"The Russian Bride Business Is Dead" ? Really?

[tfcrew]

Haven't seen this link before.
Thought I'd post it.
With the negatives abounding.. concerning immigration [child slavery..sex crimes etc] this should all come with little surprise.
 

http://www.andrewwilsonnews.com/index.html

[Gator]

That's Andrewfi, who has made insightful posts for years and years on various RW forums.  He is a very intelligent man, and I attest that analysis is his forte.  I have agreed with him far more than disagreed.  He has resided and worked in the FSU for years in Tallin IIRC.  I would bet that his report is interesting.

[Jumper]

Hmm it is interesting,

At first glance it seems someone trying to make money by spreading a bit "more" paranoia in  niche and very
 small market.


Get YOURS TODAY  !
 no TIME to lose!
HURRY!!
 order NOW!
The information will only be good for a short while!
ACT immediately!


I din't see the normal **Free T shirt with every order!** slogan though..
 

He really should add that..

[Jumper]

Well Gator-
 I'm not buying  unless i get a
* Tallin sounds the Bell!! MOB is dead !! and the Red coats are coming!!! * T-shirt.
with my order.

[Maxx2]

The industry isn't dead yet but it is near death's door. Two things are killing it IMBRA and the economy.

The agencies that I had used back when seemed to have closed up doors. Neither city has a marriage agency operating in it. The agency that I have recently been in contact with with my film project is having real trouble finding new clients. I advised perhaps changing the website to say Russian women are frugal and are used to making a rouble/dollar stretch. Maybe something about the Decembrist brides willing going with their husbands to Siberia.    I knew my advice wouldn't followed so I didn't feel bad giving it.

[Rubicon]

I don't believe it for a second.  Aweb and HRB, etc. are thriving.

[Jumper]

The market place for a lot of industries has contracted,
A weak  global economy does that.


Of course depending on "basic needs " verses " extravegances" the contraction per industry will vary.

bread not so much..  surfboards, quite a bit..

 I dont see the MOB contracting significantly more than lets say the tourism industry..
is it dead too? (yes prety much to previous years context,,but it is still going)

Snow boarding? (any outdoor or extreme sport) all have been hit pretty hard..


well I'm off to go sell my *pertinant information* to the snowboarders on the end being near,
 i'm sure it will be quite usefull to them,but i'm adding a free Tshirt with my offer.
Probably one of these ?




They should be heavily discounted now afterall....

[andrewfi]

Gator, thanks for your constructive words above!

I thought it might be time to post an introduction to this issue and my report.

There are many misconceptions about this small niche of the much larger on-line dating business and most of them are inaccurate and negative in respect of the participants.

I decided to write the document available from http://www.andrewwilsonnews.com because I wanted to bring together strands of thought that I have seen before, written about, been derided for and, often eventually found becoming part of the accepted view of this part of the world.

Right now the 'mail order bride' business, or 'International marriage broker/bureau' business is reaching a tipping point. Several strands are coming together all at once and given that, for many people, finding a 'Russian bride' is a multi year program I am sure that the coming changes will affect many visitors to this forum.

In my report I outline the significant issues now facing the industry. I think this is the first time anyone has, in public, raised these issues in one place and attempted to see the pattern emerging.

A part of the reason for doing so is to raise awareness among clients and employees of businesses engaged in the IMB process. I have no t-shirts to sell and because I want to spread the word and encourage a sensible discussion I am, of course, using sensible marketing techniques to spread the word.
Actually, one thing I am doing is paying you guys to spread the word. Everyone who signs up to receive the report has the opportunity to make some small money simply by telling friends, colleagues and contacts about what I have written. Some folks have already been doing just that - thanks guys, you know who you are!

I will be doing my best to keep up with the conversation over the coming days but right now there is an active thread over at RUA where, now that the noisemakers have had their fun, we are getting down to business. I'd like to do the same thing here, with your consent Dan and others!

The bottom line here is this: The business is undergoing some violent and destructive changes. I am trying to pick out the threads of what is going on and see a pattern for what needs to be done to survive and thrive. You guys can help me with that task - please do!

In the meantime, if you have not done so already, please drop over to http://www.andrewwilsonnews.com get the Death of a Russian Bride report, read it, get angry with me, be exasperated with me, tell me I am an idiot and then tell me why!

And please, tell your contacts, this is important!Thanks,

Andrew Wilson.

[Steamer]

The RBB isn't dead it's evolving. The less "business" the better. As computers and the internet improved over the years WM have figured out ways around the agencies as a response to being gouged. I believe this is what's killing the agencies and it's a good thing.

[andrewfi]

The RBB isn't dead it's evolving. The less "business" the better. As computers and the internet improved over the years WM have figured out ways around the agencies as a response to being gouged. I believe this is what's killing the agencies and it's a good thing.

Get the report, read it and get back to us on that one!

The demand for agency services is growing apace so don't let yourself be fooled by misconceptions!

[Jumper]

I have no t-shirts to sell and because I want to spread the word and encourage a sensible discussion I am, of course, using sensible marketing techniques to spread the word.

Andrew, my T-shirt posts were obviously in jest..

but surely you can't view  your own website ,and not notice the sensationalist style of it's photo's ,
wording ,and marketing?
Worthy of any Brit Tabliod!
if you don't find the humor ,then by all means keep the stiff upper lip chap!!


sensible? yes any marketing that works is!!!

now you allude to a pyramid type of marketing as well???.

(Mary Kay, all the advantages of a cult ,without the human sacrifice!! )


Frankly if you are trying to get the information out,
you'd simply post it in any number of forum's

If for profit (totally understandible,it's your time and trouble)
 Then let's not pretend you'll go into any depth here..??
and in fact rather the opposite, you'd be using the forums,and the readers input ,
 to glean more information to use in a report intended to sell.

Nothing at all wrong with that.



I'll ask you one pointed question though, as i think it will help you in your marketing..

So take it in the light it is asked? to help you.


As a single man looking in any number of countries, and certainly no problem meeting women in any eastern european area through many various and readily available means.

Exactly how will this report help me?

Nothing on your page would show a glimmer of info i might need ,or find useful,

 only a promise of such ,
like those * 5 hidden simple secrets to lose weight * advertisements.
While i'm sure they do reasonably well with this strategy,
, a bit more substance up front , if there is any, i would think might sell better

despite my T shirt jokes-
as you've currently marketed , i wouldn't be even slightly interested.

That's an honest opinion from a portion of your target market ,
finding out the "why" that might be, you could use to perhaps improve the odds of them reading the report.


Good luck!


Tell your contacts! this is important!!
why yes of course it is .. :evil:


but telling a bit about why the report is useful ,in the real world,  would do more good ..IMHO.

[Maxx2]

To back up what Andrew is saying
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8282596400667044072&q=mail+order+brides&hl=en#
[youtube=425,350] http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8282596400667044072&hl=en#[/youtube]

[tfcrew]

I don't believe it for a second.  Aweb and HRB, etc. are thriving.

Wondering how you knew this as a matter of fact.

[Chelseaboy]

If HRB is thriving,why is their CEO saying the business will soon be finished ?

[acctBill]

Andrewfi I'm an accountant I've worked with companies and their marketing departments in countries throughout Europe and North America, phrases like "tell your contacts, this is important!Thanks" and others that you state in your post mean that you have something to sell.  

You may not be flogging something now but sooner or later you will be selling something, after all you wouldn't be doing all this work if there wasn't some benefit to you either now or in the future.  
 

[dbneeley]

 

You may not be flogging something now but sooner or later you will be selling something, after all you wouldn't be doing all this work if there wasn't some benefit to you either now or in the future.  
 

Unless you seriously maintain that Andrew is a philanthropist, the simple fact that he is offering payment to those who refer others to sign up for his free report would indicate a very serious commercial plan involved.

As he indicated, once you sign up for his mail, technically anything he might send you later would not meet the definition of "spam" no matter how spammy it may seem to you in times to come.

I am not adverse to Andrew or anyone else making a legal buck, but I take exception to using the come-on of "free information" to form the basis of a business without that being clear from the beginning. Should anyone think the material he provides is worth being a part of such an activity later, fine. If they get it with the thought that they are not prime subjects of a commercial venture to come, I believe they are seriously deluded.

Anyone who doubts this can find plenty of "Internet marketing" plans out there which call for just this kind of approach. It is nothing particularly new or exotic.

As I stated earlier, I suggest using one of the temporary email address providers for a disposable address if you have any qualms about it all.

Again, I want to stress that I am not in any way suggesting Andrew is doing anything illegal--just that those who consider getting his "report" should understand what they may be letting themselves in for in doing so.

David

[facetrock]

 The ever expanding internet and the fact that more women in the FSU are learning English equals the death of hundreds of marriage agencys. I really believe its that simple.
  The world is becoming smaller and those with the means and a little game will be able to use the whole world as a dating site.
   How often does the bride from LA go home when she marries a guy from NY? What is it, a four hour flight? I think its a nine hour flight from NY to Moscow. Five more hours, big deal. European countries are a lot closer.  Granted it is a different culture but only the most adventerous RW ever considered a cross culture marriage to begin with. A tiny fraction of one percent of the total population. Men from all over the world will be marrying RW for decades to come. You just wont be going through an agency to do it. Thats actually good news.
  Sites like Aweb and HRB will be around for years. Great news for the keyboard masturbaters.

[facetrock]

  Andrew your websites state that the feminists are up in arms. Well thats normal for them here. They hate men because in my opinion the feminist movement is populated by mostly women who cant get laid and dikes.
 
  You state the public wants blood. They do? Most people where I live know I've been to the FSU many times and I havent seen the lynch mob outside my front door yet. I have noticed though when I talk to good looking girls about it they dont mind at all. The fat chicks and the ones so ugly they couldnt get laid in a marine barracks do hate me for it though. I have to confess, I love telling them how hot the Russian women are. Someday I hope a fat chick physically explodes in front of me. Come close a few times.

 The forums are hostile. Yup they sure can be, but they get hostile about any subject.

 The blogs are boiling. Blogs are always slanted one way or the other. If you dont like one view you can easily find one that agrees with your opinions.


  Andrew all those sensational headlines really dont help you. And the word "FREE" to me means there is a catch somewhere. Either I will be offered to buy something or be spammed for eternity or most likely both.

 Andrew why dont you tell us here what we can expect if we give you our name and email address?  Or if your report is really free with no strings attached just post it here.

[TomT]

If HRB is thriving,why is their CEO saying the business will soon be finished ?

It's only a matter of time until there are lawsuits because of real or perceived problems with their implementation of IMBRA. When this occurs, their business model is finished.

[Jooky]

For several years I've read Andrew's condescending and entertaining posts about Russian women that 'market' themselves, the social misfits that 'import' them and all those getting mucked up in the 'dirty barrel' in the process.

If I had to sum up the advice I've seen him give over these years it's that men are better off searching for love amongst their 'peers' in their 'own backyards'.

Now that he's rallying the social misfits against the evil feminists wo are tearing down the mail order bride business I was curious to see what this is all about. So, I read his latest propaganda piece. Overall I'm suprised and disappointed.

The presentation is second rate, in the style of 'Get Rich Quick!' and 'Lose Weight Fast!' E-Books. The download originally did not work for me when I received notice to check out the link. Passwords collected are not stored with proper hash encryption (you can only reset passwords, not retrieve them with secure encryption). The site is based on a template (The List Virus) designed specifically for building email marketing lists. To me all of this indicates this is a very amateur project.

The E-Book stretches a few pages of substance and a bunch of sensational filler into almost 20 pages, thanks to large fonts and double spacing.

The manner of citing references as links to forums without direct links to the information would be unacceptable in any professional or academic article.

The writing style is, as AJ observed, in the style of tabloid press. This makes it fun and easy to read. The intro video where Andrew expresses his 'deep respect' for the men searching overseas for brides had me laughing out loud.

It's all entertaining, but difficult to take seriously.

The premise that the Mail Order Bride Business (as it exists today) is dying or dead, I agree with. Nothing new. I've been saying the same for years.

A few things I've heard and observed over the past 3 years:

From friends working at the US Embassy in Moscow processing visas: Overall K visas are on the decline, but those issued to couples not associated with the 'bride business' are on the rise.

From a photographer friend in Novosibirsk: Years ago his primary business was photographing women for bride agencies and sites. He recently shut down his business and moved into another field as all of his agency clients shut down.

A quick look at agency and bride sites that I looked at 3 years ago when I first rented a flat in Novosibirk show mostly the same faces. Take a look at the major conglomerate agency sites and there are just a handful of Novosibirsk women. Considering the population of Russia's third largest city, the presence of the 'bride industry' there is already practically gone.

The reality is that if a Russian women really wants to meet a foreign man there are many other avenues available these days, where they can deal with men on an equal playing field. The world is becoming one big social network. Agencies are just not needed.

The E-Book blames feminists and politicians for the pending demise of the bride industry. That's a part of it, but there are many other factors, the primary one is that while there may be an increase in demand (from the men) there is huge decrease in supply.

As for the content, there's nothing I haven't seen already discussed on various forums.

In the E-Book we see an misstated view of them. For example, Andrew cites Hawaiian legislation 489N and claims "All dating services must provide background checks on any Hawaii residents. Residents to provide fingerprints to law enforcement".

You can read the Statute here: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/histatutes/2/26/489N/489N-2

It, like the other current and pending legislations, clearly relates only to international matchmaking organizations, not 'all dating services'.

Overall, there's not much to this E-Book. A lot of hype with little substance.

The Mail Order Bride business as we know it is dead? Good riddance. It's a lousy industry that thrives on taking advantage of distressed women and foolish men. There are already much better ways for men truly seeking love overseas to find it. Scary times indeed.

The E-Book leaves us with Andrew's promise to rescue the very industry he's been putting down for years and make it even more profitable!

Ok, so where's the beef? (And how much is going to cost?)

[Maxx2]

For several years I've read Andrew's condescending and entertaining posts about Russian women that 'market' themselves, the social misfits that 'import' them and all those getting mucked up in the 'dirty barrel' in the process.

If I had to sum up the advice I've seen him give over these years it's that men are better off searching for love amongst their 'peers' in their 'own backyards'.

I figured he had a Road to Damascus event that got him to loving us.

[Jooky]

I figured he had a Road to Damascus event that got him to loving us.

I was picturing more the Grinch with his heart growing larger and larger.

Before the Russian Bride Business dies they should have a clearance sale. Last chance to get a Russian Bride while supplies last!

Happy New Year everyone. 

[ECOCKS]

I'm with Jooky, AJ, Facet and others of like mind on this.

As they point out, it smacks of "Call Now!", "New and Improved!" or "You Won't want to miss ____!".

Disappointing Andrew, I seriously expected better from you and was at first disbelieving when they credited it as your work.

[Maxx2]

I'm with Jooky, AJ, Facet and others of like mind on this.

As they point out, it smacks of "Call Now!", "New and Improved!" or "You Won't want to miss ____!".

Disappointing Andrew, I seriously expected better from you and was at first disbelieving when they credited it as your work.

Take it easy on Andrew. He really is one of us. I have always heard that Andrew is an excellent host and a real gentleman. Very hospitable to those of us he meets. My guess his website/PDF was a work in progress and would evolve into something that does not resemble what it does now. That is the usual way with big one man projects.

[Gylden]

I also agree with Jooky, the MOB industry is fading. With forums like this and increased internet access in the FSU, along with the phenomenon that in most every village in the FSU people know someone who has immigrated to the west. The whole process is losing it's mystique. Men are using forums and such to make contacts for apartments, translators, etc. Also in my opinion, women have much better options now to make contact with WM. I still believe it has to make a woman feel a bit strange to sign up at an agency, it has the aire of selling ones self to it.