I have had this situation pop up a few times in the past year or so.
I see an ad in one of the state ads here in TER.
It goes something like this...
Special rates for one week.
Or
Special rates for this week.
The first one implies that the rates are good for 1 week from the day of the posting. If you post an ad on 7-7, then that special will expire at the end of 7-14. Correct?
The second one implies that the rates are good Sunday through the end of Saturday. Correct?
Here's an example...
On the 'Special rates for this week', I would contact a well reviewed lady on a Monday, giving her the required info plus references with plenty of time to do her screening thing. The references that I use are great ladies who will respond quickly to reference requests. I have never had an issue with any of those 4 ladies who I use for references.
Then she replies back to me on a Friday, and tells me that she's all "booked up" Friday and Saturday. She schedules me in for the following Monday and she quoted me her regular rate.
Is she obligated to quote me her special rates or use her regular rates?
My response would be that she should honor her special rates because I did contact her almost at the beginning of her special rate deal (she is well reviewed on TER). Since she took a good 4 days to screen me, I felt that she wasn't being timely enough to honor her special rates. The majority of the ladies that I have seen over the years usually are able to screen me within 24 hours... often times 12 hours or less.
Regarding that scheduling of the above session, I ended up telling her, 'thanks but no thanks' without any further elaboration. She replied, 'that's OK'... and that was that. I didn't want to get into negotiating issue with her.
Even though I am not a newbie in the hobby, but this situation has gotten me wondering how things should be done with 'The Timing Of It' in regards to rate specials.
Ladies? What do you think?
The Forest Waits
Hmmmm yes I would agree with you. If you are trying to schedule within that special week and contacted her on Monday? Sounds as if she herself couldn't accommodate which if it were me, I would have extended the rate for you. Particularly being you know your references are timely. I guess everyone is different but personally I agree with you.
I agree as well & would have handled it the same way as Privateprovider. However. She is not "obligated" to extend the rate for you. All you can do now is decide whether you want to keep the lady on your bucket list & try again later or simply move on.
If I was a provider, I would prob have extended the rate to you since she could not accommodate you for the date you requested. However, she is under no obligation to do that, but IMHO, to foster good feelings from you, she should have done it. You just never know with providers and specials. If I see one of my 'bucket list' providers offering a special, I'd jump on it ASAP. But if it works out, it works out, if it doesn't, it doesn't.
In your situation, I think you handled it properly, and I agree with your not wanting to get into a rate negotiation with her. Word could easily get around to other providers that you are somewhat of chiseler for wanting to argue about rates, and that is something you def do not want.
Swim
When a "well reviewed" provider runs a special, believe me her inbox/email is going to be full. Even if she has a screener who may be responding to other ladies emails , it may take a couple of days for provider or her screener to get to your email.
A provider running a special, who is screening her own appointments can get a little over whelmed with so many email request and not handle them in a timely manner. Same for the assistant who is screening this lady. It could be over whelming for both.
For example, on Black Friday when a product is on sale it does not guarantee you the special for that product if you are not in line early enough get it. Nor will the store honor you getting there early.
My opinion, if a provider chooses to give you the special because you emailed her within the dates of her special, GREAT! If not, I don't think it should be held against her for the reasons I mentioned to above.
It won't hurt to bring it to her attention that you emailed her within the dates of the special and kindly ask if she would still consider seeing you another day for the special rate.
In this case, I would do it. But if you were to email me with the attitude of entitlement ( not say you did or would) I would not honor your request
Like I said in my posting, I was not going to go into a hassling situation over rates. Not worth my time nor hers.
I moved on and ended up finding a great provider in the process. So, I guess it worked out in the end.
The Forest Waits
