Still throwing your money down the drain?

The worse purchase i have ever made without a doubt has to be an internet-dating service... i can speak for several of my girlfriends who also share this opinion as they too were only contacted by married men (claiming to be single) and scam artists wanting them to instantly go onto the person's yahoo.com email to correspond. almost within days of my subscription with match.com commencing, my computer was constantly bombarded with threats and attempted hijacking which NORTON thankfully worked overtime to protect my computer from. There was one Blue Screen episode which necessitated an F8 start-up in Safe Mode. I suspect some sort of organized crime organization is involved with these 'fake' profiles... the syntax isidentical and the men profiled have almost identical personal info...even down to the quotes used... very cliche. i suspect the scammers are of middle eastern descent (due to the mistakes made in grammer). this is either an attempt to scam single older women of their money (at the most innocent) but for what purpose? Is this some sort of bizarre link to international terroris? Most of the men (26 in less than 10 days) who sent a 'wink' have US addresses... are they perhaps attempting to infiltrate/immigrate/visit canada thru their attempted connection with canadian women? I reported some of these contacts to the customer service department at match.com that were so obviously fraudulent based on communication with them. Match.com is supposedly investigating. In defence of match.com, they have offered an apology and agreed to cancel my subscription and refund the fees paid to them, back to my VISA. I wish someone, somewhere would investigate this angle as to the possible misuse of the internet... CSIS, RCMP, HOMELAND SECURITY has this crossed your collective minds?
Sincerely,
Monica Serin

Generally, I consider myself smart with finances. However, the odd time I will go to a "summer event" and waste 20 bucks on a t-shirt...get it home and ask myself where my head was that time. lol
As for dating sites...why does anyone pay for them?? I don't understand that at all. Wouldn't it be much simpler to "find" a date at the local pub or club...or even a local event that you attend with friends?? Walk up and start chatting with someone. The worst that happens, you turn around and walk away. Just an idea.
Cheers to all!

The worst expenditure was probably the fitness club /executive membership. They always ask for your credit card and it's best to just give a check. After paying $899. for a year of fitness, it was an unnecessary expense considering the time I used the facility.
As for those dating sites, I did waste $300. on a dating service for them to introduce me to two eligible bachelors. These guys had such baggage and were wearing toupees. Could have saved myself some money on that.
Mary

After reading the post by moniica anne serin I will not sign up for dating sites-- only because there might be a chance encounter in meeting someone as ignorant as her. To say that, " i suspect the scammers are of middle eastern descent (due to the mistakes made in grammer)" is not only racist but ridiculous as she, herself, made grammatical errors on her post... I guess base on her logic, she MUST BE of middle eastern descent.

That's not racist its prejudice, and living in Toronto myself I can say that its a fair assumption.

John, I have heard about dating sites myself. Actually, from the great majority of my friends that I have talked to...dating sites DO have ALOT of scammers. o.k? People on there are either "chatters"...which is fine, if that is what you want...OR they just want a lay. (Sorry for being so blunt.) If I had the chance...I wouldn't take it...DON'T USE A DATING SITE. :)
And yes, Bill, everyone who doesn't live in Toronto is prejudice. lol I just had someone tell ME that the other day. Why?? I happen to think Torontonians are high-class snobs who pay WAY too much for everything. (I even have an american friend who knows about Torontonians...from their reputation. Interesting, eh! lol) Anyway, I apparently became prejudice after talking to a torontonian myself. That made me laugh.
Sorry, but had to respond to both of you.

I too have been to the dating sites, and the women were no better.

What had me end my subsciption was women saying their body type was "average" or "a few exta pounds" and they never showed a body picture.

I'm 20 pounds over weight, which I think is a lot. But don't say you are "average" if you weigh 230lbs for a 5'6" woman. That is not average.

And I seemed to get a lot of Russian or women from eastern europe winking at me, with their profiles saying the were looking for marriage, sight unseen. they were willing to say they would marry me ,as long as I paid to get them to Canada. I am sure it was only to get access to Canada or North America.

However, when I complained to the service I was using, I never got a refund.

Getting back to the original intent of this... the worst purchase I ever made.. shoes on E-Bay. They look great on my shelf but I really should not have got sucked in to the "Italian Designer" bit. I did purchase in European sizes but even so - for someone with feet like a field-mouse (sized 4-6, depending upon make), I should have know better. I do, however, now own an authentic pair of Italian designer leather shoes -- yes, I did authenticate. I stil do not, however, have a pair of stunning shoes that fit! I have a friend who tells me that this is the point... that the shoes are supposed to hurt to remind you of how much you spent on them. I could have spent that money on a nice dinner out with my husband who is still stunning after 27 years of marriage.

Prejudice to a race is racism. Stop stereotyping and labeling others, by doing so you are missing out on meeting someone special. The internet can help you see past the physicality and meet people with shared interests, when you start making judgement based on spelling and grammer mistakes that is just too much. isn't there enough judgement on a daily Bases? There could be a reason some people you are throwing your money down the drain for online dating (does not apply to everyone)-- because you cannot see past the physical traits and the assumptions you've associated in your mind about that culture, gender etc. when you meet your match. There might be a great guy waiting for you in Toronto, Lisa (LOL) and the person without a picture might just be very private and doent want people to know they use online matchmaking site... doesnt mean he/she's fat...even if they are, the service allowed you to meet someone new that you can have a conversation with (a possible friend maybe?). I acknowlege that there are scams and crazy/desparate people online that you have to beware of but there are also normal people (like yourself?). A better way to spend your money would be to travel, especially for all the singles. Go see, experience, and understand other cultures and meet new people, you'll come back a more interesting person. Don't shut yourself up (mind & body). OOPS bad grammer n spelling CAN YOU GUESS WHAT I LOOK LIKE? whatever it is- YOU'RE WRONG! =)

I had a good laugh over the "dating service" purchase. I've used web site dating for about 4 years, on and off. I have NEVER met a scammer, a cheater, or liar. I guess I'm just good at attracting the creme of the crop, or I'm just not desperate to answer every wink or smile that comes my way. I met my current boyfriend on a web site-2 years ago. I never pay for these dating sites-the one I was on is free, if you don't initiate a conversation. I guess I'm either smart or lucky-and by the way-I'm 65-LOL.and he's at least 15 years youn ger than I am-am I lucky or what?

But east indians DO have bad grammer (It wouldn't kill them to come to our country and SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE AND STOP BITCHING ABOUT OUR CULTURE.. DON'T LIKE IT GO BACK TO THE SAND PITS!) and they smell and beat their women and make their women wear Burkas and pop out 20 kids. I have lots of east Indian women friends who are wonderful and fabulous and, if they can help it, they don't date east Indian men... oh and i should be able to say merry Christmas in my own country without getting the stink eye. I know ill get a lot of "your politically incorrect" bullshit but you know what its a stereo type for a reason. I know not all east Indian men are like this but holy cookies the majority of them sure are try being a woman and not getting offended at their crass treatment of women. And for me the worst purchase of my life was trading in my custom Corvette for a Bentley... after almost 20K in repairs the thing wont stop breaking down and its brand spanking new! So now i'm looking into Porsche which is apparently a much more reliable car company or even go the environmentally friendly root and buy a Tesla roadster.

I got suckered into buying a set of speakers out of the back of a van once. That was a stupid purchase.

Worst purchase ever... condo in United Arab Emirates. Cost me a few bucks, but managed to get out of it.

Dear Fashionista,

I cannot believe you dare criticizing somebody else's bad grammar when you have no clue what you are writing about. It's grammar and not grammer, Ok? It comes from somebody whose mother tongue is not English and who doesn't like it here. And yes, I am critcizing your non-existent 'culture'. And no, I am not remaining. I will be leaving soon. Going home, where I belong. In the meantime, please, grab some good books and forget the Internet for a while. Keep on studying. You need it.

Wow, lots of talk about cultural intolerance here... My worst purchase was a new truck, I got great financing but still paid way too much for a quickly depreciating liability. That, or I paid $300 for a half season of hockey, then only played 2 games. Internet dating? seriously? Sorry you didn't enjoy Canada Cli, maybe you were in the wrong part... You should have come west or north, and enjoyed the real Canadian Culture.

To Lisa, you obviously did not understand what I was trying to say. Let me dumb it down a little for you Lisa. What I meant Lisa was living in Toronto myself (doesn't meen I'm from here, which I'm not) and having to deal with middle easterns on a daily basis, it was a fair assumption made by Monica of what she said about middle eastern men. Meaning that people that live in Toronto and that actually have experience dealing with ethnic cultures are the ones who are usually prejudice. And how you got to the conclusion that I called everyone who doesn't live in Toronto prejudice is beyond my understanding. And to JP there's a big difference between prejudice and racist, prejudice is if you judge someones character or habits depending on their race (which is usually pretty accurate) and racist is when you HATE someone based on their race. Now if to you judging someone and hating someone is the same then I'm wrong.

Now I"m laughing. It seems that there are many misinterpretations on here. (Did I spell all that correctly now??) lol (God forbid if I didn't...I was born in this country. lol)
And NO...I don't like the government "multi-cultural" attitude that is SAID to be in this country. I believe it's a political sham...and noone is actually multi-cultural. You see, to be multi-cultural you must accept anothers' beliefs and traditions...which honestly, people don't do. (You logically can't accept anothers' beliefs and traditions if you don't think they are correct, can you?)
Anyway "Thanks" to "fashionista"...I completely agree with you. I know exactly where you are coming from...please...if you don't like this country...and all this country does for you...go to another one...where I hope you are happier.
Now...I have to go out and buy something, anything frivolously. lol

Bloody hell! Good thing I came into this conversation when I did...!!!
Let me set the record straight here people!!!! You want to talk about prejudice? It just so happens that I have a Slap Chop and dangit-all!!!!! who are they to say it was a bad purchase! Puh!
It was one of the best damn gadgets I've ever bought! So there!
And you were all worried about politics......
yeesh!

WHAT!!!
You guys kill me!
Let me say thanks to all of you. This was quite the entertainment of the evening!
Everything said is so true.
But you know what guys... Toronto is what I describe as a big pot of mixed vegetable soup "You may pick out what you dont want, but really it's all been simmered together, so too bad!!!
For those who find it difficult to adapt to smells, looks etc.
Practice stopping your breath!
stop judging a book by its cover.

moniica anne serin: YOU ARE AN IDIOT! LMAO
and "fashionista": YOU ARE ALSO AND IDIOT. perhaps even more so than this monica biitchhhh..

sooo because someone makes errors in their grammar, they are middle eastern? haha.... WELL.. I happen to know lots of asian people that make errors in grammar. I happen to know lots of spanish people who make errors in grammar also. How do you know they were middle eastern? How did you "suspect" they were of any certain race or culture?

And miss. Fashionista: There is a major difference between MIDDLE EASTERN and EAST INDIAN. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and LEARN THE DIFFERENCE YOU DUMBASS LOL

Certain people here seem to be either really confused or just incredibly ignorant, arrogant and in desperate need of a beat down. ASAP.