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Show HN: Too busy for online dating? Try Wednesday Night

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Re: Show HN: Too busy for online dating? Try Wednesday Night

#11

Post by jmtame »

gkoberger wrote: post #10

I'm not sure how I feel about this. They aren't matching you up with people they've vetted or know -- they're just finding you a date from other online dating services. And then charging you $75 (which could end up being $150 for them if they get both people via their site). Semi-related, but Tim Ferriss has an interesting story about how he "outsourced his love life": http://blog.timferriss.com/1/post/2009/07/how-to…

We've setup drinks for people through our own personal networks (one or two degrees away from the matchmaker), and they've gone well. We use a variety of options, but our philosophy is: we don't care where we find a match, as long as they're good, that's all that matters. We can also keep notes on everyone using it.

Re: Show HN: Too busy for online dating? Try Wednesday Night

#12

Post by heliodor »

goeric wrote: post #8
CodeFoo wrote: post #2

These dating/find-a-friend services that require Facebook show up often on HN, and like clockwork are berated because they are Facebook-only (and the privacy issues that go along with it). Yet people keep making them. Am I correct to deduce they are popular and there is market for them, and that it's only HN that hates them?

Grouper is growing like crazy and requires Facebook. This is basically Grouper, without the group, and way too expensive ($75 per date? Are you kidding?). I would also say much less appealing then Grouper as well, because going solo is a much harder sell, at least to the younger demographic.

I agree that Grouper's approach of six people is much better. To the founders of this project, I recommend you move the bit explaining the price to the top. It's this piece:

> We charge $75 up front because people who are serious about going out are willing to pay this (so it acts as a filter for our matchmakers).

It's a very good explanation and it needs to be said upfront because otherwise people who have seen Grouper will be outraged.

Re: Show HN: Too busy for online dating? Try Wednesday Night

#13

Post by ianstormtaylor »

heliodor wrote: post #12
goeric wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Grouper is growing like crazy and requires Facebook. This is basically Grouper, without the group, and way too expensive ($75 per date? Are you kidding?). I would also say much less appealing then Grouper as well, because going solo is a much harder sell, at least to the younger demographic.

I agree that Grouper's approach of six people is much better. To the founders of this project, I recommend you move the bit explaining the price to the top. It's this piece: > We charge $75 up front because people who are serious about going out are willing to pay this (so it acts as a filter for our matchmakers). It's a very good explanation and it needs to be said upfront because otherwise people who have seen Grou…

Completely agree. I saw the price and thought "WTF?", but that explanation does, surprisingly, convince me a bit.

Re: Show HN: Too busy for online dating? Try Wednesday Night

#14

Post by GhotiFish »

So the 75 bucks is to cover the actual match making? Or are you sending people to some really fancy bars. How's that even work? I'm in Canada, You have deals with franchises here?

Ah no, that's a US zip code you're asking for. I'm very familiar with the US zip code, you see, as most US based web services present themselves as a global service rather than a US based one, and the zip code is often the only sign that they arn't catering to my nation.

Re: Show HN: Too busy for online dating? Try Wednesday Night

#16

Post by jmtame »

cupcake-unicorn wrote: post #15

This might be a weird comment, but the service seems very alcohol oriented - meeting at a bar, covering drinks. What about people who don't drink?

We have people who don't drink using the service and they order non-alcoholic drinks at the venue--sometimes they're bars, sometimes lounges.

Alcohol does act as a pretty good social lubricant though. The girls actually prefer that to extravagant dates when we've suggested them because there's less pressure--if the chemistry isn't there, it's more acceptable to leave after that first round rather than commit to spending a lot of time with someone up front.

Re: Show HN: Too busy for online dating? Try Wednesday Night

#17

Post by jmtame »

GhotiFish wrote: post #14

So the 75 bucks is to cover the actual match making? Or are you sending people to some really fancy bars. How's that even work? I'm in Canada, You have deals with franchises here? Ah no, that's a US zip code you're asking for. I'm very familiar with the US zip code, you see, as most US based web services present themselves as a global service rather than a US based one, and the zip code is often the only sign that th…

We haven't worked with any venues or had any dates in Canada. We're primarily focused in SF, LA, Chicago, and NYC. Sorry about that. Hope we can add support for you soon.

Re: Show HN: Too busy for online dating? Try Wednesday Night

#18

Post by jmtame »

ianstormtaylor wrote: post #13
heliodor wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that Grouper's approach of six people is much better. To the founders of this project, I recommend you move the bit explaining the price to the top. It's this piece: > We charge $75 up front because people who are serious about going out are willing to pay this (so it acts as a filter for our matchmakers). It's a very good explanation and it needs to be said upfront because otherwise people who have seen Grou…

Completely agree. I saw the price and thought "WTF?", but that explanation does, surprisingly, convince me a bit.

Interesting. Thanks, we'll try to explain that better up front.

Re: Show HN: Too busy for online dating? Try Wednesday Night

#20

Post by BrianEatWorld »

jmtame wrote: post #4
CodeFoo wrote: post #2

These dating/find-a-friend services that require Facebook show up often on HN, and like clockwork are berated because they are Facebook-only (and the privacy issues that go along with it). Yet people keep making them. Am I correct to deduce they are popular and there is market for them, and that it's only HN that hates them?

Most dating services allow you to join using any e-mail address, but with that comes a lot of problems such as fake accounts, spam, data mining, creepy behavior because of anonymity, no real ability to ban someone, etc. Using Facebook solves many problems that we'd rather stick with it--I have no idea how many users we're missing out on. Probably a lot. I would say only use Facebook if it makes sense for your product…

Have you all considered other methods of dealing with those issues?

Its incredibly easy to make fake FB accounts these days and just based on many Disqus comment sections I have seen across the internet, I don't know that a lack of anonymity really cures bad behavior.

A more intrusive, but verifiable method may get fewer signups, but the higher intent shown by someone giving real info may mean you can avoid FB pitfalls and actually charge lower prices, while getting a richer community for matches and thus a better product.

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