END OF MESSAGE

I know the subject of the correct time to wait for a reply from a provider has been covered a zillion times, but I just have to add another thread.  

I contacted a provider in early January to ask if we could meet. She did a check on me, then gave me some dates. I initially said the 15th of February, but then realized I had something going, and asked about the 22nd. She was going out of town, and wouldn't be back until the end of the month. I asked if I should contact her then, and she said that would be good.

Saturday night I emailed her to ask if she was back in town, and asked her to get back to me. I waited until Wednesday, then emailed her again, asking if she was back to her regular routine. She replied back, saying she was back in town, had a great time, and hoped that everything was fine with me. No mention of us getting back together.

I emailed her back immediately and asked if we could meet. I said any time was good, but I prefer weekends. No reply as of yet.

I'd really like to see her, but there's another provider I'd like to see as well. That provider is very low volume. She travels a lot on business, and is all over the country, and will set up meetings in cities when she has the time. She's going to be in a city a few hours from me at the end of the month. She probably only has a few hours available for that day, so if she gets booked, that's it.

I've really screwed up on protocol before, which is why I'm asking about this here. How much time should I allow for the first provider to reply? If she doesn't reply by tomorrow, I would assume I've given her ample time. Yes? If I book with the travelling provider, and the first replies, should I just tell the truth and say that I booked with another?

I know this sounds simple to most here, but I can screw up the most obvious things in this hobby.

The traveler and if the other one responds set something up with her for a time you're not with Miss. Traveler. Don't be quite so general about when you would like to meet either throw out a few times and dates so you aren't just hanging wondering if she'll want to meet sometime this month.

Thanks for the replies.  I can only afford one or the other, at least for the next month or so (business is bad). That makes it a little sticky. I'd like to see provider #1, as she's 1.5 hours away, a 10/10 on TER, and would likely make for a good repeat provider. If she's going to be flaky like this, and like my last repeat provider, I don't need that grief.  The last one was impossible to communicate with.  

The traveler is 100% professional. She's a 10/10 as well, or close to it.  Emails returned within a couple of hours. Very professional website, with a calendar showing her dates and cities, and very well-done photos. I don't think there's any potential for flakiness there. Trouble is she's not in this area often. She's wherever her  company sends her

you can try to connect with the other lady when you funds allow.

Depends really on your patients. The first provider will probably reply back to you eventually but how long that takes is anybody's guess. Providers can be really dodgy with e-mails for whatever reason so this is pretty typical. You can tell pretty quickly who doesn't check their inbox regularly and who has their e-mails pushed to their cell.

Personally I would just try booking with the traveler since they're only available for limited time. I wouldn't mention you booked with somebody else to avoid any problems. Just politely say you won't be able to meet like you planned but will contact them again when you can. You have no obligations to anyone until you've confirm an appointment.

If she has seen you and she is not replying, she most likely might not want to see you.  

If you have never met, then maybe there was something in your email or contact or if you gave her P411 and she saw something in your profile she didn't gel with.  Sometimes you will never know. I would move on. It would ne nice if the ladies would let a guy know they are not available (sometimes translates into, I don't want to see you) so you know for sure.  

Save your cash for the traveller.

This would be my first time seeing either of them. The first provider (not Traveller) replied today, saying she could see me tomorrow or next Sunday. I prefer Saturdays or Sundays.

For personal reasons, I'd rather wait until the following week or preferably weekend. I told her that next Sunday would be fine, but I'd really rather do late the following week or Saturday the 22nd or Sunday the 23rd. She hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Both are rated very highly (10/10's or close to it), and have excellent reviews. The non-traveller's poor communication reminds me of the provider I saw several times last year. Traveller would have replied within a couple of hours to each email.

I told her in the email that I'm 63, thin, in good shape, well-groomed, well-dressed, etc. I wanted her to know my age, as BadCollegeGirl made me realize that there's 20-something's who don't want to see a guy my age. I don't want to spend $1300 on a lackluster time because she's turned off by it. I'd rather she was straight with me and says no if it's an issue.

We'll see what happens. Thanks for the replies.

Non-traveller replied, and we're set. Only took her one day this time to email.

She said that she prefers guys my age. She's early 20's, and I'm 63?  Yeah. Right.

She probably assumes that someone your age will be an easy appointment; unless you plan to surprise her with a 5-hour pound-fest!

I thought of that, and you're probably right.