
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2003
Wed, 03-09-2005 - 7:56pm
My friend in Chicago; same gal that worked for that service. Her parents paid for a Yenta (sp?) some famous Jewish matchmaker who worked out of her home. She sent her on three dates; they were all George Kostanza types, men who were NOT attractive, not confident and will probably be single the rest of their lives. It was her parent’s money and she demanded the Yenta refund her parents! The matchmaker she worked for was the same thing; they’d have these really unattractive guys expecting Barbie doll dates and they were so delusional they truly believed they deserved and would get it! Same with the ladies, some women over a certain age that had dillusional expectations and her boss promised to fill but could NEVER deliver.
Avatar Image"The Small Peanu
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2004
Wed, 03-09-2005 - 8:03pm

There is a gal in my area who used to run a speed dating deal. She moved out of that and started doing her own professional matchmaking service; you could sign up for free but if you wanted to get potential dates you had to pay. (For free, she might match a client up with you, but I suspect you would be towards the bottom of the barrel of her suggestions to the clients.)

I have heard of and read about some professional matchmakers that do have some success, but to be honest I'm not sure how much they might offer someone in your boat. There's a couple of reasons.

First of all is the religious aspect. If I remember correctly, you're pretty set on finding a guy who shares your religion. That's cool, but what it means is that the # of potential matches are much more limited than someone who's willing to take any (or no) religion.

The other thing is that the professional matchmakers seem to be located and serve primarily densely populated urban areas. In a spread-out culture like SoCal, I don't know how successful they'd be. Then again, I'm not THAT familiar with that area; maybe there are several of them.

I do think you have a way to counteract the first problem. Go to church- excuse me, synagogue! :) If you want to find an observant, religious guy, you gotta go where you know you'll find them.

That's the good thing about it if you have a limited group you're interested in... the same limitation might make it easier to search for them, because they're concentrated in a given area.

Anyway, as far as matchmakers go, personally I don't know what all they could offer that I am unwilling to do for myself. But then again, if I had the dough laying around, I might give one a try, so maybe it's not a bad idea for you.

One thing about a service that runs considerably more than OLD- you know that the other people in the service are going to be considerably more serious about finding someone. I would bet that the percentage of guys who're just looking for some nooky is much lower in a professional MM service than via OLD.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2003
Wed, 03-09-2005 - 8:08pm

Here’s just one law suit the Orly has:

http://www.reportorlymatchmaker.com/

Avatar Image"The Small Peanu
Avatar for calilawgirl
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Sat, 03-12-2005 - 2:56am

I have been to synagogue. Unfortunately, everytime I go all the single men are about 85. Just a tad outside of my age range. :)

Also, I'm looking for someone who shares my same tradition and heritage. While I celebrate the holidays and attend services sometimes, I'm not overly observant so I'm looking to the same in a partner.

Avatar for calilawgirl
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2003
Sat, 03-12-2005 - 2:57am

Thanks for posting that link peanut.

I read the complaint. I had no idea it was such a big scam.

I might have to rethink this plan. :)