When you start to ask yourself "how long is too long", that should be your first clue that it has already been too long. Why would you want to spend time with a provider who lacks either the basic courtesy or the business sense to answer a simple email? Fortunatly for us, there are a few hundred other choices. Move on!
I'm trying to set up a date for next week Tuesday, to do some celebrating, so I did some research yadda yadda...
Finally chose a provider, and filled out and sent the contact form that is provided including references. Hit send, and away we go.
A day later, nothing. No response. Cool, whatever, not everyone has their computer attached at the hip like I do. I send a quick note saying basically "Hi, I'm just checking in just in case your website hiccuped" through the email provided on the site.
Now, the website does specifically say "Expect to hear from me within 24 hours." If it didn't say that, I'd probably be less paranoid, and would be writing this post for another day or so.
I'm aware that if a provider wants to see you, they will do their best to return your calls/emails. I am also aware that if a provider /doesn't/ want to see you, you always seem to get the voice mail or no returned emails. That's the way it works, I understand, no problems here.
My main question is: At what point to I say screw it, and move on to another provider on my list? I really don't want to double book and have to call and cancel someone last minute, and I REALLY don't want to be running around looking for someone to spend an afternoon with at the last minute.
When you start to ask yourself "how long is too long", that should be your first clue that it has already been too long. Why would you want to spend time with a provider who lacks either the basic courtesy or the business sense to answer a simple email? Fortunatly for us, there are a few hundred other choices. Move on!
24 hours is fair. I have found sometimes the ladies are slow to respond on the weekend (busy with family and personal life). But I think you would be justified in contacting a second choice. You can always go with your first choice, If your first choice gets back to you before your second does.
Blue. You presented your dilemma very well, and you asked a good question. You are also realistic enough to realize that many do not have their computers attached to their hips. That latter-mentioned is for YOU to be attached! LOL
Each provider in all probability handles this a little different. One thing that I do is to at least send an acknowledgment of receipt of the request within 24 hours, and then do my screening ritual. Other providers may wait until the screening process is over before answering. Honestly, and hopefully helpful to you and others, how fast the reply reaches you often depends on the screening information provided on the contact form. For example: I've gotten a ton of requests that are absent references, employer info, practically everything needed for screening. I've gotten contact forms that contain essentially nothing that I could use for screening. Those go to the bottom of the pile for me to work on when I have little else to do.
Another consideration is the day of the week and the time of day that your request was submitted. Lets say for example that your request was sent on a Friday night. Sent to a provider who turns off her computer on Friday night, and will not be turned on again until Monday morning. Many providers have other human interests that they attend to over weekends. Believe me.....I had one request that I got at 10:01 PM, and he wanted an appointment at 7:30 AM the next morning. His screening information was his employer info, and a provider reference that was a bath house! Those kinds of request don't get an answer.
In direct answer to your question....and assuming that your request did not include the faux pas-like examples given above, I'd say after 48 hours......move on. Barring a personal emergency with the provider requested, I think that 48 hours is enough. If the provider stated 24 hours, then I'd read that literally. If the provider did have some sort of personal problem, then it would be incumbent upon her to at least get back to you.
I hope this helps you, and all others who had/have this great question of your's.
Every time I go the trouble of sending my screening info and I get no response at all......
The less likely it is that I'll send all that info up front next time.
More and more I'll try to establish contact to see if anybody answers before I supply data. I realize this annoys the responsive gals, but what's a guy to do?
CL: Also, if you do not want to send all of your PERSONAL information in the first email, you can send a generic intro note about yourself. In this email template (you can use the same one everytime), include things such as your age, physical description, location, meeting date/time preference, and anything else you think would be helpful for the lady to know without your giving out your PERSONAL info (e.g., first and last name, references, etc.). At the end of the email state, “references or further screening information will be sent upon request.” A lot of ladies will be pleased with your note and effort that that they will follow-up for specifics, rather than deleting your email or not responding at all.
how many times do we have to go through this.i have been on this board many times about why i dont see local girls,dont respond to emails,dont answer phones or return voice mails and every time i state my opinion everyone gets on the board and blasts me. if you read all the posts on this board you will find so much of this happening.move on? hard to do when your second choice may repond the same way! for all you ladies that do things the right way THANK YOU!hope you get all the clients.
I often only have a very narrow window of time open. I have found that if I want to fill that time I need to contact at least 4 providers. Usually 2 don't get back to me, ever. One gets back to me right away and gets the booking and one gets back to me later and gets moved to the top of my to do next list.
I have found that if you are polite and tell the second provider that you already booked with someone, they are OK with it.
It also helps to go through the screening process with a few providers way ahead of time. Then they can approve you quicker when you do try to schedule a date.
Pre-screening, although many guys do not like it, is a terrific idea, especially if you have a busy schedule that is apt to change with little notice. When screened ahead of time, a provider is more likely to be able to see you on short notice.
I do not see an issue in a gentleman contacting a few providers either. IMHO, inquiring about a providers interest and availability is not the same as booking a date with said provider. Unless a specific day and time and place is agreed upon by BOTH parties, nothing has been booked. So, if Provider B responds before Provider A, the gentleman BOOKS with provider B because he wants to be assured that he will get to see someone (even if she's his 2nd choice).
Nobody has yet mentioned that it is important you check her calendar and unless she states she is not available, in my opinion, no more than 24 hrs should be necessary for a provider to respond to your inquiry. Many MN providers are choosing to travel nowadays and do have families and other careers to attend to also so there is apt to be a delay in responding from time to time. Patience is a virtue and sometimes its dividends are worth it in the long run. It is up to you how long you are willing (and able) to wait.
If a guy can’t wait for my reply, he should move on!
Honestly, if a gentleman would like to schedule time with a provider and my not getting back to him is causing a hiccup in his hobby plan, he should move on. Typically when I get back to a gent late and he has scheduled time with another provider, I tell him “No worries, I understand. Have fun!”
There are many reasons why a lady may not get back to you.
While my laptop is not hooked to my hip, I always have my blackberry on me. I try to respond to emails asap; however, sometimes an email needs more thought, etc. Also, there are a lot of time-wasters who do not send screening info. When this happens and I am on my laptop, I reply with a template requesting said info. However, if I am on my blackberry, I do not reply as I do not have the template available to send to them.
Further, as I continue to learn how to balance this “job” full-time with touring, it can be a lot for me. When the emails are overwhelming, I choose not to look at them and lose out on business. This helps to keep me sane. With the emails and phone calls together, it is A LOT…so I avoid your phone calls and voicemail messages. Clearly this business practice is not smart or customer friendly, thus I will be hiring an assistant in the near future to handle my phone calls.
And just so you know, emails and contact forms DO get stuck in cyberspace! It has happened to me several times in the past year.
Then, there are PMs as well. With all the different places to reply to clients, it gets confusing. Plus, TER does not have an indicator such as "R" for replied to let me know I have already replied to a PM lost in a sea of PMs. Too much!!
ORIGINAL POSTER: If you are really interested in meeting the lady in question, feel free to send a follow-up email to her. However, also send an email to your second choice lady in the event your first choice never gets back to you. Then at least your second choice can get started on screening you. If you do not want to send a follow-up email to your first choice, simply move on. There are plenty of ladies out there.
By the way, this IS NOT DOUBLE BOOKING. If the first lady and second lady both committed to a meeting time, that would be double booking, which I do not recommend. However, there is nothing wrong with contacting a couple of ladies and seeing the first one to CONFIRM the date.
If the website said to expect to hear something within 24 hours, and you haven't; I'd move on.
It's too bad you didn't hear something, but there could be a reason that you'll hear later, I don't know.
Sometimes there are valid reasons why you don't get a reply.
I have it posted on my calendar when I'm unavailable.
That means I might not be able to check email or voicemail, so... please give me a little leeway.
Someone brought up double booking. I don't agree with it--either by the provider, or client. That's just me. If I say I'm going to do something, I will do it. BUT, whatever anyone else does is up to them.
What works the best for me, as mentioned above, is when they get verified, then they can book when it works according to their schedule--same day. (As long as it works with mine.)
Just addressing a couple of points raised above, and a little rambling. *smile*
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