I travel a fair bit for work and I look at the latest reviews before I go to a new city.

I see more reviews for Agencies and KGirls than independent providers.

I think it's because of all services for one very reasonable price without the attitude, deposit and no shows.

Why do you think this is?

For years it was a buyers market but now, with Indys at least, it's a sellers market. Girls are raising their prices significantly, there are much more personal and restrictive verification methods, and deposits are the norm in many large cities. Covid played a role, twitter certainly and S/F also had a hand. The pendulum will swing back one day but when that is, no one knows.

I do think your description is close to the truth regarding price and service between independents and agencies.

 
One thought is many of the independents go into the business with a similar view as a lot of people who think they can start a restaurant business. Just because they can cook doesn't mean they can run a successful business and understand demand and pricing (and a bunch of other task needed to run a business). So they enter with wildly unrealistic expectations about what people will pay and what they will need to do to keep customers happy. The agencies that stick around understand that and perhaps one might think of the agency girls approaching the business as more of a franchise type arrangement -- the agency provides a lot of the business model and processes and they just focus on the service side.

 
The other is that while the pandemic pushed the advantage to local (in country based) providers over the foreign providers that are generally working with agencies that has now changed. Moreover, the pandemic and some other world events have pushed the dollar to a very high point. That means they can come here and work and make a lot more money than they were at home while still charging close to the old rates. For the local lady a dollar is a dollar and it is not buying as much as it used to. The traveling Asian, East European or South/Central American that is not the case -- the dollar is worth a lot more at home in their currency.

I think one reason you are seeing so many reviews from agency girls is that more and more independents have “No Review” policies.

I think the No Review policy has to hurt the bottom line.
With no second hand information, for me, I can not see forking over hundreds of dollars to roll the dice!

...but that's another topic.

When was it a buyers market? Like in pre-social media and pre-smarphone times?

Wow, just looking at Las Vegas reviews, it seems like 70% are from agencies now!
Seems likes the Vegas sex scene has lost its edge.

I have to admit, the last time I was there, the talent was either old (been in the game awhile), over priced or too immature about how the business works.

At the least in San Jose area .. 90% of the reviews are of the top 25 ladies from the handful of big K-Houses.

They have volume, economies of scale and the support of their communities on their side.
Like corporate fast food chains, they have the workforce, the support specialists (Immigration Lawyers, sham work/school sponsorships), clean skins to insulate the bosses, bookers, ad posters, security, finance people, etc.

Management teams that get rid of problem employees and punters, keep the doors open, the lights on, the place safe.

All of the indies from my salad days have aged out and been priced out of the Bay area housing market.

The AAMP ladies invest in themselves .. diet, exercise, cosmetic surgery, language skills, work outfits, schooling how the business works from seasoned pros ..

When you have a stable of ladies working, sleeping, eating in the same place that's open 84 hours a week, they can absorb the $6/month rent, supplies, cleaning, laundry, etc.

I miss the home-grown gals that were fully engaged, good company, etc.  But I'd never put up with flaking, bad hygiene, tardiness, off days, etc. today.

A big part of the problem is shutting down ad and review platforms .. like corporate chains, AAMPS can weather a slow week or month, vs an indie that's going to quit the business.  Mom & Pop vs. WalMart.

chunking is right on with his evaluation of the agencies.  I have worked with two different agencies in the San Mateo/San Jose area, and they provide great administration services.  And they have a great bunch of providers working for them.  Prices are reasonable and consistent.  The providers are consistent in their routines and service, so I can always know what to expect.

For almost six years I preferred independents.  But, agencies these days are just easier.  You get verified once and you are set.  I use four agencies and I can see all of the ladies who come through all four agencies.  I don't need to send references, etc to each person I want to see.  So much easier.

I wouldn't even care if the cost was higher, because now agencies do cost less.  It's just the ease.  Every week there's 4-6 ladies to choose from and no hassle to get verified again.

So you have made an artificial distinction. There just is no "one size fits all in this game" and you are simply demonstrating that you know far less about this subject than you claim.
Not all agencies are "High-Volume, Fuck-Anbody."

Was it at least during my lifetime? (late 80s baby)

There used to be many more agencies and that was a good thing.  Rates were very reasonable and most of the girls were good.  If you got a dud the agency would fire her and give you credit for another session.  [I had that going for me...back in the day]  

Agencies would do all the screening/booking/scheduling.  They hired any and all good looking girls that were interested, no experience needed.  All the girl had to do was fuck and suck and take in the cash.

Agencies were good.  FOSTA/SESTA was the end for most.

This. The only downside of agencies is that when you find a girl who is really good, more than often she doesn’t stick around for very long for various reasons, as a lot of the girls who make money via agencies travel globally i.e Europe, Dubai, Australia, etc.....

....but other than that, yes agencies are much more convenient when you like variety but don’t want the hassle (or potential risk) of screening over and over and over again....

Travelling escorts that bounce from agency/city to agency/city is easier for the escort.  No need to book or vet anything.  
 Not sure if they should be classified as a pure agency girls as they bounce from agency to agency, like independents.  I was in the room when an escort got a call from the boss, asking her if she wanted to go to another city/agency at the conclusion of her tour.  She asked me; I told her it's cold there.  She declined.  We were done, cleaning up and talking at the time.  I told her to take the call.  She was new.  Bottomline.  I believe there exists hybrid agency/independent relationships.  Hard to tell what will happen if the economy settles into a deep recession.  Maybe the inflationary rates will  come down and turn into a buyer market.  Hard to say if the escorts will cut out the middle man/agency and go full on independent.  Have to wait and see.

Makes me wonder if there even was a buyers market in the first place.

OK, I'll play.
Just in the last decade. Back when you could find reliable providers on Craigslist or Backpage or Cityvibe. I had the hottest girls sitting on my face for 2-3 benjis. Indi's of all races working out of their apartments or nice hotels.  
It was a sea change after FOSTA. Providers used this to leverage higher rates and more intrusive screening. Before this, providers were more active on TER, wanted reviews, organized M&Gs.

CityVibe advertising platform changed the business in SoCal almost overnight.  When we had 200+ fresh ads (including both Kgirls and indies) every morning, it was a buyer's market as we were flush with supply.  CV closed one week before FOSTA/SESTA was signed into law.  TER went dark some weeks later, April of 2018, I believe (not emerging from the darkness until December 2019).  Prices started to rise almost immediately across the board in my area.  

First of all, If the agencies are winning, then it's only because the girls who work for these so called agencies.......The girls are wanting to get the money and not have to deal with advertisement and booking.

Thank you for your response. So basically any time before fosta it was a buyers market. I'm not totally sure I agree but I appreciate the response!