... 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.

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 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.

Determine your worth and stick with it..

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.

Let's face it,

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.

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?"

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.......

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

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

Renee, Renee, Renee... You forgot what your job is.

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.

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