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[Rvrwind]

Just wanted to let any of the single guys out there still looking that you might want to visit our site at http://www.tverangels.com & register. Its FREE:D & as we are just starting we don't have so many ladies but all the new ladies that come to sign up always look through our catalogue of men & just may pick you out to write too. What have you got to lose? She even gets to write you for FREE so you just never can tell what may come your way. Our ad campagn is hiting the papers this coming week & I expect our database will grow, so why not be first in line when the ladies come looking, afterall, its FREEE!!!:D

RVR - Canadian Cowboy

[corp]

Everything looks good but what is the deal with pricing things in Rubbles?
IF you gave a test to the guys going to your website,... what percentage would have any idea how much three hundred Rubls amounts to in US dollars?
I would have to pull up a conversion website just to get an idea of the pricing.
IF you are going to say you are in Russia and that is the currency... then I expect your site to be written in Russian only as well:D

Anyway, that small point aside, everything looks good I expect you will do well!

[andrewfi]

A good point. You might want to either consider puttng a currrency converter on the pages where prices are mentioned, or to price in a stable currency, such as the Euro.

If your clients are Americans, it might be best simply to charge slightly higher prices to protect yourself from dollar declines and list all prices in dollars. For Americans, constantly changing prices due to currency variations are disconcerting and will turn them off to your proposition. As a European, I have no problems with using dollars, I simply think in Euros and take a big discount!

[Rvrwind]

I took all these factors into consideration when figuring the prices & there is a link to a currency converter on the appropriate page. (ie:Purchase Credits Page) Copy & paste to your browser & it will take you directly there.

I live & work in Russia & think in Roubles. $'s & Euros don't amount to diddly to me. There is a link on the one page for a currency converter & I will be adding it to a couple of other pages.

The reasons are simple, if I deal in $'s & the $ drops, I lose money. It goes up & down way to often to keep changing the stated prices. The Canadian $ follows right along with it. The Euro is a little more stable but still fluctuates with the Rouble going up & down. We deal in many different currencies other than the $ & Euro. I personally don't want to have to change all my prices on the website every week or every few days. Anybody who is planning to come here, if they are thinking ahead at all, are already going to be checking what their particular currency will buy in exchange for roubles.

For me it is easier to maintain an even flow & to budget without having to guess. To up my prices to cover the downward trend is not fair to my clients who will then be paying more for the service. It is fairer to them & easier for me to have everything charged in roubles. I pay my bills in roubles & when they are here they will pay in roubles therefore no changes or fluctuations in pricing. Fair & Honest.

If it is too difficult for someone to click on the currency converter link & check it out then I submit that perhaps dating a Russian woman is also out of their league. No offense:D.

RVR - Canadian Cowboy

 

[andrewfi]

Richard, if your business is customer centred, as it should be, then the fact that YOU think in roubles is entirely irrelevant. The other point is that in busines, it is usually the seller who assumes the risk of the business not the buyer. By pricing in roubles you are placing the responsibilty for your pricing difficulties onto the client and that is not good business, nor is it fair.

I sugested a strategy to help you to deal with the issue, it is one that many businesses would use. If your margins are so fine that a difference in exchange rate would merit an immediate change in your pricing then your margins are too small!

[Rvrwind]

Andrew, my margins are thin & they are because for years agencies have been ripping guys off left & right with their pricing at way above what is needed or deserved for the services offered. When the $ drops they make even more money, not fair & not honest buisness practice. I swore I would not become another rip off agency & I will not.

Any guy who is coming here should familurize himself with the exchange rate in any case. If he doesn't he is going to find problems at the onset. I think educating them up front is due diligence. By pricing in Roubles my prices never fluctuate, you pay the same everytime. If I change that policy I must up my prices to cover any downward fluctuation & to be fair I should also lower my prices for upward fluctuations, that is only fair. If I provide a link to a currency converter, I don't see a problem, it should be a no brainer.

I will leave it as is for the time being. If I see a trend toward negative feedback in that regard of course I will likely change it, but so far only the two who have posted to this thread have even mentioned it, so at this point I don't see it as a big problem. I am hoping that it won't be nessessary to change it as it does give the site a unique flare not found elsewhere.

RVR -  Canadian Cowboy 

[andrewfi]

Richard, most people will say nothing, it just gives them a reason not to use you... You never know the people who are not your clients!

If other firms are overcharging for their services and you do not want to that is fine, but you owe it to your clients to run a business that is profitable enough to survive. You are not in the business to atone for the misdeeds of others, but to make a reasonable profit such that next time you have a heart attack you can go to a proper hospital, can afford the drugs you need and to pay for your pension so that you can return to Canada when the time comes. If your business can not generate enough profit to do these simple things then you are in the wrong business. You should be thinking from the point of view of a Canadian, European or American proprietor, not from the point of view of a poverty stricken Russian guy trying to make good!

When trading internationally, including the cost/benefit of currency fluctuations is a normal part of the pricing process. It is not brain surgery to figger out the average variation over the past twelve months and use the year on year variations as a pricing mechanism... Simple, effective and it will work. For example, if you find that over the past year the dollar went down by 12%, in real terms, and you think it will do the same over the course of the next year, then allow a margin of, for example 6% for currency variations and incude that in your prices, knowing that your sensible competitors are doing something similar.

Think of this: even if what you say about needing to know about the value of the rouble before making choices about which service to use was true (which it most certainly is not!), from a practical perspective it makes no sense. Here is why: I know of no international dating agency that prices in anything other than US dollars. If I want to compare prices I know that I can do so, between any number of dating agencies/marriage agencies/whatever because they all use the same base currency. With yours, it is not possible. I have to sit down with a calculator, or cut and paste from your currency calculator, it is not easy, nor convenient. There are hundreds of marriage agencies, I do not have to use yours. Guess, what, make my life any harder than it needs to be and I will click on past your site and you will never know I existed, let alone why you lost me!

Richard, I think that perhaps your attitude toward this single issue may be indicative of attitudes that you carry with you in your dealings with your clients. I counsel you to think about this issue in the context of customer service leading to adequate profit to survive and reinvest.

 

[Bruno]

The customer not wishing use rouble is these who will have problem when he visit his future wife... in Russia, price are in Rouble... and i have already see some crazy tourist pay 2$ for one Coca-cola because they don't wish change $ in Rouble...

If a man wish a RW, soon or late, he will be need to know the change between his currency and the russian currency... better learn soon...

Do you think that the man to much lazy for use a currency converter is ready to marry a foreign woman... it is the type of man who believe in the MOB agency... he order a bride without know nothing or wishing know something... the big way to a misluck...

MOVE YOUR A$$ or stay home...

[andrewfi]

Bruno ~ If you were right, I might price all my proposals in Estonian Kroons, after all, the people with whom I work are going to have to get used to Kroons are they not? Of course I don't do such a silly thing. I charge in the currency of the client asking for the proposal, usual in sterling.

At the point at which a client is choosing a supplier the sensible provider makes it as easy as possible for the potential client to choose him. The daft idiot tells the client he is lazy and then wonders why his business failed a few months later.

Don't forget that the potential client has a choice and the attitude of the supplier will inform the choice of the potential client to become a client or not.

[Bruno]

At the point at which a client is choosing a supplier the sensible provider makes it as easy as possible for the potential client to choose him. The daft idiot tells the client he is lazy and then wonders why his business failed a few months later.

Don't forget that the potential client has a choice and the attitude of the supplier will inform the choice of the potential client to become a client or not.

It is certainly more easy in my case since my site is free... but it is the laziness of customer who lead to big problem later...

People but new car but never read the book... they don't make the maintenance in time and clain against the business that they have sell some sh!t...

Same with the MOB business, they accept everybody and everything since they have $$$... they don't take care of the motivation and readyness of the customer ( man )... since in these business, you have no garenty, business don't risk a lot... only customer suffer from the potential problem...

The agency from Richard try to work for the good of customer... not specialy make it easy but have a good final result... if some are not happy, they can choose other agency who take $$$ without problem...

And you forget one very important thing... not only men are customer in these business... same if they don't have the $$$, woman are customer too... they are not a product that we sell to man... what we sell is the matchmaking service and side service... several men forget these reality ( and some agency too )... it is a bad service for our female customer that accept the first lazy man... someone who go bring her to hell... here, we read bad story from the side of men... but similar story exist from the side of women... and it is not because the men have the $$$ that they have all the right...

[Rvrwind]

I do see your point Andrew, I truly do. But the US $ & the Euro are not the end all be all of currencies as many seem to believe. I also have clients from France, Australia & Canada, Korea, Mexico & other places that don't use the US$ or Euro, so either way they have to use a currency converter anyway to change their currency to the US$ or EURO. My point is that I bypass this step. Now a Canadian can exchange directly from the CD$ to the Rouble & leave out the US$ completly. Same as many others who use currencies other than the US$ or Euro.

Sorry but that makes more sense to me. What difference is it for someone from say Canada who would still have to convert from the CD$ to the US$. None. He now can convert directly from the CD$ to the Rouble, I see no difference.

Although many countries still use the US$ as a gudeline or the Euro(God only knows why), there are many who don't. In my opinion the only ones who benifit from me pricing in US$ are Americans & like Bruno & I have both said: If they are too lazy to use the currency converter, they are barking up the wrong tree & I really don't need them as clients anyway. If they are that lazy chances are they will be a disaster looking for a place to happen anyhow.

Your buisness is quite a bit different than mine & you have to give your customers what they need most, just as I do. What they need most is reality, and what better way to invoke that reality but to get them started right off the jump with their education into this process. I don't want to offend anybody but I believe that if a guy is too lazy to use the currency converter provided, then he had best not bother wasting his time chasing a Russian Woman.

I also think that a lot of men will use it to compare as they know that their currency buys a lot of roubles & they will be curious enough to just check it out & see. I think those that do will be pleasantly surprised & will also be the type of guys I would want for clients.

RVR - Canadian Cowboy

 

[andrewfi]

Richard, at the moment you are starting out and have, I know, very few clients. (Clients being people who are paying you money for a service or product - all others are, at best prospects!). But they are all looking in the same places. If your clients are from Europe, as your French example surely is... they use the Euro. But the geography aside, when they make comparisons, as they do, then they are looking at sites that are denominated in dollars. I challenge you to show me an internationally directed, English language, website in the FSU MOB business that does not price in US dollars.

You may have a unique approach to business, you may pride yourself on your integrity, but your business will go down the sh1tter if it is harder for clients to deal with you than your competitors. If I am, for example, European and use the Euro in my country, I have no problems in making price comparisons in dollars. If I use Eesti Kroons, I do not lose the facility to make a comparison in prices in dollars, but if you ask me to take out a calculator to see if you are cheaper, or more expensive than LifeTime Partners, then, well, call me a lazy idiot, but you just lost me!

The de facto currency of the English language internet is the dollar. Add to this that most of your clients will be from the North American continent and you will be turning off a large number of your potential clients. If at the same time, your client service attitude is similar - my way or the highway, then you will lose clients even after thay have chosen to use you. I am not a 'customer is always right' disciple, but I certainly know that your business must be customer centred. My concern, knowing you, is that this is just one symptom of an attitude that will work just as well for you now as it did when you were with LTP.

Get the currency issue right and while you are at it look at the ethos of your business and how it reflects your attitudes. It is perfectly possible, and very easy, to be a well-meaning bankrupt... Also rememeber this: When considering customer service, you do not have to be a lot better than your competition, just a little better is enough, but you do have to be better.

Your job is not to change the world, but to build an economically viable future for your family. You are not a teacher, but you are starting to run a business, teachers are to be found in schools, businessmen in businesses. Remember where you are!



 

[catzenmouse]

Easy way out for those too lazy to figure out what a rouble is compared to their native currency. Put a small table on the site with several of the popular currencys on it and give an approximate exchange rate for each one. Put a BIG disclaimer next to it that states clearly that this is an approximate exchange rate for the client and link them to a real converter. You would only need to update it infrequently as the rates do not change that drastically on a day to day basis.

The client needs to understand roubles and to begin to be able to think in those terms if they even consider going to Russia for any reason.

Ken

[Admin]

Easy way out for those too lazy to figure out what a rouble is compared to their native currency. Put a small table on the site with several of the popular currencys on it and give an approximate exchange rate for each one. Put a BIG disclaimer next to it that states clearly that this is an approximate exchange rate for the client and link them to a real converter. You would only need to update it infrequently as the rates do not change that drastically on a day to day basis.

The client needs to understand roubles and to begin to be able to think in those terms if they even consider going to Russia for any reason.

Ken

Good suggestion. In fact, how about using this link to RWD (where, thanks to Bruno, we have a permanent link to FSU exchange rates) => http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/view_topic.php?id=396&forum_id=10

Just a thought.

- Dan

[Bruno]

The client needs to understand roubles and to begin to be able to think in those terms if they even consider going to Russia for any reason.

Using local price is really a + ... for my last trip, one month before go, the appartment was 180$ for one month... on place, it was 200$... i was not happy but the guy have explain that since the dollar course have changed, more $$$ was needed for the same Grivna amount... the local guy was thinking in local money, not in $$$

Same here, in Europa, with the euro... a lot of people convert price from Euro to previous local currency... so, they have a better idea of price... maybe it is one of the main reason i have no problem with the system of Richard... i convert each day several price from Euro to old belgium price because in my mind, the reference of price are always in Belgium money...

A visitor need adapt to the country he visit and not the country adapt to the visitor...

 

 

[Bruno]

Good suggestion. In fact, how about using this link to RWD (where, thanks to Bruno, we have a permanent link to FSU exchange rates) => http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/view_topic.php?id=396&forum_id=10

Just a thought.

- Dan

If someone will use these little rate exchange for his site, right click on it, select "propriety"... and copy the URL... just insert these URL like a "source image" on your own site...

 

[corp]

Richard, I understand your concept that if a guy is ready to travel to Russia he should be able to understand Rubbles or at least be able to use the converter link.

 I wonder how many hits will come to your website from men who are not ready to travel, they are just getting started and need to first meet someone to travel to see.
When I came to your site, I did not bother to care what the "big dollar".... I mean "Big rubble" items cost, I just wondered how much a translated letter would cost to start with. Forgive me for not noticing the converter link, I have one book marked but I didn't bother as it is under another browser.
So when I left your site, I still had no idea if a letter was about 4 dollars or 15.
Later when I saw this thread, I just thought I would mention my observation.

In this post, I simply want to remind people not everyone who cruises Dating sites dealing with the FSU are ready to touch down in Moscow, many are just starting out. Failure to accomidate this sizable segment not only with the currency exchange may come at a loss of revenue and that would be a shame.

[Bruno]

Does JAZconvert automatically detect the Web Site Visitor's Country?
Yes, JAZconvert automatically detects the web site visitor's country and then automatically displays the web site product and service prices in that appropriate international currency.

What do my Visitor's see for the International Currency?
Your web site visitors will automatically see your product prices in their home currency. If a visitor views your page from England, they will see your prices in British Pounds, if from Japan, they will see Japanese Yen. If they want to - they can then click on the price hyperlink to change to a preferred currency.

Can I continue to charge my customers in my business currency?
Yes, JAZconvert is designed for informational purposes to help web site visitors see an approximate cost of products and services in their home currency. If you wish, you can continue to charge your web site customers in your home currency. You should just let your customers know which currency they will be charged in. See the section below about "how should I tell my customers that the international conversions are approximate prices?".

What happens if a persons' country is not included in the JAZconvert currency list?
If a person is viewing a web site from a country not included in our 45 currencies, the default international currency prices will appear. When installing JAZconvert you can decide which currency you would like to be the default currency. The US currency is often used as the default.

How often are the currency rates updated?
The international currency rates are automatically updated every day. The rates are automatically updated on our server and you are not required to manually change or update the prices. As JAZconvert is a informational service a currency rate updated more than once each day is not necessary. If the an updated international rate is not available on any given day for any reason the previous available rate will be displayed.

How can I sign up for the 3 month Trial?
To sign up for the 3 month trial simply visit our registration page. At the top of the registration page you will see a "3 month trial option". Simply select that option, complete the registration form and submit. We will then contact you regarding the installation instructions.

 
If you use these service, your webmaster need only change the page with your price list... After the 3 month free, you need to pay for the service... i think that the pro package will be enough for you ( fee : 577.64 RUB month ) ( 20$ )... take you time for read the site, use the trial version from 3 month... and see after if your customer are happy... 
 

[corp]

Bruno, that was a great solution, unfortunatly it never changed to dollars even ofter I selected Dollars from the prompt.
Small glitch I am sure.

[Bruno]

Bruno, that was a great solution, unfortunatly it never changed to dollars even ofter I selected Dollars from the prompt.
Small glitch I am sure.

It is working but only localy... for a test, visit http://jazconvert.com/nolink.php

See the table in the middle of the page... it is the example... don't click the "choose currency" in the table but in the left menu "click here to change currency"... the page renew with the choosen currency... of course, you need Java enable for your browser sinde Java code is embeded in the php page... it is working, i have test it localy on my Hard Drive... but he refuse to work when i copy it on my server since i am not a registered user...

If Richard is not sure to use it, i can download the trial version and build the needed code on my server for a demo... but this will only work with my domain name... copy and past code will not work... i am ready to make it if Richard wish so system ( i don't wish loose my time if he will not use so system ).

 

[corp]

Something like this would certainly be helpful Bruno because I went back to Richards site and looked for the link that was spoken about to help the visitor make the conversion, even knowing it was on the site somewhere, I had trouble finding it until I went back to Richards post above indicating exactly where it is.
 In fact It's not really a link so much as something to copy and past.
Richard, I'm sure you will want to place a "clickable" link on the page with the prices. It only makes sense to me to remove any small hurdles that might loose a potential customer before they even get the chance to realise how much your service can benifit them.

I believe people generally take the "path of least resistance". If there are a hundered dating sites to choose from... small hurdles can cause a number of visitors to "move on" before giving your site or any other a fare chance.

 I have beeen to sites where the search engine was not giving me the search I needed so, I just go to someplace that accomidates this basic need.
Could be the site with a piss-poor search engine is darn good site but how could I even find out if I can not find a girl to write to?

The reality is in any service one wants to create a path where it is easy to do business and establish a relationship, It's not really a matter of "kissing the customers Ass" as it is making it easy for the customer to give you money.

MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO GIVE YOU MONEY.

[Rvrwind]

Okay, all suggestions noted.

Corp your right it is a cut & paste & I am not sure why it came out that way, it is supposed to be a clickable link.

I do like Bruno's idea of using that service & am looking into installing that. My biggest problem with payable sites is being unable to pay them from Russia. If they don't except Paypal it is a real hassle trying to get money to them but I am working on it.

I will get this fixed asap as I do believe your suggestions are valid but the most valid is this:

The reality is in any service one wants to create a path where it is easy to do business and establish a relationship, It's not really a matter of "kissing the customers Ass" as it is making it easy for the customer to give you money.

MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM TO GIVE YOU MONEY.

Now that got my attention real quick!!!

RVR - Canadian Cowboy

[Bruno]

We have viewed your site and are unable to find a page which requires the need for our service. Please send us a URL to the page you wish to have currency conversion for.

 

Of course since i am free and i have no price  I have explain your situation ( send a link to these treat ) and i hope receive a positive reply... if they accept, i go rebuild your page http://www.tverangels.com/servicelist.shtml with these system and host it on my server... of course, after the 3 month test, yourself will need to hire the service... during these delay, you will be able to see it work and appreciate it.

[Rvrwind]

Thanks Bruno...

I will have to make alternative arrangements as I don't have any credit cards...long story.

I'll use the trial period & see how it works. I read their site & all the info & such & it does look pretty good. If it functions well on my site it may solve all problems.

RVR - Canadian Cowboy

[Bruno]

I will have to make alternative arrangements as I don't have any credit cards...long story.

Myself, i have no credit card... personal choice... after some problem with ex-wife, i have choose to life like russian people... cash and not more credit... and until now, it is perfect...

I think that they will allow you to make arrangements... wrire banking is simple but the expense for you will be around 10$ from the bank by one payment... but if you pay six month in one time, it will reduce the cost for you and they go receive money long time before give the service ( and win some interest from bank )...

Of course, if you use these service, maybe you can rise your price from some ruble for pay the new expense...