The topic of various forms of "packages" came up on a local board today.  I decided to get a broader viewpoint...

Gentlemen:  Would you like for a provider to have some type of package plan?  ie.  buy 5, get one free, prepay for X# of appointments and get X% off.  How about bartering? For example, I was able to get a NYC hotel room for my family's xmas trip by exchanging "services".  

Would you do this with a provider that you have not met?  Personally, I would only be comfortable doing this with someone that I have met.  If the connection wasn't there or I wasn't what he wanted/expected than issuing a refund might be difficult.  lol

FTR - I am not looking to "discount" our services.  Everyone has the choice to charge what they want (the joy of being our own boss). As stated in the local post, this is a way to "stimulate" the hobby.  The provider has cash in hand, the hobbyist pays a lower fee.

Thoughts?

kari~

Kari..... I used to give out my discreet biz cards to clients. I would stamp the back with a little stamp each visit. After four visits the fifth was half off. It worked very well.

For the gents that preferred not to carry the card for obvious reasons, I would keep it for them with an agreed upon word written on the back so as to keep track of who it belongs to.

Bartering is almost never a good idea. Unless the barter takes place at the time of service. Anytime a service is given and something is to be given at a later date...it usualy doesn't work out. That goes for both parties.

I've known providers and agencies who gave a discount (half off session, extra time, etc.) after x amount of visits and I always felt like that showed a nice appreciation for their customers.  

I've also seen packages where if you paid upfront for a certain amount of sessions, it would be less overall than if you paid individually, and while this is also nice, I would be much less inclined to do this.  I've heard the horror stories about guys who've paid upfront and then had a very difficult time getting the provider to schedule appointments.

-- Modified on 11/9/2008 11:21:23 AM

I would love a package but the only one I would feel comfortable with would be after so many visits you get the ___ at a discount. I don't like the pay upfront as I agree it could be more difficult to get the lady to schedule that appointment since it would net her no $$ and as we all know, money is sometimes spent as soon as received. Actually this week my ATF is giving me a freebie hour since I paid a little extra last time to help her out with an unexpected bill. Guess that is kinda a barter??!!

I do like the idea this kinda seems like an apreciation from the lady that the guy likes her enough to be one of her regulars. Thanks for your post!

It might work out very well if both client and provider trust each other, if there isnt enough trust, it might not go well,

There are several ladies whom I have seen regularly for a while. Now, I obviously don't mind the tariff per se since I have spent frequent multiple hour sessions with them. However, as a gesture of appreciation, reflecting the fact that the lady does not have to invest effort in screening me every time, does not have to worry about what kind of idiot she might have to deal with (since she already would know what kind of idiot I am), knows that I am clean, well groomed, gentlemanly, and not hard to spend time with, the offer of a small discount, especially in view of the economy would be appreciated. In my particular case, this gesture would probably counteract my tendency to eventually move on.... an expression appreciation on the part of the provider for the gent's decision to spend regular time with her, whether in the form of a discount or some other thoughtful gesture, would be as highly appreciated by clients as a thoughtful gift or a tip are appreciated by providers....

(one particular very special lady is extremely generous with her time. This is a wonderful gesture of appreciation for both the frequency of visits and our mutual enjoyment. I appreciate it very much  - and this post is *not* meant for you!)

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-- Modified on 11/9/2008 7:19:44 PM

"does not have to worry about what kind of idiot she might have to deal with, knows that I am clean, well groomed, gentlemanly..."

Although that may be true in your case, it's not necessarily true with all frequent clients (frequent client != good client)

Regardless, another alternative might be to spend a few extra minutes with good/frequent clients, to show them that you appreciate their business.
15 minutes extra may translate directly into X dollars in the client's mind, but the provider, who goes through 2 hours of "prep and driving time" for each appointment views it as less of a hassle.

It's also far more personal and meaningful than "I'll give you $50 off"

Another tendency in this direction is to perform services that aren't usually offered, although I'm not a huge fan of this idea for safety/comfort/"setting the status quo in reviews" reasons.

I wouldn't enter into any sort of arrangement with a lady that I am not a regular with.  I see two gals on a very regular basis and both treat me very well in terms of time spent for money invested.  My appointments average three to four hours in length including dinner off the clock either before or after the fun stuff.  I pay for a two hour appointment.

and have always bent over backwards to ensure my schedule will allow meeting at my friends convenience, even when it requires me to adjust previously planned travel dates and/or meet on a day I had originally scheduled "off"...

I think the biggest issue that comes up is a lady gets the money, spends it, then has to choose between paying her current rents by seeing new cash customers, or honoring her previous commitments.  Pre-paying anything should never be done if you don't fully trust the individual that you are handing over money to.  You should never hand over money that would be devastating to you financially, should there be an issue.  And as a lady in this arrangement, I would never accept funds from someone that I do not *know* that I would be delighted to see for those future sessions. (BTW, in another life I was a corporate accountant.  Reserve funds and accruals are nothing new to me lol!)

These arrangements can work well, if everyone uses their big heads and is selective.
: )

xoxo,
S

A GIANT tailgate party,

With BBQ raven

raven on the cob

raven salad  (no toss salad)

and will raffle a raven down pillow w/GIANTS logo.

Thank You
XLIII = 4

Package plans, have too much bookkeeping. Like bostonguy, I see my atf regularly, I pay for one hour, give her a really nice gift, clothing from Nordstrom or Bloomingdales,  and she normally stays for 3 or 4 hrs.  Seems to work for both of us.

You could bet on it!

Spending social time off the clock with some of my regular clients works for me.  Usually it is either attending a function or having a cocktail/dinner before heading to hotel for  some in door activities.  

Lina

where I extend 25 roses off  to frequent visitors .
Normal donation applies to initial meeting.  Any additional meetings scheduled within a 30 day period receive  25 roses off. So far it has been working out really well!  After all meetings tend to get better after building a rapport and developing a sense of familiarity.

I tend to offer arrangements on an individual basis, and not publically. Once we are comfortable with each other and as long as I Enjoy their company, its an agreed upon arrangement for my special regulars.

Too many ladies out there are flaky, and make pre-pay a problem.

Better to offer a discount to regulars. If you like the guy, you can tell him when he is leaving you will give him $ off another date within the next 2 months. Or, stay longer than the scheduled date (or tell him it is ok to stay a little longer).

I agree. Adding something to the experience or some other nice gesture would trump a discount for me personally. However, the ladies I see and have seen are already relaxed about the time - typical 2hr appointments usually wind up being 2:30 or 2:45 on a normal basis, with 3 or more hours not being at all unusual.... (and I am not one of those guys who has to be kicked in the butt to move along - several ladies I see tell me not to wear my watch when I'm with them...) in my experience, this is just about normative for GFE ladies (oops - better CMA here and mention that I do not take this for granted - I *appreciate* it!). If you are usually exact about time, and your gents know this, they will notice and appreciate the added time and the relaxed quality  this adds to your sessions.

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Do you bring it up to your gentlemen clients, or do you wait until they say something? We are hammered again and again (especially on these boards) not to talk rates, money, and all that.

b-

I think it is up to the individual lady. Perhaps ladies who travel a lot would really benefit from the bartering system. As for me, I am forgetful enough, thank you. I think bartering ahead of time is bad business. What if something happens to me and I cannot come through with my end of the deal? I don't want to risk it, especially with a regular friend.

Now, I tend to be very gracious to friends that I have seen before if -- for some reason -- they have gone out of their way to book an appointment and I've had to cancel because of sickness (only twice in my business life). Or, if I had to cancel at the last minute, which would be rare and probably an emergency situation. I also show appreciation to friends when they have birthdays.  If I knew someone (whom I've already met) was going to see me twice a month for at least two to three hours, then he would definitely get a discount. I also will occasionally run a special for my good friends and let them know by email. However, why should I offer a discount to someone who might see me only every other month and also sees other ladies in those months at a regular donation with them? That would definitely be taking advantage of me.

Also remember:  Some of us do this only part time, so handing out a bunch of discounts really doesn't help our business if we only see someone a few times a year. However, I do believe in showing my appreciation to those who would see me often in a month. That's a different story. That would definitely be an ATF situation.


Hugs,,
ciara










-- Modified on 11/10/2008 1:02:19 PM

for a couple of reasons.

1 It limits my options and ties me up with a certain provider.

2 opportunity for fraud.

3 potential for hurt feelings. If I want to cash in my prepaid session Im almost guaranteeing that I will be last on the list cause she already has my money. If Johnny-just-got-paid calls I will surely get bumped.

4 A package more in line for me would be discounted multi-hour sessions on a per diem basis.    

3

before our meeting ends.

I would prefer some sort of "grandfathering", even with ladies I am only able to see several times a year due to my business schedule.  For example, I saw a lady in Oct. 2006 who charged 500 for 90 minutes.  When I saw her in June 2008 her rate jumped to $650 for the same 90 minutes.  BTW, she was out of the biz for about half of that time. That is nearly a 30% increase.  Meanwhile, my salary jumped 4%.  Makes the math a challenge.  There are lots of very nice ladies in the 400-500 range for the 90 minutes--why should I spend more when I could hobby more more the same $$?    

-- Modified on 11/10/2008 7:26:47 PM

i like the after x amaunt of visit u get half or what ever off or maybe extra time, i seen  a lady from a agency several times and i know i would apreciate getting some extra time with her or less money now the problem is that i belive since she works for some one then some one has to take a cut

Sounds like a good way for either side to be taken advantage of, but agree that it is a great idea for regulars. I am going to NYC for New Years and normally I would charge a hell of an amount for three days, but I agreed to cut that rate in half just to be able to experience New Years in New York. I am going on a weekend which I would not normally work anyway so it is a win, win situation lol.

I think as long as you know the person it may work out but be careful. I have had "regulars" ask for a pse while in the heat of the moment and promise to pay the next go round...never saw the money and lost the client because he was afraid to contact me after that.