I'm talking about independents employing secretaries & "phone girls". I understand that the amount of correspondence that a popular "A-list" provider deals with is daunting. However; I feel that when they so distance themselves from the art of telephone and e-mail interaction they have only succeded in totally alienating the customer. To me an important part of the GFE is the flirtatious e-mails/phone calls just prior to and after the appointment. This new trend tends to make me feel as if I'm booking a service appointment with the phone company.
   GFE rates are climbing faster than Gasoline prices. If we the consumer are continued to be distanced from establishing any sort of "connection" prior to our dates then possibly returning to a much more affordable "Self Service" is in the future.

   FR.    

-- Modified on 7/23/2004 2:37:32 AM

I would counter that if a provider was good enough to need help with "administrative duties" and smart enough to hire people for such tasks, her performance and focus on clients may be better.

It is clear to me that providers have to spend too much time chatting with dolts who waste their time by either not booking the appointment, or engaging in small-talk conversation on the phone.  These guys delude themselves because they enjoy "the hunt."  Well, as Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman, "Hey, I'm a sure thing."  THERE IS NO HUNT, guys.

I respect your desire for "establishing a connection" prior to an appointment, but IMHO, the first 90 seconds of the face to face encounter are MUCH more important than anything that takes place on the phone previously.  For me, there are always a few butterflies (paranoia) prior to meetings.

And I fully understand the time these ladies waste on the "dolts" as you mentioned. Every business has its negative points. One of the big issues the ladies have with this biz' is the cancelation or "flake" factor. I have always felt that many gentlemen demonstrate very little consideration for the ladies in this area. With this trend in further de-personalizing the booking process I can only see more gentlemen equating the ladies time and the appointment as no more special than an an appointment to have your car detailed.

  FR.

In trying to arrange for an appointment with a provider, my screening info was reviewed and verified by an "assistant."  Once over that hurdle, I was told I'd be contacted directly and I was.  Some flirtatious emails and phone calls were exchanged and made the time prior to the appointment easier.  I'm sure the volume of emails and calls to popular ladies are staggering and understand the need to sift through all the correspondence for the serious inquiries.  I also believe that there should be a little contact between the lady and 'customer' prior to the meeting.  A balance is all that is needed.

I understand what you are saying but I disagree. Speaking as a provider I have someone answer the phones when I'm working so that I can provide better service. Guys can get through and make an appointment or ask questions whenever they want to and I don't have a cell phone ringing when I'm with a client. Client start calling at 9am and call throughout the day if I answered every call on my own I'd go crazy, I split the phone time up with someone and we take shifts. If someone ever wants to talk to one of my Companions personally I have her call him back, no big deal.

It's not about lowering the quality of service, on the contrary it's about raising the level of service.

Kitten

I have a suggestion that may solve Fredomrider's problem.  He can go to a "hot" strip joint to establish a connection, won't have to worry about the cups because he will get none.  He can then go home and do self service, the guess here is that he will only pump regular, not the high octane that is pumped when action is really good..
    Look, providing is a business that many who do it enjoy.  Providers have to get the most out of their day. And just like any busy person, they will need assistants and do not want people wasting their time.

When I started I used to work for a girl who sent me on calls.  I would realize after a while that if I had talked to some of them on the phone I would have never went to see them.  Some of them were drunk, dissrespectful, rude, obnoxious (can't spell good), etc.  If I had taken the call myself I would have passed them up.

I will never again let someone else take the call or set it up.  I need to know that I feel comfortable with the person and can hear what I need to hear in his voice.

~Shayla

Completely agree with the mutual desire for GFE correspondence prior to meeting....  Though some men take it too far and email weekly and even more often expecting responses, and often rapid ones at that!, even though 1) we have still not met and such prospective emails have been going on for months!, or 2)we've met, had a great time, but haven't seen each other in many weeks/ a month, and the next encounter is a month or so away!  If one wished for such extraneous time corresponding daily/ weekly, we'll soon have to start billing for this time!  Simply not enough hours in the day to respond to so many emails!

However, disagree with the other response about our being 'a sure thing'.  I screen heavily and need to establish a connection before meeting anyone and am sure most of the other higher-end providers do the same.