Why a Longer Matchmaking Contract Is Not Better
By Erica Arrechea, Founder of Cinqe Matchmaking
Something interesting happened twice in the last few weeks.
Two incredible men came through our discovery process. We spent time getting to know them. We bonded. We listened. We presented women they were genuinely excited about meeting. We sent over attractive offers.
Then both of them called me and said the same thing:
“Erica, we’re going with another firm.”
And both times, I said exactly what I always say:
“That’s absolutely okay. This is a big decision. We know how much thought goes into choosing a matchmaking company. Can I ask what made you choose them?”
The answer was identical.
“Their program was longer.”
Not better.
Not more personalized.
Not a stronger network.
Not better matches.
Just longer.
And that got me thinking.
The Biggest Myth In Matchmaking
Somewhere along the way, people started believing that a longer contract automatically means a better service.
It doesn’t.
In fact, many times it’s the opposite.
At Cinqe, we’ve been doing this for 16 years. We are incredibly fast. We are incredibly effective. We simply don’t need 12, 18, or 24 months to do what many companies are doing.
Our clients receive the same amount of introductions. We simply move faster because our team is working on your search every day.
When someone hires us, they’re not paying us to wait.
They’re paying us to find someone.
What Happened Next Was Interesting
Here’s the part that surprised me.
Both gentlemen came back!!
Not six months later.
Not a year later.
Two weeks later!!
Both received refunds from the larger firms they initially chose.
Why?
Because the matches they were presented right out of the gate were completely off.
One gentleman told me he felt like nobody had actually listened to him.
The other felt dismissed when he raised concerns about the direction of the search.
That’s a tough way to start a relationship with a matchmaking company.
And honestly, it highlights something I teach every matchmaker who works at Cinqe.
Rule #1: Give The Client What They Want
This may sound controversial.
But I don’t care what your personal matchmaking opinion is.
Your client is paying you to understand what they are looking for.
Your first job is to deliver exactly that.
If a client tells me he wants X, Y, and Z, my team is going to work incredibly hard to find X, Y, and Z.
Now, maybe along the way we discover someone slightly outside those parameters who could be exceptional.
Great.
Show that person later.
Month two.
Month three.
Once trust has been built.
But don’t ignore what your client asked for on Day One because you think you know better.
That’s not matchmaking.
That’s ego.
The Cinqe Signature Moment™
One thing that makes us different is that we show you what we’re capable of before you ever become a client.
We call it the Cinqe Signature Moment™.
- Before we send a contract.
- Before we ask for a dollar.
- Before we ask for a commitment.
We present a small preview of potential matches.
Not because we’re trying to impress you.
Because we believe you deserve to see what you’re buying.
You wouldn’t buy a house without walking through it.
You wouldn’t buy a car without driving it.
Why would you buy a matchmaking service without seeing the quality of the network first?
One of these gentlemen never received a match preview from the other firm.
The other did—but the women shown weren’t aligned with what he had asked for and he signed up anyway .. remember he was allured by longer contract time. :-/
Let’s Talk About Those Long Contracts
Here’s something most consumers don’t realize.
Many matchmaking companies have part-time "matchmakers".
One matchmaker may be managing a large number of clients simultaneously.
As a result, searches move slowly.
Verrrrrry slowly.
The company then stretches the contract longer to accommodate that pace.
The client looks at the offer and thinks:
“Wow. Eighteen months. That must mean more effort.”
Not necessarily.
It may simply mean less activity each month.
One introduction every month.
Maybe every other month.
A lot of waiting.
A lot of hoping.
A lot of checking your email.
That’s not how we operate.
Example: Let’s say they set you up on a mediocre date. It happens. But then you have to wait another month for the next one?
Yikes....
At Cinqe, if a date isn’t a fit, we’re already working on the next introduction. Bad date on Tuesday, new opportunity on Wednesday. Momentum matters. Let’s gooo!
Time Matters
One of the gentlemen I’m referring to is Barry Senior.
Barry DOES NOT have a year and a half to sit around waiting for introductions.
Neither do most successful professionals.
When someone is serious about finding a partner, they want it yesterday.
They want activity.
They want a team that’s engaged.
They want to feel like something is actually happening.
And frankly, they should.
If you’re going to invest in matchmaking, you deserve a company that’s moving at the speed of your life.
Why We Move Faster
At Cinqe, we don’t sell just time.
We sell results.
When new clients join, we set expectations immediately.
We explain the range of introductions they can expect.
What’s funny is that both gentlemen told us the larger firms had promised roughly the same number of introductions.
The difference?
Those introductions were spread across nearly twice the amount of time.
The realization hit quickly.
The longer contract wasn’t creating more opportunities.
It was simply stretching them out.
The Bottom Line
Longer doesn’t mean better.
Longer doesn’t mean more personalized.
Longer doesn’t mean more introductions.
And longer definitely doesn’t mean you’ll find love faster.
What matters is whether the matchmaking company listens.
What matters is whether they understand what you’re looking for.
What matters is whether they can actually deliver.
For 16 years, that’s exactly what we’ve done.
We listen.
We move quickly.
We show you what’s possible before you sign.
And then we get to work.
Because when someone trusts us with one of the most important parts of their life, the last thing I want them doing is waiting around.
About the Author
Erica Arrechea is the founder of Cinqe Matchmaking, a luxury matchmaking firm established in 2010. Cinqe works with successful singles across the United States and internationally, providing discreet introductions and concierge level matchmaking services for professionals seeking meaningful relationships. IG: @erica
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