went slumming today looking for basic service level. Obviously given my normal placement squarely in the gourmet isle there were bound to be trade offs. Overall though not a bad time. Easily compiled 6-8 possibilities with either pics/review (or two) or quality reviews no pic with $150 baseline (+/- $50).

Would I repeat, probably not....but I may very well work thru 1 or 2 more on the list. Part two of my little research project on tap for next week  or week after.

Review is up for those who want the blow by blow and I added the link to ad. Only true curveball is this gal gives "petite" a whole new meaning. But hey BBBJ/FS/Greek for 120...got to be something.

Hacker, you may want to make your way back to visit Mary Jane. She's taller, a little wilder and a bunch of fun for the same price of admission.

but why?? like you said ,you normally go the mercedes route,why go back to a possible toftt situation? is it just research( my guess)?

The bar has been set so high for certain individuals that sometimes it's tough to quantify.  It's such a YMMV-thing, anyway, and people sometimes forget that, too.  One person's 7 is another person's 9, and there's a lot of difference between a 7 and a 9.  And, of course, there is the value vs. price comparison.  Is a certain provider we know whom we used to see for 200. worth 800. an hour now?  Obviously, to many people, she clearly is.  But, others would spend that same 800. on two or maybe three different sessions--again, YMMV.
Please keep doing the research and reporting your findings--I appreciate your help and candor.

but i'll try.

1st) Over the last year or so I've come to rely on a couple of the agencies more and more. Given my background I tend to think of them as "preferred vendors" {AZM paticuarly}. Basically Jacks operation runs like clockwork, never a missed or even late appointment, never a disappointment and always an abundent selection...in away I'm in an odd type of rut. So part of it is simply the desire for something new & different.

2) the local market (indie) has stratified fairly ridgidly over the last few years. you have roughly 60 providers on 411 alone. Certainly the top 10 or so are stellar but overall I dont think the rank and file lives up to the hype...again my opinion. Simply nothing that truthfully interests me there that i haven't already seen.

There is  large "secondary market" that is largely "invisible" to this community. Also alot of misperceptions. Given my lack of economic constraints and the value of my time I dont really mess with it much...my preferred vendors simply do to good a job. However its fun in its own right and who knows...after all both MJ and Calli (to namr just two) came from CL. Tara worked for a 3rd tier agency...so the possibility is there.

I'm simply recognizing the realities of the market place. I see no need to pay more for less. I already have access to the best high end options in the nation (IMO). So occasionally over time I'll bring other options to light. This 1st foray was simply looking to put a "bottom" to the market. Personally I'd rather pay 3 to 4 times the price for 10 times the looks and service. That is not an option for everyone and I'm no different then most in the sense I dont want to pay alot for a little. I expect the value given to match the service recieved. This board is simply to full of "white knights" with little or no objectivity (IMO) and not enough savvy to place a realistic value on the services they receive.

Re:If they only knew eom

You said it, Bro'.

i also read the review in question. that helped also..personally,i have been up and down the scale,and as i'm sure you will agree,you generally get what you pay for with the overall experience..but ,yes,"there are some diamonds in the rough"..good luck with your research...thanks

that there is a correlation between price and "performance" as a general rule. We are blessed (here in PHX) with a tremendously talented provider community...and there is actually great value at the top of the scale.

All that being said we seem to also have alot of "black Angus" providers at Ruth Chris pricing. They're both great places to eat and yes they both serve steak...but you can tell the difference. Now the review in question here is down at the poppies chicken level so its a different comparision again

and I got a chance to meet her. For now I've got about 6 or 7 other options is roughly the same price range so I dont think I'll bother. Given my interlude with Ashlee on Friday the stark contrast between the "low end" and "filet" is pretty clear for me right now. I'll probably try one or two on my "list" but given the constraints on my time till year end I'm just as likely to limit myself to my ATF and Ashlee for the rest of the year.