I tried Chemistry.com and based on my experience save your money. There really isn’t much to this site. I saw the tv ads too and gave it a shot.
I started with the trial that is advertised, filled the extensive personality test but didn’t get far before I got a page blocking me from fully using the site without subscribing. The site doesn’t let you see what you are getting until you subscribe.
So I did. I gave it a whirl and did the $99 three month membership. I was presented with 5 potential matches.
There is a slider bar where you indicate your level of interest for each match and then the site contacts them to see if the first impression is mutual to allow you to go to the questions phase or if the match should be archived.
So far this was all well and good except there was more than a little bs going on. According to “Dr Fisher” there are 4 personality categories. Each person has a major and minor personality category depending on your answers to the test. When a potential match is presented, you get a paragraph explaining why you match well with each of the other 15 possibilities (major/minor combinations). Except it becomes apparent it doesn’t really matter what that combination is. You get this vague paragraph in pyschobabblese supposedly from matchmaker Fisher selling you what actually is completely arbitrary.
So this was disappointing. But more I became annoyed when they wouldn’t accept one of my photos. It wasn’t pornographic or inappropriate. It was a facial shot with a blue graphic effect on it that I posted with my standard photos. I got an email saying it wasn’t acceptable because it was blurry even though I had standard photos that showed what I looked like. The point of this specific photo wasn’t to do that but to present myself in a more artistic light. The point of your profile is to present yourself for possible matches and yet Chemistry.com wanted to marshal how I was allowed to do that. Again, I would have understood if the photo was pornographic or something.
After the first couple days I only got 1 to 2 matches every other day or so many without photos and an underdeveloped profile page. This isn’t entirely the matches fault. The site only allows for a general paragraph and photos.
After deciding the service wasn’t worth the money I was paying I wrote them to asked for the prorated portion to be returned to my credit card and for my membership to be cancelled. I have written the site several times now and I only get a form letter telling me to call their CS line. I didn’t want to waste anymore time but eventually I did call, waited on hold and get the predictable nice girl on the phone hired to placate instead of solve any problems.
They refused to refund my money. After investing 30 to 45 minutes of my time she agreed to scale back my membership to 1 month for $50 instead of 3 months for $100 which wasn’t acceptable but I took only because it was all I could get. Again, the girl was pleasant enough but kept telling me it was detailed in the terms no refunds are returned for unused time when you cancel. Of course since I couldn’t see the product until I paid they had me.
It has been almost a week since that conversation and my subscription status page doesn’t even reflect the change they agreed to. I emailed them again about it and they told me to call the 800 number again. So far I haven’t which they are probably counting on.
My experience with Chemistry.com has just been a waste of time and money. They advertise, cast a wide net and once you pay they don’t care anymore. The service doesn’t give you anything you can’t get free at other sites. The psychological aspect of this site is a ruse. Every potential match combination comes with a form letter. Its all arbitrary. The site is very limited. And once they have your money they have no interest in keeping your business. Join a book club if you are sick of the bar. You won’t get your money’s worth here. – Tristram
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