Being in the business for some time has taught me that a lot of Black clients try to low ball AA providers. I have several stories but here's one...... I tried giving this guy the benefit of the doubt by knocking off 50 bucks but it didn't work. He told me that he pays his regular girls 200 so I should accept the same amount. First of all, how dare you try to fix a set rate to pay me. I don't mind giving discounts to anyone but to take it upon yourself to tell me what I should accept because of what others accept is absurd!!! ALL of my Caucasian clients will nicely wait for the offer. Now, I'm only speaking for self so feel free to jot down your thoughts. Encountering this same problem with ONLY Black guys is my main reason for not wanting to see them again. A few has ruined it for all!!!

....in Chicago anyways.  
I don't get it much anywhere at all really but when I have .... the few times it's happened they were white. And lol those white guys haven't ruined it for all ..... or about 70% of my business would be gone if I cut them out lol.  
Is this a recent thing for you with black clients or ....... ?

-- Modified on 12/17/2013 8:15:55 PM

Too bad you have had these encounter. I not saying this is case in your situation, but with me quality of Black providers are declining in Chicago compared to four years ago.  That's why I mostly meet out of towners or travel out of state to see them.  I don't know if Chicago Black ladies are afraid to see me, because I am Black or they not into it with me, but the services has drop.  I don't know if you are an "AA provider", but believe me, if your service is worth the admission, any color will pay the rate.

who told me when she came to town that the same thing happened to her.  

But guess what I DAMN SURE just about all those guys (if not all of them) were white!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perception is Reality.  If you think it the truth is irrelevant.

NO WHITE GUY HAS EVER TRIED TO GET A DISCOUNT.

GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe try increasing your donation just a little. It has been said that the increase usually attracts a different class of people. If you're worried about being competitive, then offering discounts for repeat guests is a good practice. This way you attract the right type of man initially and he feels compelled to revisit you because you reward him with a reduced rate for regularity.

I don't know it's a coincidence that these black men seem to want to haggle with you, but not all of us are that way. Unfortunately it takes it's toll on both sides of the hobby. To this date when I contact a lady I always add that I am a black man to make sure the woman is comfortable. I have had experiences where I've gotten to the room where the woman walked up to the door to view through the peephole that I was AA and not open the door. I've also had  a few ladies open the door only because she needed the donation, but rush the visit because I was AA. I think it's a shame. But if you decide not to see AA men, then you are entitled to feel as you do. Do us good ones a favor though and mention this on your website (i have not looked through your site) or in your ads so that we don't waist your time or ours.

Good luck.

I have experienced both happen.
However its both {white/black} men that haggle.....It could be a racial issue of worth .....such as the gentlemen are expecting you to  match the market rate or other competitors......in some aspects a gentleman may expect an old outdated rate if in the scenario you have changed your rate.
It also depends on the service offered - some guys dont keep in mind the operating expense of the appt that they are requesting .
Hope this info is helpful .

-- Modified on 12/17/2013 1:09:12 PM

I never haggle or ask for a discount (unless advertised).  I assume that a haggled price will result in reduced service.  If I dont like the service, I dont return.  This week I had a "will not return" experience.  I paid $400 for a $177 experience.  Now, I am conducting some very in-depth analysis..

I have never asked for a discount, EVER!  But if you offer (advertise) a discount ... say $50 of regular $350 I always do the full amount and tell them before hand when the envelope is placed I put extra in for a upfront tip....   is this fair??

END OF MESSAGE

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I simply decline their request and wish them well.  ALL races try to pull this type of crap, not any one specifically more than any other race in my experience.  I see all races and never turn clients away because of race.  I enjoy meeting & getting to know and hear about different cultures!  

Personally though what I find is: the more they haggle or are difficult during initial conversations shows exactly how they will be as a client!  If they are simple and easy going during initial call and screening they normally turn out to be a dream client!  If they are a haggler, looking for deals and discounts they usually have higher expectations than a full paying client.

Ladies, would you agree???

I would be embarrassed beyond belief if I tried to haggle. I figure if I can't afford someone specific or if I'm short on $$ I move on or wait until I have more. I don't like talking about $$ at all, it totally kills the mood.

"Then go to your regulars."

BAM. Done.

I got offered fifty bucks in the same context. Hilarious. I wanted to ask what his 'regular' looked like and what kind of guys she saw and how many was she seeing/day? But I just left it and sent him on his way. "Ok, I'm sure she's out there somewhere. Have fun!"

SMH.

I am retired and have a limited amount for my hobbying fun.  I do search for providers within my budget; however, if I see a provider who is near my budget I will explain my situation.  It is her decision whether to see me or not.  I have had several providers who were happy to see me based on my budget after reading about my situation.  To those lovely ladies I say thank you and for letting me repeat

END OF MESSAGE

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Flame Away!!!

For those that knew/know me, I have been a member of this board since 2001. Kinda UTR now, but I peep my head out from time to time.  These posts attributing a given trait or thing to a given racial group piss me the EFF off for a number of reasons...

There is balance in the universe. Energy is neither created nor destroyed. What goes around comes around, and so on and so forth. What is it about YOU that tends to attract those that treat you this way?  This is like becoming wealthy; if your mindset is that of being broke, subconsciously you will continue to have money issues, regardless of the amount you have in your life. There are athletes and performers who had millions that declare bankruptcy, and the janitor who passes away and leaves millions to an endowment.  

And though I don't haggle in this hobby...it has nothing to do with the amount of melanin in my skin. It has nothing to do with being a gentleman, if I think you are charging  too much, I simply won't see you. But I will be damned if I ever pay MSRP for a car, accept the first offer on a job,  not ask for a discount if I am buying more than 6 bottles of alcohol from a liquor store, or request a flat rate from an attorney who has an hourly rate.  THIS IS a BUSINESS TRANSACTION. Get over yourself and matching self worth to what you charge in this business.  You would be the first to cry foul if someone tried to date you or see you or whatever outside of the hobby.  I ain't in love with you and from a price point, supply demand curve, there are many choices in this market that provide the exact service that you do.  THE EXACT SERVICE.

So don't see a brotha if you so desire.  More likely than not you will provide sub par service because you think someone is gonna scam you.  

People have filters and biases...that's fine.  But I grow sick of the "no black men" "no African American men" ads that are based on some myopic experience, or some underlying prejudice based on nothing tangible

It's when someone tells another what they should/shouldn't charge. Simply asking isn't a problem either; however, the ones who've been around for a while know providers tend to take offense when asked for discounts. It's good to shop around to make sure you're getting what you want. After all, you're the consumer.

The offense of the providers could be due to the fact that sex is involved, which makes this a tad more sensitive. Not sure how to explain it, but I can understand the feeling. It's just a natural feeling of uneasiness that emerges in my case.

I haven't been dealing with it lately, but when I did, most of the guys who tried to ask for ridiculous discounts were white.

We all know we grandfather in regulars. At least most of us do. I don't grandfather in from when I first started as my rates and packages are completely different. But if a dude is a frequent flier who if fifty bucks short one week, it's not a big deal. I enjoy seeing most guys and want to see them again… it also throws a few hundred in my pocket on a free day. Why not?

Asking for a $50 QV was a little out there, however, when my minimum is 90 minutes. I think QV's are gross.

-- Modified on 12/20/2013 1:55:00 AM

So its hard for me to understand the involvement of sex thing.  I respect your boundaries for the things you  do or don't do.  I don't get insulted when a potential employer offers a low ball salary.  His job?  To minimize expenses while acquiring skilled talent.  My job?  To make absolutely as much money I can for the services offered. We either come to an agreement or we walk away.  This is no different

But your thing is your thing.  

There are services where there is no negotiation, such as hair salons. I get better cuts at a $55 level six in a suburb than $150 level three downtown, and eyelashes at $120 rather than $300 in the city. Neither negotiate. They're service companies, don't charge tax, and gratuity is expected. You don't have the money, you don't get the level person you request.  

There are some services, in my experience, where negotiation just isn't in the books.  

Make sense?

One thing that bothers me is that when a black person does something everyone puts us all together.  If a white person does something wrong "You" providers just figure that he is just a bad guy and not all whites are bad however if a black does something wrong all blacks are punished!!! Not fair wake up some Hobbyist try to get discounts not just the blacks!!!!!!

Haggling happens when a price is set and the buyer continues trying to lower the price in an ongoing negotiation. The key part being the buyer continues trying to lower the price even after the seller has stated there's no discount available. Walking into a store and asking if there's a coupon or discount available is NOT haggling, that's simply asking a question. If the salesperson says no discount is available and the buyer continues asking for a discount, that's haggling.

So, to be clear, asking a provider if a discount is available is NOT haggling, it's simply an inquiry. If she says no and he still continues asking for a discount, then it becomes haggling. In Fred's case, he stated he has X amount available and left it up to the provider to turn him down or accept it. If she turned him down and he kept requesting a discount, that would be haggling.

Only fools in this world pay full price for everything they buy including cars. If a provider gets so easily offended over a potential client asking if she provides a discount, then she's full of herself. By the same token, hobbyists must realize that many providers are indeed full of themselves and the mere request for anything other than her full price will be offensive to her. I can generally detect the level of a provider's ego by her posts on these sort of topics and seeing outrage is a clear sign to steer clear. I read, I watch, I learn, and I pass up egos out the ceiling.

-- Modified on 12/24/2013 11:17:24 AM