recently went to New York to tour. Before she made the final plans, she had everyone preschedule an appt. She never asked for a deposit or anything, but took the clients word that they were indeed solidly booked. When she got to New York, almost half cancelled 
I just received a phone call a couple of days ago, which broke my heart. I asked her why she didn't ask for a deposit, and she told me that she reads the boards on how the men don't like deposits. I have also thought about traveling but get very nervous, for I wouldn't want to head to another state and come to find out, I have nothing to show for it. I told her the next time she travels no matter what ask for at least a partial downpayment. If the guy doesn't want to see you, then it was not meant to be but there will always be someone to take his place. I would like to hear the gentlemens views on this issue, for I get responses from across the country to travel but that would be the only issue for me, is making sure that I am well covered for my trip.
My suggestion is to book 50% more appointments than you want. Let me expalin, If you are most comfortable seeing 4 men in a day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, one in the evening, and one late night, then book two during each time period. However do not overlap the times. This way when several appointments cancel during the day you are still only seeing 4 or 5 guys. Sure they may not be spread out throughout the day as you would like, but you will be much closer to the goal you are looking for. Do bring a laptop to help with last minute calls.
I myself exhibit the designs I make at trade shows. Before going I always set up appointments, and yes usaually half of my clients don't show up for their commitments. It all goes with the cost of doing business. Sorry.
Try requiring a deposit and see if you get enough bookings.
secure the appt. but not too much that would be a turn off to the guys?
Any mention of a deposit and I look elsewhere.
I don't blame a guy for not wanting to send a deposit (unless the lady was known to be very reputable about returning them.)
There is never a guarantee with traveling, so you may as well visit a city you'd like to do some sightseeing in, if there is unexpected time.
Also, bring along your laptop or use the hotel business center to post on the regional board if you have openings.
Traveling is a lot of fun--don't be nervous--take a chance and have an adventure!
Another thing that sometimes causes cancellations (or no shows) is locating in a hard to find or get to location. I actually like the idea of a deposit, especially if the provider's description of herself is accurate. It is a problem only if I feel that I am lied to about things that attracted me to the provider to begin with. I agree with the linkmeister, try setting up some deposit service such as Paypal and then see how many bookings you get. Hobbyists who pay the deposit normally will have a good reason for cancelling and if they do, make sure that the deposit is yours. If they show, then the first hour charge is the normal fee minus the deposit amount.
Very good point Chrissy!
Its important for the visiting provider to keep the line of communication open and to be available in a very reasonable amount of time for those hobbyist whom expressed interest and/ or after an appointment has been set.This can easily be accomplished via e-mail and phone contact.
I know of at least two very recent situations in NYC where a couple of providers left suddenly(seperate incidents) without telling already committed hobbyists... so its definitely a two way street. I know both hobbyists and they PM'd me with concerns for the providers...and followed up those concerns with messages to them. Only then, after a short time, were they informed as to the reasoning for the departure by the ladies.
One was a family problem at home where a hobbyist had drove two hours only to be left in NYC desperately trying to contact the provider with no success. The other provider was supposedly assaulted on a Manhatten street in the late night(she claims she was not hurt...great news!). The hobbyist worked near the hotel she was staying so he was not tremendously inconvenienced.
Also,speaking for NYC,as many of you know,it gets hectic and fast paced,hence the term,the NY minute.Local providers understand this and appointments can be made if availability is there in as little as a "minute" lead time.The DEPOSIT will not be looked upon too fondly. I know that personally I would not comply.
Of course,there should be NO EXCUSE for confirmed appointments made in advance as EVERYONE's time is extremely valuable.Murphy's law will always apply... so just like air travel, a cancellation will occur and guys...PLEASE do the RIGHT thing and call as soon as something else comes up.
In closing, everyone must keep the lines of contact open as hobbyists will want to reconfirm or be reassured that their LUV session will indeed take place.
Cheers!
That post was too serious for me...here's another St. Paddy's day special.
An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for
speeding in Connecticut. The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest's
breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car.
He says, "Sir, have you been drinking?"
"Just water," says the priest.
The trooper says, "Then why do I smell wine?"
The priest looks at the bottle and says, "Good Lord! He's done it again!"
-- Modified on 3/15/2004 6:37:29 PM
Some of us are able to do this and others aren't, but......
When you find a number of cancellations, let us know on the regional boards and some of us might be able to make a last minute appointment. You reserve the right to restrict it to those with a good "reputation" to shield you from LE concerns, but it could be a way to keep the trip from being a letdown. Offer a small discount (Economics 101, drop the price when you want to raise demand in an elastic environment), if you want to make sure you get some interest.
Most of us are sitting by our computers and a "I NEED you now!" would motivate most of us to sneak out for a bit to play. It's harder for those of us in the 'burbs but it might be worth a try.....
Sometimes even the best made plans can fall through by no fault of EIther party. Having your cell phone and Lap-top with you can turn the whole trip around. With just a little time spent in the "TER chat rooms" Unexpected free time can be salvaged and turned into fun & profit if you are a Savvy lady.
FR.
-- Modified on 3/16/2004 7:55:34 AM
Airlines, rental cars, hotel rooms, etc. are all examples of fixed time assets that "spoil" if they're not used at the time they're booked. As a result, all companies demand a deposit if you want to be gauranteed availability (and all three STILL overbook, though not as much as they used to).
I'd think you'd want ot get at least 15-25% deposit upfront if you're going to be spending your time and $$ to travel. For $300, that's $50-75 upfront - if someone is serious, that shouldn't scare them away. And I'd think in theory, you'd be less likely to cancel the whole shebang if you'd have to refund people's deposits!
Honestly, I don't think that most guys have a problem with providing a deposit. Providing that if reasonable notice is given by gentleman that the appt has to be cancelled, then the deposit is returned promptly. And obviously, if the the lady has to cancel, the deposit is also returned promptly unless the appt is rescheduled. That's the way it should work.
Unfortunately, we read all the time where guys put a deposit down and then have to fight tooth and nail to get it back if the lady does not show up. Now if the guy cancells the day of the appt for example and does not reschedule, he doesn't deserve a dime back on his deposit.
Bond
I probably would not provide a deposit for the simple reasons that there are so many ripoffs around who wouldn't return it. I feel that deposits should be returned in the event of cancellation, because the person may have a very good reason for it. Maybe withhold a small amount(no more than, say, $50) if cancellation is made less than 24 hrs. in advance. Exceptions may be made in cases of bona fide emergency, such as a death in the family.
Myself but I guess you can say I am a chicken. Where are you at? If we are close maybe we can talk and do some touring together. Differnt rooms but at least we will have someone there if something happens, or just to hang out with if the guys do not show up. If you are intersted in this you can PM me.. If not good luck with what ever you do. BE-GOOD-I-TRY-TO sassy
It's a sign of the times unfortunately. I work with a lot of ladies and always, always tell them to get deposits, at least half of the fee. Just think of the time and money lost if you book a tour and half of them don't show. Not just the money you didn't get from them, but the money you could have made back home. I don't think guys (decent ones anyway) mind making a deposit especially since they wouldn't want to see you lose money on your trip. Open a PayPal account, use Western Union, get money orders, whatever you need to do. You should be collecting enough deposits to at least cover all your expenses. Just one web slave's opinion!!
When I travel I never ask for a deposit. I only lose the most like 2 clients, but I do gain more.
It happens...it sucks..
In her case, I agree she should get deposits...
Shaye
I would have zero interest in sending a deposit for an out of town visitor. I could see my favorite ladies here at home so why take the chance of getting burned on a deposit? And using my credit cards? No paper trails for me, thank you very much.
You have to see the big picture. You are going to have some good trips and some money pits if you travel short notice without deposits.
I went to San Diego a few weeks ago, short notice and did no business. Everyone called me when I got home. But it was a restful trip so I figure it was meant by the heavens to be a vacation. I am going to Boston tomorrow and I expect demand to be high since it's my first trip in a year and a half. But keep in mind, if guys find out about you short notice and they didn't know you were going to be in town, they have to go to the atm, find out where you are, arrange time off from work with the boss, bullshit the SO and scramble. Personally, I like being spontaneous and I keep in touch with so many guys all over the country, somehow they find me whereever I may be.
You can make very good money traveling but tell you friend she needs to develop a network of friends who will stay in touch and look out for her, including women (client swapping). I have had people drive from CT and Philly to Boston to see me just because I short noticed it and they were in the mood to say screw work. The commitment from guys is there but sure, some flake. I'm going to need a lift from the airport to the hotel in Boston and all I have to do is post on my site and I'll get it because guys check in to the site to see what cool stuff I'm up to. The men in this business do take care of us and look out for us. I'm sorry she had a bad trip. She should have posted a big HELP on the boards or ran an ad saying HELP. Angels have a way of finding their way to you.
Stay safe,
love, HB
If someone is traveling on their own (not being brought in by a client) as a business opportunity, then that is a business risk they run in my opinion. Requiring a deposit clearly moves me in the direction of looking elsewhere. Way too much of a hassle otherwise should the provider flake (which happens with greater frequency than we might like).
As regards to LE, if you were to send your donation via, say paypal, well in advance of the meeting, and at the meeting money was NEVER discussed in anyway, and none ever changed hands, this should kill any chance for LE to make any kind of a case, wouldn't it? I know that the trust issue on the hobbiest's part would be immense. Any thoughts?
Paper trails are not good. Loosing a deposit is almost as bad. Being stood up by either the client or provider is the absolute worst! Do you suppose these people that have made appointments and stood you up could be from providers in the city you are visiting that are just jealous of you? Trying to reduce competition?
People who actually think like that enough to want to do it, don't understand business, to say the very least.
When we have visiting providers in SD, yeah, business gets really slow because it's already difficult to begin with. On top of that, a lot of people love coming to America's Finest City - who wouldn't?! - so we have to 'deal with' visitors all the time! But, none of us have any 'attitudes' about the 'competition'.
When I was in the restaurant business many years ago, we didn't open until lunch, but a new restaurant was opening across the street that did. They had a huge banner saying something to the effect "Grand Opening! Unlike our neighbor, we ARE OPEN for breakfast!". I asked my wise old manager if he was concerned about (the loss of) business, and he said profoundly, "as long as there are two places to shop - people shop in two places".
People will have more success in life to have gracious hospitality than to begrudge someone.
Definitely there are women in San Diego and I suppose everywhere that women provide that would do just about anything to stomp out whatever they feel is the competition.
It would be wonderful to believe that the world of providing is a panacea from most of the ugly that women in the "civilian" world experience. Unfortunately, providing is merely a microcosm of the regular world, just like most other experiences in life.
Wherever men and women collide there will be jealousy, odd feelings of passion, possession, and often just plain greed.
Interesting call on that theory that women might be booking the visitor's time. I also am of a similar mindset to Sedona and wouldn't have thought of that.
Karma is a bitch.
Elise [email protected]
Our direct competition is constantly trying new ways to steal our clients. Or make us spend money unneccasarily.
I have to agree with you that graciousness and ethical treatment of others is the ONLY way I run my business, that is probably why I'm still broke lol.
is keeping a good open line of communication with your client. There is no way I could see 4-5 per day and to overbook, though prudent finacially, would frazzle my means to my certain end. I like to develop a rapport with the gentlemen I am seeing through emails and PMs. It is integral to my screening process, and so in a fashion, it helps to eliminate cancellations and eases rescheduling. I don't take on many new clients and I am selective, so when I do commit to seeing a gentleman, I am ready to play ball.
I would pay a deposit if the lady had a reasonable number of good reviews on the board.
Good reviews just means she has satisfied other customers. It doesn't mean she won't flake on you, or isn't dishonest.
...a well-known provider with plenty of reviews, who posts on this board often, took my deposit, cancelled on me before laying eyes on me, and refused to refund me. As I posted on the LA board, she then stood me up when I setup an appointment so she could make things right.
And please don't PM me asking who it is. I think she is unstable and it is too risky to "out" someone like that. And unfortunately, my VIP status has temporarily lapsed and I can't read my PMs, anyway.
Ladies like this ruin the deposit thing for others. I had no problem sending her the deposit, but...lesson learned. As usual, one or two bad eggs ruin things for everyone else.
I urge my fellow hobbiests to pass on providers requiring a deposit. Chances are you'll get burned, and there are plenty of other ladies out there who do not have this requirement.