I saw a post on the Chicago board and thinks it's good to point out here too.

remember when I "retired" to get married 5 years ago and getting some cold calls over the next 4 or 5 months from providers I had seen and 2 that I had not. I was very unhappy with this practice and would be today as well.

I know everyone is taking a hot in this economy but there is a definite line between professionalism and disregard for your clients. This is the one situation I think a cold call is NEVER warranted (unless a guy has given you permission in advance).

Ladies PLEASE understand we have to be discrete just like you do. You never know who we are with when you cold call and it can put us in a bind.

QAT

If any hobbyist believes that I have a bridge I can sell down in Arizona.

Disclaimer - Disclaimer - Disclaimer... before you ladies all start jumping all over me, this was not to mean ALL of you... but plenty of you maintain records. Not that I personally care, cause I don't,  but please do not insult our intelligence with the ole refrain above.

It just happened to me two weeks ago.

I'd been emailing a provider that I am interested in seeing on my upcoming trip. It had progressed to the point where I gave her a call one afternoon, but got her voice mail. I introduced myself and let her know that I would try her back at a later time.

I was out to dinner that evening at a local restaurant with the entire family celebrating my daughters 25th birthday when my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number and foolishly answered the call thinking that it was a business call. It was business alright, it was the provider returning my call 5 hours later.

This was an isolated incidence but it does happen.  
Be careful ladies.

Now that I look back I remember that happening quite often. I then started seeing more independents just by chance and the calls diminished for a time. I think agencies think they are more like a traditional business and should be allowed more leeway but I have news for them...NOT!

QAT

you keep records like everyone else. are you assigning a code to anyone who use your service and discard all their info?? you mention in a previous post that you do provide references so if a gal ask you about John Doe how would you know that code such and such is him unless you have kept the info..
every agencies and providers keep records period,otherwise the reference system will not work . How can a girl that see 5-10 guys a week can remember someone after few weeks or months??
I got no problem with agencies and indies keeping my info ..it is part of the game..I just get annoyed when someone say that they discard of it because it is not true..stop thinking that us, hobbyst, are a bunch of idiots please.

I NOW understand that that's a definite possibility Red.

I handle all of the bill paying in the house most accounts done online, no one ever sees an invoice but me.

However, If I have to now worry about that oddball call coming through then maybe a hobby phone IS in order.

The only info I keep is emails, and well, since I have lost phones an changed phones, I don't have a lot of numbers stored in my phone, my phone has first name and area code, so I would never just randomly call people. I have recently emailed updates on my info to people, one at a time, not spam, which took me days, but I had never tried it, and I didn't get to everyone I am sure. But I have no database, as far as refrences, they need to have reviewed, or you never know, I do remember a lot people. Something will stand out about them, name or where they are from, when did I see them etc. I can rememeber people from years agao at the ranch! Not everyone, but people do stand out in my mind.