First of all, I must say this is a relationship "in progress"... my rating could change for the better (I HOPE IT WILL ;-) )and I'll keep this link and update my rating as warranted. If I could just rate the coaching, I'd give them 5 stars. Really outstanding. I am a widow and getting back in the dating world after many years was challenging; Master Matchmakers' coach was remarkably insightful, kind and helpful. I'm not as sure about how well my coach's knowledge is influencing their choice of matches. To be fair, there are slim pickings for me just based on demographics ("mature" woman, highly athletic, lean and fit, attractive, educated, worldly with a bunch of letters after my name... but men with comparable qualities can attract younger women)-- believe me, I know this, which is why I decided to use a matchmaker! I think were I a man, they'd get 5 stars because there are more high quality women in their database from which to choose. With online dating I can find (and have) 3 dates a week (average has been nearly one a week for about the past 2 years). However it's too time consuming to vet and meet all these men. (I only want ONE, a soulmate.) I'm betting the man I seek is also too busy for online dating and would welcome professional matchmaking services. (Am I right?)Here's why I can't give 5 stars right now: Technically, my contract affords the coaching plus 3 matches which is CRAZY EXPENSIVE. I'm told not to worry about this; that they will not stop at 3 and they send me on dates in part to get a better understanding of me. Were I certain this is true, and that they will really work their contacts and my online dating accounts on my behalf to help me find that needle in a haystack, I could relax.. probably would give them 4 or 5 stars. But the contract is all I have and the investment is not small.... I have had three completely inappropriate matches-- really anyone who knows me would have said these aren't a match. One of these is a person who lied about his weight (by 80-100 lbs!) and somehow this wasn't picked up. I'm very fit and need a partner who wants a level of activity this guy could never manage. But even beyond that, he was so obviously unsuitable... I started to insist on extended phone conversations before meeting. During one of these I learned from a recommended match that he was still living with his wife! I was assured that these "mismatches" are ok, because these experiences will help my matchmaker(s) hone in on what might be the right match. Each time, I've given detailed feedback (and presumably the guys have given feedback about me...) I wouldn't mind this at all if my contract didn't limit me to 3 matches. If the benefit of a meeting is to help MM learn about BOTH parties' interests, then my meeting one of the men in their pool helps them help him as well. So why limit me to 3?? Well that's what it says on paper. The Matchmakers tell me I needn't worry about this...There are two matchmakers working with me. One seems to get it, the other popped into my life without even introducing herself and obviously took no trouble to learn about me. I had spent 4 hours over a month with the coach and was told detailed notes from our conversations would be in their system, so that has been disappointing. She also made a point of informing me that the lunch I had with one of the completely inappropriate matches, which she arranged, would "count as a match". (So evidently they are counting...). Honestly, no one who knows me even superficially would have recommended that match.BOTTOM LINE: I'm hopeful about a new match I just got (we'll meet soon). This is, at least on paper, the first match that has met most of my requirements, and all the essential ones. If that one counted as one, if they really stick with me even if this one doesn't work out, if they really use my feedback after each date to hone in on what will make me happy... and SEEK OUT AND FIND promising candidates, I'll add stars. I do recommend them to people. Have recommended them to men I've dated whom I like but aren't a match. (BTW, I think if you're a man, this will be a better experience just because of the demographics, They are certainly reputable and do ok in their efforts to vet people. Maybe also good if a younger woman, especially if you would consider an older man--just guessing on this though).Honestly my main complaint (and why only 3 stars) is that their contract is unsuited to the way the matchmakers work (with several "test" dates just to learn more about me). So I'll revisit this and let you know whether they stick with me on my journey....
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Master Matchmakers® is a high end personal service that has been coaching and connecting single men and women for more than 20 years. The nationwide practice is still owned and operated by JoAnn Ward and her son, CEO Steve Ward.
