a bone to chew on.......

[fourwair]

I am not a frequent contributor here.  I am not a frequent visitor here either.  However, I'm gonna throw a bone out here for you guys to chew on. (and hopefully not chew on me too much)

To set the scenario.......Against most of you here at this site, I signed up at HRB a couple months ago.  There was one woman that claimed to be Christian, and know Jesus, that I just had to find out for myself is she was for real.  I am a Christian man of faith, and don't plan to be fooled by an counterfeits..............regardless of what country they are from.  Inna.......you will know who this woman is I'm talking about here.

I joined at the Platinum level, $29.95/mo, and am entitled to 30 intro letters, and 10 reply letters to anyone I've initially sent an intro to.  I am very disciplined in that I will not upgrade in order to get more replies available to me.  I've been communicating with 4 different women, including "L".  I've told each one I only have 10 replies I can reply with, and that I won't be able to reply to each letter as they write to me.  I assure them that I will read each of their letters, and eventually reply, spacing my 10 replies out over the course of my billing period.  3 of them continue to write up to as many as 8 times between my being able to reply.  Their letters are always shorter than mine, and I am able to address any and all questions with my longer replies.  I try to use all 3800 characters I'm entitled to when replying.

I have not purchased a single "credit".  So, I guess I have no credit-bility.    I have yet to read anything in any letter from these women that would cause me to feel it would be worth it to buy credits..........and "video chat".  I figure if they can't write something meaningful enough in a letter, video chat will serve absolutely no purpose other than linging the pockets of those running the site.

Now, "L", the one I was initially interested in and curious about, has been the only one to press often about meeting her in "video chat".  I kept telling her I see no benefit to video chat, and encouraged her to continue writing.  Well........this week, when "L" again pressed for video chat, my cowboy-logic kicked in, and I decided to make her an offer that would place this video chat business on a 2-way street.  I'll paste here exactly what I offered to "L".

"I have something important to say. I am writing 4 women, including you. You are the only one that keeps pressing for video chat, video chat, video chat. Here is how video chat goes for me at this site.....I have to buy credits to be able to video chat. It will then cost 1 1/2 credits per minute for video chat. This comes to $36-54 U.S. dollars an HOUR! Do you make $36-54 U.S. dollars an hour in Ukraine? Well, I don't in the U.S. either. The cheapest way to buy credits on this site is $199 U.S. dollars for 500 credits. 500 credits will last for 5 1/2 hours of video chat. I have an offer for you.....You pay for $99 and I will pay for $100 for 500 credits. I promise to then spend 5 1/2 hours in video chat with you alone. Then, when I come to Ukraine and meet you in person, and spend time with you, if you or I decide that it will not work for us as a couple, I will then pay you back the money you have spent for video chat. This sound like fair deal to you? Like a decision we would make in the future together as well? I think if video chat is so important to you, this will be very good for you....and me. What do you think? I always keep my promises, "L".

As you can probably conclude for yourself, "L" will not consider my offer.  She claimed numbers don't mean anything to her, and that sh is not an accountant.  I'm not an accountant either.  But, I do own and operate my own business, and can do the math on the real costs associated to engage in "video chat". 

So, there's your bone to chew on folks.  I am in the last billing month that I will stay on HRB.  And I doubt there will be any women step up to the place where I'll be justifying any video chat.  Maybe some of you could also make a similar offer to someone you are communicating with.  IMO.........it is a great way to find out if the woman I'm communicating with thinks as much about me, as I do of her. 

Needless to say, after "L" would not take me up on my offer, I did send her one more reply to her, telling her that this was the last letter I would be writing to her.  Furthermore, I told her I would not block her from replying, as I felt I owed her that much.  And, she did make another reply...............the end.

BTW.....since posting my profile on HRB, I have blocked over 1,000 women from writing me........in 2 months.  There have only been 4 that I have allowed myself to have any communication with.  Lots of fraudulent women........too young......foolish, on and on. 

So, I don't believe I need to be rescued so much by all the well-meaning folks here, as much as I thought I'd offer my way of putting life on a 2-way street with a woman claiming to be interested in me, and insisting on "video chat".

Thanks in advance for your input..................I hope.

[wicheese]

 Maybe some of you could also make a similar offer to someone you are communicating with.  IMO.........it is a great way to find out if the woman I'm communicating with thinks as much about me, as I do of her. 

Now why would your recommend anyone to sign-up for that site, knowing what you know?  I think most men who have ventured to the FSU have purchased credits on one of the big sites (I know I did) and most will tell you it's a waste of time, no need to experiment.  Also, I would guess many women on a site like HRB do not have high regular incomes so your offer is a game loser to start with, IMHO. 

Good Luck in your search!

[acctBill]

Obviously with those prices HRB is a ripoff.  I should also point out that Russian Orthodox Christianity is different from Christianity in the west such as Roman Catholic, Protestant, Baptist etc.  Russia does have Roman Catholics, Protestants, Baptists even Seventh Day Adventists but the overwhelming religion in Russia is Russian Orthodox Christianity.

If you want to proceed with video chat set up a program like Skype on your computer.  As for the agency to use there are free ones like Freepersonals.ru or Bride.ru and agencies like Elena's Models which have a somewhat better reputation.  Also as I tell everyone who wants to seek a Russian bride, learn some Russian it will help.

[Jooky]

No normal real woman would even bother responding to that offer.

My advice: Use some sites where you don't have to count characters and pennies, get in direct contact with real ladies, and romance them instead of presenting them business deals.

[Shostakovich]

Ya, this international dating game is not for those who count every cent.  In the Ukraine the average salary is $200/mo and the ladies often make less than that.  No lady is going to spend half her monthly income to video chat.  If you are going to do this you need to pick up all the bills - it is expected and if you don't you might as well forget it.  A fear that FSU girls have is that AM are stingy, which turns them right off. 

Incidentally, if you get serious with a girl, you will pay her English lessons, her driving lessons, a computer for her, probably rent her a flat for awhile, etc.  With trips, letter fees, K-1, etc it gets to be about a $10K expense for a rural girl, $25K for a city girl.

Another thing for you to consider is that if the lady is religious she is probably Russian Orthodox.  You might want to study up to make certain you square with it.

[ECOCKS]

No bone to chew on here.

All I see is the story of one guy's approach to the endeavor. Not particularly masterful, most of us know better than to waste time on lower probability sites which charge for add-on services and attempt to lock the communications process through censorship, translation, interpretation and video or mailbox control.

Seems more like a hobby pasttime than a serious search for a relationship.

[I/O]

I told her I would not block her from replying, as I felt I owed her that much.

Big of you.

[Shadow]

If you wish to find an American style Christian woman, either look through specific Christian channels or give up on looking in the FSU.

[Jumper]

Ok..
you picked a site ,knowing ahead of time it had  a poor reputation ,a very cheesy name,
and a very poor business model..
 
so you then set self parameters to limit yourself to not spend any extra on them
and to limit your chances or risks of dealing with insincere women.

it also effectively limits the chances you might have with any sincere women that might be listed there.

you end by saying that you hope to get some good input or advise?

if you feel this is a good method , go for it?

but you seem to already know it is not.
what i do not think you realize is just how greatly it effects your odds with the sincere
 women there.

you chose to enter a membership in this type of agency,
for what it is worth , i think the only way to get anything out of it
is to bite the bullet and spend some few $$ (in the big picture)
 communicating with women there you find interesting ..
 you might find a sincere one you click with.

going about it ,in this way , limiting your replies ,, telling the women before hand "why"you
are doing so..
 is a deal killer so many times that you just severly limit any chance you might have.

I am not condoning spending thousands through such agencies.
(that has got to be one of the worst,and i'm not sure how many sincere RW would even sign up at an agency named hot russian brides)
 
 my point is if you join there knowing the rules,
but regardless  then choose to limit your exposer ,
you limit your chances severely as well..

If the business model is unpleasant to you ,simply use a different agency..
it would be far far more effective than your current path.

i'm confused the input you are looking for ,, noone is going to think
(especially not the RW here) that this is a good idea or methodology?

I have met sincere women through such vid chat business model agencies,
 but certainly had  to be open in communication and willing to contact them
enough to build a level of interest,  and willingness to communicate thru other means.

I feel if you were  in their city,currently,  then you could use the method you are,and have good success in meeting them.
( even then i still wouldn't use HRB)



Your offer to L (who is quite likely working for chat anyway)
 was a bit silly I think..
No RW sincere, or insincere , would find it appealing or normal.
so why bother with such an offer?

I would suggest in the future instead to offer video via skype ,as a more natural "suggestion"
or "offer" to a RW.
(likely she would turn this down as well,and of course her agency forbids it , but at least the offer appears more natural ,and she might if sincerely interested in you  ,find a way to contact you)

 
in any case ..
good luck

[Jumper]

fourwair-

 not sure you'll find it interesting but prior , I did see at least one  christian oriented profile from RLM (or HRB since its the same database)
I do not think its common o nthose sites ,,but for what it's worth-

ID# 299214 
Age      33
Birth Date    03/10/1977
Height    5' 3"
Weight    106 lbs.
City    Cherkassy
Country    Ukraine
Are We Compatible?    Pisces
Are We Compatible?    Snake
Eye Color    Gray
Hair Color    Blonde
Religion    Christian
English Skill    Fluent (Speaks fluently, although speaks with an accent)
Drinking    No
Smoking    No
Profession    Translator, fitness trainer
Marital Status    Never been married
Children    1
Wants Children    Yes
About Me    A natural-beauty lady, the blonde with grey-blue eyes... sweet and romantic. But my real beauty is not that one that fades through the years - its God who lives in my heart and fillls me with life to the full! Life is an amazing thing full of bright and colorful events. Life is given to us to enjoy it, to spend it in a wise way, to live every day as if this is the last day of your life. But one should share beautiful moments with his second half. So I dream of finding my only Man. My heart is open for this exciting experience. I am ready for the Love of my life!: 
Looking For    I’m not looking for Mister the Best, but the one, who’ll love me with the unconditional love described in 1Corinthians 13 with love, which never fails and can’t be quenched with many waters. I’m looking for the husband, whom I want to be submissive and loving wife and who is in his turn is submissive to God 

[BillyB]

I have to buy credits to be able to video chat. It will then cost 1 1/2 credits per minute for video chat. This comes to $36-54 U.S. dollars an HOUR!

BTW.....since posting my profile on HRB, I have blocked over 1,000 women from writing me........in 2 months. 

You must be quite the stud to get attention from 500 women a month. Actually all guys that sign up for those type of agencies get the same attention regardless of their appearance. If you sign up for a legitimate agency or dating site, women would rarely write you first. That's how the real World works. Thanks for telling us your experience. You may have saved someone else some money and time since they'll do business elsewhere increasing their odds on finding a sincere woman.

As far as price goes, read terms and conditions before signing up. Lot's of men fail to understand how much control over communications some of those agencies have. Sign up for an agency or dating site that allows contact info exchange. If a lady likes you, she will give you her number and you won't need to pay through an agency. You'd want to call her on the phone often to learn her manners and her level of interest in you. If her being Christian is important to you, it's even more important for you to get on the phone and question her beliefs and let her know yours. Religion in the FSU is weak so don't hold it against the ladies.

[tfcrew]

The church isn't very strong at all anywhere in Europe.
Even here in the States it is growing more lukewarm every day.
Not trying to trump BillyB's suggestion...but you would know best when you meet them.
My wife's folks were closet Russian Orthodox. [permitted in the old FSU.]
Not sure what HRB is.
Something... brides?

I am not a frequent contributor here.  I am not a frequent visitor here either

Frequent review of the board here and asking these questions would have maybe helped avoid certain pitfalls.
Best of luck then...........
 
Karl

[Faux Pas]

There was something about this particular lady that interested you and yet, you let 99 bucks stand in the way of really getting to know her or have a chance of communicating off of HRB.

You set yourself up for failure. First, by choosing an agency that you knew had a bad reputation and would be cost prohibitive to your logic. She may or may not have actually been sincere but, you'll never know. All you accomplished was to waste $29.95 and 4 ladies time. Now you seem to be of the opinion that it is her loss because she didn't accept your deal.

For most of us this endeavor is a long dusty dirt road to romance. Fraught with learning curves, heartache and expense. Nothing in your experiment indicates that you are a sincere man. IMO, you need to decide if you are serious or not. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Jumper]

tfccrew-

Hot Russian Brides     same site basically as Russian Love Match

both have bad business models, the op knew that much going in.



I do know womern at these sites that are sincerely lookling for a husband,,
the poor business model of the agency, and the pay to chat scenario overshadows this,,

and as faux pas said,
 you have to be willing to risk being taken for a short ride,  to see if they are sincere..

it is a terrible business model.. set up to make money off chatters that never travel..
ad to that , the  the op isn't willing to take any risks, that a sincere women there would expect from someone.,..
and it is a complete lose lose situation.

This is a situation you have to jump in , (even if your eyes are wide open)
sticking your toe in to check the tempurature, isn't going to net anything.


Far better to use a method or websites with better business models.
but if you chose to use that one,  you'd  have to commit enough to get a womens interest.