In Russia, men are outnumbered by women (something like 88 males for 100 females) and it is very often stated that it is an issue of luck whether a woman finds a man or not. In Russia, early marriages are common and at the age of 25 a lot of people are already married. Women should try hard to find a man to marry and only hope he will be a good husband. That is why many women try and seek their destiny abroad and as many Russian women are thought to be much better wives than those from the Western Europe and the USA, the "mail order brides" services enjoy great popularity with lonely foreign men.
Most men from Europe and the USA understand the term "mail order brides" as if their bride should be delivered on request to their house and do not realize they have to spend effort, money and time to make a Russian woman believe he is a good candidate whom she may consider to be a worthy prospect as a husband. Of course, the initial contact is usually implemented through mail or electronic means of communication, but later on men should anyway convince a woman they've chosen that they are worth her attention face-to-face.
Media gives the following interpretation of the term "mail order brides" - Russian mail order brides will anyway marry someone - any man, of any personality, occupation and age - just to get off Russia. The mail order brides services are often understood by most people as those which sell women, and this type of business is rarely considered to be trustworthy or respectable. Many men in the USA and Western Europe still think they can point a finger at a woman they like, and she will immediately marry him and do what he wants her to just because he spent money to get her address. Yes, as nonsense as it sounds.
Many Russian women treat the mail order brides idea as a personal insult. If you write to a Russian woman through one of these services, don't think you're doing her a favor. She will do you a favor if she answers. She says "yes" if she likes you and "no, thanks" if she doesn't. It's like meeting a guy in a bar. It wrong to think she owes you anything just because you have selected her profile from thousands of other or paid some money for her contact details. If you allow any rude words or insinuative phrases in your letter - I bet you're out of the game. Russian women also seek for their soul mates and they are not worse than you are. You'll be surprised, but many Russian women would be sometimes more intelligent and educated than you. If you believe in that "mail order brides" stupid theory, you are lost to the best Russian women. Lost forever.
Most Russian women feel miserable if they don't have a husband. A woman should be married and have children in order to be considered to be a respectable member of the society. Otherwise, often she would be treated as an outcast. Even those women who manage to build up a successful career in Russia, need to have a reliable partner whom they love and marry. Russian women believe that they are created for the family life. Those who believe in the "mail order brides" nonsense, think that Russian women seek a husband abroad to have his money. But the real reason is that they want a family. Their own family and children. And that is exactly what they have difficulties with in their own country, for the reasons which have been described above.
Those "mail order brides" agencies do not in any way "sell" women. The main and only activity they are into, is making people from different countries meet each other and, if the stars are in the right direction, live a happy life together.
Do you still believe in this nuisance myth of the mail order brides, which are sold eagerly and are happy to leave their native land? Poor you are, because if you are into such an activity as a rich and successful western guy looking for a Russian woman, you're nothing better - you are a mail order groom.