Free memberships are just a way to make money. They hope that they see enough profiles close by that they would join.
They also don't tell them ahead of time that most of those people won't even have the courtesy to email you back even if not interested.
About 80-90 percent.
Don't get me wrong I've talked and met some people so not all are bad.
Since the mail is still technically function. Established conversations can be continued or is that killed as well?
Free members have no access to any communication on this site, so the content is irrelevant.
Can anyone clarify two points?
Can free members read any messages?
Is there any restrictions on what can be sent in a message? (ie alternative methods of contact)
Compared to most of the garbage apps that are out there for finding couples or multiple partners...taking a flyer on a month of SLS shouldn't put you back that much. Wasn't like 3 months like 30 or 40 bucks? We just pulled the trigger on lifetime which also is pretty inexpensive. Just wish we had known the rollout of the new website before going lifetime. Kinda hating the new features or more so the ones removed.
Now free members are really cut off from comminication. From the release notes of today's upgrades re:the demise of the mail system and the need to use IM
The IM feature is only available for paid members.
I rarely read the forums, and I took a break from SLS for about a year. I’ve been active on here again just recently, and I noticed some free profiles that include verbiage that says “ we’re free members and we can’t respond to emails”. I thought they’re newbs that have hit their daily limit. But finding this forum and reading that this no mail for free members goes back to the FOSTA , laws that shut down backpage, Craigslist and others in April 2018. Was there ever a communication from SLS admins that this policy was changed ? I could not find it. And I’m pissed that I’ve spent HOURS of time writing personalized emails to free members. I thought the old system of letting free members use the site and just limiting the number of profiles you could view or messages sent per day was great. It’s what attracted me to this site in the first place. But it became obvious that being a paid member was a good move to allow me to meet people quicker. As a single male , it’s a numbers game. I get very few positive responses, but if you ping enough people , eventually some work out. And i probably have met more couples and women that were free members than paid. I didn’t experience a problem with fakes . Flakes , yes . Fakes no. Now the old Craigslist was full of fakes. But even there, I could find real people. But that is gone now too.
Well now that i know, I’m going to filter out free members and not waste my time writing them. If everyone did that , then there should be a drop in free members . Really at this point, Sls should just stop offering free memberships, and purge the ones they have. Of course I’m sure there a lots of people who might become paid members, who will never pay to just try it out . Long term this is going to hurt the SLS site . Like it or not, SLS has become a crossover site , with the Ashley Madison hack, backpage & Craigslist personals being shut down. There is a demand for a pseudo anonymous way for people to hook up and indulge their kinks. SLS could have stepped up, but instead they’ve added another lock on the door.
First, this will be my last reply to this because, as I said earlier, " Sadly, I know that some of you still believe that you are being short changed by free members not being able to answer your email and no matter how anyone explains it to you, you will always feel that way."
Second, you are totally wrong that cost are pretty much stable if you have 100 or 1000 members. Being in the tech industry I can tell you that your costs go up per subscriber whether they are free or paid."
Third, "What then is beast complaining about?," exactly my question. What did I complain about? My reply was in response to YOUR statement, "My complaint isn't what Freebies get for their $0. It is what WE get for our PAID membership?" I guess if I had a complaint, it was/is the group of people that come to the forums to continually complain about free members not having any access. Why do you care SOOOO much about free members? They don't have access, probably will not ever have access again, and shouldn't have access. Get over it. Its not going to change.
Fourth, we do have, and have always had our profile blocked to free members. Again, I/we are not the ones complaining about free members access to the site. -Beast
Thank You AandJinNNJ .
There you go beast your problem is solved. :)
Under tools-privacy
I see single ladies, single men, and couples as options for blocking. Where is the hide from free members?
What then is beast complaining about?
There's already an option to hide your profile from free members.
I do have a suggestion for tech support that would help people out who share beasts feelings about free members.
Why not add a Block Free Members preference in the profiles?
Beast perhaps I SHOULD have been more precise. You are correct setting up and maintaining a site does have its costs. Those costs are pretty much stable whether it is 100 or 1000 members. Especially if you limit or eliminate the cost of storage space for pictures.
As to the cost why spend it on a site like this when I could buy a drink or two for the darlins at the local watering hole?
It was not like this when we joined either, and frankly I was shocked that free members did have so much access without paying. We are, as are most other paying members, glad about this change. Saying that people should be able to check out the site before buying a membership is ridiculous, considering that a 1 month membership is $15 and a 3 month membership is $30. If can't afford that then they can't afford a drink at the bar or the cost of a hotel party. And to say that it cost the site nothing to allow free members some access is also ridiculous, they have to build and maintain this web site and that cost money. Money that comes from memberships.
All the people that want to allow free members access to this site should build and run and maintain there own swinger site, after all it cost nothing to allow access to the site. Or you can start a buy 2 get 1 program like some coffee shops do, where you pay for 2 coffees(memberships), you get 1 coffee(membership) for your self and the 2nd one is given to someone that can't afford to pay for it. And if the free members don't like that they have to pay, they can go to one of the other sites that give free members access, if there are any.
Why are people so obsessed with free members? Most of them are fake anyway. Would it make you feel better if SLS did away with free memberships all together. Then you would be able to communicate with all members and get your monies worth. -Beast
I agree there is no reason for a new observer to join unless he or she has a chance to see and communicate with present members for free for a trial period I especially like to see free members members checking out the site and used to send them a welcome and invite them to join ,no more I don't have any thing to offer them not even a hello !!!
That is NOT what it was when we joined.
I have other places to meet people and an ever growing network so it really harms us not much. I do resent the Original excuse of government interference. It was clearly always about the money.
The question was asked how this would affect SLS . There was a time when I would recommend SLS 2-6 times a month to people just entering the LS. Since this policy clearly became permanent I have stopped referring entirely.
Yes it does thin the herd a bit by culling out those still thinking about jumping in.
My guess is that without any way to see if this site is worth it most of the newbies will not be investing in memberships especially as there are local groups that are prevalent in most areas that host meet and greets. There are also many good books and blogs that provide the educational benefits that SLS provided for us.
It costs the site nothing to let freebies have limited posts or read notes directed to them. It does give them a reason to join.
In short SLS is consigning itself to the ash heap right next to the pulp papers with PO boxes that swingers used to use.
I don't get why it is so hard to understand that you ARE getting what YOU paid for. Read the TOS. It says,"Free Members do not have access to view the full text of messages sent by other Members or to communicate with any other Member." Communicate is the key word, giving them the ability to answer emails from paid members is communication. Think of free members as not being actual members of SLS. They are the people that stand outside of a club to be seen there, but either never intend to go in or can't afford the cover. Knowing that most free members are fakes or too cheap to pay for a membership, why would anyone ever want to try and make contact with them. Sadly, I know that some of you still believe that you are being short changed by free members not being able to answer your email and no matter how anyone explains it to you, you will always feel that way. At this point we all know that free members don't have any access, so don't try to contact them. -Beast
"Free members get exactly what they pay for—nothing."
My complaint isn't what Freebies get for their $0.
It is what WE get for our PAID membership.
I do not understand what is so difficult to understand about that.
Free members get exactly what they pay for—nothing.
All means of communicating with them on this site has been shut down because people kept finding and abusing loopholes to initiate communication off this site.
However, If you want to communicate with a free member it’s actually quite easy. Simply pay the $15 for them to have a month of paid membership.
Good luck but I have a feeling you’ll find out that the reason a lot of members are free is because they are fakes and flakes.
~rabbit~
Not that I have been able to figure out.
Even had my profile shut down because I mentioned "I use this name elsewhere" No specifics just elsewhere.
Tried the same message as the subject line of a post. Shortly after the free member could only see that they had mail, but nothing else.
I set up a free membership just so I could check o how it was working.
We are locked out from any communication.
As a lifetime member I would like to open a conversation with a free member, is there any way to accomplish this task?
That d00d should be forced a free member for 6 months, supply everyone on the forums with daily popcorn and still be charged for his membership as a “penalty”.
Slanderous accusations, I say, just sayin’.
:-)
~Allen
I agree that extort is too strong of a word.
The policy is just short sighted.
