Not to put any pressure on anyone, but more in an effort to improve TER, I would like to find out a few things:

Many of you just lurk on the board and never get a VIP membership.  What changes could we implement that would make you more inclined to join?

Many people have had VIP memberships in the past and let them lapse.  How could we improve TER to keep you a VIP all the time?

If you don’t want to post your message publicly, you can email me at [email protected]

Thanks!

-- Staff

One suggestion -- allow days credited to an account (from trouble reports) to be used by deferring the next billing date.  Currently, the days can't be used until billing for VIP membership is suspended/cancelled.

-Hoot.

substain itself.

I used to be a paid member of TER until I got about 300+ credit days by posting reviews and submitting problem reports.  Currently I have about 750 days of credit.  At this rate, I doubt that I would need to switch back to paid status for a long while.

However, even though I often posted responses to ISOs and exposed B&Ss and ROBs, from time to time, I question whether I did have a small part of affecting members decision on switching to VIP membership: http://theeroticreview.com/msgBoard/ViewMsgBody.asp?BoardID=1&Messageid=60326 .  After all, if basic members can get lot of info about ladies without becoming a VIP member (most of them would be paid accounts), why would they?


-- Modified on 6/2/2003 7:17:44 PM

Reoesn't that defeat the purpose for Staff and TER? After all TER needs lots of paid members to

Just went and read the post you refer to.  In it you state:

"Even though a basic member could not read the price info and Juicy Detail of a lady’s profile and reviews, all the fields in a profile and reviewers’ ratings are visible to them."

It's just not the case that basic members can see "all the fields".  Those fields which describe the actual service provided are VIP only.  That, plus the "details" and price information are the heart of the information most of us want.  

As I stated on the San Diego board, many people become paid members to avoid writing reviews.  That's fine, but the reviews have to come from somebody.  

For me, the VIP credit is more than adequate incentive to review every provider I see (and none that I haven't seen I might add).  The fact that my VIP membership is sporadic reflects the limits to how often I can afford to indulge in this hobby.

There is competion out there for TER.  I choose TER because it does give the basic information to everyone.  I support TER by reviewing people I see who appreciate honest reviews.  I also lurked out there for a while to see what was going on.  Then I joined and started posting reviews.  In all things you get what you give.

I agree with you.  That is a great idea.

But it shocked me to learn that several friends of mine, guys I wouldn't suspect, have paid VIP memberships.

I tend to keep renewing my membership because I have a vested interest in reading my own reviews! But from the female perspective... two things I would say might be helpful.  Why not make a yearly membership fee so that people don't have to keep renewing every 90 days... if it's a hassle, some people just won't do it... plus it would be a little cheaper! But that's why in the adult world you find those automatic renewing memberships... people can't be bothered, regardless of whether or not they enjoy the site. I can see how some gents would let it lapse, and not pay again until they go see another lady.

And why not offer a reduced yearly membership fee for LADIES who are joining so they can read their own reviews???? That would be nice


Hugs*
Nicole

i wonder what % of VIP members are providers. probably enough to keep us guys in check.

left to our own devices, i can just imagine what TER would sink to (or ascend to, depending on your POV)

-- Modified on 6/3/2003 8:18:51 PM

Because we do out recurring billing though IBILL, they do not support that feature (their system does not understand out "VIP" days.

Sorry.

-- Staff

we should be offered a discount or something, since ultimately we are the ones giving you business..

Just my thoughts...Shaye

Hide the phone # and E-mail for the providers to only VIP viewers!

TER is a national review service. There is another, based on the East Coast, that used to not allow providers access (although many worked around that restriction).

As a west coaster, the other serrvice didn't provide value for me, and there were other requirements to reamin "active" that TER doesn't have.

I don't have a problem with ladies being able to read their own reviews and correct legititmate discrepencies, however, I alos don't think you ladies should act as though TER "owes" you anything.

TER is about the reviews, period. If you have problems with being reviewed, perhaps you need to narrow your client lists to a select few, or retire. I can understand the reluctance that some may have about being reviewed, and I respect those fears many have expressed. I just don't see provider membership as being that critical to the success of TER. The discussion boards perhaps, but not the reviews.

I recently renewed my TER vip membership but I really had to think hard about it for the following reasons.

I think the current review system is problematic for the following reasons:
1) the first review of a provider seems to set the data base for what she will and will not do.
2) the subjective data in the vip section often seems to have nothing to do with the public objective data
3) the ladies I like to see often have no reviews.  I tend to rely on the agency owner more than the reviews because they are much less likely to exaggerate than some of the reviewers out ther.
4)  The more experienced hobbyists do not seem to post reviews as much as they will just talk on the boards

5) I give credit to the people who go over the reviews before they are posted but I just don't see how they can possibly keep up with all of the wild claims that hobbyists make about their encounters with providers.

So I will give this another 90 days.  I do enjoy the discussiond boards a lot so I will certainly continue to participate in those

Maybe a 50% discount for well posted Providers...since it inproves our service if we can read what exactly it was that Blew Your Hair Back...LOL..Kisses, Robyn

Althought the discussion boards can be very intersting reveiws are what drives TER.  The review process, filling in General Information, Appearance and Services offered is in need of improvement.  I don't find it all that difficult to fill in all the blanks "again" but I suspect many find it an un-neccessay task in this day and age of technology, and subsequently do not go to the touble to review.  I believe improving this area will result in more reveiws, readership, participation and subsequently, more VIP's....make it easy!!!  

Here is my suggestion:  The submit new review screen defaults to the most recent values but with an adjacent check box or radio button to signify the data contained therein is correct. The check box need be checked or the data field changed in order for the review to fly into the New/New category awaiting approval.

"we should be offered a discount or something, since ultimately we are the ones giving you business..", "the reality according to Nicole..is that TER would not be here without us" and “ Maybe a 50% discount for well posted Providers.

The above may be true, but think about the amount of money and the advertising you receive from TER.

When I was working in the biz, I would see an average of three clients per week from TER. (I was never high profile and limited the amount of clients I did see per week otherwise the numbers would be higher)

1 hour massage session at: $250.00
3 TER clients per week: 750.00
Income made just from TER in a year: $36,000.00
Subtract $6,000.00 for time taken off

1 year membership with TER: $240.00 (cheaper if you pay every 90 days)

Advertising Rates on Escort Malls:

Thatmall: $1800.00
CityVibe: $1440.00
Exotics: $1440.00
(all the above rates are at their monthly rate and rates are higher now)

Before TER came along  I advertised on three sites. After, I didn’t have to advertise as much and I was able to drop one of my ads.

Now ladies, please tell me if the $240.00 for a one year membership is worth the amount of money one can make from TER reviews and advertising.  

The bottom line is, with a combination of advertising on a good site (SCVIP SCVIP SCVIP) and TER why not support this site by paying for your membership if you want to read your reviews. I understand you don’t have to be a paying member to have reviews listed here, but don’t complain about not getting a free and/or discounted membership.


Lizzie

....those who receive added benefit from VIP should pay for it.  It's up to each individual to decide for themselves whether they personally receive sufficient value for their dollar.  

The added value for the guys is rather obvious, but what about the value to the gals?  I don't know what that might be for each one, but I believe the ability to read your heir own reviews has been mentioned.  I can certainly understand how that would be true for more than one reason.  The ability to send & recive pm's from other VIP members is certainly the same regardless of gender.

As to who's giving the site the business in the first place...aren't we ALL doing that?  Every business ultimately requires both buyers & sellers, so how can anyone say one is more important than the other?

And do you really believe some sort of judgement of benefit needs to be made regarding a discount when we're talking about a lousy $20 a month??  I agree totally with what SouthCoastLizzy said.

Hi Nicole,

I agree, it doesn't work for me either. I think they should do away with the free membership in exchnage for reviews. I don't understand how Austin in SD and our Zara can have over 10 pages of rip off reviews.

It's funny how some men didn't know about this site before seeing these girls but found out about it after and write a review. It's really easy to write a fake review on a rip off and/or a lady that has many reviews for free VIP days.

Lizzie

-- Modified on 6/3/2003 11:54:00 AM

ultimately drive one away from TER.  There's got to be a better way!!!

-- Modified on 6/3/2003 11:55:34 AM

I am all for discussion boards and reviews but I am not exactly sure why we are subject to one side of an encounter and then the gents get credits!?!

Can we PLEASE HAVE SOME EQUALITY HERE???

I have no problem for paying for a membership. I do have a problem with a guy writing a review to get a free membership. This sounds like we are paying even more to support this hobby.

On the flip side, I know that the gents usually get the short end of the stick so to speak when it comes to benefits but I have to agree about the review/free membership thing..... when it comes to false reviews.

Make everyone pay, keep it equal.

that fact checking can be used later on to see if the data was made up.

From a programming POV, it requires the reviewer to use a unique id (a combination of a lady's name, city or phone number) to search the database and filled in info of most of the fields.  For example, there are 13 Jennas in LA, 63 in TER's database (including those with bad weblinks).  Phone number, web ads can be different from those stored in the database.  It is simply not a very practical idea.

*** modified ***
Oops, I ignore the fact that a member can find the profile of the lady, either use a submit review button there or get the TER id of that profile and use that in the submit review page to get the field data.  That won't be hard to implement.

***

-- Modified on 6/3/2003 1:04:34 PM

Membership is sticky.  For legal reasons providers need to be treated exactly like any member of the public when it comes to money.  If we do not, someone could interpret membership fees from a "known provider" as deriving profit from prostitution.  This is one reason why providers cannot purchase banners on TER.

Saying that TER is here just because of the providers is not completely accurate.  Anyone can put together a website with escort reviews.  Most people don't realize TER spends thousands of dollars per week to advertise.  

We are in 14 weekly newspapers throughout the country.
We are in thousands of banners displaying on the internet
We have 30,000 direct links to TER from other sites.  
We have been mentioned in several magazines and radio shows.  

This is what brings the people to TER.

TER and the providers have a symbiotic relationship.  TER benefits from the providers as a whole for content.  Providers benefit from TER because of the business they can generate.  

For a provider, TER is a really good deal.  You do not need to be a VIP member to advertise on our boards.  You do not need to pay for a website (many girls use free web hosting)  Your reviews earn you the business, we just bring the people in to see them.

My question was not posed because TER is loosing memberships.  Memberships are higher than ever.  I posed the question to make a BETTER TER.  I really want to bring more people into the VIP community, either though reviews or paid membership.  

-- Staff

It is very easy for us to make a button to copy this information.  It would actually help us properly link review to providers.  The down side is much of the redundant information supplied is necessary in fraud detection and clarification of review details.

-- Staff

new members into the habit of writing reviews.  It is much easier to sit back, pay the small due and enjoy reading reviews posted by others.

The major problems of false reviews is self-posting which will happen regardless of what happened to reward members for posting reviews.

Actually, the problem, as I see it, is that there are not enough reviews posted by veteran members.  I had a veteran reviewer PMed my TER handle several weeks ago about a lady I reviewed before.  (He has no idea it was me).  After I provided the info, he PMed me back a day later and let me know she was great (Don't know whether it was his true feeling).  However, no review was submitted for whatever reason, even though he has posted a few reviews recently and has over 40 reviews.  Checking his recent review pattern, he only submitted 1 to 3 reviews a month.  Maybe he was one of those who only posted reviews to get free credit days.

-- Modified on 6/3/2003 12:57:54 PM

As a newbie this is just MHO.  The only reason I became a paying member was to read a pm that was sent to me.  After that I started chatting and it was great...then my membership lapsed and began to miss chatting.  Once I found out about credit days for reviewing reviews.  That's what I do and I keep my membership and everything is fine.

Here is a point that I want to make, if all a provider can do is read her reviews then what is really the point of her paying for the membership?  Its great but all I really want to see are the numbers, I don't need the juicy details....I WAS THERE!

So here is a suggestion, there is another site that has a providers only section.  You pay to have your listing in the directory and you gain access to this section.  It has a ladies only message board, a section for client reviews and an area for member verification.  I myself would have no problem with paying 20 dollars a month if we had our own area.

PS The whole 2 reviews get a free membership thing should not be available.  Once that is removed what reason does a guy really have for writing a false one, at that point one could safely assume that a false review is usually a self review.


these are just my opinions....that is all

Hide the weblink, phone numbers, e-mail or any other contact info from basic members and lurkers so that they can't benefit from this site directly.  (Side benefit: LE must become VIP's to gain information too).

In terms of credit for reviews, limit the credit to once or twice a year.  This is enough incentive to continue writing reviews, but limits the fake reviews.  Clearly inform providers the dangers of self-posting and the consequences of that behaviour.

I typically will not review unless: 1. The provider wants one.  2. There is something more I can add to the providers profile.  3. There is a time update on a provider that has not had a review in a while.

I don't believe that quality is overcome by quantity.  I don't need to read 30 reviews that basically say the same thing.  So having a lot of new reviews doesn't make me want to see a given provider.  In fact, it may make me think she's a high volume provider.

Providers complaining about paying for membership should realize that an annual cost of $240 can be covered by a one hour session typically.  Do you not benefit more than that from TER?  Clients should realize that savings from that one bad session could be avoided with a VIP membership.

There... my 2 cents!   Thanks to TER for making my life easier in this hobby.

-- Modified on 6/3/2003 1:23:56 PM

only back-channel their buddies or only discuss their new founds in chat rooms.  It is their money and their prerogatives.  Without sufficient number of reviews posted, this site will greatly suffered.  Eventually, that would affect a lady's business.

Even well known ladies who has a great number of reviews need periodic new ones to reassure hobbyists of their current status.  Many well reviewed ladies are not even a member of TER.  There is no requirement for a lady to become a VIP member.  Only those who has a stake in maintaining good rating and avoid fraudulent ones need a VIP membership to monitor their reviews.

Given the income level of many hobbyists, the time required to finish writing a review is definitely more than $10.  The credit days earned are not totally free.

Said gent has just shelled out a considerable amount to enjoy the company of a gal.  All things being equal she too enjoyed the session.  Afterwards he invests additional time and effort to write and post a review which further benefits his date in the form of free advertising.  For this he receives $10 worth of VIP credit.  How a third party rewards one for his efforts, the result of which will hopefully contribute to his dates further successes, is seen as a question of inequality is beyond me!

This is the part that makes me want to dump my VIP you make one mistake and you get no reprieve.

No eros, no sd-exotics, no reader ads. Nothing. Just TER. They bring me at least 50% of my business right now (aside from repeat clients) Plus they send me a small check every now and then from the RevShare program. It doesn't get any better than that. It is worth the $50 a quarter.

MM

If the truth be known, many of us providers make a living that is comparable to yours as a whole. There are providers that make 30k a year and providers who make 200k a year. Look at us as equals when it comes to the money issue.

Now let's look at the power of words. The power you hold by submitting a review is much much more powerful than our posts or weekly ad postings. Reviews serve many purposes and have as many benefits as well as drawbacks. I for one, am thankful for the reviews I have received but do not get the majority of my busines through review/discussion boards. I love it when I do get it because I feel more at ease as I know they are fairly educated about the hobby and we have something in common.

Sooo assuming we are "equals" in our money making, why should we pay for something we do not have as much power in words? I don't care who you are, the way this board is designed, it is almost guaranteed that a review will be embellished, even just a little, so it will get posted.  If you think we can just email staff and get things taken care of automatically, you are wrong. I can say that many of us girls know when there are lies in our reviews and we just have to live with it. I don't have the time nor the inclination to dispute every inconsistency so I leave it alone. They have done an excellent job of being fair, not perfect but who is?
We do NOT have a ladies only board or a reivew section to review our gents. We DO on another board where EVERYONE pays to have these opportunites.

The power of words is a tremedous tool.. you have the upper hand and get it for free! The majority of you are honest, but some are not....and still get the same things we do.


-- Modified on 6/3/2003 3:27:30 PM

very fair singer!

VIP Provider- I am one (eom)

-- Modified on 6/3/2003 4:28:47 PM

Your post was really good and important for all to see TER's perspective in regards to the legalities.
I pay for the membership to (occasionally) read the reviews, but mostly to PM people.
Obviously, most of my clients do not review. I have also never asked anyone to write a review. The ones who did, I am very happy with, as they are gentleman and their writings indicate that. In reading some of the reviews, I'm aghast at what's said and how, and am glad for my gents who DON'T write one! I would rather have NO reviews than some of the ones I see being written! I like the low-profile. I feel if a gent wants to know more about me, he'll do some digging and research on his own part. There's certainly plenty to go on..and plenty of tools.
Reviews help, and hurt. It can be a catch-22..I'm kind of 'on the fence' as to how I personally feel about them for my business or how they affect it. But, reviews are not that big of a deal to me yet it seems to be the core of this thread.
So be it.
I'm more interested in the overall service, as I've already indicated, of TER.
Staff, perhaps some sort of survey/questionnaire could be done and placed somewhere for people to fill out. How could they improve the this; the that? What changes would the member like to see? What things do you like - that TER's doing right? I think they should also have a place to indicate how happy of a customer you are from 1-10. I'm glad to see that memberships are up - but are they happy members? I'm not being argumentative or combative by saying this, by I honestly don't think so. I think they're just kind of stuck and feel they need to be a member because how else will they get the things they want? The survey would at least give you an idea of REALLY where you stand, particularly if you could put, as I say, some sort of consumer satisfaction level rating.
Incentives..wow, that bothers me when people say what incentive is there for writing a review. That's as absurd to me as saying what incentive is there for being nice? Does everything have to have a "what's in it for me?" motive? I write book reviews on Amazon.com all the time. What's in it for me? I write product reviews all the time. Same question. You do it because it might be helpful to someone. I think they should simply state whether you were satisfied or dissatisfied, and whether or not you'd repeat; or recommend. That's it. Stick to the purpose of the review in the first place and leave out all the details that people seem to have a problem with anyway. It'll be a lot faster for the guys..Her profile says what she does or does not offer in her services; her website has plenty of info, too.

Sedona

There are a multitude of things on which people can have opinions & I have no intention of expanding this into them.  But it seems that the crux of this thread began as a question of the benefit of VIP membership.  Then the question of whether the gal should have to pay at all, or receive a discounted fee.  So if you don't mind, I'd like to keep this reply to that question alone.  The relative value of membership for the gals is really another subject.

Regardless of how much money the gals make in relationship to the guys...& I know there are many of you ladies who do extremely well in that regard...the simple fact of the matter is that receiving 15 days VIP credit for writing a review is the only advantage a guy has that you don't.  That WAS the objection raised.  Again...I'm keeping this post in a 'cost' context alone.  

Writing an informative review does take some time.  Based on a 90 day paid membership, the dollar worth of that review amounts to a little over $8.00 per hr for the time spent writing it.  For there to be this kind of debate ongoing about pay equal to that of flipping burgers at Mickey D's is beyond me.  

I think that's something you somehow need to take responsiblity for and correct instead of just saying the "billing system doesn't support credit days".  To offer credit days and not let VIP users use them is not right.

-Hoot.

This has been mentioned in various other posts in this thread, but ic an be argued that there is a substantial financial benefit to the provider from being reviewed.  If one ignores the problem of false reviews, the benefits to the hobbyists from reviewing and reading the reviews are better choices when hobbying.  I would have to think that the benefits to the quality provider in an area where TER is active (i.e. LA, SD, LV,etc.) would be quite substantial.  I would have to assume that the increased exposure due to reviews alone is substantial.  I am sure that there is additional exposure gained my a reasonable amound of posting and perhaps chatting.  I am sure sure that for a quality provider this is worth more than one appointment a year, probably much more than that.  That seems a pitance in relation to the $200/year membership.

just my two cents worth......

I only see a provider on occasion, and another board with open, no-cost, reviews is available which allows me to learn about providers who may be of interest to me.

I also don't trust the reviews because:
1. TER's free access incentive serves as an inducement to fabricate false reviews for the sake of free access.
2. I've been with ladies who've requested a favorable review--I don't believe many are truly honest, for that reason.  Even if NOT asked to write a favorable review, many guys will do so nonetheless.
3. Since the benefit largely accrues to the providers, I believe they should financially support the service.  Of course, the marketing model is undoubtedly designed around the bees/honey paradigm, with the beautiful "what are they saying about me?" twist.

I enjoy the forums, and appreciate the need for TER to obtain revenue for support.  I know from personal experience that websites are often poorly supported, financially, so I can commiserate but in the end it's all about cost/benefit for me.

When one considers the value of time, yours as a provider and my own, or our own, as a respectable client, I still do not see there is an issue, equality or otherwise, with what amounts to a modest $10 credit for considerable time and effort by a client.

With respect to the power of words you do hone in on an sometimes thorny subject in our otherwise land of joy.  Speaking only for myself, when I read the thoughts and opinions of another that may lower one's rankings I take the entire picture into consideration.  I would hope you can apprecate the idea that many of us here, although not all, are not neanderthals who will take negative comments to heart and consider a lady unworthy simply because one or two less poetic individuals focus only on what they found displeasure in.  There are jerks out there and a respectable hobbyist can sniff out bullshit in a NY minute.

Beyond that, you will find many of us gents coming to a ladies defense on the boards when an unfair or harsh characterization slips thru the review process.  In my view a passionate defense on the boards carries much more weight than glowing comments in a review.  Understanding that kind words on the board slip into the backgroud quickly where review comments might typically remain more visible I hope you understand that a great deal of effort is given by decent hobbyist's to right wrongs and keep things in perspective, and regular readers remember these things.  So you see, the power of words work in a ladies favor in many ways.  So is it fair and balanced from the power of words standpoint?, I think sometimes yes and sometimes no....but here's good example that may drive the point home, run over to the San Diego board look at my comments in the Veronica Monroe thread.

All in all I think in the long run our respectible ladies get a very fair shake around here.  Lastly, I think a ladies only board is a grand idea.

credit days I email Staff to switch my acct payment status in order to take advantage of my credits.  I guess a member can switch back and forth based on the number of credit days in his/her acct.  It is just not going to be automatic and requires a bit of work for now.

one email and a few hours later it was done...a non-issue IMO

The staff is asking how they can make a better board and I am sure they would love to generate more revenue.

To be perfectly honest, I had no idea you guys got credits for writing reviews. I suppose it hit a tender spot to think that a guy can write a review(s), get a VIP memebership, embellish it(somestimes) to get it posted, and not have to pay... On top of it all we have no way to defend ourselves.  Having said that, I DO recognize and certainly appreciate the intelligence of most the gents.  I happen to LOVE you guys! I also recognize that we do receive business because you take the time to share your experiences. I enjoy going back and reading my reviews and reliving some incredible memories! In no way do I want to be seen as someone who doesn't appreciate you. I do think that sometimes the boards tend to lean towards the "good ole boy syndrome". I love this site for having the least amount of it.

When I talk about the power of the word, you cannot deny that it is a very powerful tool. I don't care how seasoned of a provider one may be, reviews are a personal thing for us. We take a TREMENDOUS amount of time to maintain ourselves and our business. When the reviews are written, good or bad, they are a reflection of us. To me, this has a much greater value than the dollars I pay for membership.

I maintain my membership to be a part of this community. I suppose I really don't have to, but I do it so I can chat, read reviews, research, network with women, etc. Most importantly, I want to help monetarily support my "community" and the mediums in it.

Maybe comparing the money we pay and the reviews you write are like apples and oranges but I certainly think both should be available for the providers and gents.  Review sections for women of our gents and we should all pay for our participation would certainly equal things out and level the playing field.

I know I voice my opinions and some may not agree but that is the beauty of why we support our boards... to have this chance.

Don't forget I love ya!

xoxo

B

-- Modified on 6/4/2003 12:02:03 AM

-- Modified on 6/4/2003 4:32:28 AM

First, for many of us, The Basics are enough. I want to know a) is she the woman in the pics and are they recent; b) is her incall clean and in a reasonably safe area; c) does she supply the service expected - escort vs. massage; d) is she ok to be around for an hour - e.g. not on drugs, good hygiene, somewhat pleasant personality.

I DO NOT want to see scores based on the number of unsafe sex acts a woman is willing to perform. Or read The Details in which guys pontificate about what great lovers they were.

Also, I'd never give a dime to a site that allows guys like Liberalman to bash W (I'm a Libertarian) and Ashcroft, yet they never offer any evidence that Clinton/Gore made any effort to legalize this activity in their 8 years in the White House. You'd be wise to do away with all the political commentary. This should be a community - allowing these smear attacks just divides.

My VIP membership just lapsed recently.  After seeing lots of providers, some found via TER, I have settled on a few that I really enjoy.  So I am seeing fewer new dates, posting fewer reviews, and am less interested in keeping abreast of the new reviews that are posted (often for providers I have already reviewed or seen).  Thus, for me TER has become a bit of a victim of its own success.  I will continue to post reviews from time to time, because variety and new thrills are still a great allure, and I think reviews are a service to the community, both hobbyists and providers.  I will certainly renew my VIP membership if I plan to travel to a new city where I hope to partake of the hobby in the most effective way.  I enjoy reading and participating in some of the discussions, but I doubt that I would pay to do so.  The reviews are my primary motivation to be a VIP member, but only when I am on the prowl for a new companion.

I collect guns so I belong to the NRA. To me it's only ethical to support what supports your passions.
 I think Vip membership for the submiting of reviews is a great way of getting a hobbyist into the fold but it wouldn't bother me if that was for a maximum of say a year and then you start sending the "Andrew Jacksons" monthly.
 NOSC is right about the "symbiotic" nature of things here. One hand washes the other. Providers get terrific market exposure with TER. The discussion boards allow for a more intellectual marketing opportunity with PM to help close the deal. $20 bucks a month seems like chump change compared to the profit potential offered.
 According to a past TER survey I am in a small and economically humble percentage of the TER community. If I can cough up the $20 per month for VIP status what's with you guys and gals with the high 5 or 6 digit incomes and you can't.

Somehow...It just don't seem right.

  FR225

I'm wondering how many would-be VIP's are not due to the inability to pay without leaving some trail a SO might discover.  I'm single so a recurring credit card charge for my VIP membership causes me no problem.  Is this an issue for others?

My feelings on this...

I love TER so please do not anyone misconstrue anything I may say.  I *love* my reviews here.

But it's a "scratch my back" kind of arrangement. TER uses us to get money out of our clients so that they can come see us. We earn from it, TER earns from it, it's a mutual arrangement. TER might not be harmed by one escort going elsewhere... but really our reviews are the content that the guys pay for... while simultaneously being what best advertises for us!

But I do think that having a flat yearly fee for ladies would be great... for all involved. Financially, say it was I dunno... 100/year, which would be lower than the price is now... but more ladies would maintain a yearly membership, not forget to renew, etc, etc.

Just a thought and not meant to cause battles... Lizzie, believe me when I say that you are preaching to the choir about how much TER helps ladies 'biz.

Hugs*
Nicole

For giving us a logical answer... that was all I needed to hear.

I really do think you should consider the idea of having a yearly membership though... it'd be so much easier than having to renew all the time! (Speaking of which, I need to get on that!)

Hugs*
Nicole

-- Modified on 6/3/2003 10:57:25 PM

there was a little more for us.  You guys rely on the reviews of others to keep you from getting ripped off, what do the providers have?  You guys have the message boards to discuss whatever you want these boards are mainly for you guys, providers don't have boards here that are mainly for them.  Someone stated earlier that we (providers) should be the support for the site....why?  

There are many providers on here that pay for VIP membership for the ability to do what...read their own reviews chat in the chat rooms.  I am not downing this site at all...I'm an avid poster here, I love the chatrooms also but I think if more was offered to providers such as a providers only message board where we can come together with out the interference of testosterone, a client review area, and a member verification area like another review site provides the providers here would have no problem at all paying a membership fee.  I mean why would they when they pay one at the other site.  I was paying for membership before and I would be now if I could get ibill to accept my card, but I would feel better about it if I got more with it you guys get your moneys worth...shouldn't we too?

And please the free advertising thing because of the reviews is great but there are some girls who don't even know they have reviews here, there are some that rely on the 100's of dollars that they spend in advertising to get themselves work.  So why that seems like a good reason to say that's benefit enough...its really not.  JMHO

As some other providers have mentioned, it would be nice to have a "provider's only" section to discuss certain clients and business issues. But you can't beat the fee for what you get now.

However, I agree with you, FR225, that the fee is a very small price to pay to keep up with the pulse of the hobbying community. I'm surprised that 100% of active providers aren't VIP's.

I spend at least $200-300 per month on fees for other advertising sites--I find the "chump change" TER fee gives me a ton of clients and a lot of bang for the buck! (pun intended!)

On the discussion boards and in the chatrooms a number of ladies complain about cheapskate guys who try to negotiate the provider's published donation.  In this thread I am seeing a number of providers try to negotiate TER's annual VIP Membership fee of $200 to a lower number.  I guess it is just a case of who's ox is gored.  

If you don't feel that the $200 is money well spent then like any person you have a choice not to spend it.  

I do agree that an annual membership option would be a nice idea.  It would be simpler for some people to just renew once a year.

The current review system is not perfect but eliminating credit for posting reviews will also mean that there will be no incentive to post reviews at all.  I seldom post reviews any more unless the lady is new with few reviews or there is something at variance with previous reviews that should be mentioned.  

I know many of the ladies think that getting credit for posting reviews is a great deal.  For every review that a guy has accepted he gets paid $8.50.  My time is worth more than that.  In addition to this great benefit unless he gives every provider he sees a 9 or 10 in appearance he may be told by some provider who has read his reviews that she does not want to see him because he has not given all the ladies he has seen 9's or 10's or a lady may tell him that she does not want to see him because he has also seen Sally Jean and Sally Jean is a high volume provider.  And yes this happens.  When I see some reviewer's review history I can only conclude that the only woman they have ever met who is not model material or once in a lifetime is his wife or SO.  
 
If the revenue generated by being reviewed on TER is not worth the problems caused by being reviewed then you are free to have your reviews eliminated from the TER database.

The other board that has a provider's board also had national and regional top 10 lists that in some cases you could pay extra or work out a barter arrangement to be put on the list.    

I may be mistaken but I thought at one time TER did start a provider's only board and it was cancelled.  I do not remember the reason for it's cancellation.

board had last summer.

For me this is a very current topic. I paid for my original VIP account and then suplemented it with reviews.  When it came time to renew (just this week) the incentive to renew was not great enough to motivate me to renew now. I figure at the rate of $50 for three months I will wait until I absolutely need one of the VIP services before extending my membership. Here is my suggestion from a marketing and sales perspective.  There should be a renewal rate so that current VIP's can be motivated to renew before they covert to basic.  I would suggest an additional time frame - for example 120 days or 150 days for the price of 90 - while you are still a VIP.  Then I would also discount longer memberships. Maybe have a one year membership for $129.95 (three 90 day renewals with 30 day bonuses = $150).
I think your return per day would go down and your billing per paid subscriber would go down - however there may be less fake reviews with more people having 1 year memberships not having to worry about running  out of days as quickly and I think your gross dollars sales would go up which is the name of the game in web based sites (no dial ups to manage - just bandwidth). If you want to email me a response please do so at [email protected]
Thanks
SL

Can't find my add on to my message so my apologies if this is a repeat. I forgot to ask what your retention rate was. If you ran a VIP renewal promotion you could start it as a short term promotion and then you could easily see if the retnetion rates were higher.  You could run it for a trial of 30 days or so and that would certainly give you some comparative numbers. If you decide on my idea a few short days of VIP for me would be appreciated as I for one would take advantage of a special to renew.  Your service is worth supporting and fees are the only viable way to stay  in business..
SL
Also you may want to post and or email former VIPS who have not renewed with this "special offer"

I have let my VIP membership expire more than once.  I always return when there is someone I have my eye on and I want to know what the facts are.  Over time, however, I find the forums to be more interesting and valuable.  Evalute your data - after how long do the largest segment of people cancel their VIP membership?  Then offer them a discount at that point, if the economics make sense - there probably is a point in the lifecycle where this would make some sense.

Yes we did have a provider board.  Due to other situtations we decided it was better to play safe and remove the board.  It is a shame.  I really think it was valuable.  I think maybe we will need to find a more legally acceptable way to do it.

-- Staff

After you find a few providers that you like to deal with it does not make sense to have a VIP membership just to read the juicy details. There are other sites where you can get the details at a lot lower price or even for free.

Charged a site back... ie: joined a website (ANY website) that used Ibill for billing, and then got a refund for the membership, Ibill won't charge you again. It costs these companies too much money to do chargebacks, so if you have one with a company they blacklist you.

I'm not saying that is definitely the reason... it's one possibility. It sucks because I think even LEGIT chargebacks have this affect. (In the adult industry there are ZILLIONS of fraudulent chargebacks. Very expensive and time consuming) Just a thought. You might try a diff credit card, too?

Hugs*
Nicole

That's what I did also -- I strongly believe it should be an automated process, though.

-Hoot.