SeekingArrangement

SeekingArrangement
Type of site
 Online dating service
Social network service
Available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, French, German, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian, Korean, Japanese
Owner Brandon Wade
Website seekingsrrangement.com
Alexa rank 3,337 (January 2015)[1]
Commercial Yes
Registration Yes
Launched 2006
Current status Active

SeekingArrangement (also known as SeekingArrangement.com) is an American sugar baby and sugar daddy dating website[2] founded by MIT graduate Brandon Wade in San Francisco, California in 2006.[3][4][5][6][7][8] Wade is currently the company’s CEO[9] and has launched several niche dating sites, including SeekingMillionaire, MissTravel, WhatsYourPrice?, Carrot Dating - a mobile app - and OpenMinded.

Business model

The SeekingArrangement business model is based on a membership system. Sugar Babies create profiles and join the website free of charge. Sugar Baby members who register with their university email address automatically qualify for a Premium Membership status.[10] Sugar Daddies and Mamas are able to register for site services free of charge, which provides them with a limited number of messages. After the trial period has expired, members have the option to either purchase credits for expanded messaging privileges on a monthly basis or on an annual basis with the Diamond Package[11]. The initial model also relied heavily on their stated mission for membership acquisition and retention, by stating that both Sugar Daddies, Sugar Babies and Mamas could get what they wanted when they wanted. Such criticism on more traditional relationships, namely, that traditional relationships do not offer such advantages and the 2014 statement by its CEO Brandon Wade that love is "a concept invented by poor people"[12] started to back lash; and in terms of the its business model competitive analysis, it fell short of foreseeing the large market gap this would create for other dating sites to explore the market share consisting of genuine sugar babies seeking true relationships[13].

Membership

Members join for free, and can currently access the site from 139 countries[3] with translations in ten languages.[14] The company headquarters is presently located in Las Vegas, NV. There are additional offices located in Ukraine and Singapore.

Sugar Baby Members

Currently there are a combined 2.6 million Sugar Babies[3] active on the site—both male and female.

In 2010, SeekingArrangement.com began offering free Premium Memberships to students who register using their university email addresses.[15] The company expanded its offering to college students in Canada,[16] Australia, the United Kingdom,[17][18] France,[19] and various parts of Europe.

In 2014, over 1.4 million students were registered on the website in search of Sugar Daddies and Sugar Mommies.[20] Requests from Sugar Babies varied from assistance with college expenses to monthly allowances for living expenses.[21]

In February 2015, Seeking Arrangement released a list of the top 20 colleges attended by girls using the website as sugar babies. The number one university on the list was the University of Texas with 425 new sign-ups in 2014. Other information on sugar babies was also provided such as the average allowance ($3,000 USD) and a break down of what girls spent their allowance on.[22]

Although membership is free for Sugar Babies, Sugar Daddies (and Mommies) must pay for a monthly premium membership or pay for a 1-year Diamond Package.[23]

TCLogiQ

SeekingArrangement offers optional background checks for its members through a third party source: TC LogiQ. However, background checks are mandatory for Diamond Tier. Background checks include providing screening services for site members reviewing user records for flags such as: sexual predators, assault/battery charges, domestic abuse filings, and indicators of the like. There is a one-time fee associated with the member background check process charged to the account holder.

Users who successfully become background verified are indicated with a badge on their site profile.[24]

PerfectArrangement

In 2015, SeekingArrangement.com added matchmaking services as an option to clients. The PerfectArrangement slogan is “A Different Kind of Matchmaking.” The service caters to both alternative and traditional relationships based on client-specified preference and need.[25]

Mobile application

SeekingArrangement is available for mobile application use on Android-compatible phones and tablets.[26] SeekingArrangement is now currently available in the iOS store.

Controversy

SeekingArrangement.com has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and various print outlets. The site has also been featured on television's ABC 20/20, ABC Nightline, CNN This is Life,[27] Showtime’s Seven Deadly Sins (Season 1, Ep 6)[28] and other television programs worldwide.

Google executive's death – Alix Tichelman trial (2013–2015)

Google executive Forrest Hayes was found dead on his yacht November 2013 by his captain. Surveillance footage from the yacht shows Alix Tichelman, a woman he met on SeekingArrangement.com, injecting what appears to be heroin into her arm, then shooting the substance into Hayes immediately after. Hayes died later from an apparent overdose.[29][30][31]

Alix Tichelman was arrested in July 2014, on charges of manslaughter and prostitution.[32] On May 19, 2015, she was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and administering illicit drugs.[33]

Republican National Convention Site Boost (2012)

When the 2012 Republican National Convention took place in Tampa Bay, Florida, SeekingArrangement.com plausibly saw a 25.9% increase of site users stemming from this geographic area. This increase translates to the average of 1,823 daily users increasing to 2,295 accessing the site at this reported time.[34]

The Huffington Post quotes “politicians in the Republican Party had more than just politics on their mind.”[34]

Huffington Post continued to state that further evidence suggests that of the 200,000 Sugar Daddy users, 42.1% reportedly identify as Republicans and 34.9% as Democrats.[34]

Anthony Weiner "Sexting" Scandal (2011)

In 2011 former New York U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner posted a photograph of sexual nature via his Twitter page. Six women would come to light admitting that they had engaged in sexually charged phone relationships with the married representative.[35] Sydney Elaine Leathers, one of the six women Weiner had extramarital contact with, admitted to meeting Weiner on the SeekingArrangement site. Leathers has since admitted to using similar sites since the age of 19.[36]

Criminal allegations

On 25 January 2016, Doug Richard appeared at the Old Bailey, where he admitted sexual activity did occur but said it was consensual, believing her to be 17 at the time. Richards had met the girl through SeekingArrangement. The court heard that the 13-year-old girl in question told Richards on a number of occasions that she was 17.[37] On 29 January 2016, Richard was cleared of all charges brought against him by a unanimous jury decision.[38]

New York Times Feature (2009)

The New York Times featured the in-depth piece “Keeping Up With Being Kept” revealing the complex world of Sugar Dating. Multiple aspects were covered including the allowances Sugar Babies typically requested, gifts received and the age ranges involved. The article highlights that pairings seemed to likely tip towards older male–younger female partners.[39]

Reasons Sugar Babies are drawn to this alternative lifestyle include needing to pay rent or covering the costs of an education. Some actually sought encouragement or financial advice. In these instances, sex was not discussed and the agreement became exchanging companionship for an opportunity of self-improvement. In other cases, sex became an integral piece of the agreement with Generous members and limits are clearly described by interviewed Sugar Babies.[39]

Retention of User Information

Section 8.c. of the membership agreement of Seeking Arrangements grants them full perpetual rights to use anything put on their site by members. Section 13.c. gives them the right to release members' user information (identity) to anyone if Seeking Arrangements deems the release to be "reasonable." Members' data are retained forever.[40]

Events

YearPartyLocation
2011New York PartyNew York, NY, USA[41]
2012London Launch PartyLondon, G.B., UK[42]
2012Fifty Shades of GreyLos Angeles, CA, USA[43]
2013Fire and Ice BallToronto, ONT, CAN[44]
2014N.Y. Grad MixerNew York, NY, USA[45]
2014L.A. Rouge PartyLos Angeles, CA, USA[46][47]
2015Sugar Baby SummitNew York, NY, US[48]
2016 SeekingArrangement Party Los Angeles, CA, USA[46][47]
2017 Sugar Baby Summit London, G.B., UK[42]
2017 SeekingArrangement Party: Gay Pride Los Angeles, CA, USA[43]
2018 SeekingArrangement Party Las Vegas, NV, USA
2018 Sugar Baby Summit New York, NY, USA[45]
2018 The SeekingArrangement Party New York, NY, USA[45]

References

  1. ↑ "SeekingArrangement.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
  2. ↑ Padawer, Ruth (2009-04-10). "Making it Easy for "Sugar Daddies" to Connect With "Sugar Babies"". The New York Times.
  3. 1 2 3 "SeekingArrangement - About Us". SeekingArrangement.com. February 25, 2015.
  4. ↑ Koppel, Nathan. "A Q&A With Brandon Wade, Mr. Sugar Daddy" Wall Street Journal. August 17, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  5. ↑ "How This Never-Been-Kissed MIT Nerd Built A $10 Million 'Sugar Baby' Dating Empire".
  6. ↑ Gray, Emma (16 August 2012). "SeekingArrangement Survey Reveals How Long It Takes To Say 'I Love You' ... If You Are A Sugar Daddy". Huffington Post – via Huff Post.
  7. ↑ Scherker, Amanda (19 August 2013). "Public School Teachers Becoming 'Sugar Babies' On Seeking Arrangement Dating Site". Huffington Post – via Huff Post.
  8. ↑ "LA "Sugar Daddy Capital" for College Coeds".
  9. ↑ "Dating website founder says love doesn't exist". CNN.com.
  10. ↑ "SeekingArrangement - How It Works". seekingarrangement.com.
  11. ↑ Berliet, Melanie (May 2010). "Desperately Sugar Daddies". Vanity Fair.
  12. ↑ Wade, Brandon. "Dating website founder says love doesn't exist".
  13. ↑ "The true concept of a sugar baby relationship CLICK HERE!!!". 18 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Bottom of Page Language LIst". SeekingArrangement. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "New York Post". New York Post. February 9, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  16. ↑ "CBS News". CBS News. April 29, 2014.
  17. ↑ Marszal, Andrew (January 22, 2013). "The Telegraph". The Telegraph. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  18. ↑ "The Tab". TheTab.com. January 31, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  19. ↑ "The Local. FR". The Local. fr. March 27, 2014.
  20. ↑ Maimann, Kevin (2015-01-27). "As education costs rise, students seek out 'sugar daddies'". melfortjournal.com. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "CNN". ? CNN.com. February 26, 2013.
  22. ↑ Keith Gollar, "'Seeking Arrangement' Releases Top 20 Colleges Where Women Sign Up To Meet Older Men With Money", "700 WLW", March 4, 2015
  23. ↑ "Standard, Premium, or Diamond Membership: What's the Difference?". www.seekingarrangement.com. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  24. ↑ "Seeking Arrangement Background Check". Seeking Arrangement. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "PerfectArrangement.com". PerfectArrangement.com. 4 March 2015.
  26. ↑ "GooglePlay Store".
  27. ↑ Wade, Brandon. "Dating website founder says love doesn't exist". CNN. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  28. ↑ "7 Deadly Sins". ShowTime. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  29. ↑ "CBS". CBS - Crimesider. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "NBC News". NBC News / U.S. News. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "48 Hours". 48 Hours. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  32. ↑ M. Alex Johnson (11 July 2014). "The Google Exec and the Model: Silicon Valley After Dark". NBC News. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  33. ↑ "'Call Girl Killer' Alix Tichelman Gets Six Years for Google Exec's Death". NBC News. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  34. 1 2 3 Gray, Emma (2012-09-05). "Sugar Daddy RNC? SeekingArrangement.com Claims Traffic Boost From Republican Convention". Huffington Post.
  35. ↑ "Anthony Weiner Says He Spoke To '6 To 10' Women, 3 After He Resigned Congress". Huffington Post. 2013-07-25. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  36. ↑ Breslaw, Anna (2013-07-31). "Anthony Weiner's Sext Partner Sydney Leathers Was On Sugar Daddy Site". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  37. ↑ "Dragons' Den star 'paid for sex with 13-year-old girl'". BBC News. 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  38. ↑ Cheston, Paul (29 January 2016). "Doug Richard trial: Former Dragons' Den star who slept with girl, 13, cleared of sex offences". London Evening Standard.
  39. 1 2 Padawer, Ruth (April 12, 2009). "Keeping Up With Being Kept". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  40. ↑ "Terms of Use". SeekingArrangement.com. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  41. ↑ brandonwey (6 September 2011). "Seeking Arrangement Party - Pix 11 Coverage" – via YouTube.
  42. 1 2 "Hard-up students seek help from sugar daddy website".
  43. 1 2 SeekingArrangement (11 September 2013). "Mutual Arrangement Dating - The Sugar Masquerade" – via YouTube.
  44. ↑ SeekingArrangement (28 April 2014). "SeekingArrangement Hosts the Largest Sugar Event in Toronto" – via YouTube.
  45. 1 2 3 "YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  46. 1 2 SeekingArrangement (25 September 2014). "KTLA Covers the SeekingArrangement L.A. Rouge Party" – via YouTube.
  47. 1 2 SeekingArrangement (8 October 2014). "Brandon Wade's Speech at The L.A. Rouge Party" – via YouTube.
  48. ↑ "Sugar Baby Summit 2015". Eventbrite.
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