Dating Sites Review
Online Dating Services - American Singles Review
Review by Joe Tracy, Publisher of Online Dating Magazine
Dating Site: American Singles
Slogan: "For love and romance"
Updated Review Date: July 13, 2008
Online Dating Magazine Rating: 7/10
Browse for Free? Yes
Cost Structure
1 Month = $29.99
3 Months = $59.97
6 Months = $79.99
Best Feature:
More ways than any other online dating service to express an interest in someone. Our favorite is the "Think You'd Click?" feature.
Most Annoying Feature:
When you close down your profile and/or leave the service, anyone who you've ever emailed via the service can still see your profile. A close second annoying feature is that when you do a "Who's Online" search, it shows you both males and females (with profiles/pictures) instead of honoring your preferences. Because I'm a male looking for a female, I should only be able to see females online and should only be able to view female profiles. But yet males can view my profile if desired and I can view theirs even if they are only looking for someone of the opposite gender.
Review
American Singles is a nice and well executed dating service that seems to keep up with modern technology while giving you a lot of freedom in your online dating experience. But before delving too far into this review, you should first be forewarned that American Singles is a misleading name. The name implies that it is a site for just American singles to communicate with each other, but you'll find that a number of users are from other countries.
I really like the freedom the American Singles site gives you. You are given the ability to see who you've viewed in the past, who has viewed you, who you have hot listed, who has hot listed you, who you have "teased", who has "teased" you, and so on.
Another thing I like about American Singles is the number of ways it gives you to express an interest and communicate with other members. For example, if I want a girl to know I'm interested in her I can Hot List her (and she'll be able to see I've done so) or I can send her a tease (cute one-liners to express an interest) or an eCard. If I want to communicate with her, I can Instant Message her, email her, or even connect with her in the chat room. There's also a "Think You'd Click?" feature, which is my personal favorite. On every profile there's a "Think You'd Click?" question. If you click Yes, the person is sent an email with several profiles on it, including yours. They "don't know" who said they might click, so they have to view each profile and answer the question themselves. If you both click Yes, you are notified via email.
Like with other online dating services, you get a fair amount of scam spam in your Inbox. Just remember, anytime someone emails you a generic message and puts their email address in that message asking you to email them there... it's likely scam span. Ignore it. By responding, you may find yourself soon inundated with spam (and money-making schemes) in your email account. Or the person will build a fake relationship with you then after gaining your trust invent an emergency causing them to need money.
The chat room is a nice concept, although it doesn't seem to be used by a lot of people and there are only generic categories (Lobby, 20's, 30's, etc.) to select from. Whether you're a paying member or not, you can go to the chat room and chat it up with others. And if you are so inclined, you can start your own chat room. My one qualm with the chat room system is that it is very cluttered and not moderated. People can highlight text, change color, etc. which makes the board hard to read. One person may write a message in white text with a black highlight and the next person has blue text with a yellow highlight. This makes the chat room seem rather juvenile at times.
Your American Singles Message Center is where you manage your email and teases. From here you can block/ignore users and organize your messages. You can also download the American Singles Toolbar (interesting concept) which allows you to get instant message alerts and gives you the ability to respond to any new emails from your desktop.
Nearly everything about American Singles is well executed. When you view someone's profile, it opens a new window. If they are online, a button appears allowing you to chat one on one, if desired. You also have options to email, tease, hot list, or send the person's profile to a friend. American Singles even has an advice section, giving quality advice on what photos work best to get responses, etc.
Conclusion
If I was to create a quick slogan for AmericanSingles based on my experience, it would be "the freedom to date online the way you want to". I just love how nicely organized, intuitive, and executed the whole site is. I also like that they keep up with technology (i.e. not using HTML-based older chat services like some other sites). However, we first reviewed American Singles in 2003. The new review was done in 2008. Since that time, AmericanSingles has only corrected one issue we originally brought up five years ago. Because there haven't been more improvements, we've docked them half a point from their original review. But we've also added .2 (point two) points for new features.
| Pros | Cons |
| lots of stats | messy chat room |
| many ways to show interest | closed profiles remain viewable |
| technologically up to date | online now search issues |
| nice layout, lots of freedom |
AmericanSingles is rewarded with a score of 7.2 out of 10 (used to be 7.5).
ChristianCafe Review
Christian Cafe is pretty much a virtual Cafe, dedicated to providing Christian Singles with a forum to meet others in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere, from pen-pals to romance, and everything in between. A Cafe motif was chosen to provide this feeling.
Christian Cafe is a comfortable relaxing online place to grab a cup of coffee while Christian singles connect with each other. Whether you're looking for a companion, a date, or a soul mate, Christian Cafe is the place for you! Christian Cafe is warm, romantic, inviting and easy to use.
Create your FREE TRIAL profile & browse 1000's of other Christian singles. Check out photos, detailed bios, attractive men and women, all looking for dating, love, romance, Christian dating service, personals, pen-pals, & relationships. With your free trial you are allowed to email other members.
Christian Cafe Offers Unique Look. Christian Cafe offers the look of a unique personal dating site and the feel of a warm and comforting local coffee house. Christian Cafe Utilizes In-Depth Profiles, Chat, Messaging and Global Scope. Christian Cafe is a very sensible site that is also very appealing to the global Christian singles community. Christian Cafe serves the global Christian community as the forum for Christian singles to connect with each other in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Christian Cafe service offering includes revealing, in-depth profiles, photos, Christian chat rooms, and anonymous messaging.
When you sign up you will have to fill out the Christian Cafe Profile. When you fill-out the in-depth profile, you will be asked to describe yourself, your leisure activities and whom you are hoping to find at the Christian Cafe. Your profile becomes active at the completion of the registration process. will then forward your login and password to the email address that was submitted when you initially registered with Christian Cafe. Without the login information, you won't be able to access what Christian Cafe has to offer.
After you login with the password from your email you can send a message to members. Once you have found someone that interests you, it's time to let them know that you are interested in getting to know them better. The two features available at Christian Cafe for this purpose are private emails and quick messages. Whichever feature you decide to use, make sure to let them know what it was in their profile that prompted this message, the common goals that you may share, and invite them to visit your profile to see if the interest is mutual. If the feeling is mutual, continue this path of communication until you are both ready to meet.
Christian Cafe is such a friendly, feel-good and safe kind of online experience where you can't help but feel welcome.
Chemistry.com Review
An Introduction to Chemistry.com
Dr. Helen Fisher, a renowned anthropologist and expert in human attraction. Dr. Fisher’s profile helped to develop the Chemistry dating site, which uses her profile to help prepare matches. Chemistry develops matches based on major and minor personality types, primarily whether a person is an explorer, builder, negotiator and director. The basis for the Chemistry.com website is that compatibility and chemistry are vital parts of human attraction and a successful relationship. Chemistry.com bases the matching system on years of research into a chemistry inspired matching system. Dr. Fisher’s believes that there is more than one person for each person and that the chemistry system helps increase possible matches.
Benefits of Chemistry.com
Chemistry.com features a free personality profile, helping you discover your true character and how you relate to others. Questions that are provided include personality, interests, demographic questions as well as genetics, hormones, and physical characteristics that assist in the matching process. The system automatically matches you with a compatible single based on the profile system. Your information will also be given to potential matches. From there, you can choose to turn up the heat or matches can say that they are interested in finding out more. Chemistry.com has an easy to use membership system, however you will need to pay to view matches photos and complete profile.
Communicating on Chemistry.com
Members communicate via email, which is a step-by-step communication process, allowing you to get comfortable with your potential date in a secure setting. Through their system, you and your potential match can talk in a secure setting so you can be yourself and choose whether or not the communication should go any further. This guided communication process consists of four separate stages, including relationship essentials, short answers, email and the possible in-person meeting.
Searching for Singles on Chemistry.com
Chemistry.com ensures a proper system by providing you with matches and does not offer a search function. In order to get additional matches, you must rate the ones with whom you have already been matched. This also helps to improve the Chemistry.com matching system.
Safety and Screening on Chemistry.com
The Chemistry.com site has an internal e-mail system to improve the security of your personal address and information. They do not screen matches or run background checks, but they do urge users to protect their own information. Chemistry.com promotes your safety. Your profile remains private, so your photos are not shared with anyone who wants to look. Chemistry.com offers enhanced security features to subscribers only.
Demographics of Chemistry.com
The Chemistry.com website was launched in 1999 and has since arranged hundreds of thousands of potential matches for members. The Chemistry.com site is only available within the United States. This site is specifically focused on giving people a hand who are seeking a meaningful, long-term relationship. There are currently over 3 million users, a number that grows daily.
Features of Chemistry.com
Chemistry.com features includes the following features:
• Photo profiles
• Compatible matches based on your questionnaire
• Secure onsite email
• Onsite articles and advice features
Chemistry.com Review Summary
The Chemistry.com site offers multiple plans for subscribers to increase your chances of finding a lasting relationship. Terms include a 1 month, 3 month, 6 month or 12 month membership options. Although there are no Chemistry.com promotional codes available, there are frequent promotions that are available through the Chemistry website. You can also try to find your match through a trial of seven days. The profiling system and enhanced security offers users an easy way to receive matches.
Date.com Review
Established: February 14, 1997
Member Size: Over 2 Million Active Members
Description: Date.com features millions of quality singles looking for a serious, happy, and healthy relationship. With their large member size, there are more chances to find the type of relationship that you are looking for. Date.com believes that “Every relationships begins with a date.”
Special Features: Chat Room, Instant Messaging, Voice and Video Greeting, Email, Keyword Search, Date Info Webzine & Weekly Newsletter
Date.com Website Review:
Date.com’s registration process is free, simple, and takes only a few minutes. Unlike other dating sites, Date.com gets down to the basics. All you have to do is fill out some information about yourself, such as where you live, what kind of relationship you are looking for and your physical characteristics. Next you have to come up with a creative, eye-catching headline and write a short essay about yourself and who you are looking for. Lastly, Date.com will ask you about your other interests and hobbies. Just three steps is all it takes to begin searching through Date.com’s extensive database.
After registering, you will be taken to Date.com’s member homepage. From here, you can check your IMs, mail, and who viewed your profile. You can also see how many members have joined this week, new members near you, and featured members. To search for other singles, you can specify location, age, interests, and hundreds of other preferences. When you find someone you are interested in, you can show them by clicking “Show Interest.” Date.com also offers professional dating advice in their Date Info Webzine and Weekly Newsletter so you won’t be alone when you need advice.
To communicate with other members via send emails, instant messages, audio/video messages, and join chat rooms, you will have to become a Gold Member.
Summary of Date.com:
Date.com’s goal is to broaden your social horizons so that you have more chances of finding your special someone. With millions of quality singles looking for a variety of relationships, Date.com sure has the potential to help you find the relationship just for you. Registering to become a Date.com member is the first step towards searching for your future date.
Date.com Subscription Plans:
To take advantage of Date.com’s other features you will have to upgrade to Gold Member. The membership fees are:
$24.95 for 1 month
$74.95 for 6 months
$99.95 for 1 year
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