So - I made an appointment with a visiting provider I've seen several times before. She's always been a little flaky; but she had been significantly better in the past few months.

Took a day off from work, specifically to see her (and then made some other appointments for later in the day). We were supposed to meet at 11am. I get a text at 6am saying, "there *may* be an issue. I text back that I'm free until noon and I can also meet anytime before that.

I get my first text back at 10:45am -- now, too late for me to do anything else; that today simply won't work. Perhaps I was bumped for another client (a new client, not grandfathered in at a lower rate ... this *is* a business after all, right?)

Of course, the only real issue with me having a *back-up* is that I'm on Long Island, where independents are scarce, the agencies seem depleted and visitors don't visit, usually .... Ugh

Hope you will never see her again.  Maybe its appropriate to out her so others do not lose their time and energies. The only way flakes learn is taking away their biz and operate as a biz, customer comes first and deserves the respect.  Too much competition out there for this BS.
She had no courtesy to a regular like yourself, she has no respect for anyone or anything but herself and the dollars she earns.
By never seeing her again, you are hitting her in what she craves, money money money.

No excuses are acceptable when she had initially contacted you early AM.

This is an issue on both the provider and the hobbyist sides.  Guys flake just as often as providers do.  We just don't have a system where we can review hobbyists to let other girls know which guys flake the most.  We also don't really complain about it often either.  We just chalk it up to the nature of the business, though we're the ones left with expensive hotel rates to cover, as well as advertising costs, etc... I can speak for myself only, but if I miss an appointment, there has to be a good reason.  

When one of us flakes, you're left with blue balls and a little disappointment.

When you guys flake or cancel at the last minute, we're left with bills.  

I totally agree that there is plenty of pussy in the sea, but again, there is never a shortage of phone calls either.  Yes, hit someone where it hurts, aka in the wallet, but she'll just fill her dance card with new business and not have so much repeat business.  I personally like the repeat business, but each girl runs their ship in their own way.  

Yeah, it sucks.  Yeah, it's probably gonna happen again at some point.  Yeah, it's definitely a hot button.  To think you're going to personally 'teach her a lesson'... not realistic.  Just as when I decide to not repeat with a client, I'm not 'teaching him a lesson', merely pushing him off to some other girl who will be treated the same way.  Just as by you not seeing her again, it's just pushing her off to some other guy.    

Best of luck?

ww

-- Modified on 4/20/2013 7:39:26 PM

Unless you know a provider outside of work, you can never just assume its because of another client. Things can happen, what if she couldn't get a check in? Or got stuck maybe at a salon? Or maybe she just wasnt up when she thought she would be for the appointment?

I would say ask her directly what happened? Since she stated "an issue" It might been a BAD time of MONTH for her?

Making an assumption that you were not seen because she had someone else and your grandfathered rates, i highly doubt any girl will take a new client over a consistent ongoing friend of hers.

Of course, you're all right - assuming is wrong.

I did leave out a pivotal piece of information -- it wasn't that the day wouldn't work for her -- she was perfectly willing to meet me several hours later. The problem was I had planned my day around the appt., and then, scheduled the rest of my day accordingly. So, an 11am appt. that's going to become a 5pm appt. wasn't going to work (hence my supposition about being bumped).

There's an adage I once learned about business -- there are three things a business can strive to excel in: Quality, Service or Price. They *can* excel in two of the three things; but no business can excel in all three, and still remain profitable.

McDonalds - price is good; service is hit-or-miss; but no one thinks they're getting an all-time best burger.
BMW - service is usually great; quality is high; but you can absolutely get a car for less.

Same in this industry - a provider may have great quality and great price -- but then, something has to go wrong elsewhere; usually, that's service. I don't typically objectify this much; but it's a fantastic rationalization to convince me this isn't necessarily *personal*. My question (as Whitney said above) is to decide whether to continue to patronize; or to move on. Since it's Long Island ... I don't know that I necessarily have a choice :/