-- Modified on 2/5/2004 6:02:20 AM

If the lady doesn't want her picture shown, DON'T SHOW A PICTURE!!! Many agencies across the country offer available ladies who do not wish to have their picture displayed on the website. The simple solution? Post a description without a picture. I've never heard of an agency admitting that they use "replica" photos. You write, "we are taking this oppurtunity to air out the reality of "agencies"." This may be a local reality. In the rest of the hobby world the reality is that when agencies or independents get caught doing this, it's called "bait and switch." If you choose to post a "replica" photo,  and you are serious about providing the "best customer service," then the photos should be clearly labeled as "replicas" or you should volunteer this information to potential customers when they contact you.  

I'm not a member of your community. I don't dislike agencies but I know BS when I read it!

thirsty

-- Modified on 2/4/2004 11:27:54 AM

Okay, we agree with you but no need to be nasty about it.  The 'replica" thing is a good idea and we will take all of your "ideas" and suggestions under consideration!  And for your information when a gentleman does call, we do inform him of the "look-alike" situation.  You can verify this by callin us!!!  have a wonderful day thirsty!

Thank you for clarifying that. I appologize for assuming otherwise. It's just that "bait and switch" is a problem within the hobby everywhere. If your intentions are to protect the ladies' privacy I applaud you. However, respectfully, you're way off base if you meant to imply that posting "replica" pictures is a common practice for reputable agencies.

I wish you good luck and I hope that you will take steps to clearly identify the "replica" pictures.

thirsty

-- Modified on 2/4/2004 11:45:24 AM

There are ways to disguise and nicely blur a face, hair in front of face...not show it etc....This is done by about half the women In this profession anyway.  I think if you were to do this it would be better for your business.  Stock pics seem very manipulative and hobbiest are very sensitive to false pics as much as false reviews.  Do real pics and edit, blur, leave face out etc....but be real and be honest and your business will prosper in the long haul.  Just my opinion and not trying to be mean..just advice from someone who has been in the profession and learned alot.

Raven

ps...an example of still being discreet and not known

No worries here...we definitely want a "positive" reputation and are trying very hard to build one.  We agree that agencies operate differently.  Thank you Thirsty for hearing us out and posting our admission to "fake" photos.  We will do our best here and definitely put "pleasure" and honesty about pictures first to all of you hobbyists out there!!!

Everyone makes mistakes and learns from them.  Seems he / she understands where you and others are coming from

Raven

Thank you so much for your opinion and we definitely want the hobbyists to be happy!!  We are a wonderful group of ladies here at atlanta heat and really want to bring quality to the gentlemen!  You are so right...everyone does make mistakes but we definitely want to fix ours!!  thanks for your imput ms. ladyraven!!

I actually appreciate your polite and composed responses to the board. You seem to know your audience and are trying hard. I think that following the suggestions regarding labeling of the photos is the only way to restore credibility to your operation. After doing that, be sure to schedule a provider that has the same appeal as the woman in the "stock" photo. When you have a photo of a young hard body, and you schedule a woman whose only similarity is that she has blond hair, you set yourself up for dissatisfaction with your client base. That very same blond could build a solid return customer base if she advertised "a relaxed pampering session with an experienced mature woman of elegance". Then she would draw the folks who look for that type of service and would not dissappoint those just looking for a hot young body.
If you do not have anyone available at the time that resembles the woman advertised, state that she is not available but "so and so" is, and give an accurate description of her qualities. If they don't book an appointment, at least maybe they'll try again another time, instead of booking with someone that will upset them enough that they not only don't return, but they post negatives about your operation on here.

we are going to make quite a few changes to our site within the next couple days to better represent ourselves.  So, PLEASE, check out the site in a few days and hopefully all the changes we are going to make will really make a difference in regaining our reputation.  thank you all again for giving us a chance.

I've been watching these threads with some amusement. In any other area on TER, you would be berated for your B&S tactics and more than likely not have any TER customers for very long. As I have said previously, ATL is very lenient on this practice, your lucky.

I took a lovely young indie to task on this same issue and her white knights came to her defense everytime. I have shared a few emails with her since, and she does seem genuinely nice. But I still stand by my opinion that anyone that uses pictures of someone other than the actual woman that shows up, is guilty of bait and switch!

And as Lady Raven said so well .."...but be real and be honest and your business will prosper in the long haul."

Honesty. That's the answer!

You have photos that are dozens of pounds off or off beauty wise by a gazillion miles. No photos are better than bogus photos. you are not the first agency to try and pull the wool over our eyes. Get a grip. Want to stay in business or flake out like the rest of them ? Set expectations correctly. There is no romm for stock photos. Might as well use cartoon characters. I also know that you have fewer ladies than there are photos, which is another bad way to run a business...

since most of the photos on this site have their face turned or blurred seams like bullshit to me, bob

What if you ordered something online...let's just assume it is a book for conversation's sake. On the website, it looks like the latest Stephen King novel. But when it arrives, it is the latest book from Don King. Not that the book would be all bad, but it just wasn't what you were looking for.

That's the position you put us hobbyists in. We are looking for the thin, young blond in the ad and we get someone about 50# heavier. Sorry, but that type of "false advertising" would really piss me off and I think it would piss you off too.

If there is no picture but the description is accurate and everything is correct, it is my fault. If the picture and/or accompanying information is not true, then I am likely to refuse service.

I wish you the best of luck, safety, and business success but there must be a sense of fairness between both parties or you simply won't survive.

The whole community comes out and says "just be honest and don't post fake pictures", that seems reasonable.  So their solution is to "take it under advisement".

Me thinks the only reason you leave the fake pictures up after being called out is you could never charge the same rate with the real pictures.

Me also thinks if the girls looked anything like the stock photos on the site they'd be very proud to display it in any way possible.

You are right about the "choice" part of your post.  I've already made mine.

I believe that those associated with Atlanta Heat are sincere in their desire to establish a good reputation in your community. I replied because I felt that the tone of the initial post in this thread was ill advised. Everyone makes mistakes. After further communication with the agency head, I believe that Atlanta Heat will work hard to put this incident behind them.

Give them a chance to build a good reputation and to build your trust.

thirsty

I was the author.

thirsty

I applaud your honesty and forthright responses. I have used Atlanta Heat, called them and who ever answered the phone was professional and courteous. Answered my questions politely and in friendly manner. Emails I sent were responded promptly and the lady I wanted to see called me and we had talked and then decided whether we want to see or not.

Personally, I like the style. I have seen few ladies from Atlanta heat and I am impressed with them.

Just mu 02c

I know this group has already given you a "couple dollars worth" of their 2 cents, but here's mine, added for your consideration ...

It seems the general opinion is one of "misleading advertising". You might understand if you saw a new car advertised - call it a Chevy Malibu, but the ad shows a picture of a Corvette. If you really wanted the sports car design, then you've been setup for a great disappointment. We tend to label that as a "bait and switch" scenario. Your usage of pictures other than the actual person is very, very similar.

It seems the idea of a picture in the first place is to (1) give us some idea what the lady looks like - body style, hair, etc., and (2) to get our attention. We hope it is not to mislead us.

And, in this age of very easy "digital manipulation", blurring a picture's facial area is such an easy chore. Or, taking the picture with the lady's head turned is another way of addressing the lady's need for privacy.

Anyway, myself, I would find it very hard to trust your agency knowing you do use these type of "misleading" pictures.

Just my opinion. Use it as you see fit.

Why not just take pics with out their face in them? Alot of providers do that.