Classmates.com . . . Do you subscribe?
November 3, 2008 by Karen Weideman
Filed under financial matters
A few years ago I signed up for an account at Classmates.com. I thought it might be fun to reconnect with old classmates or see what they’re up to. Classmates offers the ability to email one another, send out bulletins, sign guest books, post pictures, and I’m sure a lot of other things.
The problems is, you can’t do much of anything without a subscription. And then to top all that, they are continuously sending me emails saying that someone has signed my guestbook. They taunt me with messages such as, “Did you know there’s 1 new signature in your guestbook this month? Wonder who it is? Take a look now.” When I click on the link, I’m told that I can view my guest book IF I upgrade to a membership which is $19.95. If I’m not mistaken, this is an annual fee.
They also have these amazing filters on their site to where you can’t communicate with anyone about your email address or information. This forces you into the fee. I get it. It’s their site, but seriously, $19.95? I’m sorry. I’m just too dang cheap for that.
How about you? Do you subscribe to Classmates.com?
Why don’t you just get Facebook? It’s easier to use and it’s free. I’m connected w/ a lot of my HS classmates.
I get the same thing from Classmates.com. The only thing it has been good for is reunion information. Facebook.com is the way to go!
Totally agree with you!
I decided I don’t care who signed my guestbook. So harumph to them. lol
Classmates needs to seriously rethink things. I mean, with Facebook available, how many people would bother paying that crazy fee?
Facebook, baby.
I didn’t shell out the cash for Classmates because most of my classmates are on Facebook. And it’s free!
i’m on the bandwagon with everyone else: NONE of my classmates are on classmates, but they’re all on facebook.
Granted, i was in college when facebook started, so quite a few more of my classmates are on than if i’d graduated from HS like, 10 years ago, but i wouldn’t pay money to reconnect with them.
My dad subscribes to reunion.com, and i think he’s got about 4 or 5 friends from all of high school and college on it. He’s not totally the thrifty type, however, so he keeps renewing his membership, as quite a bit more often, his facebook account keeps getting more friends than the other one:)
To echo everyone else’s comments…surprisingly – alot of my classmates are on facebook. My class president even made a group on there to tell all of us about our reunion that is coming up next year.
When I had a 3 month trial membership at Classmates, I found that those guestbook signatures were not real fellow classmates. Almost every one I received seemed to have a blank profile, no pics, no info, not even the same school as me. The only alert I found to be real is the email from another classmate trying to contact me, which is why I got the trial membership in the first place. Besides most people know you can turn off the feature that shows you visited someone’s classmate profile/guestbook so it doesn’t “sign” it. Like I said, rarely was it anyone I actually knew with a real profile.
I am still not on Facebook yet, MySpace works for me for now, and even visits to my page there is rare with my little one. But I have several internet reunions with old hs/work friends through there.
FACEBOOK
Can’t stand Classmates. Facebook all the way.
I too use Facebook. I have connected with many of my high school friends that I have lost touch with.
AMEN to that! I agree – Facebook and Myspace are both much better ways to keep in touch. I’m surprised that Classmates are even able to keep going considering their charges and the ease of use and “free-ness” of the other two!
Facebook baby!
Ditto here. Facebook. MySpace. Anything that’s free. Classmates is a waste!
Heck no! Facebook is the way to go!