I don't know how agencies work, but I don't raise the rates on my regular clients. It isn't right, and I wouldn't want it done to me. If I raise my rate and my existing clients see it, and voluntarily pay the new rate, fine, but I don't expect them to.

When a donation rate is increased, is it common practice to continue allowing established clients to pay the previous rate? Are prior clients "grandfathered in" or should those clients expect to pay the new rate?

Does this vary Agency v. Indy?  

Curious to know if there is a rule of thumb or common practice, or does it vary depending on the Agency or Provider?

I don't know what is normal, but I have had both happen to me. Some providers grandfathered me in at the old rates, while others asked me to pay the new rates.

I had one provider grandfather me when she raised her rates. One did not. I did not ask in either case. The one that grandfathered me let me know when I booked that I could have the old rate. (After seeing her several times at the grandfathered rate I made the decision to start paying her new rate.)  The other said nothing about it and I didn't ask.
I wouldn't expect an agency to grandfather rates. I have never had anyone say an agency did it for them.

just try not to smell or to come too fast or too slow and don't let your ball-hair grow uncontrolled

any of the above can be a turnoff to various providers and result in their raising just your personal donation or rate or putting you on their personal DNS list or spreading news about you backchannel

good luck, and please report back

I had a regular of mine raise her rate from $300 per hour to $500 per hour and I felt the need to say goodbye to her. There was no change in the "class" of service nor any new additions to her "menu" and I couldn't justify continuing to see her. Great girl though.

Good for you Ivana! Very classy AND a smart business decision.
The girl that raised her rates on me told another person I know that she didn't need my business and that regulars were "a dime a dozen."

I have a few regulars, and while they may be a dime a dozen, it still isn't right. Some girls just don't get it. Oh well, to each is own I guess.

Some guy whining about grandfathering because some gal he's seen once or twice raises her rates.  I wonder how many of them would be leading charge to be grandfathered if she had lowered her rate.

The way I see it, if a lady wants to grandfather you she will let you know.  I suspect grandfather offers are much more common with true regulars versus some guy who met her once, 9 months ago.

from the back commercial

This topic pops up just about every week lately and for good reason.  Now I don't need some whiteknight to tell me about how the girl can do whatever she wants with her rates.  No shit, save your breath.  But as me and some of the regulars from here were discussing, it's seems to be like this:

Many months back we had some girly pow wows go on back channel and they reached a consenus that they should try raising rates but they knew it wouldn't work unless a large number agreed.  Well, guess what, a consensus amongst a lot of the TER providers was reached and one by one within a short period of time, most of them had gone up 50 to 100 or more on their traditional rates.  And of course, those gals who weren't part of the private agreements quickly began saying to themselves, "gee, my pussy is just as good as hers and I'm just as pretty, so I should be getting more money too".  And so these gals also joined in on the fun of increased rates.  This at a time when nearly every other commodity we consume was going down in price given the economy.  Frankly, it pissed a number of guys off because there was no explanation for the increases especially the amount of the increases.  It happened just because they can as long as they mostly stick together.  And they have with some occasional exceptions, woops I mean "specials".

Now I know some will quickly jump on this with comments like "how the fuck do you know this", your full of shit, these gals would never do this", ad nauseam.  Well, think what you want, but I saw it first hand in some text messages, I heard a few of the phone calls between providers myself, and believe it or don't, what I say is true.  It is what it is.

Price increases of the amounts we've seen are unexplainable except for greed.  The cost of the raw materials certainly haven't gone up.  The cost of the fluffy things like a bottle of water, towels, soap have actually gone down.  The cost of hotel rooms have actually gone down.  The cost of rent in most areas hasn't changed either.  So, no believable basis for the large increases.

So, this topic is going to continually pop its ugly head because there has never been a satisfactory explanation, only the WK idiots, the occasional provider who thanks the WK, and that's about it.  One day, a real explanation besides "because I can" will be offered, or prices will change, or guys will drop the debate... who knows.  I only share this insight because I personally think it's a bunch of shit to call some folks whiners because they dare to comment about what they see as unfair.

There you go...

It never ceases to amaze me how big and tough someone becomes when sitting behind a keyboard, and posting anonymously.  I'm.not saying anything that I wouldn't say to you face, and Big Jim is no more anonymous than anyother handle on this board. Unlike you, I do not hide behind a self-righteous alias I just dreamed up yesterdayNow, to the matter at hand... this discussion.

If you even bothered to read the initial, it mentioned nothing of what you speak. Everything you say may have happened.  If it did, then you are talking about price fixing, not grandfathering. I don't know what was going in the mind of the original poster, so I will not presume to read his mind. If he was truley concerned with price fixing then he should have said so rather making an obtuse comment about grandfathering. Do you really think a lady that would collude with others to fix prices would ever consider grandfathering?

Maybe some day all this will be legalized, and you can post a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Till then you'll just have to suffer through it because "THEY CAN" do whatever they want. You CAN also vote with your money if you don't like it.

Thanks for the comment.  Personally I don't have a dog in this debate since I don't have any reason to indulge in those who have inflated rates.  But despite that, it still gets under my skin to see guys being taken advantage of and they seem oblivious to the deceit that goes on behind their backs while they schill for higher rates like they were married to some of these folks.  I could offer you additional details but it's really not my intent to win any argument, persuade anyone about anything, etc...  I really don't give a crap what anyone else may think about it.  I simply laid out some information that I know to be true and everyone is free to think whatever they wish.

Yes, the OP didn't mention price fixing, but it's all wrapped up in the same issue and it all began exactly as I described.

As for alias posting, I get that.  You don't like it.  I understand that there are some who think that using an alias is some big deal, but why?  What difference does it make to you?  If I used my standard login handle does that change anything?  I'm not hiding behind any alias to trash some individual as some do.  I'm using it for my own reasons but in the end, the info is accurate but not so important that I actually care what anyone does with it.  Perhaps nothing, and that's fine with me.

CCoA -- I appreciate your post and I, too, don't like the increased rates.  (Though, in reponse to the OP, most providers I've seen have told me I'd be grandfathered in at their earlier lower rates, so that gives me some comfort.)  Also, I keep an eye out for "specials" and rarely pay the full price listed on a providers website.

However, Atlanta apparently has lower rates than other comperable cities.  That in itself causes some problems for us hobbyiests.  

Here's a few things that I've noticed over the last few months.

1.  A respected local agency had some visiting providers from Florida.  Those providers went back to Florida after just a few days because rates here were too low and traffic was slower than in Florida

2.  One agency with branches in other cities recently sent their best providers from Atlanta to LA and Boston where their rates were substantially increased.

3.  Two or more highly rated Atlanta providers have recently retired.  If the market had allowed them to charge higher rates, maybe they'd still be in business.

4.  Other local providers spend more and more time "traveling," where they're presumably getting higher rates.

My point is, it's pretty simple economics.  Many providers (especially younger ones without kids) can work wherever they want.  Lower rates in Atlanta translates into less supply, which will tend to drive up rates, which will eventually increase supply and ultimately depress rates.

On the other hand, I'm also aware of excellent providers who live out of town yet frequently come to Atlanta because they get good rates here and the competition apparently isn't so fierce.  (Sweet Ashley comes to mind.)  I also know of a highly-rated independent who recently lowered her rate because of so much competition.  And, frankly, I doubt if the recent run-up of rates to the $350-$400 per hour level is going to last simply because of the economy and competition.  You can get some WONDERFUL providers at the agencies for $200-$250 hr.

Good post.  I've often wondered how many of the Indys who are completely comparable to the agency girls can charge $350-$400 when the agencies charge $250.  The only thing I can think of is the Indys give their regulars extra time here and there and attention with emails and the occasional OTC drink at a bar.  If I'm wrong let me know.

As I stated before in a previous thread with the same topic, I agree about grandfathering in regulars.  I think my actual words were something along of the lines of "their loyalty deserves a bit of reciprocal respect."  It's true.  When I say regulars, I mean actual regulars.  Not someone who has seen me once or twice over the course of many, many months.  

I would NOT agree that regulars are a dime a dozen.  Sure, there are plenty of clients out there, just as there are plenty of providers.  But to use that phrase to describe a man who, out of all the choices in Atlanta, consistently brings his business to you is quite pompous.  The gents who patronize me regularly, who I know I am safe with, who are dependable when booking, those men are not a dime a dozen.  This is not to say that I don't enjoy a new encounter, only recognizing the value of a loyal clientele.