Recently, Premiere Singles CEO Jason Breakey and President Barrett Stone, sat down with their Salt Lake City Singles staff to answer some of the more frequently asked questions about the dating service and its place in the industry.
There is a lot of concern about safety when it comes to Internet dating. How does the company handle this issue?
Barrett Stone? When you charge a premium for a service, like we do, it screens out a lot of people who shouldn't be there. We are selective in who we will enroll. The person has to qualify physically, emotionally, mentally and financially. This company is well aware of the fraud issues that have plagued on line dating over the years. That's why our model is based around communication, interaction and good old-fashioned personal service.
Jason Breakey? We do our absolute best to verify all the information members put on their data sheets. Now, could someone with a hidden agenda slip through the cracks ? of course they could. Internet dating sites are ideal places for dishonest people to pull scams. Our company has built-in systems and protocols in place that help identify any suspicious behavior. Member feedback is also vital in helping us keep our service a safe haven for singles to meet. We are a very ?hands-on? company. The safety of our clients has been, and always will be, a top priority for us.
Why are more and more singles turning to the Internet in hopes of finding ?the one? for them?
Breakey? There's a very big disconnect between males and females today, especially for older people. Where does a single 35 or 40-year old go nowadays to meet people their own age? You're not going to have success in a bar environment, it just won't happen. People are especially tired of the games people play when it comes to attracting the opposite sex.
You say you screen people to see if they are right for your dating service. Are you sure you won't just take anyone off the street who is willing to pay cash on the spot?
Stone? Here is what you have to understand. Premiere Singles doesn't franchise its concept to different cities around the country. We open up branches, or divisions of the company, like Omaha Singles, Raleigh Singles, Tulsa Singles etc., so that we can maintain total control over how we market ourselves. Each city has a presence on the Internet, and has its own domain name so that it retains a local feel to it. Now, if we franchised our concept like the rest of the dating industry does, we'd take your money in a heartbeat and move on. Most dating services fail because their business is engineered for people to come in and pay a lot of money, and in return, their customers receive less service for them.
Breakey? The heart isn't something you play games with. Having it broken, time and time again, is what got these people turned upside down in the first place. Over the years, through first hand experience talking with all sorts of individuals, you come to understand the pain and frustration people go through hoping one day the right person walks into their life. Like Barrett touched on earlier, there's a reason we are very selective when it comes to adding new members. We just won't take anyone's money if we don't believe, in all honesty, that we can increase their odds of truly meeting someone they'll be happy and compatible with.
Tell me what you feel the difference is between what you offer, and what other dating services advertise?
Breakey? Here is a dirty little secret my years in the business has taught me. The less a dating service has to deal with you the better off it is for them. For instance, some services will have you come into their office and choose someone you'd like to get to know better. Well, if that person happens to get busy, they won't call the dating service. A lot of dating sites are set up for you to get totally frustrated with the process and quit. The major power players in the industry today are tied into an old franchise business model where you get the money first, worry about the fallout later. That's why they always have the angriest clientele.
Stone? Our work doesn't stop after a sales associate signs you to our service. We have member relations personnel in each office that will help you with your essays, set up your photo sessions, monitor your progress, suggest meeting places for dates, suggest other members you might be interested in. If a member hasn't logged onto the website to check their e-mail in seven days, we call to find out if anything is wrong; is there anything we can do to help facilitate a meeting for them. If one of our members hasn't answered an introduction, we call them to find out why. If they completed an introduction, we call them to find out if they went through with the date. Jason summed up our company the best the other day when he said our service is almost like being introduced to another person through a friend.
A lot of dating sites are long on promise, short on delivery. What can I expect from you?
Stone? We offer people a platform where they can change whatever habits they had in the past and get a fresh start. I can't emphasize this enough when I say we are here to help you improve your social life, not take your money and run. For that reason alone, our sales personnel thoroughly explain our company to clients. When you become a member, we want you to feel totally comfortable with the decision you made.
Breakey? I would rather have an individual's expectations checked at the door before they ever give us a dime of their money. I never ever want anyone to feel they've been misled into joining our dating service. When you take that first step to walk through our door, you are putting your hopes and dreams into our hands. That is a huge responsibility we don't take lightly. www.saltlakesingles.org
call 918 / 794-9623 to set up an appointment.