I was in the Twin Cities quite often a few years ago and became interested in the hobby.  Backpage was pretty reliable to find providers, along with a few other sites.  Within the last two years, I've been in the Cities again, and have started to become a bit active again.

I have required a 50% deposit to book for almost 13 years now & it works for me. I am not in need of lots of business because my time is very limited. I have never had any issues. My time has never been wasted & it makes the encounter, so much better when the donation is not the main focus. Many people will pay in full prior to the date just because it’s better to not have the tributes be the main focus of the session. I have a date next weekend & the gent booked me 1 month in advance it is the best!

Your reputation and that of your sister precedes you; guys know you're not going to flake by keeping the deposit and not seeing them.  But it's a totally different story with providers who have no reviews or haven't been around very long.  No one should be giving them deposits.

For some guys it is a matter of principle. For others, though, it can be a risk/reward calculation. If you are a millionaire, what's the loss of a few hundred?  If that's your fun money for the month, then it pays to be more careful.

By not losing "a few hundred" here and "a few hundred" there.  It pays to be careful...that's how you get to be a millionaire.

I will give a deposit only to very reputable, established providers but have done so only twice. There’s not a chance in hell I would give one to a new provider. The reason I pay in to services such as p411 and TER is so that providers see I’m a reliable person. If that’s not good enough, then so be it.  

,,,,I have seen the lady several times prior OR put a deposit on a reputable provider.

To rival fee complaints and review bias in terms of frequency.

to a woman I haven't seen before.  It's just a scam waiting to happen. I have on occasion paid a deposit to a lady I'm repeating with if I'm reserving more than three hours, because I recognize that she is foregoing the opportunity to book other customers and wants to make sure I have an incentive to show up.  I generally never book more than one hour when seeing a new lady for the first time, so this fits nicely with not giving deposits to people I haven't yet met.  If she is not willing to share the risk with me that we will both show up the first time, I just cross her name off my list and move on.  There are more providers than I will ever be able to see in my lifetime, so there are NONE that I absolutely have to see regardless of the risks.

...and I see no reason to start now. Yeah there have been some providers that I've might have lost out on a great session with, due to a deposit requirement, but so far I'm happy with my  no-deposit-needed selections on P411.

but they seem nearly pro-forma these days.  

For anything that was an overnight or longer
I still would  
I never took them for less than that
The last several years I’ve only seen people that I have known for years (and even then I can count on 2 hands how many people I’ve seen in the last decade) so I’ve not bothered. It’s s pain in the arse trying to work out a deposit system with Americans when I’m in the UK so it’s all trust related BUT I am upfront about what my expectations are if they cancel…that is discussed and agreed upfront because I would be incurring travel costs to meet in London  

Sorry I should have clarified that I still would for longer appointments in the US

i enjoyed reading the discussion on this thread and agree with those that do not believe in paying a deposit. if i am going to book someone for a few days    I get it,  a deposit is necessary and in 20 years of hobbying even a two day Vegas trip did not require a deposit, maybe she just trusted me and I her ...but it was great......and in those many years I have never even been asked for a deposit from the providers that i reach out to and schedule with.
 If the discussion is Minnesota ladies and using TER or even Eros to find your ladies i believe we are lucky to have some amazing providers and we (guys) are not often being scammed.  
That being said what about when WE wait forever to get the secret code and handshake, the address etc.......that we are told we cannot get the night before for fear of coming over there when we tell them we live 60 minutes away, to kill them or something ?  and we sit and wait or stroll the streets looking for our lovely. What about US getting NCNS or last minute oops I have to cancel when maybe they just got someone they feel is better than little old me ?? I shall accept a cancellation late from someone I have seen before cuz after the first session you already know each other and have a mutual respect most of the time........ ya we are told "I'll make it up to you"  or so sorry our next time will be fabulous...... just like the conversation "I don't do that on the first session" BS........if you can read chemistry I feel you will know in the first 10 minutes how the session will go !  But that has always been my MO to pamper the lady and hope that i get asked back and that starts in the first 10 minutes.  
How often have you guys sat and waited usually already hard with the thought of what you expect from this magical  
hour ?.....only to limp home and grab the box of kleenex and jump on the porn sites ??  Where is our deposit ? I am not saying that the guys should even consider that BUT it should be a two way thought process when it comes to scams. We also are at least worth our time !!!!!!!!!!    that is my 42 cents !

yes gorgeous, i agree with you on the research aspect, that we as consumers need to do what is necessary to make sure the probability of the session is good and my comment was more for the masses that continue to bitch about lateness and NCNS sessions......and who is really due any compensation.
 As much as your opinion needs to be listened to some of your comments are hard for some of us, cellar dwellers, to read. Your rates are not ones that i could ever see someone (the provider) not respecting . If i had a 1000 dollar plus session set up i would bust my ass to get there also and as the provider why would you jeopardize THAT payday?  .....a little bit of a different league than those of us seeing 300 and 400 dollar services.  
I also, absolutely agree with the risk of the hotel and then a deposit is appropriate IF it was made for the one session but not made to camp out for the day (which again may apply to the 300-400 dollar ladies not 4 figure rates). I am not even trying to imply anything about a providers rates, I just read your comments as someone who knows you are out of my league and if i did ever schedule with you there is no way that I would NCNS
 We all must take our research seriously no matter what level of professional that you reach out to, to have that mind blowing experience.

My post was also directed to G daddy, who was in my opinion confused in his comments to you because if you look deeper he has experienced ONE 300.00 provider in his review history and is all in agreement to what you originally stated.....just confused me and made me comment as i did which appeared to be unintentionally only towards you..... you once again expressed YOUR professionalism and i respect that