he asked me what is affordable to you? What do you think would be a good deal? How much can you afford to spend?

I said half of what i am paying now.  He said its cool with him

Then i got a call from my cable company.  They asked me what is affordable to you? What do you think would be a good deal? How much can you afford to spend?  I said I would love to have all premium channels but i can only pay 10 dollars per month.

They said I got a deal!

Then I got a call from Chanel, they asked me asked me what is affordable to you? What do you think would be a good deal? How much can you afford to spend?

I said I could probably pay $25 for their 3K purse.  They said I got a deal.

Then i woke up and realized it was all a dream

in 2007 hobbyist could more readily afford to spend than they can now. There are still as many clients but they don't have the spendable cash they used to have. So I have been trying this approach, thinking it would help the guys who just don't have as much as they used to have to blow on a good time.

I ask them what is affordable to you? What do you think would be a good deal? How much can you afford to spend?

Basically I am in translations saying, write your own ticket here. I mention don't insult me but let me know what is do able and I will try to work with you.

OMG Not a one wants to tell me what their budget is. Ok now and then someone will say, I cold do around $150 maybe $180 but over all they seem so afraid that I would have said $149 and they would have over spent by a dollar.  I'M BEING SORT OF NASTY here but you get the point.

Why isn't this approach working? Guys tell me what goes through your mind when you hear me say, what is your budget? What can you afford? What did you have in mind?

great I'm about to get crucified here I can just feel it.
Renee Holly

... to get crucified.  It happens to me all the time, for stating my mind.

  I think you might be running into a wall, because most gentlemen that partake in this form of entertainment, are gentlemen, and do not want to insult you, or themselves, by negotiating.  Pleae do not take this out of context, but it might make you look desperate, which is never good.  You might have a "Write your own ticket Wednesday", which would only allow your regulars to write their own "ticket".

  Just my .02.

Hugs and Kisses,
kelly

Talking money is always bad but in this time it is far worse. Election year is here, many reverse stings have been publicized so men will run or stumble on their words. Never make a man say a price ! If their a regular that's a different story but a new guy. Always have your donation listed where a man can find it easily.

Kisses Haley

Perhaps men shy away from your question because it would imply some kind of commitment on their part (to buy in bulk at a lower cost) which they're not ready to make.  Men like variety and often spend money for providers impulsively.  Today I like vanilla but next week I'll want chocolate instead.  

Or they feel embarrassed to be asked the question because it wrecks the illusion of the session in some way.  (Imagine being asked what you could afford to pay at a fancy restaurant.)  Or they're wondering if you have an ulterior motive, perhaps trying to gauge their income.  

Also, when the terms of transaction are not set in (relative) stone, it can make the guy nervous because such a discussion might signal the start of an upselling negotiation or a session of lower quality.  

I appreciate your approach.  As I don't have much income to spend on this hobby, I for one would love to have a provider ask me about my budget and see if we had room for compromise.  I wouldn't raise the issue myself the same way I wouldn't haggle over the set price of milk at the grocery store.  

Good luck getting your question answered.

.....not talking about me, as I never discuss money, with new friends.

Hugs and Kisses,
Kelly

Trickles on down. Some of us guys don't make as much as we used to, so that means we have to make choices.

You wanna eat this month? Or you wanna spend a couple hours with Renee?

I agree, it would be insulting to try and lower your rates when you already put that into consideration cuz of all this shit.

I'll admit, I've had ladies say they wanted to see me. I told them flat out, after seeing their rates for X amount of time, I can't afford that right now. They then asked what I could afford, told them this, and they accepted. They asked, I answered. I'm not one to initiate the deal and say 'I know what you charge. But I'm Mikey. Cut me some slack.' That's just wrong.

Look. What you're doing is admirable. But don't sell yourself short.

They say the economy is turning around. I guess. But if you can hold out to get what you think you deserve, by all means, don't cheapen yourself. It'll show in your performance and the way the 'gent' perceives you.

Just my dos centavos...

The two areas I hobby (DMV & RTP), have also been hit by economic decline, so providers in those areas had to change their rates. In 2010 backpage providers could charge rates of 220HR, 160HH, and 120 15min.

A lot of the clients had to cut back, so the providers needed to adjust their rates' to lower ones. Not all proivders lowered their, because some are in high demand still, but there seems to be 20% mark down on many of the young ladies DMV & RTP rates now.

I'd say study your area. You seem to be well reviewed in your area. I'd try contacting other providers who work there on a regular, to see what the going rate is for them.

But as others have said, I would not haggle over the phone with new clients. As a client if you started to ask me how much I could spend, and what I wanted do, and for how long, I would hang the phone up.

Good luck

Hocus Pocus
~It's Magic

....I live/work in DC and we are pretty much recession proof. Just the nature of the beast.
Hugs and Kisses,
Kelly

I really wouldn't want to write my own ticket. I'd rather a lady simply state her requirements, what she is happy with.

There are two reasons why I might cut off communications. One is discussing money. The other is linking rates to anything other than time spent.

I'm sure others are more liberal. That's their choice. It's not how I'll do business.

Your pretentious ass does get to wear on me.

I don't know who you 'think' you are, but not everybody lives in a 'recession proof' place.

I'm sure most of your clients are the very law makers 'we as the people' voted in to look out for our dumb-asses. But it seems to me the only thing they're doing is spending their over-inflated salaries to get their dicks wet and keep you in Gucci shoes and handbags.

You can call bullshit all you want, but I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks that way...

Mwaa!!!   Mikey

I am not suggesting set your rates at 1000 or even as low as 20 bucks. but Determine what the cos is worth to you.. There are enough people in this world who will determine if you are worth it as well. Good marketing is an art but selling yourself short is not the way to go either...... Hold your head high and be yourself.. the rest will fall into place.

the price of getting laid is not cheap. ( good or bad economy )
I'm sure all of us guys would like to see lower rates, but we also realize, that your selling your body to us. We leave it to you to decide, what your body and everything else that this biz requires of you, is worth.
I for one though, would have no problem telling you what i could afford. ( if you asked )

Renee I can only give you possible answers and none would be a sure thing.
One thing that could effect what I say is whether you are talking about your regulars or first time contacts. Most of this would be in regard to first time contact but could apply  to some degree with regulars.
1) guys that are TER members are in the habit of avoiding the discussion of money. It's one of the things we read on the boards all the time especially in advice to newbies. The admonition is don't discuss money you don't know who you are talking to. It could be law enforcement.
2) ladies say on their site and in other info they post not to discuss money or they will break contact. Their reason being they don't know if the guy is Law enforcement.
Considering the above you asking them about their budget creates a conflict. Yes, we know what we're talking about when trying to make an appointment but we don't say it until we are sure of who exactly we are talking to and we have checked them out so that we can trust we won't be arrested upon arrival. That's why ladies screen. (I know you know that).
3) He doesn't want to divulge personal info like "What is his budget?" It's discussed here all the time, we only want to divulge the minimum necessary. Asking, "What is your budget?", goes beyond that for most. This is about the fact that he doesn't know you. Here it's about are you planning to use what he tells you to your advantage.
4) It could be an ego thing. He doesn't want to say what his budget is because it's not much at least as far as he is concerned.

It's a valid point that TER isn't as large as the hobby community and some of this may not apply but it could. Who's to say.

These are only a few things I can think of but it's mostly due to the nature of the business and wanting to stay off of LE radar and being unsure what you plan to do with the info he gives you.
If he is a regular I would think there is some trust there.
Another thing, no amount of telling him you won't be insulted by the answer he gives is going to convince many men that you really won't be insulted.
These are just possibilities. I'm not sure I've thought them out to completion but it should give you some idea what's happening when you try to have the discussion you're asking about in your OP.

I learned a lesson today.  Never joke about money.  Her adds (not the op)  did not have rates posted.  She does have ter reviews with a stated rate.  she gave me a higher rate plus a upcharge for round 2.  As I had to hit the atm again I told her i would call back.  less than 30 minutes go by when I call back she asks me what rate did she qoute.  I laugh (thinking to my self why she would not have standard rates to avoid this)  and give her a lower rate trying to be funny she gets indignant as i am triying to explain just joking.  Call over. oops.  
My advice Renee is post your rates with a cute message that you know the economy is bad and you will work with the customer.  IF they want to hagle its on them.  I do not think pricline is the way to go.

And he isn't the first one from DC to wonder that!

As I've raised my rates since I first started, I have started to see that I'm fishing in a different "school of fish" with each rate change or marketing approach.

Now, I get a lot more longer dates, overnights, etc... which I love, because I typically only see one guy a day and I prefer longer sessions. But I would never have "found" these opportunities by just posting a "what can you afford" ad. I'm often getting $500 or more per session like other providers are... I'm just staying longer!

Some people refuse to shop at Walmart. And many guys see provider rates as "you get what you pay for" and refuse to see providers with low rates. I've heard some say they don't want to see the provider that has to see three or four guys a day to make any money. Your rates often equate to volume in their mind, whether that's an accurate reflection of your volume or not.

But, to answer your question specifically, guys are skittish about talking about money and that's probably why you're not getting answers.

she is easily one of the more narcissistic and self-centered bull shit artists that anyone has ever had the "pleasure" of knowing.

When a gal screams from the top of the mountain the shit this gal screams, you can pretty much be certain that everything she says is bull shit.

And as for her great providing career...I can pretty much guess what her "real" numbers show...and they are nothing in the "ballpark" of what she espouses!!

And based on her hourly rates she is just as strapped as the gals she shits on with her narcissism!

"Never sell yourself short. because no one else will raise the price"

Here's what's going through my mind when you ask "what is your budget? What can you afford? What did you have in mind?":

No matter what answer you're given, nothing good can come of it (much like when a girl asks a guy "Does this make me look fat?"

Thanks, man! I admit I'm narcissistic and a bull-shit artist, but I admit it! It's a long running joke, and anyone that's too Goddam stupid to see that has only themselves to blame.

But when someome tries to pull the wool over someone else's eyes, especially in this crowd, it's just a matter of time till someone says 'fuck you!'...

-- Modified on 1/29/2012 6:09:48 PM

I guess you guys actually do have brains!!
A week or so ago some posts on a thread were removed to protect her innocence...and as we see, there is none. She has a profile and a review. So I guess she does need reviews now for business since her posts aren't giving you guys hardons!

a suggestion for a thread becoming messy.......

it looks like there is some confusion about who is talking to whom about what. perhaps there is some annoyance that has it's origin in confusion.

in following up i'd suggest using the thread "tree" instead of the "flat" display. that way it is clear who is being spoken to about what. that way one knows who is talking to whom. i know this assumes a certain level of computer literacy.......

Re: a suggestion for a thread becoming messy.......

I'll also suggest using the "quote" button when replying so that you can see what you're actually responding to, as opposed to what you THINK you're responding to.

but I will be the one to stick my neck out here, so all the rest of you who would not, put a lid on it.  In my area, a good provider with reviews typically gets 200 / hour.  Some are higher, of course.   I see some 'Specials' advertized but haven't checkled on them and frankly, if it is someone I've seen before, I'll not embarass myself by taking her up on it.  I am on "fixed income", prices are up & my income isn't.  I hobby when I can, simple as that.  
If you are competitive for your area, that should be good.  If you want to offer a Special, that's up to you.  Maybe knock a 20 off.  
H

I was just going to suggest that. Frankly I have no idea why anyone would use "flat" or why it exists. (although I have seen some posts where people say it is great for the provider photo threads)

This thread has needlessly turned into a flame thread near the top, simply because of a misunderstanding of who was replying to whom. I like all the parties involved in that flame war so I choose not to be involved, but it definitely seems like it never would have started if someone was in "tree" mode.

John Galt and Claudius, the voice of reason on the boards

And I finally had as much as I could stomach with this moron.  At least the gals who are truly clueless post as such.  This narcissistic "bitch" has no problems insulting each and every person on this board.  And really...she doesn't have a clue as to why!  This makes her a particularly "dangerous" provider.  And one thankfully I can easily avoid (and I suspect most of the readers will as well).  But then you do have the guys that like a gal that can speak fluent "bull shit"!

Hopefully her adoring throng will start calling her and get her off the boards and pay her something so she can stop her whining and editorializing of nonsense.  I can only hope that there's still a few guys who don't read these posts and learn of the idiocy this gal babbles.

They just stop working, when a wiff of pussy enters the nose. lol

line up the dots. You'll see your question to me is under mine not equal to.

Kisses Haley

What simplistic bs. Are the millions of Americans out of jobs and feeling miserable not holding their head high for things to fall in place. At least renee is trying to be helpful here.

Believe it or not, I'm very easy to get along with. I'll do anything for you if I dig you that much.

But that..... person, just rubs me the wrong way.

She could be the most gorgeous looking woman on the planet, and her pussy is the most amazing thing to stick a dick in. But when she opens her mouth, all I see is vile.

You're way to paranoid! And yes I am talking to you.

I don't even know why flat mode exists, but it is really stupid, and in this thread it seems to almost have caused a trainwreck due to a simple misunderstanding.

Go to the over 60 board and scroll down to Thursday. Find the "photo thursday" theme day from last week with 28 ladies posting pictures. Now turn on flat....That's why it's here as far as i'm concerned and only way to look at a photo theme day post. Other than that Flat makes no sense of conversations and how they flowed.

I didn't get upset and sent PM to explain the difference so it wouldn't happen again

Kisses Haley

This is a serious answer, not another client's opinion...

Your job is to make the client feel comfortable.  Asking him to come up with the price is psychologically stressful.  NEVER ever psychologically stress your client.  His time with you should be one long woozy trip on automatic.  IF you're making his big head think, you're FUCKING UP THE JOB.

Think about a real date.  You know all that 'testing' stuff you would do to a guy on a normal date?  Don't do any of it with a client.  Don't ask him to make any hard money decisions. Don't ask him about girlfriends or wives or past relationships or work.  Compliment compliment compliment.  Laugh at every joke.  If he brings something up, and clearly wants to talk about it, then listen.  If you don't know what 'active listening' skills are, look them up.  But don't pry.  Don't stress him.  You're supposed to be a vacation from reality.  You're a fantasy. You're a drug.  

Buying you should not be stressful like buying a car.  This is your mistake, Renee.  Just tell him your price.

And yet in this thread, you advise the OP (Option #2) to negotiate a "tit-for-tat" exchange of session price discounts for writing great reviews.

http://www.theeroticreview.com/discussion_boards/viewmsg.asp?MessageID=494388&boardID=12&page=1#494388

So which is it? Never psychologically stress the client to come up with a price OR negotiate session price discounts in exchange for writing great reviews?

I mean, I saw her website, she looks a little older, maybe she's from an earlier era of the hobby and trying to branch out to the more contemporary "electronic bulletin board" crowd.  Shes like an "electronic newbie." She appears to be trying to appeal to a more conservative older hobbyist.  After all republicans need love too.

It just seems like she's getting really beat up even worse than Debxxxx (what ever her numbers were) and her post aren't really half as bad.  I just think it takes all kinds of people to make a world, and I know I'm not perfect, are any of us that perfect that we can't give others a little slack? After all she is providing, she taking the same risks as all of us in the hobby.

BwB has been posting for a while now...and on various boards.  And frankly, her message is the same in all of her posts.  

She is so "high and mighty" and let's EVERYONE know that.  She "puts down" other providers to make herself "feel better" and justify her existence.  Many newbies write posts and create their board presence which others may very will misinterpret.  This gal is simply a "bitter" provider who guises her disdain with some "carefully" crafted posts.  But the posts are consistent throughout, and generally offer a "negative" slant to how the other ladies provide.  Her crap should stay on the PO board where she can slam the other gals for their perceived shortcomings.  Instead BwB uses the posts here to announce to any readers why she is "the bomb"...just ask her!

At least deb didn't offer up the pretentious bullshit that this gal spews.  Deb understood her "issues" and was discussing them on this board...which in retrospect was not a smart move either.  But she NEVER criticized her fellow providers in her posts.  That is ALL this gal does.

And you probably noticed that BwB stayed away from this thread...fortunately for her!  She has way too many folks who are well aware of her "tactics" and being called out here...well there is NO upside for her to debate this.

now I like that idea write your own ticket wed   thanks

She states she's been given several businesses, properties, wine cellars, and her rates are off the chart.
So why does she want to mingle with us plainjaneswithnobrains? Yes I know this is a public board and she has her rights..but if I had all that she has...I would use my beauty and my brains on something else instead of here. So because she is here it makes me think that there's something else.

that she is "broke"!  

It's a tough gig out here and has been for some time.  This gal is so ridiculous with her nonsense that I really suspect "she is believing her own bullshit".  I've seen that quite often with folks who are delusional in all walks of life.  For this gal to spew her material wealth crap here, and still feel a need to continue to post her "availability" doesn't take a genius (or CPA for that matter) to know she is strapped for money.

Perhaps drugs/alcohol are the problem and she can't hold onto two cents.  Only she may know why she has this propensity to create utopian worlds for herself.  

Frankly, if she would just post and comment without interjecting the incredibly unbelievable nonsense as well as her "backhanded" compliments to her peers, perhaps she can earn some respect.  Until then she is simply another "bitter" gal who needs some kind of fix to get through a day.

If she was allowed to babble there at least that will spare the rest of us from seeing her handle.

damn,

I was so excited that finally I posted something that the guys were responding to! only to discover that they are not responding to the issue I presented but they were having a provider roast on my post. OH WELL

thanks to the few of you who actually were interested in my topic. Many of you have good points. I liked the one where the men might feel they would be committed while they were still shopping. That is understandable.

And though she is being roasted here she has a point on the write your own ticket Wednesdays or something like that.

Thanks for the serious responses all this roasting must be some kind of foreplay.
Renee

I want to thank you for your response to my post and regret that you are being attacked. I will have to sit down and study the posts between you and these hobbyist to see what it is you said or say that set this forest on fire!

Your suggestion was is great and I am thinking about how to employ it.
Renee

your a doll
thanks
I appreciate your response to my post
thanks Renee

OK
What can you afford. lol lol lol
I'm not even sure your in my area!
but can I say this
most of the time, the guys really don't try to be cheap. Most of the time they are sincere with me as far as I can tell.

Thanks for responding to my post and not the provider roast
Renee

yes I am talking about first timers
regulars already know what they are spending.
I so appreciate your response to my post and not the provider roast
and I am saving your response to study it a bit.

however in my mind and I am not studied up on the subject, if you discuss rates for companionship but do not discuss activities your on safer ground. Am I wrong about this?
Thanks again Renee

Boy your right about that and
ANY TIME that a client raises the price I set, it is and has always been bs

so your right
Renee

ok what is OP?

and I want to thank you for responding to  my post and not the provider roast
Renee

let me say you missed the whole point

See there are so many different types of hobbyists. You seem to get my desired intent when I try to be affordable.

But some men want to have to spend more than they can afford. In the end I guess it is up to me what or what kind of who am I trying to attract.

again thanks for responding to my post and not the provider roast
Renee

Very insightful

I too have tried several approaches. Where I advertise makes a big dif on what income bracket I'm appealing to. One issue for me has been my need for lots of sex. Also, for me, there are men that really really want to be with ME specifically. I find that flattering and stimulating. I can hear they're hurt when they can't afford me.

Any way, I recently had a run in with LE and so I'm going to be advertising with a great deal more caution and on sites that verify members so I can forget about appeasing my sexual appetite daily for a while.

I also don't like a lot of men in and out the door in a single day regardless of what they pay me. OK on to the next response to my post and trying to skip the provider roast posts. lol

Renee Holly  

I appreciate your response and I do agree with your in sites.
thanks you for responding to my post and avoiding the provider roast
Renee

But I still screen and sometimes don't see anybody.

You cross your fingers they are into DATY! haha