Personally, I've never once dealt with a ROB.  Totally thanks to TER.

Of course I lurked for about a quarter before I delved and I only go for massage ladies but still I thank TER for giving me the weapon (info) to deal with this world...

So I think I have saved  several hundred dollars at least and countless time.  And have been warned off calling a lady several times.  For my getting warned off Inga was good for example.

Any takers?

Last summer I called a Tantra service provider from her ad in a local paper.  I recognized her name from a TER thread.  Her asking price in the newspaper was $100/hour LESS than the price in her reviews and on her official website linked to the reviews.

There was no negotiatioin on my part, I just called on the right number and said the magic word (newspaper ad) rather than the high-priced word (Internet).  I had another one charge $50/hour less in a similar situation the prior year.

The internet SP's charge more becasue they figure that's what the market will bear.  Sure, there are additional costs of being on the internet, but in this case, the newspaper ad actualy represented incremental cost to her since she already had the "sunk cost" of the web site.  I can only assume she figured the newspaper customer was less affluent than the internet customer, and set her prices accordingly.

Anybody whose been at this "hobby" more than 5 years should know this already.  The prices have climbed rapidly in the last few years and have outpaced inflation, income growth, or any other measure you choose, by a big margin.

So yes, you sometimes avoid the ROB's (but not always as we see posted here ever week). But you're also paying a high premium for the convenience of  the internet, and that price is still spiraling upward.

Great point!

And a cool new perspective- one of the reasons I love this board

I was really comparing to unsafe hobbyinmg with rip-offs in the mix.  I feel that a lady who steals your $300-$600 is bad- you are saying getting that level of info has its cost too.  And that you used to only risk less cash-

But how did you know who was legit before?  I love to read the Weekly Ads- but I am scared to try them unless I cross refernece.

Find me an old lady that can massage well and suck better, and I really don't care how I found her...

You definitely had more trial and error in the newspaper ad days.  As a result, I think it was more common to stick with a provider longer once you found her.  There was security for both of you in being a regular customer, and the searching was time consuming.  

For the quantity over quality guy, the internet is the best thing in the world.  It really does make sampling a large number of providers a very easy thing to do.  

But for the value hobbyist- the guy who wants to see someone on a regular basis, it's been an overall negative IMHO.  If you're single, like me, you can no longer afford to see providers every week if you're not dating someone (at least I can't).  It's just become too expensive.  As a result, I get laid a lot less.   And when all the reviews, web sites and gushing over reps get pushed aside, that's the bottom line for me.  

(Before I forget and before I get started, what’s the ‘B’ stand for in ROB? That’s bugging me..)

Anyway, in the “Viewers..” thread below, as well as here, some of you have mentioned the various changes in the ‘hobby’ since the ‘90’s.

I’d like to look at both the Why’s and the What’s (to do about it):

My dad used to say (about the cost of living) “Everything goes up except my pay!”
And we all lament that. In fact, according to the EDD, San Diego wages have reverted to wages from 1992!

You say that in the ‘90’s the average donation was $100, and now the average hourly is $300 – tripled.
We can discuss many reasons for why the increase but cost of living and expenses of the hobby are only a few (as Pilgrim mentions). What else?
Well, certainly RISK. I don’t know what the risk was like in the ‘90’s but now the risk of LE is a constant threat (here in SoCal) that we dodge on a daily basis as well as a greater risk of STD’s. In the ‘90’s, you remember, AIDS was a ‘gay disease’, and how many of you even used protection in your personal lives or in the ‘hobby’ back then!? Now, what you get can KILL you, not just ruin your weekend plans!
When I first started, it was told to me that $300 = $100 for every risk – safety, health, and LE.
As with anyone else, the cost of living is difficult for the ladies and it doesn’t even become ‘worth it’, to a degree, for anything less.  You can’t do it.

Next was the ‘climate’ of the ‘hobby’, before moving on to the What’s.

The responses in the ‘Viewers..” thread were great. All of them. But one that I want to comment on was Innocent Bystanders which you should check out if you haven’t already.
Everyone’s points were good ones. Thank you for contributing.

Since I.B. lives in LA, he is seeing much of what he described as the ‘mini-celebrity’ stream of providers.
It would be nice if we had stats to compare, as I would like to know the increasing numbers of women that enter into this profession on a regular basis. Just go to ‘new reviews’ in your area periodically and see the many that crop up as new ladies. And those are just the reviewed ones. They come in droves..Of course,SD is a military and college town as well as a ‘resort’ city, so no surprise. And each area, such as LA have their own climates and reasons for the increase in the number of providers. The entertainment and modeling industries there are one big reason.

Now, some What’s:


This isn’t about me, or promoting me, as I am not ‘on the market’ right now anyway, but I will use me as an example..

I’ve lowered or changed my rates three times. I haven’t done a survey, but from what I’ve seen, they are one of the lowest. My site doesn’t say ‘two hour minimum’ as it should but I rarely do the one hours, so they are usually two anyway which gives a nice hourly rate reduction. We do have a lovely local lady who is $150.
Most of the ladies reward repeats and regulars, so the rate goes down significantly.

If you look for the ladies who reward regular clients, you will come closer to that ‘90’s rate than you realize.

As far as the climate of mini-celebrities or prima donnas or ladies who think the ‘hobby’ is all about them, and not the clients, well you’re not looking in the right places.
Change what you normally look for and try something completely different! You know the saying, ‘the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’.
There are so many lovely ladies, who discount significantly for regulars, who adore and pamper their clients and understand what this is all about you just have to know how to find them.


(I have a (strong) comment for Akitanuki’s post in that thread, but will reserve for later.)

As usual, Sedona makes excellent points very elloquently.  Hope your recovery is still progressing nicely.

People who buy TIVO end up watching a lot more tv, because they're only watching the shows they want to watch when they want to watch them.  There's a lot more on tv than you realize.  It just comes on at the wrong times.

Before TER, I was reluctant to make an appointment with the hot blonde I saw on EROS because I was SURE she was just too good to be true.  Since TER, I know that she's too good, but she is true.  Now my favorites list is growing faster than I could see them if I had unlimited cash and a robopenis.

TER provides a voice of guidance and predictability in an otherwise unpredictable business. It's certainly not 100% surefire, nothing is, but when I visit a city I base my choices and activities heavily upon what you good people have to say and recommend. If it wasn't for that I'd still be swiping away at the ATM's at the local strip clubs. Been there, done that.

I understand exactly what you are saying Pilgrim and can actually relate to what you are saying because I had several ladies that I saw on a regular basis for years.  I think in many cases a regular was a more valued commodity in those days and was treated better.  In today's environment after a lady gets a couple of good TER reviews she may be inundated with calls and emails.  She may not be too concerned with whether a guy sees her again because she has so many others ringing her doorbell.

My experience in being a regular is a little different than what Sedona and some of the ladies in San Diego are doing.  I seldom received a price reduction but was grandfathered in at the original rate and often would get extra time and/or would take the lady out to dinner off the clock and return to her home for some on the clock activities.

I have only been in hobby for about a year now and have been fortunate to have had mostly positive experiences (especially lately).  This has been due to the reviews and info from generous hobbyist either by info from discussion boards or bc.

One particular occassion, I saw an ad from a lady who of course looked hot - searched for reviews and saw only mediocre reviews.  Had they been good I would have been on the phone and on my way.  I debated on whether to take the chance or not.  Well, I started reminiscing about one of my faves and somehow my right hand took over (being right handed and all).  Well, soon after I no longer had the urge to see this provider.  Sure enough, the next day some poor reports of her popped up - Thanks TER (and of course my right hand).

In my pre-TER days I was burnt twice by a "cash and dash."  Now with TER, those days are long gone.

Regarding regulars, there are a couple of agencies and ladies that I know I can trust and therefore do not deviate too much.  I'm from Upstate NY and so the number of ladies is limited.

Sedona,  
I spoke with Fortitude tonight.  I am SOOOOOOO looking forward to your trip to NYC in May.  The pleasure of making your acquaintence will finally be mine.