I've had a few massages that I've enjoyed, but have only gone to an AMP once.  I went on my lunch break to a place that was decently reviewed on RubMaps here in MD.  I pretty quickly realized that I was going to be getting the massage from the "Mamasan," who appeared to be the only one there at the time.  Maybe because of the time of day.  Not wanted to get an HJ from an old woman, I politely excused myself and told her to keep the cash.  
 
Can someone give me some guidance here?  How do I know when to visit so that I'm getting the best experience?  Also, how can I increase my chances of getting an attractive girl?  I'm not looking for anything crazy in the way of extras.  Just a decent massage and an HJ.  I'd like to try out a table shower as well.  

I'm also not sure about tipping ettiquette.  I'm read some conflicting reports.  How much does your average massage cost?  Is the HE always extra?  How much is customary to tip for the HE?  How do you ask for multiple pops?

and I've been to quite a few AMPs over the years.

I think you just had very bad timing.

In any case, most AMPS seem to charge around $50/1/2 hr or around $75/hr.  The cost will vary with location.  Manhatten is going to cost more of course.

Usually this will buy you at least a HJ, but it doesn't hurt to tip a little over that for better service.  $20 is about right.  BJ is around $50, and FS (not always available) is closer to $100.  Not too many places have table showers that I've seen.  Those place that do tend to be the best, and a little more expensive.

Generally if you go for the hour over the 1/2 hour, you'll get an extra pop.

Thanks for this information.  I just don't know how to back out if I don't like the masseuse I get.  Or if that' even an option.  If she's older than her early 30s and isn't somewhat fit, I really am not interested.  Are my expectations unreasonable?

Lingo and SOPs vary from city to city, even if only 100 miles apart. To me (mostly NYC), AMP is a Prix Fixe establishment where you don't need to negotiate but know that you are going to get Menu 1 for price 1 or Menu 2 for price 2. You can call ahead (use a hobby phone) and make an appt with a specific masseuse from a webpage picture or someone you've seen before. You can ask who is available: "Mary, 5'2", eyes of blue; long hair. Sally, 5'8" short hair." You can sometimes ask for a lineup or intro to all upon arrival. (Local variations.)

To me, the a la carte places are more like a SPA. (In addition to R Maps, there is S Hunters.) You pay to be seated and you get a place setting, a glass of water and a basket of rolls: the basics. Then you can choose additional items from the menu or pass. In NYC, you can also make picture-based spa appointments from the ads.  

Making an appt to see someone specific avoids the basic problem you described.  

If, w/o an appt, you don't like your assigned masseuse (or sometimes it's straight B&S: "So sorry. Mary isn't here. This is Susan."), you can choose to walk. Now it comes down to attitude and personalities. I've walked but kept it polite and had no problems. "I was really hoping to see Mary. Will she be available later? I'll come back later to see Mary. Or tomorrow. (Or never, if you do that to me again!)" You could have asked if anyone else was there; or "Will they be available soon if I wait?" It's probably possible to POLITELY refer to age, but that can set off a firestorm depending on how she takes it! "You remind me too much of my mother." Uh oh. "You remind me too much of my aunt."?) Stick to other issues ("I prefer someone with long hair." or "... short hair." and avoid the age thing.  

In NYC, the AMP and SPA SOP does not include MSOG, but it can be negotiated.  

When you walked and left the fee, I think you were being VERY nice. I doubt that it hurt mamsan's feelings ("Free money! Woo hoo!").  

DO NOT PLAN ANY TRIPS TO NYC ANY TIME SOON. There was a major Federal LE raid on several AMPs and things are kind of crazy right now. The Feds did NOT take down the websites, so who wants to surf or call those numbers anyway?

I'm typed out. Maybe more later.

EDIT: "In NYC, the AMP and SPA SOP does not include MSOG, but it can be negotiated."  NYC has lots of options. Your BASIC AMP/SPA does not include MSOG but there are other places opening up and competing with the basic places by offering more services at competitive rates.

-- Modified on 4/15/2016 8:27:22 PM

Unless you are responding to an ad, or if there are reviews, AMPs are pretty much a crap shoot.

The only thing you can do is ask the mamasan to see the actual girl BEFORE paying and if you are not satisfied you are entitled to walk without leaving a penny.  

Some AMPs only have one woman working, others might have a dozen, it all depends on the AMP and a lot of it depends on in how big a market you are in.  

BTW I have gone through a half a dozen different AMP's in a single day/night looking for someone hot enough to fuck in cities as big as Houston and Atlanta, don't feel bad about walking out, it's much better than feeling stuck with an unattractive woman that you wouldn't fuck for free.

BTW the Back Page ads for AMPS almost never have pics of the actual women, in some rare occasions the pics are real, but that is the exception not the rule. My advice is, stick to your guns. Ask to see the masseuse before paying and don't let her make you feel bad if she doesn't meet your standards.

Reading your response reminded me a bit of an article I read a week back about how to say No in Japanese. The basic gist was you cannot just say No in Japan (What would Nancy Reagan have done?!) but they offered four levels of No with about four ways of saying it at each level.

I suspect it's true in a number of other Asian cultures as well.

I suppose the same is true in English, too.  
  No, thank you.
  No.  
  Definitely no.
  FUCK NO!

  Oh, nooooooooooooooo!

and others.

 
(But you're right, Japanese and Korean have a lot of honorific structures in their language, even just saying Hello, Good bye or Thank you.

I've agreed to the masseuse before paying the house fee.  Most often the masseuse collects it in the room & takes it out.  If I wasn't happy, I'd decline before going to the room with her.  The masseuse collects her fee later depending on the menu item selected.

Just ask to see who is available for the massage.

Walk in and ask, "who is available for massages today".    She will list names or will call them in to show you.   Then you can chose or walk away.

If you see an AD.... ask by name... Is COCO working today?   If they say yes and Coco comes in and is not attractive.  (not representing the AD... which is never the same girl...lol)... Just politely decline and say this isn't the Coco in the AD.   either you walk out or mamas an will show you others who might be working.

But just be polite and ask is all you need to do.