When Online Personal Watch published a Press Release about the new code of conduct established by eDarling, FriendScout24, Neu.de and Parship about cancellations policy and recurring payments , we learned from Mr. Fernando Ardenghi, that he thinks it may be a joke. As Mr. Ardenghi said, they could have used “ISO 9001” instead, and “would had no need to invent SPIN.”

That is completely nonsense. “ISO 9011” is related to quality management systems – which may work for online dating companies or not. However, the four companies have invented the SPIN code of conduct exclusively for the online dating industry – and it covers a lot more than just a “quality management”.

Liebepur wrote about SPIN first.

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Four of the most important players in German online dating agreed to a code of conduct. The companies are (in alphabetical order):

eDarling (German company, with some help from eHarmony)
Friendscout24 (owner: German Telekom)
Neu.de (Owner: Meetic, France)
Parship (Owner: Holtzbrinck Publishing Group)

The code became necessary, because the dating industry in Germany is somewhat under fire. The reason is mainly that some of the players in the German online dating business have strange subscription models and cancellation regulations.

The code of conduct is called “SPIN”, an acronym for “Serioese Partnersuche im Internet” (can be translated as “Reputable Dating in the Internet” ).

Only one of the most important German dating-sites, ElitePartner, did not join the alliance.

The SPIN alliance is supported by the German “Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft (BVDW) e.V.“

In German: SPIN - Code of Conduct About BVDW , what Liebepur wrote about the alliance. (German).

Photo © 2012 by BVDW (Press release)

Scientist claimed over years, that they found the “formula of love” – but now, it is obvious that they don’t know anything about love as far as matchmaking is concerned.

Why can this be important to you? The German Liebepur Magazine specializes in Online-Dating, and this article is an extract of ten important points about today’s matchmaking in online dating. As English is not my first language, please forgive me some mistakes.

1. There are other criteria such a social background, humor, and conflict management in a successful marriage.
2. Nearly all psychological factors are outdated for couples. Some scientists even say that “psychological tests” are useless for a happy marriage.
3. There are no “alternative processes” in successful online matchmaking. Counting the clicks may be useful in online bookstores, but not in matchmaking.
4. Some scientists claim that they found new relevant conditions for a better relationship, which should be used in psychological tests. However, so far no one knows what these “relevant” factors are.
5. It is shameless to claim that Matchmaking is bases on C.G. Jung or Sigmund Freud because they have never been engaged in Matchmaking.
6. The “Big Five” or Myers-Briggs are not at all relevant for matchmaking, and to claim that they are, is nonsense.
7. The so called “more detailed” test and algorithms some scientist claim to have found are nonsense, because it is proven, that you get to few matches with those algorithms – even mathematically.
8. The matching process is kept as a secret – but why? Maybe the secret is that it is based on onions, not on science.
9. But in fact, all selection criteria, whatever they are, may lead to fewer choices – so it may be far better to have 40 matches out of 10,000 members.
10. It is quite important that potential mates are “introduced” in online matchmaking – maybe this is the most important point.

Do you want to discuss this article? Please contact me at the Barcelona Online Dating Summit.

I am happy to announce that I will join the Barcelona Online Dating Summit held in the Miramar Hotel in March. Although the main show dates are 3rd and 4th March, I will be in Barcelona on 5th as well.

As I am the editor of Germanys probably oldest, busiest and (most probably) best Online Dating Magazine called “Liebepur” (pure Love) I would like to meet you, talk to you and probably make friends with you. Furthermore, I’m available for the Spanish, Catalonian and English-Speaking press as well.

So if you are interested to talk to me, just call me or send me an email. My first Language is German, but I speak English as well.

Contact me via: .

The German Press wrote a lot about a study by the Berlin Humboldt University – and now, the Daily Mail wrote about the same case. They said that the “bad” names are somewhat English sounding.

So do Germans hate English-Sounding Names? In addition, will Kevin not be able to find his Marie or Brunhilde? Is it true that Mandy will never have Sex with Alexander or Siegfried?

Well, researchers said that those people are less likely to pursue a relationship using dating websites. So is it true? And if so, how can it be altered?

No, it is not true, because most dating websites do not use postcode, real name and age as the only identification. In contrary, they use a nickname, a photo, a postcode and age. Therefore, you will not be able to find a Kevin or to avoid a Mandy but you may see a beutiful person. Therefore, the following sentence makes no sense at all: (Daily Mail)

Single people would seem to prefer to remain alone than meet up with someone called Kevin or Chantal.

First, they will not “prefer to remain alone”. The study only says, that knowing the name “Kevin” or Mandy” will restrain from answering an E-Mail from such individuals.

Second, it might be that foreign-sounding names are still a no-go for some of the picky German Singles. Although the winners are mostly not of Germanic origin, they seem to be positively regarded: Jakob (Jacob), Peter, Marie and Hannah are biblical names, Alexander is Greek, Max and Marcus are Roman, Charlotte is unsure, and only Emma is typical German. As I read in the German press, the scientists suggested that well educated people might prefer traditional names, while other people may be influenced by TV-stars.

It is amazing, that the no-go names are not much different in their origin. Justin is Roman, while Marvin (Marwin) is Germanic, Kevin is Irish, Dennis and Mandy (Armanda) are Greek, Chantal is French, Jacqueline is transferred from Hebrew to German and then to French, and Celina is “Celia”, which is Greek, transferred to nearly all Languages, in German a Celina would be called “Silke”.


So how can you avoid to be turned down just by being a “Kevin” or a “Mandy”? It’s quite easy. Use your middle name as first name, or any other name your parents gave you. The Famous German writer and musician Hofmann (you may know the “Tales of Hoffmann”) called himself “Amadeus”, but his name is always written “E.T.A”. So if you are a Kelvin, change your given name to “Kes” or “Elvin” or call yourself “Vine” or “Vince”. A “Mandy” might transfer her name to “Arma”, “Armanda” or “Manda”.


You might as well keep your name, but then take care of your nickname. The Nickname is more important for the first impression than your first name. I don’t know on which Website those scientists may have done their research, but on most Websites you do not need to post your real first name – and it is not cheating just to say: I’m K. Pusteblum instead of saying “I’m Kevin Pusteblum”.

Worst names (men), accoding to my source:
Kevin, Justin and Marvin.
Worst names (women)
Mandy, Celina, Chantal.