There's an old adage: "praise in public, criticize in private".  Even though TER entry is by membership, boards like this one are "public".  Hence if I follow the adage (which I will), on this board I cannot be critical in terms of any specific providers.  However, I can (and will) be critical IN GENERAL TERMS.  By necessity, that means that if you're a provider and want to stay in a successful business, then "you BETTER wear the shoe, if it FITS"!
   What I'm talking about isn't even superior customer service, but simply SATISFACTORY customer service.  NO business can SURVIVE without it.  All too many providers seem to think that customer service applies solely to the sessions (which seem to be what primarily drives the all important reviews).  That is just NOT THE CASE.  Worse yet, some providers think that we guys want good pussy so bad that we'll put up with ANYTHING to get it!  That is NOT the case, either!  There's just too much of it out there for the money that we are spending.
   What I'm saying here is that the best session (GFE, PSE, whatever) in the world isn't worth a damn, if the customer cannot get scheduled to get in to EXPERIENCE it!  My remarks are directly primarily (but not exclusively) to Independents.  Gals, I know that agency fee can be a BITCH.  I even know that there is unfortunately a bit of a MYTH that, BAL, Independents are better and agency gals aren't as good.  My point is, NO one can do EVERYTHING.  If you try to provide great sessions, as well as prospecting, screening, scheduling, phones, text messages, Emails, ad nauseum, SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE!  If you want another career, school, or in general, a "vanilla world" life as well, then even MORE is going to have to give!  I've talked with provider after provider as well as agency owners, and it only stands to reason, you just can't be providing sessions and adequate customer support at the SAME TIME.  One or BOTH are going to have to suffer for it.  If you can't stand agencies, then hire someone to provide that customer support and handle the phones and Emails.  You are, after all, only one person.
   Agency gals, you are NOT "off the hook", either.  Customers need to know what your schedule is, and you need to STICK TO IT, just like any other job.  If you are often MIA, that's not providing satisfactory customer service, either to the paying customer, OR the agency owner.  Yea, I know that "the red plague" poses unique challenges for you gals, particularly if it isn't regular.  But you HAVE to find some satisfactory way to deal with it that still serves the customer.  This doesn't mean you can't be part time.  It DOES mean that the customers need to know which PART of the time you ARE, and you need to be reliable.
   I will part by saying that there are a couple of Independents who regularly read and post on THIS board who are PRIME OFFENDERS with regard to what I am saying here.  They have great reviews and are reasonably priced, but their overall customer service STINKS.  In fact, you can actually see it in their reviews reading things like: "Boy, I finally got to see her.  The experience was like a marathon.", or "Yes teammates, she really DOES exist.", or "I can't believe it, she actually answered my call on the first try, and I managed to get right in".  Recently, in my own personal experience, I have been trying to get an appointment for WEEKS with a gal who is ostensibly one of the best in this area.  She doesn't reliably answer Emails, or voice mails.  In fact, her voice mailbox is almost always full.  If she doesn't contact me soon, then she's just going to have to "pound sand" as far as I'm concerned.  Ladies, this kinda stuff just DOESN'T CUT IT; I don't care HOW good you are!  Get whatever help you need to provide that customer support and handle the phones and Emails.  If you can only be part time, or can only reliably handle "regulars", please have the DECENCY to just SAY SO, on your website and advertisements.  Your ultimate success DEPENDS on it...

I agree wholeheartedly. I try to answer all e-mails the same day, and make sure clients know I only see one client a day, usually just 2-3 a week, so scheduling in advance is preferable.

I also have a hard time getting ahold of other providers when checking references for new clients! Not only does it make the provider look bad, it makes ME look bad because I'm taking an inordinate amount of time in clearing the client! It's frustrating to say the least.

But on the other end, most new clients take FOREVER getting reference information to me. They want to talk forever first, which I understand getting to know each other, but let's make sure both of us are serious first. I don't want to waste your time, but I expect respect the other way around as well. They also don't read minor information and I spend all day going over stuff they should already know, like I do NOT do incall. It's clearly stated, yet they go through everything and then insist on asking where I do incall!

~Varenka

I totally agree with you, there are 2 providers that have treated me so poorly that I will never see them again- and my guess is that eventually they will lose all of their clients due to their poor attitudes and immaturity.

I certainly appreciate the support.  You sound like my kinda gal!  Only problem is, you don't have incall (at least I pay attention).  Otherwise, you'd certainly be on my list.  Oh yes, that business about the delay in obtaining references from previous providers and agencies: hey, if we can't get through, how the heck are you supposed to??  Patience is certainly a virtue, and no one has more of an idea what you gals have to go through, than I.  What I'm talking about is WEEKS and WEEKS of waiting and no replies.  But then, I think you all ready KNEW that...

...so much for your support as well, higgs.  My goodness, if they're treating YOU like that and you've SEEN them, how the heck do you suppose they are treating the REST of us??  You hit the nail right on the head.  It's all about immaturity.  I suppose they will learn, perhaps too late.  Once somebody has ruined their good name in the hobby, they can NEVER really restore how things were.  Yea, they can change their handle, but TER members and hobbyists aren't stupid.  We can figure it out.  After all, you see that kinda thing happening on THIS board, ALL THE TIME.  That's one of the MANY reasons that we BELONG to TER, after all!

Varenka..

While I'm sure you have your reasons, and maybe since you only see a few clients a week it makes sense, but many of us simply can't do outcalls.  Married, nosy neighbors, roomies, etc.. This leaves those with a place, or visitors to the area, or someone willing to drop an extra $ on a room for an hour or 2 which is unlikely.. !

With you only seeing a few a week, it makes little sense to rent an apt, or even a nice hotel room as you'd be in the same realm of renting it for a few hours and leaving.

It's a pity though as I know you'd be a great encounter.  Maybe you could find someone with an incall place near you and work out a 'sublet' arrangement on days she's not using her place.  Some ladies do rent apartments for their own use, not agency places, and I'd bet someone wouldn't mind making a few $ on days she's not working.  Just a thought and I realize it may not work in your situation!

take care..

--JB

higs...

While I DO agree with you, what we all forget is these ladies are mostly fairly young, and may not really have any true business skills.  Most of us who can afford the hobby, are in some business, and know what things like customer service is.  

The ladies who don't have these skills, and while it sounds simple, it's not, use an agency, who can handle booking appointments or handling money.  There are some benefits for those who simply want to work and not handle the admin side of the business.  And while John Asssshcroft would probably prefer this industry didn't exist, it's something that will probably never go away.  

If the ladies were smart, they'd hire a friend to respond to emails, or answer their phones for em.  It wouldn't take much to do and maybe a stay at home mom could respond to emails or book calls.  I've dealt with a few travel ladies I think used services similar to this.  

It would improve the business, but my guess is some of them do just fine regardless who they piss off as there's a never ending stream of guys out there waiting to spend $ on em..!

Just an opinion..

--JB

Man, I am in complete agreement.

I will never forget the 6 hour wait for a return phone call from one lady.

Outcall, and I paid for the hotel room.

Total waste of my money!  

Yeah Joe.  I know what you mean about plenty of other customers to take our place.  In fact, that's probably why customer service is in such a shambles in our country, these days.  Our best weapons are TER and the fact that there are plenty of other PROVIDERS to take the place of gals like this.  I suggest that you don't be afraid to take your business elsewhere and use one or more of the other gals.  That's what a free market is all about, after all.
   As for business savvy, I'm fully aware of the limitations of the younger gals.  In fact, that's why I often prefer to deal with a more experienced lady, if you know what I mean.  As for the inexperienced providers going with agencies, that was EXACTLY what I was suggesting.  I was lambasting the INDEPENDENTS who would not provide customer service.  Your idea of hiring a friend to take over the business chores is ALSO EXACTLY what I was suggesting, for those independents who have not done so.

I know I do put some men in a predicament (and not the kind they want!), but I do, as you say, have my reasons. I do incall for previous clients, only because my incall place is my "personal" place, and quite frankly, I don't need an unknown quantity knowing the address. Previous clients are reliable, and hopefully trustworthy. (And honestly I'm a bit "out in the wild west," so many clients don't want the drive.)

I am working on a medium ground for those who wish incall for the first meeting, namely a deposit. It shows me they are serious about the appointment, and so I'm willing to book something for an afternoon or evening. Typically this hasn't been a problem for me as I only booked dinner dates or beyond, but for hourly it just makes no sense financially if the client may in fact not show up!

I have thought about a part time arrangement with another providers incall location - if you know of anyone that is looking, feel free to let me know. Being new to the area, I don't want to step on too many toes, lol.

~Varenka

If you post a new thread with a title like 'looking to share apt for incall' I'm SURE you'd get interest.  If you could find 2-3-4 ladies to share an apt with, maybe furnished, or buy used stuff, you would not spend a whole lot (even a $2000 a month apt split 4 ways is only 2 hour sessions!) and would then have a safe place to go.  Hire a housekeeper to clean twice a week and do laundry, and you'd have a great place that's way safer than your own home..!

You said you trusted repeats to visit your home, and regardless of where you live, or how 'safe' you think someone is, you really don't know them, and I'd think having even a small # of clients knowing where you live is a disaster waiting to happen.  All it takes is to either meet someone who gets really pissed off, for imaginary or real reasons, it makes no difference, or meeting a psycho who now can stalk you or worse, it's simply not a good idea. EVER.. And while I'd be putting myself in that same pot, and I don't think I'm dangerous, you don't.  I'm sure other ladies and probably men would all agree with me having anyone you don't know personally (not business) coming to your house is a badddddd idea..  

Find some others to share a place with and stop inviting guys home with you unless you intend to date him..!  

--JB

Oh Lordy! I didn't mean to imply it was my home, lol, it's just a place I use for other business use as well and I stay there often working late, and so it's personal to me. I'm the very private type, lol, everything is in a business name, with private directors, lol.

I am thinking about contacting a few providers in the area though - thanks for reinforcing the idea!

~Varenka