The time for a price war was in the fall of 2008 and spring of 2009, when the entire economy almost melted down.  Prices did dip a bit back then.

Compared to then, the economy is doing well.  And DC is sheltered.  I doubt you will see any price wars break out any time soon.

The reality is that you have to pay good money for a quality GFE experience with an attractive indy provider.  $400 is basically the minimum if you want a good experience, IMHO.

I have been wondering why I am seeing a lot of higher prices compared to last year remember this is a hobby for most and their "mad money" is for playing but bills come first

Now I know this is a subject that will get a few of the ladies jumping up and down, but I'm wondering if the current economic conditions are starting to have an advers effect on the bizz and may possibly result in prices being lowered? I am certainly seeing some unknowns offering what I would consider "bargain basement" prices compared to say the 2004-2008 time frame.

Let's face it, with gas @ 4$ a gallon and rising, and inflation starting to creep into the picture, guys are going to be affected. Not all hobbyists are high rolling CEO's, Lawyers, and Politicos. The average guy is getting squeezed pretty hard right now (and not in the right spots LOL).

So....ladies......are any of you considering the possibility of a price war breaking out?

I saw provider actually get on the phone a few years (when the economy was booming) and tell the other providers that their prices were too low.

I was shocked she did this in front of me.

Some will raise their prices others will keep the prices at the levels they want.

I have also seen white nights tell a provider that she should charge more. She listens and raise the prices. For a while she does ok, then she goes out of business because the competition is better and/or they have better services.

After a Provider has increased her rates, there is an extreme reluctance to roll them back.
I guess it's a matter of self-worth, although not good business sense.
I am one who now rarely partakes [as a result of LE fear in this area], and I know I am not alone.
Therefore, demand must be down; rates should logically fall.

I know of a few ladies who have reduced their rates as a consequence of aging, weight gain, etc.
Credit to them for being realistic.

Interesting Post.  I myself lately have felt like prices are going the other direction.  Seeing a lot more ladies in the 3$ to 5$ range as opposed to the 2$ to 3$ range.  I do try to stick independent and see only quality reviewed ladies so maybe that's the difference.  If you're seeing rock bottom prices, please do share where you are looking.

As far as my thoughts on a price war, I'd say wishful thinking.  As bad as the economy is, we are in a fairly sheltered place in DC with plenty of high rollers to keep the wheels turning (not one myself).  My other thoughts are that a price war will only draw unwanted attention to the hobby and would most likely not have the positive affect us hobbiest would like it to have.  

Just my .02 cents, but good interesting topic for discussion.

BTW, I agree.  DC is pretty insulated from the regular economy.  However, if hobbyists do their due diligence, I am sure there are deals to be found.

the women would come out and say they are thinking of havinga prie war.

I also doubt that this thread will inspire one.

Maybe the economic reality is a little more personal.

I've been in the hobby for double digit years with my activity headquartered in the DC area.  IMHO the DMV has never seen a price war.   Pricing in my view has remained stable.  With the DMV being in the news regularly noting that the economy is stable I have seen an uptick in the $400 plus ladies.  

In my expereince the "VIP" and over $400 types rarely provide an experience that is better by any significant or measurable degree.  Hence I typically stick with market priced providers.  The times I have invested above the standard DMV market rate has been for providers who have a true "10" appearance ALONG with the PERESONALITY to match whereby a "connection/vibe" could be achieved.

One way gals can increase their income is to schedule longer sessions. With a nominal additional charge for 90 minutes or 2 hr meeting they can collect larger sums from fewer clients and usually not have to work as hard. I for one like to have a more relaxed encounter whenever possible.

ladies come to DMV.  In the posting up above there is a 21 year old asking for 700.  Now that is laughable to say the least.  But some will probably pay it.

I know one bp provider that was charging $300. She is down to $200/hour now. She is retiring because she can't compete with the other BP providers charging $150-$180/hour. I saw 2 different ones that charge $150/hour that provider better service than the retiring provider. They provide bbbj without extra charge, greek, dfk, better hotel, better attitude, etc. I will admit the more expensive provider is better looking.

I know several high rollers who spend 50K on the hobby a year. The would see $300-$400/hour providers a few years ago. Now they go for the half hour appointments or for providers who charge $200/less.  

The other providers who stick to TER and not BP had a temporary price drop. Their prices are back up to what they were before the recession hit. Much of their price drop came due to the drop in demand because of unbelievable LE crackdowns of lifetime that we have had since 2009. These providers had huge cash reserves and rode out the storm. Many had a set of repeat clients to keep them funded. Others went around the us to places like New England to get their $300/hour rates. It is beneath them to charge anything lower than $300/hour.

I use to spend $250-$300/hour. Upon recommendation from my hobby buddies from providers they had seen before I tried out the $150/hour providers and have been pretty happy with their services. I have actually overspent because of the lower prices and have had to cut back due to the lower prices for BP providers. You have to be very selective in what you chose on BP. One thing that I will not do is have 1/2 hour appointments.

Providers from other regions told me they won't visit our region because our region is saturated. There is always new talent coming in. Many get upset when they see providers offer $100/hour rates.

I am always getting unsolicited requests from $300/hour providers that I have not seen before or seen in the past to set up appointments. That is an indication that demand is down. The ones that I have not seen before get my info from other provider/review sites.

I have noticed that providers today are more willing to try new things out in hopes of getting you to come back. Services that offered regularly are greek, video of sessions, allowing guys to put them in restraints, camel toe (I refuse to do that), etc.

I have noticed that providers will have a higher price quoted in their TER profile, eros ad, and or website. When they need the money they will post a lower price on BP. Sometimes the price is 25%-50% lower on BP. Many of these specials seem to hit at the end of the month. I noticed that many BP ads will get posted on or after the 15th of the month. I think is has something to when the majority of folks get their pay-checks in the dc/baltimore region.

I have a price watch list. When the prices get down to my target range I execute a buy order for the provider.

Some of these providers who have the lower prices can easily get higher prices. They keep the prices low because they want customers to come back. A repeat customer to them is a safe customer and not having to deal with unknown that could turn out to be a crazy or LE.

from that introductory college course - ECON101

Supply/demand will take care of the problem.  This is really about natural selection - too high a price and volume will go down, lower the price and volume will go up.  

Whatever analysis these ladies do regarding their price/volume, the marketplace will make its own decision regarding her price.  She will either get enough volume to satisfy herself at her chosen price or she will not.  

An agency recently lowered the price for a touring girl here in DC during her tour.  They advertised her at 400.  When she arrived they lowered the price to 350.  Then after a day they offered her at 300.  The market had spoken and they reacted - quickly.  Hotel rooms were booked, plane tickets paid for - schedule was set and money was spent.  So they decided to make the best of it -- temporarily!  I am betting there will be some serious thinking about her next tour.

I doubt others will move so quickly.  Others have a floor they will not go below no matter the volume (demand, or lack thereof) and may even abandon the biz.  Sometimes if the volume is too low at their desired price they will just quit.

I am familiar with a lady that hated the volume of the agency she was with (they had her at 300) and went indy at 400.  Her volume dropped massively.  Her overall dollar intake was decreased but she was happier with less total money because she did way less volume.

Some may feel that even with volume low that they refuse to lower their price as it is just not worth their time to work so hard for so little even if it means an overall total revenue increase (but exponentially more work/time required).

I recently saw something interesting, a higher price lady (500) offered a half hour rate of 350.  I guess her sales model was not to lower her price but to lower her service  to attract a lower budget customer.  Very unusual in the upper brackets to offer a half hour rate and I wonder how it worked out.

I think that in this biz most times it is more about a judgement of personal "worth" than it is about a pure supply/demand analysis for the ladies.  What they have to do, what they think about what they are doing, what they think of themselves, and what they are willing to do for money -- all much different from a corporation setting price for a service or product.

I confess I have come to the conclusion there is no direct correlation between prices and experience as long as you do your homework and are judicious on your choices.
My most memorable times have all been with women in the 250-300 range so I tend to dismiss women at the 400 as just not necessary.
That sounds mean I know but it is reality for me. If money was no object it would be different for sure but as with most people money is an object..lol.
To repeat my comment on the thread on the related subject of wonderful boobs(my personal  criteria leader) we are just plain lucky to be in an area with so many wonderful choices.

Prices have never dropped off significantly.  During the 90's the price was ~250 on avg.  Today it is 300.  

I suspect if it has stayed at 300 during the last few years it will not be dropping anytime soon.  

I also agree that you are seeing more women develop themselves into "higher" end escorts (500+ range).  A lot more are spending money on Scott Church and Santillo shoots and procuring high end web design services.  There is definitely a scramble by the ladies to lock in the top tier of this industry. Time will tell whether there is enough room up there for all of them.  

Finally, I have seen more women offering specials from time to time which advertise 25-50 off a session.  This might be due to the economic climate, but could also simply be marketing strategies utilizing the increased visibility the web is offering them.

Providers can offer specials or discounts.  There's a provider on this DC board who runs "specials" every single week.  It seems like she is offering these discounts in perpetuity.....almost like these are her usual rates except she markets it as a "special" discount.  This has been going on for months.  I find it funny.

Among lower tier of providers as well as among "just gone pro" ladies who are entering the market without real comprehension of what it takes to run successful business.

In Texas they priced each other out of making reasonable living entirely.

Medium and upper level providers realize that upping the volume to make up for lower prices is not sustainable business model.  They also happen to have enough cash reserves to "ride out the storm".

Finally, I see a lot of ladies explore other options.  Of course, those are the ladies who have them to begin with.

He's pretty well known on multiple boards for being an instigator.... And out of sheer curiousity, I wonder if any provider or agency can even vouch that he's actually seen them before.

Just curious, what agencies or providers have you seen?

That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out response.
I don't buy my suits at Wal-Mart.

How is asking a legitimate and timely question considered being an instigator?

Judging from the amount and content of the responses here, I would say there is most defintely some interest in the topic. Just because you don't agree doesn't make you right and all of us wrong.......now does it?

...for service level increase that is marginal, at best.

Which is also just my opinion:

As guys run low on money, they spend overall less time with girls. They become more discriminating and typically only see known good providers. The girls who dont provide great service cant make enough money to pay the bills so they stop escorting entirely and leave the business. That means fewer overall women in the business but also helps ensure only the best quality providers.
But its still a sellers market, the handful of girls left can now afford to be picky with their clients and work situation. They dont have to put up with as much nonsense and can even increase their rates a little.

At least thats what I got from my economics teacher when discussing a rough economy. You would think that when money is tight prices on certain goods & services go down.
Nope. Cuz now its that much more important that the seller makes money which means cutting back on production AND raising prices at the same time. Now it may not seem like the smartest thing, but its what happens naturally. This is aggregate supply and demand we are looking at, not supply and demand.
As for regular supply and demand, you have to remember that the supply is kinda weird. ANY woman could do this job, simply by virtue of being a woman. But most wont even consider it unless they are desperate for cash. So supply max is theoretically unlimited but in reality its strictly limited by morality and ethics (which dont affect supply and demand for most other goods or services).

Now, if guys just flat out stopped seeing women in opposition to high prices, one of two things could happen. Supply would disappear cuz many women could just do other things, deciding they dont wanna sell their bodies for table scraps.
OR, they could each slowly start to reduce their prices a little bit until guys started calling up again. Of course, thats the kinda thing that makes the girls feel special, the guys get hooked on nookie again, and demand is seen to rise quickly. Prices go back up again.

For all intents and purposes the curve is working fine. We are at equilibrium. The funny thing about equilibrium prices is even thought the consumer often complains about them, the reason they rest there at all is because he's willing to pay that price.
If people are buying gas at 4 bucks a gallon, then obviously they are perfectly fine with it even though they piss and moan every day.

And the women do not want a price war, in the end that only hurts them. As with all price wars the manufacturer suffers and goes out of business and that means supply drops, well I think you can guess what happens from there.

As the prices of other things changed? Recession doesn't mean prices will go down that just means people don't make as much money or there's less jobs. Do the price for illegal drugs go down because of a recession? You better believe not. Or has McDonalds lowered the price of burgers? Gas has ONLY GONE UP!!! Wrong place to be asking for a discount any way , LOL

Why not...they do it in Germany!