It's Just Lunch

I joined It’s Just Lunch some years ago. I am a professional black female.

I will date interracially, however, at that time there were very few black male clients and apparently, there was a problem creating interracial dates.

I was very specific that I do not date men shorter than myself. I am around 5'7" without heels which I always wear. One date, the guy was no more than 5'4". You could not believe this match.

I was not matched with anyone that met the criteria I asked for. One guy was a Scientologist. I’m Catholic. Are you kidding me?

I think you get the picture.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I can’t believe they are still in business. I was scammed in 2010. They presented to me that they had potential dates in mind during the initial interview. My first date stood me up at a restaurant. My second date was very physically unattractive and his professional background was misrepresented. My third was the no-show first date after I had specifically said I didn’t want to meet him. The poor guy was morbidly obese and it was obviously the only way he could get a date. During dinner he told me he had discovered how to make gasoline from water. The hair literally stood up on the back of my neck. Totally misrepresented the dates, their level of professionalism and physical appearance.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

It's been 6 months and I have had one date who falsified his entire background. Wondering if this service really screens its clients. Have had to change matchmakers multiple time due to horrible proposed matches that did not even come close to requested profile. Most recent matchmaker "disappeared" and now a new matchmaker who is proposing the same referral (what a coincidence). This is the worst service I have experienced.

Oh, BTW I also just received (this week) a class-action lawsuit against the NY section of the company. Guess there are more people than we know who are totally dissatisfied with this company.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

My name is Henry F, I paid $3500 for an It's Just Lunch membership over a year ago and haven't been on one date, they keep matching me with people that don't fit my criteria. They fraudulently induced me to sign their contract. I asked them to provide me one match before I signed to see the caliber of women, she was beautiful and right after I signed, the rep told me the woman thought I was "too tall" which I think is bogus. They have assigned me to 4 different matchmakers, one more incompetent than the next, they are non-responsive, evasive, and difficult to get ahold of. I just talked to a Vice President at It's Just Lunch who basically told me they are aren't refunding me. I have heard of people getting refunds or partial refunds by contacting news agencies. Can you help me at all? This company is engaging in fraudulent business practices which are evidenced by the countless lawsuits against them. They need to be stopped and exposed, they are stealing people's hard-earned money. Can you help me?

Best.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I signed up for IJL years ago but was quoted a $2300 rate and laughed at them for it. I got called every once in a while for the next few years offering me $500 off but I still could't afford it, and I only ended up joining once someone called and offered me a free trial. Almost a year after this free trial I finally got contacted by email about doing a video call with a guy. I was given no personal info about him, no picture, no nothing, just a time and a link for a Zoom call. Then a week or so later, I was contacted by another "matchmaker" by phone asking requested that I do a video call with another guy. She read his list of interests and character traits as if it was a sales catalog, speaking in a monotone and speaking very quickly, and really gave that "impersonal and unprofessional call center" vibe. She explained his religious background, and since it wasn't anywhere near mine and I knew that was a huge dealbreaker for me, I told her I wasn't interested. She went on a 5-minute incoherent sales pitch speech about how that shouldn't matter, but maybe it should, but it could change, but it's always worth a try, and blah blah blah. She seriously couldn't form a coherent sentence or finish any train of thought, but she basically wouldn't let me say no. (This was Vanessa.) I finally agreed to the date just to make her shut up and hang up, and then I emailed a few days later saying I wasn't interested and that I'd been pressured into accepting the date and I asked that they please tell the guy I wouldn't be showing up.

Just recently I got another phone call by a "matchmaker" named Obed asking about a date, and again was given the guy's name and a quick list of interests and character traits. (Honestly though, these details are the same that anyone would put on their dating profile and I would just as soon read them for myself and decide whether or not to contact the person rather than having it done for me by a call center trainee!) I got an email right after the call and immediately replied to say that I was at work but would contact them when I had a change. I got an auto-reply saying "sorry our offices are closed" which made no sense since it was 2 minutes after they emailed me. When Oben finally replied, there wasn't any "we want to know if you're interested in meeting" and instead it was "please send us all your available times for the next 2-3 weeks so we can set up a date." So I gave them a few times and was sent the restaurant and time info. Then I was emailed again a day later asking if the date could be moved to a different town an hour away from me on request from the guy I was to meet. I said it would have to be a different day and asked if we could meet halfway, and quickly received an email saying "great, we've set it up for a different day" essentially. No discussion about meeting halfway, just felt like a very cold sales transaction. I'm probably going to end up canceling this one too or requesting it be moved to video.

You aren't "assigned" a matchmaker, your file is in the system for the next call center employee to look at and badger. Just don't spend the money. If you want to spend money, try eharmony. Much cheaper and you're in complete control of who you contact and when.

Length of Use: 1–2 years

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I'll get straight to the point.

1. Poor quality of service - I had one match which took a month. IJL got his university name completely wrong (not just spelling, the entire name was written wrong). Makes me question what IJL is doing in these interviews.

2. Gender bias - I had only one match which took a month. I learned from my match that he got 3 matches to choose from. Why do women have fewer matches?

3. Very poor match - I'm not sure why I'm paying money for this service. My match made racially offensive comments about how Asian people are timid. He also dislikes dogs. I'm really confused about why I was even matched with him when I am Asian and have a dog!

Length of Use: Less than 3 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I've worked on and off with IJL over a few years and it's been positive overall. Some excellent dates and most are at least pleasant experiences; even if some people seem more compatible with me than others, that happens in dating life anyway no matter what methods we explore. I have met all kinds of women of many intriguing backgrounds and types. A very good service on the whole that I think can be made even better in a few specific ways. Sheri is always responsive, cheerful, and attentive. I experienced an excellent, life-affirming relationship rich in good times and happy memories thanks to IJL and I am aspiring for that lightning to strike again!

Length of Use: 2+ years

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Total scam. Don't waste your money. I signed up in 2019. I live in West Los Angeles. Tons of people. I was given one date 3 months in after complaining.

Just to give you an idea of my attractiveness level, I've had modeling offers. I was asked to drive very far initially, which I refused. I was shown a picture of a normal-looking guy, not great looking, but I was open to meeting him. The guy who showed up looked nothing like the picture and was very overweight, the one thing that I said was non-negotiable.

There is a lid for every pot, but we can't help what we are attracted to and not attracted to. Additionally, his personality was terrible. I was never given another date and was told there weren't enough people in my area, Los Angeles, again.

They kept trying to pressure me to go on dates with people 15 years older or people who lived 3 hours away or people who weighed 300+ pounds.

I think if a company is doing so badly that these are the only dating options they have they shouldn't be charging people $4,500. I was guaranteed 24 dates in 12 months, but only given 1.

I could take them to court, but the headache isn't worth it.

Length of Use: 1–2 years

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

The liars just responded here. Even what they said here are lies, none of what they say is true. Just stay away and don't lose your money as I did.

Length of Use: 3–6 months

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

My matchmaker, Eugene, has been excellent. He has been able to find women for me who have the qualities I seek. The dates I've been on have been pleasant experiences. The only complaint I have is that it is sometimes difficult to get in touch with my matchmaker for updates on him finding potential matches.

Length of Use: 3–6 months

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Working with IJL has been fantastic. My matchmaker, Amy J, has been great to work with. She listens to me, and finds excellent matches. One of the good parts of my IJL experience is that it makes you feel like it is a collaborative partnership. If online dating is tiring and overwhelming I seriously would consider IJL.

Length of Use: 2+ years

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend