Trading and Dating

LondonUSTrader · Dec 1, 2006

Quote from Trish:

Don't tamper with peace:
I joined a high profile dating service Feb 2006. $6500. 4-7 matches-marriage minded. Men pay more:$8500! To date nationally can be upwards of $50k. For a girl, a service like this weeds out a lot of riff raff from what you might get on "nearly" free sites: yahoo, eharmony (their commercials are irritating now), people can lie, they can be ill-intentioned, have a criminal record, lie about their picture and so on. The service is at least for very busy people who don't hang out in bars. (Me.) Time management of being fixed up is great.

Before I signed a contract, I ask explicitly, 'is it possible for me to be matched with people who are living in a city that I would like to move to? I don't want to date here in L.A.,' making it clear to the matchmaker. (So many here are vile.)

"Yes." Said the matchmaker. She writes it all down, I don't get a copy of my "wish" list with locations but sign the contract (that I do get a copy of) and pay in 2 payments.

Match one: a man in L.A. I turn it down.
It's March.
The matchmaker wants me to date men in L.A. in addition to being matched with men outside of L.A. because the wait for a gent to travel here on business may take too long. I say no, I don't want to dump someone the minute I get the opportunity to move away. The matchmakers are really pushy sales people-very good too, she sounds sincere, I say ok.

Match two: another man in L.A. He calls once and says let's have dinner next week, I say ok and never hear from him. (is this considered a match?)

I start to ask questions. The L.A. office won't answer them or my emails and their office address is not listed, reason being "they have a lot of info about high profile people celebs and sports figs-people that they need to protect."

Match three: a man in L.A.: one drink for one and a half hour. Is this a match, contractually? This rejection is starting to feel expensive.

I ask the L.A. office. No answers. I talk to the San Francisco office-thinking they would be more communicative. They are. It is April. I'm told they don't have offices in half of the cities I requested. (2 of 4) They say there is a high turnaround in the L.A. office. They say they don't have many tall men. (I'm tall.) They say one minute or a lifetime with a man is a contractual match on their part. They say what I am asking for (being matched with men away from L.A.) is a national membership and I don't deserve the caliber of attention-I didn't pay for that membership fee.

I thought people might approach dating/relationships like I do. Being emotionally/physically available. Maybe these men are way too busy?

I ask the San Francisco office for a pro-rated refund on a no refund contract. The matchmaker says she'll talk to the owner and get back to me. They don't, or return a 2nd call.

I alert the L.A. office to refrain from matching me and trying to obtain a refund. By September I talk to the owner. She finally agrees to pro-rate a refund. I ask her to keep in mind three things when she decides the amount:
1. Matchmaker who signed me on was clear I didn't want to date men here.
2. I tried to resolve this in May.
3. I have had one drink with one man since Feb.

At the end of the month, her daughter in the L.A. office decides not to give me a refund. I take them to small claims and lose. Why? What they promised verbally and what is written on the contract doesn't support my request. I don't have the matchmaker's word in writing that she'll match me with people who are not in L.A., I don't have the owner's phone call to me in writing that she'll refund me, either.

Lessons learned:
Can't hurry love.
Get out of L.A.
Get things in writing.
Pay attention to red flags: upon signing, the matchmaker asks me if I want to date her boyfriend who is not a member because they are not working out.
Stop being so darn trusting.
Karma is payback: what did I do to receive this?-just too honest....and best of all their karma:
My commission stayed right on this chick's big fat behind while my behind remains awesome-to allure others.
Living well is the best revenge.
More...

A difficult lesson, for sure. I don't think it is about trust though.

The market, and life, teaches you to be cautious of other people's motives. The reality with meeting anyone is it's never easy no matter how much money you invest.

I would also think carefully about spending thousands of dollars on anything. Instinctively my thought is are they scamming me? Just like when you put on a trade you ask yourself the question, are they (the people on the opposite side of your trade) the sucker or are you the sucker? Given the low probability of success in any dating service it will never be worth thousands of dollars no matter what their marketing or sales people contend. Always try to assess the probability of a win vs a loss and whether the payout justifies the risk.

And once they have your money, it will always be tough to get it back.

Always trust your intuition and try to follow it where possible.

Just my thoughts. Good luck.

ProfitProphet · Dec 1, 2006

Before I discovered trading, I applied for a job with a "national" dating service as a salesman. Meet available chicks AND get paid. Next best thing to doing porno.

They had a training phamphlet which I dubbed the manipulation manual. Teaches one expert ways to kiss ass. Ex: always complement (prospective client's) appearance.

The starter package was $1700 for three dates per months. It went as high as 10K. Once they signed up, you conducted "seminars". Essentially group therapy where your clients sit in a circle around you and you try to break the ice and get them to socialize with each other.

The 2 dirty little secrets of the industry. There is always a shortage of women 18 to 25 and males over 55, the 2 most desireable demographics.

Match Makers are no better than System Sellers. Both selling you a dream for a (high) price.

Optionpro007 · Dec 1, 2006

Sorry to hear about your story and thank you for sharing it. I think those of us who read your post in it's entirety have learned from your experience, so it was not all...in vane. I agree with Chisel, never stop letting your beautiful female intuition guide you as you travel through the jungles of Singletown...

I have an idea that I think could help you find who you are looking for. Please pm me if you are interested.

Cheers !

p.s. btw, which cities are you interested in moving to ? There is probably somebody in the audience who theoretically speaking could be your first trading friend in the new city....

one never knows...=)

Quote from Trish:

Don't tamper with peace:
I joined a high profile dating service Feb 2006. $6500. 4-7 matches-marriage minded. Men pay more:$8500! To date nationally can be upwards of $50k. For a girl, a service like this weeds out a lot of riff raff from what you might get on "nearly" free sites: yahoo, eharmony (their commercials are irritating now), people can lie, they can be ill-intentioned, have a criminal record, lie about their picture and so on. The service is at least for very busy people who don't hang out in bars. (Me.) Time management of being fixed up is great.

Before I signed a contract, I ask explicitly, 'is it possible for me to be matched with people who are living in a city that I would like to move to? I don't want to date here in L.A.,' making it clear to the matchmaker. (So many here are vile.)

"Yes." Said the matchmaker. She writes it all down, I don't get a copy of my "wish" list with locations but sign the contract (that I do get a copy of) and pay in 2 payments.

Match one: a man in L.A. I turn it down.
It's March.
The matchmaker wants me to date men in L.A. in addition to being matched with men outside of L.A. because the wait for a gent to travel here on business may take too long. I say no, I don't want to dump someone the minute I get the opportunity to move away. The matchmakers are really pushy sales people-very good too, she sounds sincere, I say ok.

Match two: another man in L.A. He calls once and says let's have dinner next week, I say ok and never hear from him. (is this considered a match?)

I start to ask questions. The L.A. office won't answer them or my emails and their office address is not listed, reason being "they have a lot of info about high profile people celebs and sports figs-people that they need to protect."

Match three: a man in L.A.: one drink for one and a half hour. Is this a match, contractually? This rejection is starting to feel expensive.

I ask the L.A. office. No answers. I talk to the San Francisco office-thinking they would be more communicative. They are. It is April. I'm told they don't have offices in half of the cities I requested. (2 of 4) They say there is a high turnaround in the L.A. office. They say they don't have many tall men. (I'm tall.) They say one minute or a lifetime with a man is a contractual match on their part. They say what I am asking for (being matched with men away from L.A.) is a national membership and I don't deserve the caliber of attention-I didn't pay for that membership fee.

I thought people might approach dating/relationships like I do. Being emotionally/physically available. Maybe these men are way too busy?

I ask the San Francisco office for a pro-rated refund on a no refund contract. The matchmaker says she'll talk to the owner and get back to me. They don't, or return a 2nd call.

I alert the L.A. office to refrain from matching me and trying to obtain a refund. By September I talk to the owner. She finally agrees to pro-rate a refund. I ask her to keep in mind three things when she decides the amount:
1. Matchmaker who signed me on was clear I didn't want to date men here.
2. I tried to resolve this in May.
3. I have had one drink with one man since Feb.

At the end of the month, her daughter in the L.A. office decides not to give me a refund. I take them to small claims and lose. Why? What they promised verbally and what is written on the contract doesn't support my request. I don't have the matchmaker's word in writing that she'll match me with people who are not in L.A., I don't have the owner's phone call to me in writing that she'll refund me, either.

Lessons learned:
Can't hurry love.
Get out of L.A.
Get things in writing.
Pay attention to red flags: upon signing, the matchmaker asks me if I want to date her boyfriend who is not a member because they are not working out.
Stop being so darn trusting.
Karma is payback: what did I do to receive this?-just too honest....and best of all their karma:
My commission stayed right on this chick's big fat behind while my behind remains awesome-to allure others.
Living well is the best revenge.
More...

Optionpro007 · Dec 6, 2006

<img src=http://www.ctgilles.net/images/pictars/hititweeee.jpg>

2manywhiners · Dec 6, 2006

Quote from sosa1974:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j66aZ3WJWCA

Best song to describe my present situation. Dang Trish you sound fun...
More...

I'm Rick James BITCH!

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/j66aZ3WJWCA"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/j66aZ3WJWCA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Optionpro007 · Jan 18, 2007

bump

jtnet · Jan 18, 2007

i tell chicks im a pilot

Optionpro007 · Jan 18, 2007

Good idea. How many minutes average does it take to get a girl in bed with that line?

jtnet · Jan 19, 2007

Quote from optionpro007:

Good idea. How many minutes average does it take to get a girl in bed with that line?
More...

not sure yet, the strategy doesnt have a massive back test history yet, although i suspect the number of minutes will be a fib number...

Trish · Jan 19, 2007

Pilots DO have an active sex life! I worked in ops for an airline while going to college and let me tell you, it's true: girl in every port and a pregnant wife at home and for what?!!!!! A few stripes sewn on his shirt shoulders and most pilots were not that cute......What girls are attracted to is pathetic.