From The Desk Of
Natasha Spivack

Sorting Through The Type and Hype By this point, I am sure you know that there are many different types of agencies out there offering just as many different services. In fact, you could say that agencies which advertise Russian women run the gamut: from the al a Carte (address sellers), to fast food (socials), to smorgasbord (personalized services). In a market driven economy, there is certainly a demand set for all these agency types. If there were no consumer demand, obviously they would cease to exist. The purpose of this section of the Encounters International Handbook is to look at agency types and services. This is straight talk about the different agencies based on my communication with my clients, past and present. I don't need to fabricate disadvantages or stories to make these agencies look bad. As with all other Handbook sections, I'll provide the information and let you decide! Getting The Ducks In A Row Practically every agency can be assigned to one of six generic categories. As I mentioned above, the services vary by category and sometimes by individual agency. The discussion here will cover the typical agency in a given category. Of course, there are extremes. However, unless someone has tried them all, how would anyone know the extremes? Within each generic agency category, I will first define the agency type. I want to ensure that we all understand the names that are used to describe the agency. This is the area where a basic overview of the agency category and services is discussed. If you have used this category, you will recognize this information from your own experience. The Truth Is Out There! Second, I have prepared a table that discusses twenty (20) different areas of interest for each agency generic category. It wasn't possible to include a side-by-side comparison without overflowing the average screen and printer width. Therefore, these are individual tables by category. I call them 'Truth Tables.' As I talked with my clients about their lives outside Encounters International, I learned about different industries and occupations. I found out that in digital electronics, there is something called a 'truth table.' It was explained to me that a truth table lists the possible input states for a component and the only possible outcome (based on that input). It seemed only natural, when discussing all the agency categories, to use the term truth table. I think you will find this a frank and interesting comparison method. As I stated previously, I have based this data on information directly received from my clients at Encounters International. It is not hearsay evidence or conventional wisdom from discussion group so-called experts. My male and female clients relate their past experiences and real life examples, both good and bad, to me. You Can't Tell The Players Without A Program The third area under each category is an examination of the groups of men who use the various agency types. Just as there are categories or groups of Russian and Ukrainian women seeking (or not seeking) a foreign husband, there are groups of men who tend to use certain agency categories.  I have always maintained that  Encounters International, is not for every prospective male client. I have to extend that logic to the other agency types as well. Not every agency category universally fits every potential customer's needs. Someone reading this Handbook section may see himself as a potential customer for a certain agency. There is nothing wrong with it. Again, my goal is to make you an educated customer. Quite honestly, for some men, some agency types work out fine. However, my experience has shown me that although there are extremes-bright successes and miserable failures-typically the results depend on how long and persistent you can "fake it until you make it" This list of groups is based on my interaction with the many clients (both male and female) who have come to Encounters International after trying one or more of the other agency types first. Address Sellers, Russian Women 101 Address sellers represent the grassroots way to find a wife overseas. These agencies existed long before the popularity of the Internet. In the early days, they printed catalogs filled mainly with Asian women seeking American husbands. When the term "Mail Order Bride" is used, typically the address sellers come to mind--like ordering clothing, by mail, from the Victoria's Secret catalog. Since the development and popularity of the Internet, address sellers have flourished and grown in number. Today, the largest number of agencies operates within this area. Likewise, with the fall of communism and the Soviet Union, a whole new area of potential brides opened. Address sellers do just that; they sell the postal addresses of women. If e-mail, telephone or fax information is available, that is typically included with the cost of the address. The entry costs for these agencies are very small. For around $10 (less in larger quantities) customers receive all known contact information for a given woman. The entry fee is small and so is the service. The extent of the basic service is sending orders to customers by fax, mail or e-mail. Additional a la carte services, such as express mail and translations, are available for an extra cost per use. Typically, there is a guarantee that the address will be deliverable or it will be replaced with another woman's address. I am sometimes asked which address seller I recommend. In my mind, they are all the same. When a Russian woman responds to a newspaper ad and sends in her photos, she has no idea what the name of the agency is. In addition, many USA-based agencies use same overseas brokers to get women for their service. If a man does not get a response from a woman,  it does not matter which agency he bought her address from. Response rates are a function of the women, not the quality of the address seller agency! Of course, there might be outdated addresses: the woman may have got married, moved, lost interest, developed  interest in somebody else or all of the above. Well, the address seller has no idea about that and has no way to check it. I have noticed that all rationalization and logic seem to leap away from a man's head when the first few catalogs arrive, or when surfing a few popular web sites. Men tend to select the most beautiful women. Why not? The most attractive woman's address costs the same as a not-so-attractive woman. It's like seeing advertisements for a Yugo and Rolls Royce at the exact same price, but there is a finite number available. Who wouldn't try for the Rolls? Likewise, competition for the most attractive women is very strong. Setting his sights a little lower on the physical appearance scale will result in a better response rate, less competition and higher chance of success. I have clients come to me to ask for help with locating and screening women whose addresses they purchased elsewhere. The Encounters International overseas office managers are able to find women in Moscow or Kiev for my clients. Sometimes my male client will want to know why a response was delayed or missing. We will find out for him. Here is a (very) real life example of our search for eight very beautiful women on my client's list. #1--Married and lived in Kansas City for the past two years. #2--Moved from her rental apartment and left no forwarding contact information. #3--Same status as #2. Except landlady wanted us to find her too for back rent. #4--Lived with a boyfriend or husband. He was very angry with the office manager. She did not get to see the woman. #5--She was available and open-minded to the idea. Came to the office  looked at the pictures of our clients, asked questions about their personalities and how to contact them. #6--Also an available and open-minded woman. She came to the office but did not join. After looking through the albums, she decided she liked one of our other clients better. #7--This woman used a P. O. Box address. This is not normal and always raises suspicion (in Russian tough economy nobody pays extra for what you don't have to). She did not reply to our letter of inquiry. My office manager was never able to locate her. #8--She told my manager that she does not correspond with men. She would be glad to 'meet' our client at her place or his place; just don't expect her to write letters. She gave my office manager her telephone number to pass along to our client. Truth Table #1 Comparison Area (Input) Address Sellers (Output) Business Cost Model The cost is an average $10 per address. This is a very low entry-level cost. Unexpected Costs & Issues Typically, the suitor uses registered mail service or courier service to ensure his letters get through to her. This also reduces long delays between mail sent and received (typically 30 days round-trip-if she responds at all). Some agencies offer (or may require use of) internal re-mailing and translation services; at an extra cost to you. Sending reply postage is considered an appropriate gesture. Therefore, you can expect the total cost of the address and all add-ons to be quadruple the base address cost! Some men do not consider that they must make a trip overseas before she can come to the USA. Inherent Risks First, there is no way to be sure you are corresponding with who you think you are. The scam artists overseas use photos of models and correspond in an attempt to get men to send them money. There is no screening to prevent or discourage this. Second, anyone else who bought her address may arrive in her town first and propose to her. If she accepts, men usually never hear from her again. Third, there is nobody overseas to assist you the hidden meanings and agendas of the letters; literal translation between languages cannot provide this. Guarantee The address purchased is a deliverable address. If the letter is returned, typically a replacement address will be made available. Recruitment and Screening of Women Recruitment is usually conducted by placing ads in local newspapers. The content of the ads is intended to establish the dream of the American lifestyle. No screening is conducted at any level. If a woman has an address, she is considered acceptable. If she is attractive, she will be accepted to sell more addresses. Those are the two criteria of acceptance. Professional Matchmaker, Guidance or Counseling Available No, in many cases just finding a human by telephone is difficult. No 'process' support of any kind is available, promised, or provided. Overseas Support Available Generally, you have to secure and reserve your own place to stay. Some agencies 'recommend' western-style hotels for their customers. There is no representative on the ground to greet you at the airport or arrange for your first choice woman to meet you there. Marriage & Divorce Statistics Available No, often testimonials will be included with the printed or online material. Typically, they will not include full names and certainly not contact information. Industry Hype Often considered the oldest method to secure a 'mail order bride.'  Emphasis is made on traditional values of Russian women and their acceptance of large age difference. Secrets for Success First, one has to buy a large number of addresses. It is a game of numbers with typically low response rates. Second, to reduce competition, men must reduce their standards for her physical appearance. Third, select women from distant villages. They are more desperate and less likely to be visited by other men. Best Case Result This is what everyone hopes for, but only a lucky few realize! The customer selects three most beautiful young ladies from the catalog or web site. All three women reply immediately after they received his letters. He's able to select the best candidate based on quality of her correspondence. After three to six months of letter writing, he visits his number one choice overseas. She feels like she knows him very well and places a lot of trust in him. As such, she arranges for him to stay in her home with her family. She is all that he expected and more. Both chemistry and love are present. Shortly thereafter, the K-1 fianceé visa is approved. The two are married within 8-10 months of the process start date. The adjustment process is very smooth. They live happily ever after! Typical Case Result Most customers end up here! Men are initially elated because one or more beautiful women replied to his letters. Unfortunately, the good feelings and hopefulness subsides as he realizes there may never be a meaningful second or third letter. After a few months of purchasing more addresses to replace the "dead end' correspondence, very hard work to establish something meaningful while writing to multiple women takes its toll on the enthusiasm. There is often impatience at the slow pace that things progress, if at all. Depression sets in when his number one choice is 'gone' because another man visited and proposed first. Most men never travel overseas after swearing they will go. Similarly, many men stop writing all together after assuring the women that it is not simply a hobby for them. Many months have passed and much money has left his wallet. The bottom line is that, after this experience, he is no closer to finding the woman of his dreams than before he decided to start looking. He did not become engaged to the wrong or the right woman, for that matter. Perhaps he will try using another method or just 'throw in the towel' and give up the search. Worst Case Result This is what everyone hopes to avoid; but some unfortunately find! The first-round low response rate seems depressing. Therefore, he must select another (usually larger) group of women with whom to correspond. After the first few responses he feels that he must have success before the process falls apart again. If not, he will have return to 'square one' again! The stress of another round of failures forces a premature trip to meet one woman (no back up). Unknown to him, she is a scam artist looking only for money and/or a trip to the USA for a vacation. The woman does not open her home to him because she is married or living with a boyfriend or pimp. Furthermore, her family is not supportive of her desire or may not even be aware she is considering leaving. Closing his eyes to the potential problems and issues and ignoring all the 'red flags',  he crosses his fingers and hopes for the best: while being drawn even deeper into her web of deception. It's an all or nothing play at this stage. In desperation, the wrong woman is brought here. She may stay for the K-1 fianceé period and then return home admitting she is in love with someone else. Perhaps in the interest of money, they get married. They don't live happily ever after! Effects On Sense of Well Being Typically, beautiful and sexy looking women begin to experience an inflated ego due to all the 'unsolicited' attention. In addition, their expectations are enlarged by self-worth. Men typically are disappointed if their letters go unanswered. Post-marriage or Post-engagement Support Available Yes and no. Assistance can occasionally be purchased for help with the K-1 fianceé visa process. There is no support for her with transition to a new country and new lifestyle. You are on your own to figure out these issues and hope you both get it right! Comments from Women Women complain that men write a few times and then stop. It is a waste of time. They realize the men are not committed to them or the process. "Men write us as a hobby." In addition, the sheer volume of mail in different languages that women receive, including obnoxious letters with indecent pictures often intimidates them. Often women choose wrong criteria for responding or not. It may be the color of the eyes on the enclosed photograph or the name of the country that the letter came from. Initiation of Contact The men select the women they wish to contact from catalogs and/or web sites. Contact Method Generally, correspondence is via postal mail services. Sometimes, e-mail addresses are available. Men's Competition Each man who looks at the catalog or web site usually selects the same beautiful women. Competition for their attention is fierce. Commitment of Male Customers The commitment level of men is very low. The pervasive male attitude is, "It's only a $10 address, what do I have to lose?" There are four groups of men who typically use the services of the address sellers. The following is a list of each along with a brief description. Totally New Guys-This group of customers typically have no idea of what they really want from the process. It is not that they are dumb, but rather that still 'getting their feet wet' with the idea of finding a Russian or Ukrainian wife. In other words, it is simple inexperience. This method represents a very small investment of money to start the process. The customer's initial focus is on the physical qualities of the women they see on the web or in the glossy catalogs. The focus then shifts to 'all things Russian.' Generally, while waiting for the responses they will learn some of the Russian language, perform a little more research on Russia, the culture, and current events. Low Level of Commitment-This is a group of men who generally have a bad attitude. That attitude is best reflected by the expression, "What the heck, it's only $10." This small amount of money represents no risk. It could potentially result in meeting the woman of their dreams. Usually, this step will be taken immediately following a breakup with a spouse or girlfriend. At this point, the bruised male ego needs a boost. Often, just spite motivates this group to prove their value by courting a beautiful woman from Russia or Ukraine. Each letter sent overseas offers light of hope. Usually, after the woman responds to him, the crisis is over and the limited commitment is completely gone. Do It Yourself Handyman-This group is like the crew from "This Old House." They have the confidence to oversee all aspects of the process. Typically, they feel that outside 'interference' is not necessary for them to accomplish their goal. Their motto is, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." These men function as independent contractors while taking all the time needed to complete the job. Addresses are purchased or gleaned from every site and catalog. Each woman will have a file folder containing her photo, contact information, and letters exchanged. They methodically keep plugging away at the process with a lot of patience; realizing that time is not money. Penny Wise & Pound Foolish-This group of male customers assume the best way to reach their goal is the least expensive way. They view the low cost of each address as a real bargain. Free addresses of the women are even a better deal! Generally, there is little forethought about the required trip overseas. Their main (often only) concern is low cost. These men often end up emotionally locked in the wrong relationship. More attention is paid to the cost by which the contact information can be obtained rather than the quality of the woman or the correspondence. Quite often, they realize this fact too late in the process. After the 'light bulb' comes on, they will change strategies, as well as agency types. They end up spending a lot more money (by starting over again) in the long run. Socials, The Greatest Show On Earth Overseas Socials are often called Romance Tours. The premise presented to men is that there are several hundred available, beautiful, Russian women just waiting to meet you when you go on the sole-source tour package. These are very successful ventures for the social promoters. Typically, a customer will pay between $2,500 and $4,500 to participate in one of the multi-event trips. The events on a romance tour include social mixers, dinner banquets, and city tours. During these events, men are expected to meet as many women as possible. Many agencies levy a financial penalty if a man meets someone early in the trip and does not attend all events. The women who are invited to attend the socials come from all walks of life. A few of the women are very sincere women who are open-minded to meeting their husband from a foreign land. However, many of the women walk the streets of the city as high paid prostitutes. The rest of the women are social butterflies who attend every event possible for a free meal and a chance to meet the right, rich man. Socials represent the greatest attraction for the media. If you happened to see 'something' about Russian brides on TV, chances are that it was a  program about one of those socials. Media reporters never run a risk to miss the 'action' when filming a social with its unpredictable outcome. A few years ago, a San Francisco PBS-TV affiliate station produced a very enlightening documentary about socials. The 60-minute program was unbiased and presented a very open look at the inner workings of the events, as well as the promoters. By far, the most interesting part of the social was listening to the promoter explaining to the women why they were there. Here's a quote from the agency owner and social promoter. "Some women complain because they say I don't bring enough men to these events." "The purpose of these events is for you to come and meet and for me to meet you." "The fact that I bring along American men is a bonus." "Today, I brought along 21 bonuses." "At 4:00, those 21 bonuses will parade in here." That is really 180-degrees out of phase to the representation made to American men as to why they and the women are there. To me, it shows a definite lack or honesty and ethical business practices. Nevertheless, there is no shortage of men eager to travel and women willing to attend these events. Clearly, the attraction to socials stems from the customer's need for instant gratification. One promoter states that three events equal one year of correspondence. I am not sure how anyone can accurately compare apples to oranges. The socials allow men to attend, be the center of attention, and immediately get feedback if there is any interest from women. Unfortunately, most of the customers return home empty handed, so to speak. It's especially difficult to deal with the disappointment after the cost of the trip is considered! One final note about socials. There is an interesting irony about proposing to a woman at a social. When a male customer asks a Russian or Ukrainian woman to marry him--obviously she has two choices-- to answer yes or no. The wrong woman for him will answer yes. The right woman will answer no. How's that? The conservative woman of high moral character who wants to know her potential husband will be the right type of woman; she will decline the offer to marry. On the other hand, a woman who simply desires to go to the USA or cares nothing about the man will give him a positive response. Irony really makes this a lose-lose situation where nobody wins. Truth Table #2 Comparison Area (Input) Socials (Output) Business Cost Model The cost between $2,500 and $4,500 for the trip and pre-arranged events. Unexpected Costs & Issues Many, perhaps most, women judge the quality of the men by the amount of money his is willing to spend on her during their dates away from the pre-arranged events. Restaurant meals and entertainment are outside the reach of most normal Russians. Expect a lot of out of pocket expenses.  Most of the women who attend socials speak no English and you will need an interpreter for your dates (if any). Typically it is $10 per hour. Inherent Risks Customers make their choice for a life partner based on her physical appearance alone. There is neither pre-visit correspondence nor any opportunity to find out anything meaningful about the women who attend socials. Typically, 'working women' are the most attractive and have the  the sexiest looks and outfits. Often they overshadow more genuine but less experienced and seductive women. If a valid decision could be made based on physical appearance alone, the process is much harder at this stage. Women of highly questionable character and morals attend socials looking for either local entertainment or a vacation in the USA at a man's expense. Guarantee The trip and the pre-arranged events during the trip will go off as planned. There is no guarantee of success implied or provided. Recruitment and Screening of Women Local overseas agencies and newspaper adds are used to find women to attend the socials. The criterion to receive an exclusive invitation to a social is physical appearance. Sometimes tour recruiters go as far as contacting model agencies, beauty schools and other institutions full women who are beautiful but far from being marriage-minded.  Socials are the heaven for 'streets girls'. They are willing to pay or 'give bribes' in advance in order to ensure access to every social party possible.  Many decent and otherwise eligible women from distant towns and villages can not afford a train tickets and accommodations in a big cities where the socials take place. Professional Matchmaker, Guidance or Counseling Available The social promoter usually accompanies the men in order for him to attempt to meet the same women his paying customers are going to meet. He's there for his own purposes. Like his customers he never saw many of these women before. He photographs and videotapes them  in order to use their photos in his next catalog or web site. Overseas Support Available Typically each customer is provided with a translator during the hours of the pre-arranged events. Translation is available, at an extra cost, outside these times. The lodging accommodations are arranged by the social promoter's organization. There is usually a representative on the ground to greet you at the airport and direct you to the pre-arranged transportation. Marriage & Divorce Statistics Available No. The printed brochures and web site will include testimonials. You fill find that the social promoters do not include full names and certainly not any contact information. Industry Hype 1) Even if you are not successful at finding a woman, you will have the "vacation of a lifetime." 2) The events will be filled with many beautiful women who attend just to meet you. 3) It's equal to one year of written correspondence. Secrets for Success First, plan to spend a lot of cash when going on blind dates with the women. They will be testing you judging you on your generosity. Next, set your sights on less sexy and seductive women to avoid spending all the time with a professional hooker without even knowing it. Finally, be financially and emotionally prepared to make a few more trips in the near future to spend more time with the woman if  you just met her or to repeat the entire experience. Best Case Result The trip would be considered successful when a customer meets a sincere and very nice woman at one of the events. There is a promise to initiate correspondence and communications after his return home. As agreed, they continue to communicate and learn more about each other. She remains faithful to the man during his absence. In fact, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder.' A few months later, he returns for another visit. This time, she has arranged for him to stay in her apartment and meet her family. He proposes and she accepts. The K-1 fianceé visa is approved. She comes to the USA.  The two are married within 6-8 months of the process start date. The adjustment process is very smooth. They live happily ever after! Typical Case Result This is the area where most of the customers land after attending a social. There is a lot of pressure for the expectations to equal the pre-trip hype. He has listened attentively to the lectures and tips for success. He has the instant film camera, notepad, and memorabilia from home, just as instructed. The problem is that the promoter's expert instructions and real life are very far apart. He may get a handful of address and telephone numbers to contact after he returns home. The hope is that next time he will be more successful. The self-protective attitude of the vacation of a lifetime or it was a learning experience sets in to disguise the fact that he came home empty handed. Chances are that he will  swear with equal passion that either he will never go to any of these humiliating  tours again ever in his life or that he will sign up for  the next tour available. Nobody comes back indifferent, that is for sure. Disgust or fascination these are the predominant after tour feelings.  Worst Case Result With the increasing popularity of the socials, the worst case scenario will probably replace the typical case soon! In this case, the empty handed result comes far later and many more dollars in the process. A very nice woman shows a lot of interest during one of the mixers. She has arrived late to make 'an entrance' for those not already paired up. During their time together, he desires to win her over by buying her nice meals, gifts, and generally showing an expensive good time. Before he leaves to return home, he proposes. She accepts. No questions asked about his life, interests, job and even age. He leaves her with a ring and several hundred dollars to help with the expense of preparing to leave her country. Back in the USA he generates high level of energy to expedite the fiancee visa process. And still it seems to him too slow. He can not wait and buys her a ticket to meet him, say, in Paris. She agrees. Finally, the K-1 fianceé visa is approved. He is elated that his beautiful love will be with him soon and for ever. She arrives in the USA. Unknown to him, she is there for her 'vacation of a lifetime.' Just as the 90-day visa period expires, she announces she will be returning to Russia. Further, she tells him that she has enjoyed her time with him, but she is  in love with  someone else. Now, he is empty handed and heart broken. He blames her and makes a five figure expense list of what he spent on her.  Effects On Sense of Well Being Men report a very inflated ego and sense of worth. It's an awesome feeling when you walk into a room filled with very attractive women, there 'just to meet you.' It's the world's largest singles bar and meat market all rolled into one. The women have very different feelings about the process. Decent women feel like the prey of the male hunters. Groups of pretty 'social butterflies' are there to laugh at " old dulling ..." and to pick up one of them, so that he would pay their way to an expensive disco or casino.  Less attractive or older women already know they will not have a chance to meet a man, when younger  more attractive women are in attendance. It is very humiliating for them to be subjected to this treatment. However, they still come with hope. Some hope for a better life. Some hope to meet a rich man. Some hope to find their soul mate and life partner. It's a game of numbers and shattered hopes and dreams on all sides of the table! Post-marriage or Post-engagement Support Available Assistance is usually available, at a price, for help with the K-1 fianceé visa process. There is no support for her with transition to a new country and new lifestyle. There is no support to help men adjust to life with someone from a different cultural background and that speaks a different language. Unless you establish some connections with the other customers (your competition!) attending the social, you are on your own to figure out these issues and hope you both get it right! Even with those contacts the other men are in the same stage as you and cannot help with upcoming issues and problems. Comments from Women "It is disgusting and humiliating"!  "All these old men want is   young babes",  "It was fun. I liked the picture of his car, he said that he will give it to me,  when I merry him. Should I?". " One time was enough, never again!"  Initiation of Contact The men simply look a woman over and decide to approach her based on physical appearance. There is nothing else to base the initiation of contact on. Sometimes, women size up the man and may approach him first. Typically, these are the opportunists. Contact Method Face-to-face through an interpreter. Men's Competition Many of the same women attend all the social events that  different agencies advertise, therefore, every man attending any current, past and future social  represents a source of competition. If a woman is lucky, she can be engaged several times  within a short period of time. Commitment of Male Customers The commitment level of men initially is very high. In fact, there is a very strong desire to be successful. This may be based on the promoter's hype and/or the cost of the trip. When reality sets in, usually back home, there is little desire to continue the process. I have found that the men who typically attend socials can be placed into five groups. The common denominator for all five groups is "immediate gratification". The following is a look at these groups. Socially Insecure-This group of men suffer from low self-esteem. They are very insecure in social gatherings. Socials offer a way to meet women and believe that, due to the ratio of men-to-women, everybody gets a girl. No matter what happens, or how bad things may go, they still meet many nice women. They are given bragging rights back home due to their popularity overseas! A social filled with beautiful women is a real boost to the ego. Unfortunately the 'high' because of socials is short lived and the rebound is even worse. Therefore, if the budget allows it, another trip is needed to experience the therapeutic value of the 'high.' Lazy and/or Naive-These poor souls are the same men who enjoy the 'get rich quick' schemes and multi-level marketing programs. Similarly, socials represent the shortcut to success by eliminating the effort of corresponding first. The lazy side of them believes it is not necessary to work at this difficult process to be completely successful. Whereas the naive side believes it is a 'can't lose' situation simply due to the ratio of men-to-women! Very Wealthy-The very wealthy group will surely be successful at engagement. If it takes more than one trip, the cost and time are not issues. They get the chance to meet the many opportunist women who typically attend the socials. This is fine because, they have the money to keep these women reasonably happy. For these guys, there will be no shortage of interested women. However, like all men, they want to be loved for who they are and not what they have. Fortunately, the women are usually very open about their desire to be rich 'at his expense' so to speak. Vacation of a Lifetime Mentality-This group of customers follows the company line of propaganda: "Even if you don't get engaged, it will be the vacation of a lifetime." They say that they have no expectations about success at the socials. This is a protective mechanism for their egos. Although, externally (to the world) they represent that they have no expectations about becoming engaged; internally and silently, there is really hope. Upon return home, the battle cry is, "It was a great learning experience." Unfortunately, their apparent positive attitude is typically a false front for their hurt and disappointment kept deep inside.  Professional Gamblers-These guys are quite similar to the gamblers found in the USA gambling Mecca in Nevada. Just as the gambler approaches the tables of Reno prepared to lose a certain amount, these men consider the same type of gaming-the 'house' has the odds. They approach the socials with the same attitude; that of returning empty handed, so to speak. Even the loss of the cost of the social is considered OK. Unfortunately, the loss includes 'hope' as well as money. The thrill is beating the house's advantage again and again. The problem is being successful and being engaged or married will end access to the game. Driven by the excitement, instead of the rewards, this group of men is the least successful of all. Free Addresses, Somethin' for Nothin' Free addresses are just a new twist to the traditional, address seller business model. The men are provided with free address and other contact information, if available, for available  women from the former Soviet Union.  In most cases, these businesses have  online web sites. You may wonder: if the address is free, how do they stay in business? The answer is two-fold. First, the women pay a fee to be listed on the web site. The burden to pay for exposure is transferred to the person who could least afford it. In addition, women are usually required to pay for each letter sent and received. The second method of operation is called 'optional services.' Yes, the address is complimentary, but correspondence is not. Many of the free address agencies require exclusive use of their contact system or translations service. In other words, the free contact information provided is an e-mail address and a mailing address for the agency only. Direct contact between the parties is not allowed. This ensures that one and possibly, both parties are billed for the service. Unfortunately, the women on the free address sites are usually the unattractive ones rejected by the address sellers. Keep in mind the address seller must have attractive women to sell addresses. The free address agency does not. Often these women are desperate enough to come up with the agency membership fee and communications supplements. The bottom line is that the real women (as opposed to models and unavailable women) who appear on the free address sites are lower quality! In all fairness, I have seen a few web sites that provide legitimate free contact information. Couples who have friends or family back home set up the sites. They hope to spread the word about known acquaintances. Truth Table #3 Comparison Area (Input) Free Addresses(Output) Business Cost Model The contact information is free. The information may only consist of the agency's address. Often the use of billable optional services is required. Unexpected Costs & Issues The optional services may well be required or mandatory after all. These services typically include translation between the languages, e-mail service, or local mail forwarding. If correspondence is by mail, the man typically uses registered mail service or courier service to ensure his letters get through. This also reduces long delays between mail sent and received (typically 30 days round-trip-if she responds at all). Some men do not consider that they must make a trip overseas before she can come to the USA. Inherent Risks The risks here are at least the same as those with purchased addresses! First, there is no way to be sure you are corresponding with who you think you are. The scam artists overseas use photos of models and correspond in an attempt to get men to send them money. There is no screening to prevent or discourage this. Second, anyone else who bought her address may arrive in her town first and propose to her. If she accepts, men usually never hear from her again. Third, there is nobody overseas to assist you the hidden meanings and agendas of the letters; literal translation between languages cannot provide this. Guarantee None for the contact information. Sometimes there is a guarantee when using the optional, billable services. Recruitment and Screening of Women Similar to the address sellers, recruitment is conducted by placing ads in local newspapers. Mostly the very desperate women rejected by other agencies are easily accepted. No screening is conducted. If a woman has an address and able to pay, she is considered acceptable. Professional Matchmaker, Guidance or Counseling Available No. Usually an agency e-mail address is provided. However, since the contact information is gratis, don't expect a reply or any assistance. No 'process' support of any kind is available, promised, or provided. Overseas Support Available Generally, you have to secure and reserve your own place to stay. Some agencies 'recommend' western-style hotels for their customers. There may be a representative on the ground to greet you at the airport. Then again, there is a good possibility the agency is located outside Russia or Ukraine. Marriage & Divorce Statistics Available No. Industry Hype Considered to be the least expensive way to meet the woman of your dreams. It's the best way, because it's free! Secrets for Success Get every piece of free contact information possible, from as many sites as possible. Play the numbers. Select women from distant villages. They are more desperate and less likely to be visited by other men. Best Case Result A few lucky men actually end up here. Unfortunately, the percentage is far less than with address sellers due to the lack of male commitment. The customer selects several addresses from the free address web site. A high percentage of the women reply. This is artificially high due to the quality and desperation of the women. He's able to select the best candidate based their correspondence. After six months of letter writing, he visits his number one choice overseas. She feels like she knows him very well and places a lot of trust in him. As such, she arranges for him to stay in her home with her family. Both chemistry and love are present. Shortly thereafter, the K-1 fianceé visa is approved. The two are married within 8-10 months of the process start date. The adjustment process is very smooth. They live happily ever after! Typical Case Result This is the scenario which most men endure. There is excitement with the response rate. Although, the physical appearance is not exactly what he originally envisioned, it is acceptable for a while. As he sees the quality of the women featured on other web sites or in catalogs (from various agency types), he becomes disillusioned with the time spent corresponding with the free address women. After a few months, very hard work simultaneously corresponding with many women takes its toll on the enthusiasm. It's no surprise when you consider the better quality elsewhere. Most men never travel overseas after swearing they will go. He bails out on this method and decides to take the plunge and spend the money in a different agency type. Worst Case Result The very high response rate leads to a false sense of security. He believes he is a very desirable 'product' on the Russian women scene. He does not consider the apparent desperation of the women at any time. Feeling invincible, he plans a premature trip to meet a few of the women. After meeting two or three women, he decides the second choice is the best choice for him. She has doubts because she knows she was not his first choice and he saw other women while there. She is no longer trusting of him and decides not to see him again. He is now very much alone in a foreign country. With all bridges burned, so to speak, he returns home with little hope of this process ever being successful for him. Perhaps he will try again using his 'hard knocks' education from the first trip. Effects On Sense of Well Being Typically, women are in a deep sense of desperation after being rejected by other agencies. Men typically are happy with the cost aspects but disappointed when their letters go unanswered. Post-marriage or Post-engagement Support Available There is no support for her with transition to a new country and new lifestyle. You are on your own to figure out these issues and hope you both get it right! Comments from Women Women complain that men write a few times and then stop without ever visiting them. They realize the men are not committed to them or the process. "Men write us as a hobby." Initiation of Contact The men select the women they wish to contact from web sites. Contact Method In many cases, correspondence is required to be made through the agency's communications system. This may be via their e-mail address or overseas postal address. Men's Competition There is less competition in this area because the women are less attractive. Even though the contact information is free, men are not usually impressed with the quality of the women. Commitment of Male Customers The commitment level of men is zero. The attitude is that this is free so there is absolutely nothing to lose. If it works, that's OK. If it does not work, that's OK too! Customers who use the services of free address agencies are more or less the same as those who use the address sellers. The difference is in their selectiveness. You will not find 'picky' and self confident men in this group of customers.  Free address sites do not offer any hope to find a 'trophy wife'. And only if you stretch your imagination thin you may find "a woman of your dreams" behind a photograph of typically poor quality. Totally New Guys-This group of customers typically have no idea of what they really want from the process. It is not that they are dumb, but rather that still 'getting their feet wet' with the idea of finding a Russian or Ukrainian wife. In other words, it is simple inexperience. The free addresses represent the idea of a risk free (at least money-wise) way to start the process. The customer's initial focus is not on the physical qualities of the women they see, but also on the idea that the cost is nothing for the address information. As with the case for address sellers, the focus then shifts to 'all things Russian.' Generally, they will learn some of the Russian language, perform a little more research on Russia, the culture, and current events. Low Level of Commitment-This is a group of men which generally have the absolute worst attitude. That attitude is best reflected by the expression, "What the hell, it didn't cost me a thing!" Since there is very little money at risk (assuming the optional services are used), the risk is also assumed small. For no cost, they could potentially meet the woman of their dreams. Usually, this step will be taken immediately following a breakup with a spouse or girlfriend. At this point, the bruised male ego needs a boost. Often, just spite motivates this group to prove their value by courting a beautiful woman from Russia or Ukraine. Each letter sent overseas offers light of hope. Usually, after the woman responds to him, the crisis is over and the limited commitment is completely gone. Do It Yourself Handyman-This group is like the crew from "This Old House." They have the confidence to oversee all aspects of the process. Typically, they feel that outside 'interference' is not necessary for them to accomplish their goal. Their motto is, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." These men function as independent contractors while taking all the time needed to complete the job. Addresses are obtained from every free site on the web. Each woman will have a file folder containing her photo, contact information, and letters exchanged. They methodically keep plugging away at the process with a lot of patience; realizing that free is good. Penny Wise & Pound Foolish-This group of male customers assume the best way to reach their goal is the most inexpensive way. They view the free addresses as a great deal! Generally, there is little forethought about the required trip overseas. Their main (often only) concern is low or no cost. These men often end up emotionally locked in the wrong relationship. More attention is paid to the no cost aspect by which the no cost aspect by which the contact information can be obtained; rather than the quality of the woman or the correspondence can obtain the contact information; rather than the quality of the woman or the correspondence. Quite often, they realize this fact too late in the process. After the 'light bulb' comes on, they will change strategies, as well as agency types. They end up spending a lot more money (by starting over again) in the long run. Overseas Local Agencies, The Mom & Pop Shops The overseas local agencies are the agency on the corner or just down the street. You will find them tucked away in central locations of the city. Business is sometimes conducted on a cash only basis. Let the buyer beware when giving credit card information to these agencies. There is no recourse when a problem comes up. Their local mission is to provide women for blind dates for their walk-in male customers. However, you will see that that is a very low priority for them. These low-profile agencies run ads in the local papers to attract women. However, the agency's first priority is to quickly locate a strategic partner for visibility. You will find the overseas local agencies provide a myriad of services for agencies based in other countries. For one USA agency, they recruit women to attend the socials, mixers and dinners. For an address seller in Germany, they provide a list of women's addresses and photographs. Still for other USA agencies, they 'cooperate' and act as the local agent to provide e-mail service for the women. Actually, the most prevalent service these agencies provide is simultaneously obtaining contact information for several address seller agencies. They function as the clearinghouse for addresses! In most cases, the local agencies overseas cannot stay in business with solely with the local clientele they attract. It is very rare that male clients come visit a country just to do business with a local agency. There is simply not enough business to keep the agency in business. Therefore, the above steps are needed. If they must rely on local only business, they will close up shop very quickly due to a lack of visibility. Truth Table #4 Comparison Area (Input) Overseas Local Agencies (Output) Business Cost Model There is a membership fee which is prorated for the duration of the visit. Each blind date arranged for a man is a billable action also. Unexpected Costs & Issues There will be a tendency to promote the less English speaking women so that translation services can be sold as an add-on service. A 'friend' of the agency, with a car, will usually offer transportation services for men and their date. There are numerous incidental costs, bribes, and gratuities needed to attain full support from the agency staff. The longer the stay and use of the agency, the more the optional services tend to become mandatory. Inherent Risks First, this is a foreign owned and operated business. You must deal with them with the complete knowledge that there will be no recourse available if they do not do what they say or over charge for services rendered. It is not possible to complain to local authorities for dispute resolution. They may disappear from existence at anytime with no notice or additional contact information. Second, women listed in the agency albums are not always available. Album 'padding' for enticement is normal operation procedure. You will be provided with 'alternatives' when you find out your main choices for blind dates are not available or interested. Guarantee None. There is no need since the business is local and not attempting to compete in the USA or foreign marketplace. Recruitment and Screening of Women The recruitment methods are very similar to the other agency types thus far. In that, classified ads are placed in local newspapers; intended to establish the dream of the American lifestyle. Since the main purpose is to collect a baseline for women for other agencies, the appearance will be the same as the address sellers (since this the source of women). No screening is conducted. If a woman has an address or is available to attend socials, she is considered acceptable. Professional Matchmaker, Guidance or Counseling Available No, the business is often a hobby or pastime for the owner. Since this agency may be a side job, do not expect any professional level assistance. No 'process' support of any kind is available, promised, or provided. Overseas Support Available Since the agency is located overseas, it may be difficult to reach them to secure any support. Typically, customers are walk-in; already in the country. Translators and cars will be available, at an additional cost, only after the customer has walked in. Marriage & Divorce Statistics Available No. Industry Hype Overseas local agencies are on the ground with many available women waiting to meet and date the foreign visitor. Secrets for Success As with the other agency types so far, there are two secrets for relative. First, customers must be prepared to be very generous during the first blind date. This is the primary method a woman will use for judging a man. The 'kind of man' you are is based on your feelings about money. Actually, generosity is all she has available at this point in the relationship! The second strategy is nothing new thus far; select women of less than perfect appearance. The most beautiful women will likely be accustomed to generous blind dates with foreign men. In fact, it is often a nice hobby for the attractive women! Sincere, but less attractive, women usually get fewer dates. Thus, they will be more appreciative of the opportunity and generosity. Best Case Result The man selects several sincere women who are less attractive than he initially desired. After a few blind dates, he settles on one woman as a very likely candidate. She may not be perfect in appearance but really cares deeply for the man she just men. They spend the remainder of his time in the country together. Since they can see each other face-to-face, they are comfortable that each is what they represent. Both chemistry and love are present. He returns home and applies for her visa. Shortly thereafter, the K-1 fianceé visa is approved. The two are married within 4-6 months of the first date. The adjustment process is very smooth. They live happily ever after! Typical Case Result The typical scenario is that the man has several blind dates with beautiful Russian women. Since he is not really serious about anything beyond a date, neither is she. Both parties are happy staying in the dating stage. He returns home thrilled that he was able to date so many women in so little time. Next trip, he will do the same thing again. The goal is to date. He is successful. Worst Case Result Fortunately, the number of worst case results is low because the number of men who use the agency services is also low. After a few blind dates, he decides to concentrate on one women. She, being an opportunist with her sights set on America, allows him to continue. After some very nice and generous dates, they agree she should visit him in the USA. After the K-1 fianceé visa is approved, she rejoins him in his homeland. Still being the alert opportunist, she decides to find a better deal elsewhere. He is told that things are not going well and she needs to visit her friends in other USA locations. The friends turn out to be other men that she has met before. She becomes engaged to another man and leaves the country only to return later on someone else's K-1 fianceé visa. Effects On Sense of Well Being In the blind date scenarios, every one begins to exaggerate his or her own self worth. Men think that they are unique because women who would not even notice them in the USA are enjoying their company in Russia. Women are flattered with all the undeserved attention that men throw their way. It's an unhealthy ego inflation process for both parties. Post-marriage or Post-engagement Support Available In most cases, you will never get far enough along in the process to need this support. However, assuming the best case works out, there is no support for her with transition to a new country and new lifestyle. You are on your own to figure out these issues. Comments from Women Serious women complain that men are not equally serious. Women only interested in blind dates with foreign men are usually quite content with the process. However, these same women will be quick to voice complaints when the men do not seem to be generous enough for their taste. After all, they have had plenty of examples of generosity to compare to him. Initiation of Contact The men select the women they wish to date from the local photo album. The dates are arranged by the agency for a fee. Contact Method Assuming the woman selected is available and interested, the meetings are face-to-face. The first meeting (an introduction) is typically in the agency office. Then the dates begin. Men's Competition There appears to be less competition in this area because there are less men using these services. However, one must note that the same women in the local agency's photo album are also listed on numerous address sellers' web sites, in the catalogs, and also attend the social events. Thus the competition is a lot larger than initially expected. Commitment of Male Customers The commitment level of men is very low. Actually, the commitment to having fun, meeting beautiful women and having a lot of blind dates can be very high. The actual commitment to settling down is zero. There are four groups of men who use the services of the overseas local agencies. Here is who they are. In Town on Business-This group of international travelers are already in town for other purposes. While there, having some free time along with curiosity, they decide to try some blind dates through the agency on the corner. Sometimes, these men are not available as they are 'geographical bachelors' (married back home). They meet and date the unsuspecting women with no expectation of a future life together. Contingency Planners-A backup plan may be to have contacts with local agencies just in case the meeting with the other women does not work out. These men will use a local agency in the event that things don't go very well with a woman they have already contacted. There is a strong desire to salvage the trip by using last minute blind dates. They don't want to be alone for several days in a foreign country. Good Looking Gentlemen-Having a favorable physical appearance is one way some men succeed with local agencies. Since they dress nice and look nice, they will have little problem arranging to meet women through this method. The women know nothing about this group's background or history. They simply make a real time decision to accept a blind date based solely on the men's appearance. The Addicted-Some men are simply addicted to the excitement and adventure of blind dates. It is the thrill of the chase that attracts this group of men to the local agencies once overseas. The overseas dating 'scene' is so much different that in the USA that they typically enjoy the date. However, the men do have access to the local agency's photo albums of women to select their 'dream dates.' Men's Classified Ads, 'SWM seeks SRF for Marriage and Happy Life' The idea of a man running a classified advertisement in overseas newspapers and magazines is relatively new. Almost every agency selling addresses or promoting socials has an adjunct program to allow men to attract the attention of Russian or Ukrainian women. In fact, some of the agencies prepare their own men's catalog to send to women that seek to be listed themselves. This method is promoted as a good way to expose yourself to overseas woman and see who is attracted to you. Traditional address sellers operate in the opposite manner; expose the women and let interested men initiate the communication. The smaller agencies simply charge a fee to the men to translate and place his classified ad in local newspapers. The larger agencies will have a separate men's catalog with full or partial page listings for sale. In these, photos of the men are often included. The costs of the classified ads runs from $50 for translation and insertion to $500 for full page ads with photos. Here's the problem with this method. You have absolutely no control over who decides to write to you. You will quickly understand how the women, listed in catalogs, feel about the process. Although you will specify an age range in the ad, it will be ignored. It is common to receive several hundred responses form classified ads. Unfortunately, most of them will be unacceptable. The men who decide to run classified ads will definitely receive an ego boot. Every day, there will be a mailbox filled with overseas letters. Stamp collectors will be very excited about the diverse types of stamps. Think about this for a moment. Attractive women are very popular and do not need to initiate correspondence with any man. They are covered up with incoming mail from their listing. So who is let to initiate correspondence? You guessed it; women who are not accepted by address sellers because they are not attractive enough to sell their address (many times). In addition, desperate women who cannot wait for men to contact them will send letters to every man listed in the catalogs. Many of the letters will not include any photos. You have no idea what the women looks like. Also, many of the letters are not in English. It is expensive and time consuming to translate these letters. Is it worth the risk and expense to translate and discover she is not even close to whom you want? So many letters begin to arrive that, eventually men feel like human resources personnel. A few seconds is given to skim over each 'resume' submitted by a potential employee. There is simply no time to process the letters in any detailed fashion. Now what? You have 400 letters sitting on the coffee table. Some in Russian. Some without photos. Some may have potential after additional letters are exchanged. You know the women have been through a lot to write and pay overseas postage just to contact you. Therefore, you decide to reply to each letter and return any photos that were sent. I can assure you that nobody selling men's classified ads will mention this extra expense. Returning letters and photos is a major expense. In fact, this phase can cost more money than the initial cost of the ad! Truth Table #5 Comparison Area (Input) Men's Classified Ads(Output) Business Cost Model The cost range is from $50 to $500 per classified ad placed. Unexpected Costs & Issues There will be no mention of the extra costs to reply to all the letters received. Returning photos and gifts through international mail is very expensive. In addition, many letters must be translated into English just to see if there is any potential. The attractive women desired do not initiate correspondence. Inherent Risks You have no control over who decides to initiate correspondence. Age and children requirements will simply be ignored. Desperate women typically initiate correspondence. The agencies typically resell (or steal) contact information. Therefore, letters will be received from women who reference agencies you have never heard of. Some letters come from other agencies wanting to sell more ads or services to the men. Finally, there is no way to cut off the incoming flow of letters. As the man's contact information is sold or stolen, there will be more and more new letters received. Some men report receiving letters two years after the initial classified ad was purchased. Guarantee Occasionally, there is a guarantee that if some number of letters is not received by the man, the classified ad will be run again for free. Typically, this guarantee is only extended by agencies featuring men's catalogs. Recruitment and Screening of Women In this case, men are recruited by Internet or catalog ads explaining that women will contact you if you run an ad. There is no screening conducted, of the women who initiate contact with the men, at any level. Men are on their own to decide who is who and conduct their own screening. Professional Matchmaker, Guidance or Counseling Available No, in many cases just finding a human by telephone is difficult. No 'process' support of any kind is available, promised, or provided. Overseas Support Available No support is typically provided. Once the money is received for your classified ad, you are on your own. Marriage & Divorce Statistics Available No. The only data provided is the usual distribution of the classified ads. Industry Hype The angle here is to have beautiful women write to you first. There is no mention of who will actually write or what it will cost to send 'no thanks' letters back. It's a new twist on the approach of address sellers-they provide your address to overseas women. Secrets for Success First, you will have to be very specific of the woman you desire to contact you. Specify English and characteristics in each classified ad. This a game of numbers with typically very high response rates. Second, you must be very patient. Although you specify exactly whom you desire to hear from, it will likely be ignored. Expect to receive letters in Russian and English from women of less than average appearance or well outside your age criteria. Finally, run many classified ads in may locations. The hope is that on or two of the letters you receive will be from a woman with some potential for a future relationship. Unfortunately, you will have to wait for the second or third letter to be sure. In addition, you will have to sort through several hundred unacceptable letters and respond to them, if desired. Best Case Result The hope is that the perfect woman will see your photo, read your biographical data, and decide to write to you. Keep in mind that this is the same hopeful mindset the women have when they list themselves in the address seller catalogs and web sites. Three acceptable women write to you. There seems to be an immediate connection. After several more letters are exchanged, the decision is made to go and visit number one. He's able to select the best candidate based on quality of her correspondence. Like before, she feels like she knows him very well and places a lot of trust in him. As such, she arranges for him to stay in her home with her family. Both chemistry and love are present. Shortly thereafter, the K-1 fianceé visa is approved. The two are married within 10-12 months of the process start date. The adjustment process is very smooth. They live happily ever after! Typical Case Result Most guys end up right in this scenario. The male ego begins to grow as the mailbox is filled each day with more and more overseas letters. The initial thought is that all the hype must be right, beautiful women will write to him first. Unfortunately, the good feelings and hopefulness subsides as he realizes the volume of mail compared to the quality of the women is inversely proportional. After a few months, the very hard work of sorting through so many letters from unacceptable women takes its toll on the enthusiasm level. Each letter is given a quick scan. If it has no photo, it is discarded. If it is not in English, it is discarded. In the process, potentially good women are discarded. Some women will get a reply from him because he knows that they have gone through a lot of effort and expense to write to him in the first place. It's the sympathy correspondence. It does not last or generate anything meaningful. The extra expense of returning multiple, odd-size photos to overseas addresses are unplanned and unwelcome. When it is all said and done, he is no closer to finding the woman of his dreams than before he decided to place the classified ad. The experience has been emotionally and financially draining. Perhaps he will try using another method or just 'throw in the towel' and give up the search. Worst Case Result He receives a very nice letter from an attractive Russian woman. He decides to continue to correspond with her. Unknown to him, she is a scam artist looking only for money and/or a trip to the USA for a vacation. After falling deeper and deeper into her web of entrapment, he decided to make the trip overseas. As in other cases, of not knowing whom you are really contacting (due to no screening), she does not offer her home to him. Because she is either married, living with a boyfriend or pimp. Another reason may be because her family is not supportive of her desire or may not even be aware she is considering leaving. He closes his eyes to the potential problems and issues. While there, he crosses his fingers and hopes for the best. The situation becomes an all or nothing play. In desperation not to return home 'empty handed,' the wrong woman is brought here. She may stay for the K-1 fianceé period and then return home admitting she is in love with someone else. They don't live happily ever after! He has been taken for a ride as the chump of the season. Effects On Sense of Well Being Typically, men begin to experience an inflated ego due to all the unexpected attention. In addition, their expectations are enlarged by self-worth. Women typically are disappointed if their letters go unanswered or receive a negative reply. Post-marriage or Post-engagement Support Available No. There is no support for her with transition to a new country and new lifestyle. You are on your own to figure out these issues and hope you both get it right! Comments from Women Women complain that they contact many men and they do not receive a reply; positive or negative. They realize the men are not committed to them or the process. Initiation of Contact The women select the men they wish to contact from classified ads in men's catalogs and/or local newspapers. Contact Method Generally, correspondence is via postal mail services. If a woman has a computer or e-mail address, she may contact him that way. Men's Competition Each woman who looks at the men's catalog or newspaper ad usually selects the same men. Some women write to every man in an attempt to attract attention from someone. Commitment of Male Customers The commitment level of men is low. Initially, there is a positive feeling about the number of responses to the classified ad. That quickly fades to a feeling of being overworked for no result. Here is the description of the three groups of men who use the men's classified advertising services. Willing to Compromise-When men will consider women of less than average physical appearance, they will be satisfied with this method. Men have no control over the quality of the women who write to them. As long as these guys don't want to find a photo model, they will be satisfied with the physical looks of the women that express interest in them. Typically, the thought of very beautiful women is a scary proposition for these men. Thus, they will compromise and accept women that others may find undesirable. Insensitive Headhunters-This group of men give the incoming volume of mail a few precious seconds of time just like the recruiters and headhunters seeking employees. After a cursory review of the enclosed letter and photos, the envelope is placed either in the stack to answer or directly in the 'round file.' Unfortunately, they have no regard for the feelings of the women who contact them. Returning the photos or answering the letters from undesirable women is not a consideration. Nervous and Jerky-Men who need constant 'care and feeding' of their egos will consider classified ads to be just the ticket. Typically, there is a history of a lack of cusses or comfort in the social sphere. The industry hype is the many beautiful women will initiate contact with them. That is exactly what the doctor ordered for this group. After a few weeks, the mailbox begins to fill with letters containing foreign postage stamps. To their delight, the quantity of incoming mail is far more exciting than the quality of the women behind the letters. Unfortunately, this is a game of numbers rather than legitimate correspondence for them. The ego is reinforced because they are 'desirable' to the women. Personalized Agencies, You Get What You Pay For Personalized agencies are the agencies that provide personalized services for each client. While there may be set programs, all support is customized on a client-by-client basis. The next Encounters International Handbook section covers this agency type in comprehensive detail. From Your First Mouse Click To The Last 'I Do,' Encounters International Is Holding Your Hand Along The Way! Navigation Links This Link Will Return You To Your Previous Page Previous Handbook Section Next Handbook Section Encounters International 10419 Snow Point Dr. Bethesda, MD 20814 USA Phone: (301) 530-7759 Fax: (301) 530-5564 E-mail: natasha@encount.com © 2000 Encounters International Last Updated: URL: