Online Dating Site Gift Subscription

Perhaps it is because it was the during the Christmas season.  Perhaps it is because I wanted to do a thorough review of LDS Mingle.  Either way, when I saw the link marked ”gift subscription” at the bottom of the page I had a uncontrollable urge to click and find out for myself the exact details.  This is what I read:

“A gift membership at LDS Mingle is the perfect gift for a single friend or family member.  A unique and special gift that will give them access to a community of LDS singles just like them, and give them an opportunity to meet their one and only.  For friends, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, cousins and more – A subscription to LDS Mingle is the perfect gift!”

I thought, “You’ve got to be kidding me, right?”  Now I will admit that it is not unusual for someone to admit that they joined an online site at the behest of (or experience of) a family member or friend.   Do you think that “encouragement” came in the form of a gift certificate?  Nor, is it unheard of for a friend to actual be the monitor for a particular profile.  (I remember a couple of profiles, specifically on LDS Singles.com, where one person was the moderator for the profile of a friend.  A little strange, but again not unheard of.)  Then, I wondered if there were other online dating sites for LDS singles that offered a similar service.  So I checked all of the sites listed in 7 Best Online Dating Sites for LDS Singles and discovered that LDS Mingle is not alone in offering their members the chance to give gift subscriptions to “friends, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, cousins and more…”  LDS Singles.com, Match.com and Yahoo! Personals all make the giving of gift subscriptions available to their members.

Ok, so the availability of gift subscriptions isn’t unique to LDS Mingle.  What about the giving process?  The giving the gift subscriptions is not the same for all of the sites, but relatively simple nonetheless.  LDS Mingle, LDS Singles.com, and Yahoo! Personals each allow you the option of purchasing the gift subscritptions online directly from the website.  Match.com on the other hand requires that you purchase a gift subscription by calling a toll free number.  (That number is availble from the site)  All of the gift subscriptions are, however, redeemable online when your gift recipients creates his/her profile.

Now, my mind was working.  I made a quick mental check of the people I know and still need to buy gifts for to see if there were any for whom I might venture.  I quickly ruled out all of my family because 1) they’re not LDS, and 2) they are married.  Next on my list were my friends, who, for the most part, are largely in the “happily married” category, and found none for whom I would be brazen enough to give them such a gift.  Then, I wondered.  Are there were any of my current (or future) readers who think that this might be a good goft idea for someone on their list.  Or, are there any who have actually been the giver or recipient of  a gift subscription to an online dating site. So, what about you?  Would you give your mom or dad a gift subscription to an LDS singles site?  What about your siblings?  Cousins?  Now friends…is there someone that you are close enough to that you would be willing to give them a gift subscription to an online dating site like LDS Mingle, LDS Singles or Match.com?  And finally, if you were the recipient of such a gift subscription to an online dating site, what would your reaction be?  Would you use it?

While you are thinking take a minute and let me know what you think by filling in the following polls.  And, if you have given a gift subscription to an online dating site or been the recipient of , share your experience with us in the comment section.  And if you are interested in offering a gift subscription, visit the homepages of the those sites that offer gift subscriptions.

Remember:  We’re LDS!  We’re Single!  And, we’re all in this together!