Marriage Agency business model

[Ramblin]

... in response to Thinking about starting a new business R..., posted by MarkInTx on Jul 23, 2002

I attended one social in my life.  It was an AFA social in Kiev almost a year ago.  It was not $2,000 it was $200.  You must be thinking of one that includes airfare and apartment and so on.  But let's say $200 x 25 guys = $5,000 and they that particular social ran for three days Monday, Wednesday, or Friday social, so that is $15,000, and let's say they have this social week once a month in that city so in such a case, AFA would gross $15,000 per month for the city of Kiev, and subtract the cost of the hotel meeting room and any bribes or taxes and the rest is profit.  Of course you and I can only guess and imagine until we get the real story.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: Thinking about starting a new busine..., posted by Ramblin on Jul 24, 2002

The Socials I saw advertsied were a good deal more than that. I think, if I rememebr, they wanted $2400 and you got to go to three or four "parties."

Pretty sure it was a four day thing. It may have included hotels... but that is four nights... at.. what $100 a night? Which is pretty high. And still averaging $500 a party. Per guy. Rent a hotel room, a few intepreters, and get twenty five guys there, and I stil think that's pretty good money...

But you are right... we're only guessing.

I think that is why with only 7 guys going they are forced to cancel "tours".

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Thinking about starting a new business R..., posted by MarkInTx on Jul 23, 2002

Mark I agree with the gist of your talk except for the remark about Jack.  Although I have never used his services you have to give him some profit for providing the service.  Also, the more tours / trips I have been on, the more I talk to people in the "industry" the clearer I become that Jack is the most if not the only honest American guy out there.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Disagree, posted by Bobby Orr on Jul 23, 2002

Or... one of us is misunderstanding...

1. I think that Jack does make some profit on the things he does...

2. I think he is entitled to that.

That's true of anything... If I have a guy come here and cut my lawn, I HOPE he is making money on the deal. If not, I know he's not going to be around very long.

I fully expect Jack to make money on his services. I'm not one of the guys who cries foul when I hear that an agency is actually turning a profit...

I'm not sure what in my post made it sound like I was complaining about that... but I'm not.

The way I look at it, if I contract someone to do something for me, and they do it, and I pay them, then it was FAIR.

Again, I have no problem with Jack, or any agency, charging a price up-front, and making a profit by performing a service.

It doesn't matter to me how much profit, either. If Jack can somehow make 100% profit, and offer me a price that I think is fair enough to pay... then hats off to him.

That is not dishonorable to me in the least...

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to I think you may have misunderstood, posted by MarkInTx on Jul 23, 2002

Thanks for the clarification.

[Oscar]

... in response to Marriage Agency business model, posted by Ramblin on Jul 23, 2002

Seems to me the bulk of money would have to be made on "tours" where a man pays $800-$3500 for introductions over there (depending on amount of service).  
Certainly paying $10+ for addresses would make money when you have hundreds of guys ordering them all the time, but still, I think the bulk of income would have to come from tours.

My 2 cents

[Alfred]

... in response to Re: Marriage Agency business model, posted by Oscar on Jul 23, 2002

I recently noticed that one of the big tour operators has added and "executive matchmaking service" where they offer personalized matchmaking as opposed to selling you a tour.  Maybe the tours have become less popular / profitable? Or they are adding a service that the boutique shops has shown to be profitable.