Choosing an Agency

[ECOCKS]

What factors do you consider before listing a profile and/or actually purchasing membership?

[BillyB]

I've never used an agency but if I did, I would choose reputation and credibility. Even if the girls in the agency are winners, what good is it if the agency puts up all kinds of communication barriers? I won't fly to the FSU to visit a stranger. That's just me. The truth is beatiful women in photos is what attracts the most customers.

[DaveY]

I always like reading about the success stories an agency has had. Not testimonials, but stories that include a picture of the successful couples. If the picture shows a huge age gap or "out of my league" gap, I'll tend to think that the agency is not all that credible.

[XMan]

This is what convinced me:

1) Photos of success stories (3, 5, 8 years of marriage).
2) Photos of success stories including children. 
3) E-mail / phone contacts of references I corresponded with and spoke with (some successful, some who were unsuccessful).
4) In this case, many years of experience in "the business." 
5) Up front about charges.  It was not Walmart.  It was high-end service. 
6) Personal attention. 
7) Honest feedback when I requested it, and sometimes when I didn't.
Forwarding new, potentially interesting profiles that might match up with me.
9) Services such as flower delivery at non-gouge prices.  Half (or less) the cost of ASAP or the multitude of other florists that service the FSU (I've used 3 different ones and paid more than double). 
10) "Real" photos, although some ladies choose to have their own pro photos made as well.

I have not found another agency like this.  They may certainly exist, I just never came across them. 
I have no clue if I will, in the end, be successful.  But things went well enough that we are in close, daily, direct contact now, and we plan to meet again.  The agency offered to assist if needed, or to bow out. 
This met my needs.  The needs of others may be wildly different than mine, of course.

[ECOCKS]

Sounds like a solid, results-oriented agency, congrats on finding them.

[Seeker]

What factors do you consider before listing a profile and/or actually purchasing membership?

Just curious... why do you ask?

[ECOCKS]

Doing research on what factors motivate guys to "sign up" with agencies.

[facetrock]

 I think we as westerners expect one thing. Western style service and honesty when buying a product. We all here know what that is  so I wont bore you with a long winded explanation.  In the FSU western service is still a new concept but is slowly becoming the norm there too.

[Shadow]

That they comply with the Agency Code Of Ethics.

Success stories are nice if the agency is in the business for some time. If they just opened, they might be fake. Anyone can put up a success story with a nice picture.

[Faux Pas]

When I started in the initial stage I went with the catalog of women as the sole reason. Later after discovering they were a 5 dollar letter mill and actually finding a really good agency (ironically enough is no longer in business) I figured there were better ways. For the poll I selected "other" because knowing what I know now, I would seek out and go with agencies that allow and encourage unencumbered direct contact with the women. 

[kievstar]

In order to get the best results out of an agency you really need to build a personal relationship with the agency office manager and the workers in the agency. Do not have to build a relationship with the owner.  Owners are clueless on the women as there not into the details. 

The reason with the workers and office manager is there the ones who know the girls on a day to day basis.  Your only going to build this relationship by face to face visits.  Also, dressing nice and dating women in your league.  Bringing gifts and being generous with money.  Men who come in complaining about $50 meeting fee or haggling on apartment rent are going to have a harder time. No one wants to help you when you act this way. 

Writing letters to an agency you have never met the workers face to face is stupid.  You want an agency go visit the agency in person.  Can always take a 4 day trip (2 days fly and 2 days on the ground) to build the relationship with the agency.  Will payoff down the road.

Another thing never refer someone to an agency.  I have done this a couple of times and it hurt my relationship.  To many men are just cheap and date out of their league.  Build the relationship and keep it to yourself.

How many men have built the relationship with the agency before meeting the women?  very few.

[myrddin]

I went with referral by friends who have actually dealt with the agency (in both reality and in this poll) as the primary factor, though certainly there are others.  That referral is what would prompt me to look further into reputation and catalog. 
Even so, if I did have to start over, a traditional agency would be a backup plan.

kievstar has a good point about building a relationship with the agency.  I would just need some info before I started trying to do so with any specific one.  I can only hope if I'm involved in a referral (either way), that there aren't worries about cheapness or unrealistic expectations.

[Faux Pas]

ED, if you are looking for a model, from my experience the best one out there is Elena's. I never inquired or heard of others using other services from Elena's. Maybe they do not offer anything beyond introduction and direct contact, I do not know. Perhaps EMs front end is a good start.

[Misha]

What factors do you consider before listing a profile and/or actually purchasing membership?

I did not consider an agency. I preferred free online Russian dating sites where I can contact women directly. Sure, it's more time and effort, but that suited me perfectly. If I saw a woman that I actually liked on an agency site, I would find her on mamba as most women who are truly looking for a husband are there as well.

[ECOCKS]

I did not consider an agency. I preferred free online Russian dating sites where I can contact women directly. Sure, it's more time and effort, but that suited me perfectly. If I saw a woman that I actually liked on an agency site, I would find her on mamba as most women who are truly looking for a husband are there as well.

So, I'm translating that as low/free cost and a bit of perceived concern over agency interference.

[GQBlues]

When I was in my search, I used EM and another site (which no longer exist) and simply based that decision surfing through their database. Thus in essence I voted for the first item on your list.

In EM, I eventually decided to subscribe to the program they had where you paid for a certain amount of period where they emailed you a list of recently signed women every two weeks before getting listed in their main database. I believe that was for 3 months. That's where/how I met my wife.

The very best approach I heard done since after finding websites like RWD was when I read MarkinTexas' approach at RWG. Mark signed up in Ukraine's newspaper's personals and sent in his pic and bio and waited for a response. Circumventing agencies, dating sites, etc all together.

[Chicagoguy]

I had been to Russia about 8 times before I started looking. Even though I didn't know the language I could move around pretty good. Because of the fees and because I didn't need any hand holding I went for the free sites.

But I see nothing wrong with agencies.

[RussianWind]

I think we as westerners expect one thing. Western style service and honesty when buying a product. We all here know what that is  so I wont bore you with a long winded explanation.  In the FSU western service is still a new concept but is slowly becoming the norm there too.

Ha! I dealt with some American companies what provided you a shit feedback. You ask them a concrete question and they answer something else just to answer something. Then you write them another letter with the same questions and another worker answers something completely different. Then you write them the third letter - can anyone answer this stupid question??!! And you finally get the honest answer: "Sorry we don't know" 

But I completely agree with your approach, it would be one of the first things for me. And I rarely read happy stories. As Shadow says they can be easily faked. I especially hate this too sweet tone in advert stories

By the way girls are very surprised that you like Elena's M. They say this site is dead for them (and these are words of really stylish young girls). Yet men in their adverts look dissapointing 

[XMan]

Concerning the "faking of success stories" that several folks have mentioned --

That is why in my list of 10 things posted previously I had written and verbal contact with these "success stories."  Very few agencies will provide this information.  I had contact with a dozen men before I went (including ones who traveled but were unsuccessful), and I saw photos of their travels, women they married, etc.  If you want proof, get the proof.  If an agency can fake all of that, they are supremely capable of lifting your wallet, but the truth is that criminals do NOT want to work that hard.  They want the easy money. 

In order to get the best results out of an agency you really need to build a personal relationship with the agency office manager and the workers in the agency. Do not have to build a relationship with the owner.  Owners are clueless on the women as there not into the details. 

It depends on the size of the agency.  In this case, the agency owner was the interpreter, photographer, knew all the women personally.  But an agency like that will not have a database with 2,000 women in it. 

The other clue the agency was real --  there were women of different ages and levels of attractiveness, as well as background, education, etc. 

[craig336]

has anyone had any exerience with "formula-for-love" based out of odessa? Good or bad just looking for feeedback i.e. someone to vouch for them.......

[Ravens9273]

ECOCKS

You have posted multiple "Research" threads now.
But you are asking the wrong question.

Asking Men what they want from an agency is simple.
They want an agency full of young hotties who are blinded by a Mans age and looks. They want an agency where their western passport can guarantee them one of these young hotties. At the same time they would also prefer this service to be 100% free.
So that is the real answer to your question.

The question you should be asking is "What do you want from owning a marriage agency?"

Are you starting one out of the kindness of your heart in helping 2 people meet and fall in love or are you looking to build an agency for the purpose of making money?

Reason I say this is because the two do not work together in this business.

In a previous thread Dan contacted me and asked if I was in the business. Truth is I studied this business for many years from top to bottom. After talking with Dan I will be putting the information here but it is alot to write and is taking time to finish.

There is one problem in this business. It is the problem that creates every issue with agencies. It is the problem that cannot be fixed and it is the problem that will put an honest agencies out of business with no money.

The whole problem is not the agency but the CUSTOMERS. Yes it is the MEN who started every issue with dishonest agencies.

Now I know I just ruffled alot of feathers when many will read the above. However I am going to explain this. Keep in mind also that I did not just come up with this from out of the blue. This is from years of studying, talking to agency owners and studying the top websites online. I will say that anyone here who is a commercial member will agree with what I am about to write.

The average age of a Men on this journey are in their 40's or 50's. They represent a vast majority of the Men looking. We have the few over 60 and few in 30's and under. But 40's and 50's will be the high majority making up the CUSTOMERS for agencies.
Now the problem does not lie in the fact the Male customers are in their 40's and 50's. The problem lies in the fact that these Men want Women in their 20's and 30's. Not only do they want Women in their 20's and 30's they also want the 20 and 30 year old hotties.
We have seen numerous threads discussing the Ladies looks, weight etc.. As I write this their is a thread active right now about weight.

Now the source to all agency issues. The 20 and 30 hottie ladies do not want 40 and 50 year old average or below average Men.
To clarify something before I continue. Age is not always the issue. It is more of what age do you look.
I will have to use JollyRats for this.
JR does have his picture up. I know JR is in his 40's. However JR is in good shape. JR would be attractive to some young 20 year old's and at the same time I am sure many 25-30 year old's would like him. JR also would not look odd walking down the street with a 25-30 year old. People would not think they are seeing a father and daughter together.
It is not saying these ladies will not want a 40 or 50 year old Men. Age is not always a factor. It also depends on what the Man looks like at those ages. My point is this. If you look 50 and the girl looks 25. You are out of your league and the agency can only give you a fantasy with no reality.

This is where the dilemma starts.
The young Hotties in the FSU are well aware of the Men who are looking. Because of this they do not go to agencies. When you see them 9 out of 10 times they were recruited. It was the promise of gifts etc they would receive as to why they came. If more Men with above average looks who are younger or look younger (pretty much Men you would expect to see these younger beautiful women with) were part of the CUSTOMERS then more 20 and 30 year old hotties would come to agencies with an open mind to begin a relationship.
If the Men were looking for Women of their own league we would see alot of success stories.
Over the years I have seen many pictures of married couples. Many here have seen pictures of married couples.
You can go to the top sites and look over their success stories. Anastasia is #1 in the business. They present 1000's of young beautiful Women with model looks taking pictures in their bikinis. Yet look through their success stories and pictures. I have not been shocked by any picture in their success stories. I have not seen one picture where that 40 or 50 year old married the young hottie well out of their league. IN fact I have only seen one picture where a young hottie announced she is engaged yet the Man in the picture was also a younger Man with above average looks. He looked like the type of Man you would expect her to be with anyways.
While many Men here say they married out of their league (I know you want to compliment your wife) I have not seen the odd couple as claimed. Most couples look evenly matched.
AJ was married to a beautiful Women. However many commented here he was a good looking Man. I have seen a picture of the two of them together and will also admit that while AJ married a beautiful Women he looked like he belonged with that beautiful Women and she was very much in his league. It was not a shock to see them married. I do not know the age gap between AJ and his wife but looking at the two they also looked to be close in age (even if they were not the point is they looked that way).
From the many many married couples I have seen I can honestly only say you can count one one hand the number of couples that represent the fantasy portraid by this business. But only a small few of the couples looked like they did not belong together (older man with young hottie) out of so many couples.

If the CUSTOMER came into this journey with a realistic approach. Looking for a partner within their league (also possible age range) there would be no need for the fake ladies, fake letters etc...
What many fail to see is that most Men begin this journey with a fantasy in their mind. That fantasy is a much younger and beautiful wife. The only thing they do not realize is that the other half of their fantasy does not consider it a fantasy but more of a nightmare.

In an agencies mind if they want to make money they have to offer what the Men want. This is where the tricks start. This is where recruiting ladies begins. This is where paying ladies begins. This is where writting fake letters begin. If those ladies were really interested in meeting older average Men none of that would need to be done.
Men need to realize that one simple fact. If those ladies really wanted to meet and marry you there would be no need for the agency to be fake.

The days of possessing a blue passport and going to the FSU and weeping a young lady off her feet with it who wanted to escape are over. These ladies are not looking to escape any longer.

So for Ecocks the question is.
What do you want from an agency?
If you want to earn a living from it then you are going to have to cross the ethics line.
You posted pictures of ladies in another thread. I am sure these ladies responded to some sort of advertising you had done. From talks with many agencies advertising will only bring in this type of lady. Usually older, and average to below average in looks. You saw how Men here responded. While those ladies would be real towards a marriage (I have no doubt in that. They are the ones we see in the success stories pictures later) They are not what your customers will be looking to meet. Out of 100 customers a very small few would be realistic and write to them. The two would marry and all things look good. However you cannot make a living off of those few realistic Men with an agency.
If you are starting an agency just for something to do and truly want to help two people meet with no concern to money what so ever then a truly honest agency can exist. The very moment $$$ becomes a factor the fine line of ethics will be crossed because there is no way to do it without crossing those lines because you cannot magically make 20 and 30 year old hotties come to your agency with serious intentions to marry 40 and 50 year old average and below average Men.

Now this is a footnote to my post.
The above is based on the average of this business.
Some Men do have realistic expectations. However you are few and rare. But these are the Men who mainly find success.
I also mentioned Average or below average Men. Reason for this. When a Man who is above average has mentioned going on this journey others here have instantly asked these Men why look in the FSU if they can get Women in the USA? While some above average Men do look for wife in FSU (which is just as rare as a young hottie RW looking for a much older Foreign Man) these comments represent the fact that it is rare and these Men are not the Norm for customers. The norm customer wants a Women well out of his age range and league.
1 in 10,000 Men may actually find the fantasy of a May December romance. While we know a few here also consider the 1000's of members here who have not. If you want to respond back with "This person did it. I did it" to argue well remember also you are one or two. Look at the 50,000 Men on Anastasia. Look at the 50,000 Men on RLM. Look at the 1000's who have come here and expressed their woe stories. While the May December Marriages do occur they are extremely rare. Also how successful were these marriages in the long run?
While we have also seen some age gap marriages the ones we have seen the couple still look to be in the same league.
We have some age gap marriages. However those couples while they may have 10 or 15 years in age difference still look as if they belong together and of same league.

It is what the majority of what Men want that has created the problems. Agencies cannot deliver so the fantasy and scams begin.
You cannot deny this. It has been said here many times. How many times have we seen the age difference threads?
Most of these threads started from Men looking for approval of their decision to look for someone half their age (which usually translates to dating out of their league).
It has been stated many times do not fall for a picture. Yet Assamena came here. 21 years old and the moment she posted her picture the Men were all over her. Her PM box was in overload. She showed what the Men here are looking for.

If this was a business of everyone trying to marry within their own league and relative age range none of these problems would exist.
If Men truly want an honest agency they must first be honest with themselves. Every agency can provide an honest experience and honest Women within the Mans league. When you want the fantasy the agencies have to go to other means to provide it.

An agency owner once told me. "How to tell the difference from an honest agency to a fake agency. Just look at their catalog of ladies" I think you understand what they meant by this.

[Jooky]

Great post Ravens, with many good points.

Since you mentioned the success stories and Anastasia web, I took a look at their 'success stories'.

http://www.anastasiaweb.com/success_stories/index.php

As you described, most the couples are reasonably matched. Some aren't, but these are mostly just meetings that probably led to nothing. Most interesting to me is that even with such a huge base of both men and women, Anastasia web has to list meetings, not just marriages, as being 'success stories', just to fill their page of 300 or so 'successes' over the past 10 years.

In another thread I asked how many men that start this search actually end up happily married, and how many women that list themselves with a agency actually find a foreign husband? My guess is around 1%. Maybe it's less. I didn't get a good answer. Ravens, you seemed to have researched this in depth. What do you think?

[Ravens9273]

Jooky.

I would put the success below 1%.
On this forum we will see more married men then normal. It is only common knowledge that the married Men would be drawn to a forum like this.
The last time I asked an agency how many male customers Anastasia had the number was over 56,000.
It is obvious not even 560 (1%) of them will find a wife from their services.
RLM also had a very high amount of male customers. Then thinking about the 1000's of other sites out there Men are using.

One question I always asked agencies was how many marriages occured through them. Alot of agencies are new businesses. There are very few that have been around a long time. But the common answer was "0". Even from the long running agencies the number was very very low ranging from 3 to 6 marriages over many years.

Just so others know. I have nothing to hide. My journey started on the business end. I did not set out to find a RW but I started out to get into the business. I even spent a fortune to have replica of Anastasia built. Spoke to tons of agencies to work with them etc... I researched every worthy website online. I just did not see a way it could work back then and pulled out.
But I did see all the issues coming back to the men and their expectations. Also I would credit alot of Mens failures to the way they approach Women or present themselves.
I still cannot figure out after so many years of being alive why many Men have not figured out yet that Women have a natural belief that all Men want is sex. Women have a natural defense up prepared for this.
Yet you would not believe how many Men post in their profiles under description of Women they seek MUST LOVE SEX.
If not talking about SEX the rest of the description is.
Must be beautiful
Must be thin
and so forth.

I have never seen a lady post
Must have hair
No big bellies etc...

Even if a Man is picky and really wants a real looker it is foolish to write this on their profile which is a persons first impression.
When a Woman loves a Man she will give him sex. She will give him what ever he wants pretty much. So why throw it out there and kill the first impression?

Women do not want to read nor write to someone who puts descriptions like that into their profile.

Women react to descriptions such as
Looking for educated women. Someone to become best friends with. Someone who loves to travel and explore the world. I want someone to start a family and build a lifetime of memories with. yada yada.

Now with description like that even if you think the above you just eliminate people you are not interested in later. If you are not attracted to a lady then do not reply to her. But putting yourself out there as a jerk from the begining is just foolish.

This site also has tons of resources for Men but they never use it properly.
There are many RW here but when have any Men asked them how is the best way to present themselves for success?

Now this just blows me away.
As mentioned most Men want an unrealistic fantasy.
However......
Here comes Assmena. A 21 year old beautiful girl.
Now get this.
This 21 year old beautiful girl makes a thread. "I am ukrainian girl and will answer any questions!!"
The golden oportunity just arrived.
All the Men searching for that young hottie just had one make an offer to answer any question.
It was right in front of them on how could they as an older Man meet and build a successful realtionship with someone her age.
The oportunity to finally get some feedback and learn what they could do no one took.
Instead they jumped on her as if she was a dog in heat while the other half started a full investigation on her.

With all the RW on this forum why is no one asking them proper questions to help their success?
I am sure they would give proper answers.
Help to set up a profile to get success etc...

[Misha]

Not only do they want Women in their 20's and 30's they also want the 20 and 30 year old hotties. We have seen numerous threads discussing the Ladies looks, weight etc.. As I write this their is a thread active right now about weight.

Now the source to all agency issues. The 20 and 30 hottie ladies do not want 40 and 50 year old average or below average Men.

As Shakespeare would have said, there is the rub. The young, attractive 20 and 30 year old men, are precisely those who will not look overseas for love, and the 40+ year old men won't bother if they don't think they can find somebody better (read more attractive) than they could at home.

I have not been shocked by any picture in their success stories. I have not seen one picture where that 40 or 50 year old married the young hottie well out of their league. IN fact I have only seen one picture where a young hottie announced she is engaged yet the Man in the picture was also a younger Man with above average looks. He looked like the type of Man you would expect her to be with anyways.

I agree. The odd photo here and there among the "success" stories where the woman is much younger and much more attractive than the man, she is invariably coming across as keeping her distance, i.e. leaning away while he leans in, not having her arm around him,while he is draped around her, etc...

If the CUSTOMER came into this journey with a realistic approach. Looking for a partner within their league (also possible age range) there would be no need for the fake ladies, fake letters etc...

If he was realistic, he would invariably be dating locally in nearly all cases  

[IAmZon]

Quote = "If he was realistic, he would invariably be dating locally in nearly all cases  "

NOT SO FAST ...

90% of the critical observations within this thread are dead on.  Especially so for an AM "shopping" (and that includes all the foolish presumptions that the verb implies).  But, do not overlook the general cultural differences that compliment an "average" guy without regard to gross age / league gaps.  These very truly exist.  And these very truly benefit an AM.

The problem is, I think, that a guy "shopping" at agencies, and giving himself only a week or two to test drive before purchasing ... well, there is where all the problems occur. It is in the manner that the CUSTOMERS deceive themselves.  (Have you seen the expensive "Matchmaking" advertisements in the DuPount Registry?  These cost over 6 figures and have been running for years. These are directed at ultra-rich men.  If they are willing to suspend reality to such a degree, they deserve what they get)

One the other hand, opportunities expand GREATLY for a guy who remains in shape and young at heart outside the USA. In fairness, some American cities are better then others in this regard  ... but NOTHING like other countries.  It is very common to see older - and yes, ugly - men with younger and pretty women outside the US. If you are a guy in your 40's, keep in shape, and are still physically attractive, your choices in women are likely as great, or greater than when you where in your 30's in the US.  Plus, if you are accomplished and a gentlemen in places where this is rare - that is all the better 

These observations are equally true as Raven's. 

It is FAR more common to see age and league gap relationships abroad than in the USA.  The entire valuation of age is different.  The valuation of manhood is different. In order to benefit from this comparative advantage, the AM must invest time and money in the place and culture.  It is not easy.  Nothing is guaranteed.  From this, the agency proposition is created.

It is impossible to do for this what Ray Kroc did to the hamburger (MacDonald's) - it just does not work that way.  Although there is a market to serve, I think any attempt to honestly commercialize this situation is a headache.

Sorry for amplifying the superficial elements of the birds and the bees - it is true that the driving force is men's eyeballs:)   I can offer this for those willing to listen: women who are perfect 10s are a pain in the a$$  ALMOST ALWAYS - IN EVERY COUNTRY  It is best to shoot for the PERFECT 8s with an even better inner world.  So be careful what you ask for guys!  When the Gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers. ...