When I have looked at the numbers in respect of Russian bride agencies and international marriage agencies it is my assumption that a large proportion of women, particularly those who receive significant volumes of mail, do not write the replies. Many of these women just do not have the time to do so. Most guys will never know this is happening becasue they will never get on a plane to meet their penfriends and, of course, most guys never intend to meet the girls, it is just a fantasy. I reckon that this the proprietors of many mail order bride and international marriage sites are well aware of this and design the site for this much larger client base of people who will never get on a plane to meet the women they are communicating with.
I wrote a long piece about this based upon numbers from Elena's models and incorporating what I have seen for myself and had recounted to me. Frankly, it is not possible for it to be otherwise, simply not practical - the most attractive women at almsot any agency are getting too much email for them to deal with it all by themselves.
If you are seeking one of the top few percent of girls, then simply turning up to meet them is not good enough. If one is going to do it right then start off by sending the girl a digital camera, or good phone, something to announce yourself as a serious player with serious intentions. Then having gotten her attention, telephone her through the agency, and make serious and concrete plans to visit within a matter of a couple of weeks or so. Ensure the agency gets their money, do not try to cut them out, they can mess with your, your plans and your mind.
Visit the woman (women), make sure that you are able to do what you say, when you say you will do it and make sure that you can offer her the things that she needs in order to accept you as serious suitor. Also make sure that you can do so when you get her home to your country. If you are going to keep the most popular and attractive women as a wife you need to be able to be consistent with her. This is a life choice that both of you are making!
How many guys can do that?
Almost none.
Almost nobody on the international marriage forums, or writing to the most prized of these women has the disposable income to be present and to compete with local and European competition. People who understand this issue are correct when they talk about how local guys with the kind of folding that works for these girls treat them, but frankly, these girls will expect no different from you. So being a 'gentleman' will not work.
Of course, from the pictures of couples that we sometimes see, almost nobody outside of Russia or Ukraine actually ends up with the creme de la creme of these women, most of us settle for someone much more ordinary, but even these girls are playing the same games, the same rules and same desires.
When you contact a woman through a marriage agency take great care that you are able to deliver on your promises and remember that many of these women have plenty of choices, they are not poor desperate girls, at least not these days... Maybe ten yerars ago the situation was different.
Make your emails stand out from the crownd, make the woman WANT to write to you herself!