I hope your customer service rep, Destinie, is removed from service. She clearly doesn't understand what service means. She doesn't know how to communicate or read messages. This is not how a business treats a customer. It's disorganized and asks me to accommodate instead of the other way around. She told me there was a computer glitch, and they could not honor my confirmed appointment. She wanted to bump it back an hour, but I told her that would force me to rearrange my day, and I would expect some sort of gift card or discount for my inconvenience if I signed up. I said why can't we talk right now if you're texting me? She said that they can't go over it over the phone. It has to be in a zoom call and cannot be done at my confirmed time. Then she starts sending me duplicate text messages and more confirmations about my 9 AM appointment. This is getting rather confusing, so I asked her to call me. At that point she starts going over the pricing and says can you afford this? I said I was under the impression that we wouldn't be going over the details over the phone. Isn't that the point of the required zoom call? Clearly she was just trying to scare me with your prices ($150-200/month) so I would back down, and that's exactly what I did. I don't know what your members are like, but if they are anything like your glitchy and incompetent staff, I don't want any part of it. Dating has enough run around. You are supposed to be a better alternative. You are a business. I am the customer. Get your shit together. read more

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I like that E&A offers a variety of events that run the gamut from relaxing trivia nights, pottery classes, and brunch buddies, to skydiving and hang gliding, and I'm excited to go traveling with a group of people across the globe to Australia next year! Before I joined, I would often go to events solo, but I like having a group of friendly people to try different restaurants and head to new events with, that I would never have met through work or online. The club offers events both in the city and the suburbs, and carpooling is encouraged to make it to new places. E&A does have membership fees and different event costs depending on specific events, but it helps find a lot of activities and discounts on outings you wouldn't hear about otherwise, and I like exploring these events with new people. I joined in the spring and am totally looking forward to the fall and winter outings, and can't wait for the Australia/New Zealand group trip in the spring! read more

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I didn't join because I wasn't a fan of their sales tactics. I said I only wanted to sign up for 6 months and she said that I wasn't committed enough. I did some homework on the Better Business Bureau website. There were no shortage of complaints and negative feedback. When I told her she denied it and said that they must have an A+ rating. I really do love being gaslighted. The bottom line was that there was nothing on their calendar that interested me. For example there was a beach event, but nothing was included. Why spend thousands of dollars for unimaginative events that you have to pay extra for. I prefer Meetup. read more

I joined E&A in 2020 during the initial lockdown. I had just gotten out of a relationship and was looking for some single people to hang out with outside of my comfort zone. I'm normally a loner at heart, and I figured that this would be my way of getting out of that shell. Through E&A, I've met people that I know I'll hang out with and stay in touch with for the rest of my life. No matter where life takes us. The biggest plus about E&A is that there are new people signing up all the time, and it gives you the opportunity to meet more people. Some are looking for friends, and others are looking for love. At the end of the day, you will only get out of E&A, what you put in. Which is pretty much how life works. There's something happening every night in all parts of the city and suburbs. I've enjoyed my time so far, because I've made an effort to meet people and also travel. Which is another perk of E&A. They plan both domestic and international trips throughout the year. From backpacking in Yellowstone to Skiing in Colorado in the US. Then, just anywhere you can think of International, they usually have current or future plans. I personally went on a trip to Greece in 2022, and it was phenomenal. I was able to see some of the oldest ruins in the world. read more

Absolute SCAM! You have to "interview" to be accepted into the club and then commit to a 1 or 2 year membership contract on the spot. The membership fees are extraordinary at around $200 per month just to join. They tell you that most events are free with your membership, but that is not the truth. Most cost anywhere from $10-100 per event; one event even cost $5 just to show up to a free coffee shop to play card games.... The only way to cancel is within 3 days of signing up which doesn't even give you time to test out the events to see if you like the club. After a month of the club I realized that there were no "young professionals" for dating and most of the participants at the events I went to were 50+ years old (for reference I am in my 30s and hoping to use this to find a relationship). After realizing that the club was not what was promised in my "screening interview" I attempted to cancel and was informed of their 3-day cancellation process. After months of trying to contact the resolutions department, I eventually had to submit a letter from my doctor's office saying I could not participate in the club for them to finally submit a cancellation and prorated refund. This was the worst decision I have ever made, but the commercials and sales people really know how to sell it. Save yourself the headache and a LOT of money and avoid this scam of a "club". Lesson learned. read more

I was a member for a little over two years, so believe me when I saw that this business cares more about their profit and money then they do their people. Be aware, that your membership dues do NOT cover the cost of a lot of events they do. They just upsell everything. When I told them I wouldn't be renewing my membership, they reached out and tried to change my mind so many times. Some good memories, but I'm sure folks can find a place that doesn't charge such high fees to meet people read more

E&A offers activities everyday of the week! Many are in the city but there are a few activities in the suburb each week. I've enjoyed trying new activities and meeting new people. read more

I hope I could read the comments before I signed up the membership. I have exact the same feelings of those give low scores. It doesn't work as what they described, it doesn't worth it at all! I joined 3 events, the first time, I couldn't find the group of people, I tried to contact the event organizer, he replied me the next day!!! The second event was boring in a bar, and I needed to pay extra $15 without even a free drink. The third time was even worse, the sales person told me it was very common for people in the group help each other, no need to worry about the transportation since people usually carpooling, however, the reality is nobody even responded/ talked in the group, I paid another $199 to join the event, had to cancel no refunded. I tried to reach out to the manager ask for assistance, she said it is not her responsible. My suggestion is don't register! don't register! don't register! read more

I joined E&A at the end of summer 2017, and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I have made so many friends that I get to hang out with on a regular basis, go on trips with, and try new experiences with. I'm no longer a member, because it is a singles club and I am married now. My husband and I also met through the group! I definitely recommend getting out and trying several events when you join. You will meet different people at each event, and if you go to the events you're most interested in, you're bound to meet people with similar interests. Keep in mind, you may find yourself out with the group, and even meet new people who aren't in the club just because you're out having fun! read more

Events & Adventures - New Year's Eve Casino Night Party! - Social Clubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Waited 10 minutes for a link for my video interview. It was never sent. got back to me 12 minutes after my scheduled time asking if I want to reschedule. I'm a Customer Service Rep. I don't conduct business this way. read more

These people are liars. They take your money and you get nothing in return. There were no activities in my area. If you decide to do an activity then they take more money from you. Stay away from these people. They are just after money. They try to pressure you. Don't waste your time or money. They are unethical. read more

Membership does not cover cost of the events. Group demographic is not what was advertised/promised upon membership. Wanted to leave the group in less that 30 days of membership and have to get an attorney and medical clearance. EVEN WITH recent state mandates and increase of COVID.... when it is clearly unsafe again to meet in large groups of strangers. read more

Zero stars if I could. This club is a total sham. The cost is insane and per contract, you only have three days to cancel for a refund. They don't give partial refunds for unused months. You pay up to $2,300 for a year because of course they don't offer a month at a time or a trial period. I almost didn't sign and the cost magically was "discounted" to half that. Barely any events. None in the suburbs. Group size limits and you can't attend the activities you want. The good activities fill up within hours of posting. Money grabbers who use a lot of manipulation tactics to get you to sign-up. I wanted to cancel and brought the concern forward; they did NOTHING to assist or rectify the problem. Scam. Waste of money. Manipulative. Do not give your money to this scheme. read more

They deserve negative stars. This company's Chicago office ignores all COVID safety protocols. I was assured their events were COVID safe, but at their icebreaker event at their downtown office on January 8, 2021, Michelle Doellman, an event manager, took off her mask to speak, which prompted everyone but me to take off their masks. - People arrived wearing their masks incorrectly and were not told to put them on the right way - Michelle Doellman stopped taking people's temperatures. - People were not sitting spaced out, and I don't think there was enough room to accommodate this. - People arrived without masks or took them off once they were inside. - Doellman gave a speech about members being respectful and "not assholes" all while not wearing a mask and not telling anyone else to put one on or spacing anyone out. She sat someone wearing a mask incorrectly right next to me and then he took the mask off. I walked off and informed the Phoenix, Arizona office and the sales manager who signed me up, Pincus Liebowitz. He told me they'd be investigating the matter, but have not gotten back to me at all. I've also had someone who answered their phone laugh at my distress. They are likely only giving me a runaround and not doing anything. The company has a contract that makes it difficult to cancel, and instead of offering any actual resolutions, Liebowitz told me that: - They need someone like to me to point out violations on their private Facebook page (as if they need someone to do that) - Told me to attend virtual events. - Asked if I wanted more time to freeze my account, though they'd still be billing me the entire time. Events and Adventures claims that they only offer membership to good people and that their events are COVID safe. They state both on their website and the actual entries on their calendar, but they ignored them in person. Michelle Doellman is a manager for Chicago and updates their calendar. How is any person supposed to be feel safe at an event she has anything to do with? Why would anyone sign up and feel safe if the members are this irresponsible? I also think they violated the law by having too many people at an indoor event for a corporate function. Avoid this company at all costs and tell people to avoid them if they want to get sick or spread COVID-19. read more

My review is based on my experience at the office and my overall impression of the service being offered. I arrived a bit late for my appointment at 6:15. Someone in marketing had apparently screwed up and triple booked and I had to wait until 7 to speak with someone. Not a great way to start. The sales rep was friendly but saw my apprehension with signing and wasn't pushy. She did make sure to emphasize that joining the club would show that I'm "serious" about finding a partner. Yeah. Right. The fees for this club are a bit bloated for what it is (almost 1200 for 6 months). Their free events are ones I could easily find on a cheaper singles MeetUp group and their premium activities cost even more money (a hang gliding event cost an additional $184). There doesn't appear to be a means of facilitating interactions - you're kinda just left to fend for yourself. My main turn off is that there is no trial period. I am not comfortable signing a 6 month contract and nearly $1200 on a promise from a sales person and a quick look at a calendar. I also wanted more detailed statistics on their membership pool and age range numbers per event. If you want to sell me on there being tons of people my age at these events, I need actual numbers not just promises. read more

Anna Tyrrell one of there sales people lied to me and told me I was only being charged 2695 total for my membership and getting 6 months free because of Covid. Now I am being told I have to pay a total of 3235 and that it's spread out over my "free" months. They aren't straight forward in there contracts. I've only been on one in person event since March 2020. They canceled all the in person I signed up for and all others have been virtual. I'm paying 1000s of dollars to look at people on a screen when there's even events? I haven't once met any man in my age range. They lie to hook you there are no viable options and now that everything is closed it worthless. Also THEY DO NOT DO BACKGROUND CHECKS!! So there's NO SAFETY. Plenty of more affordable options. Btw it's not cause I'm bitter... I found my boyfriend the old fashioned way. Katy Howe is there scammer account that won't honor what that the sales person lied about. read more

Events & Adventures - Deceptive tactics - Social Clubs Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm updating this review because I've decided not to renew my membership and I wanted to explain my decision. First off, I still believe that joining was the best decision I've made since coming to Chicago. The friends I've made are incredible and I am forever grateful for the last 18 months. I also feel that E&A did an incredible job in hiring the event coordinators. April and Chelsea did/do an amazing job at putting up fun events for members to participate in while meeting cool people. They also look to their members for ideas on what we want to see on the calendar. Keep up the fabulous job, Chelsea! I was torn on whether or not I would be renewing my membership. I kept thinking that I've already made some great friends and I no longer needed the club. On the other hand, the events are great and I really think continuing would have been fun. However, no one seemed interested in keeping me as a member. On my expiration date I was locked out of the site with not so much as a phone call. I feel the club should reach out to their members at least 2 weeks before their time runs out to discuss options. If someone had contacted me then there was a 90% chance of me continuing on with E&A. You may want to think about this in the future with your other members. Show interest in the person, not just the money. read more

I thought this would be a fun thing to do to broaden my friend group and the sales person I interviewed with totally sold me. I admit I was naive in accepting to pay more than I was comfortable with, but it wasn't brought up until the end of the interview and I felt pressured into signing up. COVID has been surging and my bank account has been taking a hit so I tried to cancel. Apparently I misread the contract and you only have 3 days after signing to cancel, which I don't think is even enough time to try an event. So now I'm locked in paying about $188 a month for an entire year, and I haven't really met anyone. I just wish this company could be more forgiving and understanding, instead I feel more vulnerable and taken advantage of. read more

If you have no friends or family in Chicago you can join this group. Be aware, you are going to spend approx. $150 every month and upon that you will be spending on events you sign up as well, which is very frustrating. Another thing is you can't cancel your way out of the club, even though you are not using it, you are obliged to pay approx. $150. The events are fun, but after a while, it gets a little boring because they are the same type of events over and over again. Coming to the people, they are open-minded & welcoming people. The group is a mix of young and senior people, so if you are young and just want to hang out with some crazy people, you will be disappointed. The club says Events & Adventures but it's mostly events and very rarely adventure events. I am an adventurer myself, & spending $150/ per month to go events just to drink and mingle with others is not my kind of thing. If you are looking for slow and easy pace events, meet people & ok paying the monthly fee? then this club is for you...:) Or else there are so many meetup groups, which are free which you can give it a shot. read more

I have been a member for 4 months now and I absolutely love it. There are a wide variety of activities to do with a wide variety of people. This has become my community and I've made the most awesome friends here from all over the US since you can attend events in other cites where there are clubs. The events are what you make them. If you want to have fun, you will. They also have great trips each month so that you can travel with a group of single people and a great guide to some awesome places. I highly recommend it if you are single and need an excuse to get off your couch and make single friends. read more

I wish I would have known about this company when I first moved to Chicago! What a great way to go out and enjoy what Chicago has to offer and meet new people, build friendships and experience things I wouldn't have done by myself. With anything we do in life, things take time. Effort needs to be put in. Don't go to just one, two, three or 10 events and give up. It took me YEARS to find a core group of friends and took countless first dates before I found someone compatible to even go on a second date. Events and adventure plans hundreds of events every single year. Take advantage of the opportunities they are providing for you. I have met some pretty amazing people from these events. You can too, but you have to go out of your comfort zone, take chances, experience rejection, learn from each experience and get out there and do it over and over again. You literally have nothing to lose. Life is full of ups and downs. This is no different. You will go to events that might not be quite your scene or you might not click with that particular group. But the more events you attend, the more you'll realize what works for you, the more people you'll start to engage with and then the more friendships you will create. It's inevitable. But YOU have to get up, sign up for these events and actually go and put yourself out there and PARTICIPATE. This is an amazing company and I cannot wait for all the events planned for this summer!!! read more

So after the sticker shock, I'm a bit bummed that there's more get togethers in the city than there is in Schaumburg. It's definitely not 50:50 like I was lead to believe. All in all though, if you make it work around your schedule they have good events, went kayaking for the first time with the group and you'll definitely meet people you will be friends with outside of the group so for that I'm thankful. Itching to take a trip with the group but haven't had a chance yet. Been in for a year already! read more

Don't waste your money. I stoped attending after only a few events. Lots of hype during their sales pitch about how fabulous it is, but pretty lame once you're in it. Maybe in other markets it's great (I was in Chicago), or maybe the international trips are cool, but the monthly activities and current member demographics were not at all what I was led to believe. read more

Frankly I think this is a rip off. I tried to cancel and the cancellation process was misrepresented I am paying for something I have never used! There are few if any events in the suburbs, Do not join this group Why spend $150 a month then pay for activities on top of that. Just join an social club and have fun with people you know This club is a fraud read more

Unfortunately I didn't see any value in E&A. Had a couple bad experiences and when I went for help and reported they didn't care and continued to charge me for 2 years even though i only attended events for the first 2 months. The events offered are amazing just wish the majority of people that joined were better. Accounting department helped me out in the end the only person who seemed to care about her job and help me out was Katy Howe. Thank you I appreciate your hard work. I hope other people have a more positive experience than I did! read more

I joined E&A 6 months ago and have had an incredible experience! All of my best friends scattered across the country after graduation. While that makes for great vacation opportunities haha I felt like I needed to expand my circle here in Chicago! Within my first few events I had met people I really connected with and I was shocked by how welcoming everyone was. I have found some of my best city girlfriends in the group and for that I am extremely grateful. If you are looking to expand your circle, the group comes with my highest recommendation! Just have an open mind and get ready for endless new experiences! read more

Membership has its privileges. I love being in the mist of good people. Fun is nothing short of a good time with good people when you're with this group. I love the events that are offered. I love the diversity of the group. There is more to love and learn about E&A when you become a member. So come join us on our many events and adventures. read more

I've been a member of Events for over a year and I still think I made a great decision. I have now new friends and got to know places in Chicago I did not know existed. There is something to do every day of the week and always someone to do it with. Activities vary from scuba diving to a trip to Japan to a relaxed evening playing volleyball by the lake I made new friends with whom I hang out outside the events What else can I ask for? Maybe one of these days I'll find a special someone but sure enough he won't find me waiting for him at home!! ;). read more

Really a great place to meet people. I travel for work and excited to have a network of people in differnet cities. Phoenix, Seattle, Chicago. Really a lot of fun. read more

I've been a member for almost a year now, and I love it!!! I'm meeting a lot of amazing people and getting to do things I would have never thought of. One of my favorite events is Wallyball, which is offered usually a couple times a month in the cooler months (we play sand volleyball in the summer). read more

Ok, so I have been contemplating this for some time. I am a 40 something transplant to the beautiful city of Chicago from MI. I didn't really know anyone except for work colleagues that I didn't necessarily want to spend my free time with. I heard this ad on the radio & it sounded like they were talking directly to me. I went downtown, had an interview & after agonizing over whether I could afford it...got "gently nudged" to dive in!! I've met a few friends (that I hang out with outside the group), & gone to some places that I probably would not have on my own. However, I usually leave disappointed. The diverse age group, variety of events & discounted group rates were grossly over estimated!! If you are a 20 something girl looking for girlfriends...you may be in luck! Otherwise, find another way to spend your money!! We live in a beautiful city with SO many options....why so many repeats & weekend events in the burbs??!! Not to mention, the changes in management...3rd event manger in 15 months! Oh, & it's 11/03 & the calendar is only posted through mid month! I have tried to call & voice my concerns to no avail...money wasted! read more

E and A is a wonderful social club where everyone is there to meet new people and try new adventures. I have been a member for almost a year and I can honestly say its been one of the best decisions I've ever made to join this wonderful club. If you are the type of person who wants to try new things, and meet new people this club id for you! I've crossed off a good amount of bucket list activities from white water rafting to bubble soccer to whirleyball to jumping out of an airplane! And some days we just have events where we go hang out and drink or see a movie. Its perfect for anyone and everyone and I don't know where i'd be without E and A. I've made some great friends through the club and always meet new people every event. The negative reviews on here are typically people who arent members or who didnt really give the club a fair shot. Listen to the reviewers that have been members for a long time, thats where you'll find the honest reviews. Amazing experiences await! read more

While I have made a few good friends in this group, the E&A company has treated me with blatant disregard for my time, well-being, and even safety. I'll start by saying it is not uncommon for women to warn each other about which male members to stay away from. As a paying member, this should not happen. I have heard a number of women share their bad experiences, but I can only tell my own story. Within one year of joining and attending events, I was physically assaulted three separate times by three different male members of the group. I attempted to contact the membership coordinator in January by phone at least 6 times, left messages each time, but did not hear back. I received an email from the Accounting department, so I tried to work with them. I asked to cancel my membership and receive a refund of half my deposit. Considering the circumstances, this request was more than reasonable. I did not ask for any action against the male members, I did not blame the event hosts or the company, I simply asked to be allowed to leave. Honestly I would have accepted the cancellation without any refund. I explained what happened to me in an email to an Accounting rep and asked to cancel my account on January 17th. I followed up 7 times and finally got a reply on March 30th stating the following: We have reached out to the host and discussed the proper behavior for hosting events. Our hosts are not employees, they are members just like you and so we have handled the situation. Since we are past the cancellation period, your balance is still owed. However if you want to close your account we can discuss a settlement option. Please let me know if you have any questions. I replied that I was not satisfied with this answer, or with the 2+ months it took for a reply. The offer to settle and close the account would have been acceptable in January, not March. As of today, I have not received any communication except a past due notice. I emailed the Accounting rep and the general Accounting dept email address, still no reply. My request now is that my membership be cancelled as of my initial request in January with no further charges. I was recently informed that my account has been sent to collections, with no further attempt from E&A to resolve this situation. I share this so that other people will be aware of what to expect (or not expect) from this company. read more

Joined E&A in November & it's an amazing social club! Soooo glad I did as I've never been happier with a decision I've made. I already have wonderful friendships here now and looking forward to making more! Since everyone's saying there story on here, let me start by saying I had just recently moved to Chicago in October & not knowing a soul here... did the silly thing of joining an online dating website for a month. I was telling a friend at work my hilarious online dating stories and how I just wanted to explore Chicago and make new friends here. She then told me about an E&A advertisement she had heard on the radio and that night I requested to know more information from the E&A website. The very next day I got a call and went in for an interview. It's a legitimate screening process with a background check so that made me feel safe and that all the staff are committed to finding genuine people :). There is a membership fee, but when breaking it down... it's about what I was spending per week going out anyway so I just signed the 2 yr which also happens to be the lifetime membership contract! I went to my first event that very week to Howl @ the Moon Dueling Piano bar & everyone was VERY welcoming being as they know how it is to be a new member. I got a very nice call from the host of the event (who now is one of my besties) that night asking me if i needed any help finding the place and where to find the group inside. That eased my jitters and it was a memorable night! Don't wait for the new member ice breaker to start having fun and making great friends with E&A! Just show up and have a good time with E&A people! So far I've done trivia, played billards, had greek food for the first time, ugly sweater xmas party, wallyball, dave & busters, tons of mingles, game night with friends, ice skating @ millennium park, midnight masquerade for NYE, movie night, and just yesterday did a room escape from a chained zombie! There's something going on every night of the week so I never have to spend a night in unless I want to! People think it's a dating club, but it's just a social club.... That's just what is bound to happen when you put fun singles together though! Wow this is a long message... Join if you're cool! read more

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Beware of signing a contract with this organization. There is no trial period and they won't make cancelling easy. I had to follow up with them, as I never received a return call. Events were packed with people but not very intimate. read more

I was enthusiastic to join because my kids moved away for a little while. I feel as though the representative saw that enthusiasm and took advantage of it. Once the world shut down and no-one could go anywhere I request for my membership to stop and they didn't stop it. I told them I could no longer afford to pay & they still didn't stop it. I really wish I would've read the reviews first, I wouldn't have given this business a 2nd look! I agree with all of the reviews of the other people, there's little to do, in far or congested locations & you still have to pay. This is a legit scam, don't do it! read more

CONCLUSION: If you are in your 30's and live in the city, it is a waste of money ($2,600). Use MeetUp instead (it's free!). E&A wants to rope you in and will push you to "give it more time" (when you cannot cancel the contract). TIP FOR E&A: If you are really confident in your product, do not pressure people to sign up that day (isn't pressure to sign up right way for anything a sign of potential shadiness or at least disrespect?) and offer 1 month, 2 weeks, heck, even a 1 week "trial" period to make sure it is a good fit. ********************************************************************************************************************** A bit about me: divorced, no kids, live in the city, mid 30's, great group of friends, looking to expand it more. Active member on MeetUp as well and have made some great friends there too. I first saw an ad for E&A on Facebook and was interested in learning more. Two friends of mine had also heard of it and suggested I research more . I read all of the Yelp reviews (both good and bad) and entered cautiously, but, wanted it to work. I went in to the interview and cracks began to appear. BIG LESSON: Both friends who had heard of it were older and did not live in the city. None of my city friends my age had ever heard of it. First, though it is a new office location, it is very bare, and looks very low effort. The business cards look the same (really unprofessional with an office number that does not work - business cards are cheap, order better ones). If you are asking members to pay ~$2,100 (plus $30/month), I expect more - first impressions matter!!! I participated in the interview with Saman. I have a slightly tricky first name (uncommon in the USA, but in other countries it is very common) and despite my correcting him 4 TIMES he kept saying it wrong, That to me was the first sign that they do not care to get to know you as a person if they mispronounce your name 4 TIMES. NOTE: Despite Saman having an uncommon first name and I pronounced it exactly as he did the first time. Saman also started asking questions about my past relationships, but I said I was not comfortable sharing that info (I did not see any evidence that he has any psychological educational background and could use that information in any helpful way). The sales pitch was pushy with you signing up for 1 or 2 years (or 6 months paying all up front), and for you to sign up that day. When I asked why they do not give prospective members more time to consider, Saman said they "want go-getters" in their club. I told him that I do not see the correlation (I can be a "go-getter" and still be responsible and not committing $2,600 to something unknown). He did not get my point. TIP FOR THE INTERVIEW: You have 3 days to cancel a contract after signing. Use this as your trial period and schedule the interview when you will be free to go to an event within the next 3 days. So I signed up that day with the intent of going to one event and then deciding if I wanted to continue. Saman asked what my main decision factor would be to not cancel within 3 days and I said it was the composition of their members (basically are your members people that I have stuff in common with and I could see being friends with). The event I went to was in downtown Chicago on a Saturday night in a brewery. To me, it seemed like a perfect trial event. It was not just for new members (so it would be a true picture of what their regular members are like), would likely have a good male/female ratio, and probably folks my age (Sat night, in the city, and beer). About 16 people showed up to the event. Only 4 members (including me) seemed to be in their 30's and only two (including me) lived in the city. I do not own a car, and want to have friends who also live in the city. To me, it shows that we have a similar lifestyle. The suburban members there seemed to have a great time talking to each other, but seemed to be in a very different life stage. Not a good fit. I went to the E&A Chicago office to cancel the next business day. When I told them that I tried an event and did not think it was a good fit they said "well, you really cannot judge from one event". When I told them what the event was, they got defensive saying that since the event was a week after Labor Day, it was low attendance (???? yeah, did not really get that one, but whatever). E&A gave me no choice but to cancel. I had no reason to trust that a future event would be different. Without a longer cancellation window, I had to go by one event and make a quick decision. I am unwilling to place a $2,600 bet on E&A. They are unwilling to give you time to really assess them (RED FLAG!). As I left they said "well, good luck out there!", in almost a snarky way. It was a very representative way to end how the whole experience felt. read more

My updated rating is based on the business practices and customer support of this business. I still standby my original comments on my experiences with events and making friendships. My membership expired a bit over a year ago (Sept 2014). When my membership expired and I did not reach out to review the only communication I received was an email in which I was bcc'd that said "hey - corporate notified us your membership expired. Call us if you want to renew". Really?!? I was one of the first 50 members in Chicago and this is the "effort" to get my renewal. In addition, I had about $40 in credits on my account that to date has not been refunded. Note: I have not pursued this as it is not worth my time. I think it should have simply been refunded to my card on file or they should have reached out to send me a check. My other issue is their inconsistent approach to following up with expired memberships. Earlier in 2015, I had multiple friends receive emails offering significant discounts if they came back. I received nothing. Upon hearing this I had a friend reach directly providing my name as someone else to contact (I was bcc'd on the email). Again, no contact was made. Basically, don't expect to see consistent customer service experiences from this company. read more

Advents and Adventures has been a great way to get out and do a lot of Different and interesting things that I would have never done on my own and in the process meet a lot of interesting People I never would have come in Contact with. There is so much Variety in the the things you can choose To do. I have played whirlyball,sand volleyball, snow tubing, gone horse back Riding. There are play's , game nights, With bowling and bocee ball , museums, Different restaurants. I really have loved It. The best thing is I feel safe because Everything has been interviewed, and Background checked. read more

I honestly feel completed scammed. The E&A recruiters talked up this organization like there were a ton of fun young people in the group.. I went to several events for 2 months and it was pretty much the same 10 creepy/boring people at every event - the average age being 40yo. Maybe this is fine for some but being 24 this was not what I was promised nor what I was looking for. Had I known this group was mainly for 40+, I would have never signed up. There is also no trial period for this for this group to see if you like it (which should have been a red flag). When you walk into the "interview" (which is also complete crap - they would accept anyone willing to pay the outrageous membership fee) to learn more about the group, they sell you hard and expect you to commit to $2,500+. I'm sure the recruiters know that if there was a trial period, they would probably have no members because when you get to the events, it is extremely underwhelming. I honestly could go on... but let me just save you a lot of time and money - Events & Adventures is a scam. read more