Certainly, I'm not a VIP. And even more assuredly, I'm new to the hobby.  In fact, so new, that I've only been with two providers (both with extensive and very-good reviews).  

As I plan on continuing with the hobby, this change in hiding the ratings has made what was previously a manageable challenge into a leap of faith.  

With every intention to start writing reviews to assist other hobbyists (and providers alike) as I continue -- in spite of the fact I couldn't see my own reviews -- NOW what's my incentive?  The most critical factor, whether it's a rip-off or I can expect a quality experience, has been hidden.

I suspect that the number of non-VIP reviews is a significant one, and I further suspect that the number will decrease, as the overall use of the site by VIP's will drop.  

I don't know if the point of TER is to make money, or to be helpful to providers and hobbyists -- if the latter, I suspect this was a very bad idea.

At least it seems to me like a very bad idea, but I hesitate to tell others how to run their business.

I cycle in and out of VIP status, and I think I will be less interested in TER under this policy and therefore less interested in becoming a VIP again.  

But I could be unrepresentative.

We already had enough issues with guys writing fake reviews in order to read the VIP area.  But now with the scores being hidden, I think it's going to increase more.  And while I also do not think it's kosher to tell people how to run THEIR business, I don't think this was the smartest idea ever.  And I wouldn't doubt that some of the people are going to start looking to other sites that don't charge for such things.  

I think that is a very good point.

Why?  By averaging the performance numbers, a hobbyist can ascertain overall quality of provider's performance, and have an idea as to what to expect.  Why should this information be available to non-paying members?  The information is valuable...why should this be given away for free?

VIP costs $20/month; less if you subscribe quarterly or annually.  This is a pittance compared to the cost of hobbying, unless you're hitting the streets, or CL is your main venue.

so you will be able to read your own reviews. However, this policy does encourage bogus reviews. Quite honestly, I don't know how removed the performance scores from non vip view will effect the site. Only time will tell.

The management has seem to forget that the content and success of their site comes from reviews. Putting a VIP on performance renders this site useless to those without VIP status and there will no point to post reviews here. Even with the 2 per month rule that means you are investing in excess of 8k per year in the hobby. You many see one more than once or elect to not post a less than a stellar review which means your investment in the hobby is even more!

I suspect most reviews come from low volume hobbyists. Take away the little frosting you get and you will not get any reviews at all. A bad move in a slow economy.

You just cant't fix stupid.

I am a provider. I am also very tired of non-VIP members having as much access to this site as they did. I will be glad when Admin tightens down even more on who sees what.

I think the price for a VIP membership is very reasonable and fair. This is a hobby and if a hobbyist cannot afford a VIP membership, then perhaps either not hobbying or not being a member of TER should be a consideration.

I think the only access to any numbers a non-vip member should have is just the gals overall combined average. Put the appearance...and the performance together and average those numbers out and that is what someone who can't fork over $20.00 per month should see.

For those of us with VIP status now we can search and filter for overall combined averages now.

I am saying with the economy what it is now, to make such a decision, without notice, is a bit extreme.  And I also think, if they are going to do this, then they need to take away the "free VIP for writing reviews" because WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN FAKE REVIEWS!  We already have the cheapos writing fake reviews to read the VIP of reviews.  Imagine now that they can't even see the numbers.

Keep the numbers and continue free VIP for reviews.

Or take away the free VIP for reviews, and keep the numbers VIP.

20 dollars isn't a large amount, and if it is, then this is the wrong hobby without a doubt.  I am worried about the fake reviews.  And reality is, guys WILL seek out other review sites that don't charge for such things.  Hell there are 20 other sites.

I think allowing only appearance ratings to be displayed puts ladies like myself at a disadvantage. I average between about 5-7 for appearance, and those are some fair numbers for me since I am 30+ and qualify for BBW status. However, my performance ratings tend to average 8-9. Now, the only thing prospective gentlemen will learn about me is that my appearance ratings are not that high, but will have no idea that my performance ratings are much higher. This puts ladies like myself at a considerable disadvantage.

Like most of TER's ideas lately, this is just another bad idea.

But now, your move to require ladies to delete any excerpted portion of reviews makes more sense to me.

I think your decision is likely to drive more bussiness away from you than it is to bring in new business, but do as you will.

The fake review is a huge issue...so is the fact that non-Vip members having access to chat. I swear there have been kids in chat.

That would be one thing but I see some great established ladies suffering  because of this in an already touch economy.

Not the men who don't pay for VIP, if they can't or wont they have their reasons and I doubt not seeing the ratings is going to make anyone fess up the money.

This wont hurt TER any, and it doesn't' effect the guys.

This will directly effect the women, and it has nothing to do with her buying VIP I have VIP so it isn't the issue.

But TER has never cared how it's Policies effect he women. This site is only for the boys right?

Not submitted, but approved?  I don't have stats myself, but I think that it's lower than most competing sites.

I keep hearing that fake reviews will increase, but I can't buy it.  Most guys wouldn't do that to save $20, and seeing another field most likely won't change that much.  Besides, TER will be ass deep in cash now, so they can hire piles of people to police the reviews.

It seems that the people with the most to lose are the old, chubby ladies.  Perhaps they should call a civil rights group for protection.

At how many fake reviews are posted.  I personally have only had 2 in 6yrs.  But I see ladies constantly complaining about fake reviews.  So you can chose to "buy" whatever you want.  The fact of the matter is there are guys that are to cheap to buy VIP or don't/can't fork over the private info that ccbill requires to buy it.

As for TER being "ass deep in cash" I doubt that.  I think if they were ass deep they wouldn't have implemented this new thing for one and for two I know some of my regulars that have already stated they are looking into other sites.

As for what people have to lose, I don't think anyone has anything to lose especially the ladies.  Maybe you should call you psycho therapist for a refill on your meds??

I can imagine there will be some gentlemen who will score certain ladies higher in appearance than what they would usually be scored, given they know this will affect a lady's business since this is the only score seen by non-VIPs.

Just another thought.

I posted this suggestion in another thread last week.

I suggest to keep the performance rating as VIP, but add a new box: “Recommend: Yes or No” and let that be visible to all.  It’s based on the old Pass/Fail philosophy from academia.  For the provider, the presence of a visible “Recommend: Yes” rating mitigates any harm of a hidden performance rating.  For the lurker, the Yes/No rating should give him just enough info to make a decision.  This may help alleviate the need some may feel to write false reviews in oder to gain VIP access.

VIPs would be able to see that a Yes recommendation comes with a 6, 7, 9 or maybe even a 5 performance score.  And VIPs could read & know the little details that would make the Yes a highly qualified one at that.

Bottom line: If I'm willing to pay $180/year I want more useful info than the non-paying lurker.  But I do want to consider the providers, too.

Lousy idea. I'm betting the competiton will capitalize on this.

that this site even checged to the VIP policy. That's what I get for taking a couple years off.

As a provider, how can you say this is a good idea?  If I was an attractive provider who provided top-notch service, I would want as many people to know it as possible; VIP or non-VIP.  That’s just good business.  Last I checked, a non-VIP’s money is just as green as a VIP’s.  I have been a member exclusively through reviews I’ve posed for the better part of 3 years.  From time to time, I have relied on the appearance and performance categories for some general information when my VIP membership expired.  I can easily afford a membership, but I chose to pay for mine with reviews, which is an acceptable form of payment on this site.

Let me use your TER profile as an example.  You are very attractive in the pictures on your site (you look amazing in the pic on the homepage), so if I was in your area, I would definitely be interested.  However, since I am not currently a VIP I can’t see what others hobbyists’ general opinion is of your appearance and performance.  Based on that, odds are I’d pass and you’d be out $160-$240 plus tip.  Not to mention the positive review you would’ve gotten if the overall experience warranted it.

If I was a quality provider, I’d be pissed about this change.

Fake reviews will undoubtedly increase drastically.  Anyone with a brain can read a review of a provider on another site, change it slightly, and then submit it here as their own.  How on earth are they going to police that?

I’ve been a member for a little over 3 years, and I have posted 30 reviews in that time.  Can I afford a membership?  Absolutely.  Will I buy one?  Not a chance; especially since I was posting almost a review a month.  When my membership would temporarily lapse, I would use the appearance and performance columns I could see with my non-VIP access to take a calculated risk with a provider.  Afterward, I would post a review to contribute to the site, thus paying for that little nugget of information and adding value for the paying VIP members at the same time.

The research I perform when I’m a non-VIP will just be done elsewhere, and who knows; I might post reviews from those encounters here to get a little VIP time, or one of those other sites might prove to be more useful.  My cable company changed policies and nickel and dimed me to a point where I took my business elsewhere, and this is no different.

I "paid" for my VIP access with my detailed, accurate reviews which is an acceptable form of payment here.  Fresh, accurate content is essential to the success of the board.  If it wasn't, they wouldn't be giving you a free month for each review.

I was thinking about calling a certain provider but now that I can't see even an appearance or a performance, I'm not even going to chance it.A provider just lost work.

You're just NOT going to hobby at all?

Give me a break guys - you're going way too extreme.

The more I read the responses the more I realize that it is actually an okay decision.

The fact is this:  non-VIPs who've been riding the system guesstimating reading the General Details and looking at scores are going to throw a tantrum for several weeks.

You're then going to get to hankering to see a lady and you're going to "just have to know" before you see her and off the cuff you're going to pay for VIP.  The following month, maybe you won't, maybe you'll just write a review on her.  Or you'll get lazy and you'll enjoy the $20 review-free edge.

But no one is going to stop seeing providers because this website has changed.
That is just stupid.

You're not going to quit hobbying just because you don't have a free aid anymore.

In my case I will still hobby. I will however refrain from posting reviews on ter. Its a give and take. Even without VIP status ter is getting value they can sell for a profit from my review. If they take away all information "NOW APPEARANCE" why should I give them something and get nothing. What is the benefit of a non vip member to post a review?

As for providers who decide to require some sort of ter relationship I will not see them either. The economy is tight and to require non monetary conditions such as an affiliation with ter will limit their business

Ter needs to consider their image in the grand scheme of things. Let the competition begin!

Forget that one the VIP'd the APPEARANCE TOO

....to have access to All discussion boards, other than the newbie board. maybe when you intially sigh up to TER, you get 4 hrs. free to check out site, then it expires & you pay to play.

...providers should receive a free VIP membership for the men they bring to TER who sign up for VIP. Otherwise, why are we bringing them here, especially if not all of them submit reviews? (The majority of clients do not review).

Otherwise, simply make all participants pay for VIP.

(I promise I am not stalking you, I just thought I would post it here as well.)

Thats a fair point, but not the only point. With any subscription site there's a trade-off - give something away to get readers and build credibility, then charge those who want more works for many sites.

I guess it will be easy to see how this impacts VIP membership. For me, a longtime occasional reader, who usually frequents my favorite UTR provider, I havent chose VIP, but now I might.  I already have confidence in the site and so I'm weighing up the cost vs value.

If I just came across the site today, however, it wouldnt have the same credibility and I would be much less likely to upgrade.

I too lapse in and out of VIP status.  Not seeing the ratings will get me to look at other sites and start to post reviews there.  It is never good for a business to institute a policy that gets users to try the competition.

I don't like how everything can only be viewed by VIP. It was alright when just the juicy details and services provided were VIP only, which I understand. Then they started doing the performance numbers, and now the overall looks. Heck I remember when one can their private mailbox without being VIP, now you can't even PM anyone.
What I don't understand is that there is virtually no difference in being a standard member and a non member. If you sign up for TER, you still only can view what a non member can. You have no choice but to be a VIP member.
Now the site is pretty much useless except for viewing the boards and posting. TashaVegas makes a good point in this being a good way to increase the amount of fake reviews. Before one can just glance at some number ratings or PM a person who had seen the provider and get a good idea. It is like if you have a mouse in a maze with many exit options. What TER has done is block all exits except one, the mouse is forced to go one way. Or if you made smoking illegal.
Anyone who knows me knows I put up valid reviews. But it's not like I see a provider every 2 weeks.
What next...board posting and viewing. Uh oh...better keep my mouth shut.

I would concur with you. I've been aware of TER for over 5 years. I write legitimate reviews as well and, like you, don't visit providers that often to be submitting reviews regularly. At most I'll go once a month to a well rated provider charging $$ or less for a 30min visit. Having the performance & appearance rating was enough for me to make an informed decision. Now it's more like gambling w/the odds not in your favor. I likely would never have become involved w/the hobby had it not been for the info TER posted before. I also became a VIP member at times because of good experiences I've had, feeling that it was payback to TER for the info. Non-VIP's need that basic info as a safe way into the hobby. It pays off for everyone in the end. Now when I post a review I'll put the appearance, performance & atmosphere info in the opening statement (as some do now) as a way of sharing w/non-members who can use the info to make a choice. We'll see how long that lasts.

As the system currently stands, the value of reviews has greatly diminished.  On one side you have fake reviews from people trying to gain vip access and on the other you have providers influencing their reviews.

So the question is how to have a profitable system for TER and a pure system for hobbyists?  There are plenty of places for providers to advertise, so I don't see why they need access to anything on TER beyond the forums.

Obviously this is just one mans opinion.  But I would rather have fewer reviews that are more reliable and pay a small fee.  

I won't make any friends by saying this, but I say get rid of the free VIP membership option by posting reviews until someone has been a member for 1 year.  That will drastically cut down on the fake reviews.

Prevent providers from seeing the reviews or make all reviews anonymous.  This will not only increase the # of reliable reviews but prevent provider interference.  You can use a system like craigslist where the posters email address is anonymized.

Each group has their own need:
- TER - Make money
- Providers - High reviews so they make money
- Reviewers - Reliable reviews so their money isn't wasted

Can all groups be happy with one system?

By hiding all the ratings from everybody except V.I.P. members, it protects those providers who deliver lousy or even criminal service from being exposed and ensures their continued business among non-paying members.  

By all means have sections reserved only for V.I.P. members. But keep the ratings public for the good of the entire community.

I've been a member of this site for about 5-6 years even a VIP on a number of occasions.

Now this site is totally WORTHLESS.  It's a glorified Craigslist.

I for one am NOT GOING TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS ORIGINALLY FREE.

When I heard their ads on Sirius Radio, I knew someone has to pay for them.  

Guess what?  It's the members.
or ex-members in my case

Good luck

It's gotten so hard to get an approved review that I don't even bother to submit reviews anymore.

I just logged on after about a month away to find....

NOTHING!!!!

Anyone know any competing sites that are worth logging into?