JamesB

6 minutes ago, KensingtonHomo said:

Honestly, you sound flakey. I have never had a provider to whom I made a deposit flake on me. I haven't been flaked on more than a handful of times. 

Really? Your argument is that “I sound flaky”?
Have a great day.

19 minutes ago, KensingtonHomo said:

That they only benefit the provider. If someone requests a deposit to hold an appointment for you, the benefit to you is that your appointment is secured. 

Of course, it only benefits the provider. There's no difference between an appointment made with a provider who requires a deposit and one with a provider who doesn't. Unless you truly believe that a provider who might flake on you will change their behavior just because you paid a deposit.

11 minutes ago, KensingtonHomo said:

That's not true. We all engage with other professionals who require a deposit to book an appointment or a credit card to charge you a cancellation fee. Sure, the illicit nature of the enterprise doesn't provide recourse that others would, but if we're talking about a small deposit of $25, that is reasonable. Also, in my experience, that deposit is only required for the first appointment. Once a provider realizes you're legit, they don't ask again. 

I’m not sure exactly what you find not to be true in my statement, but regardless, as long as the vast majority of providers don't ask for a deposit, I choose not to pay one.

My issue with deposits is that they only benefit the provider, offering no protection to the client. Deposits place all the risk on the client, creating an undesirable unilateral condition.

Working for me. I’m using Chrome.

2 hours ago, BOZO T CLOWN said:

Actually a lot of restaurants these days are charging more if you pay by credit card.....
Why would anyone pay a credit card surcharge?
Always carry cash, and TIP your server in cash.
Caveat Emptor!

BTC

A local Italian restaurant I used to frequent began charging a 4% fee for credit card transactions. Since I typically carry very little cash and don't like the inconvenience of having to use cash to pay a restaurant bill, I decided to stop going there. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who felt this way, as I learned that a few months later, they stopped charging the fee.

As I mentioned in another thread, I believe the tipping culture in the US is getting out of hand. Nowadays, a tip is expected for almost everything. The other day, I went to a self-serve counter that sells snacks and soft drinks. I grabbed some chips and a Coke, and when I got to the self-checkout, there was an option for tipping. Who am I tipping, myself?

I've also been to a couple of places where the tip was already included in the bill, and there was a tip line. I understand that Orlando sees many international visitors who might not be aware of the local tipping culture, but it feels like they’re hoping people won't notice and will add a full tip on top. I'm not saying this is definitely the case, but it certainly feels that way to me. In those situations, I choose not to leave any additional tip. The way I see it, the establishment has already decided on and set the expected tip amount. Even if it's lower than what I usually tip, that’s all they get.

4 hours ago, Capitano said:

Remember to use your big head! 😜 

The ad seems to target the small one, and I see a bunch of 🚩🚩🚩. The reviews are obvious fakes, he doesn't give a phone #, etc.

I'm curious, what makes you think "the reviews are obvious fakes"? I'm not arguing; I just want to understand and learn. By the way, he just got another one.

Have you tried the new Rmass website? What are your thoughts on it?

https://beta.rentmasseur.com/

I'm very interested as well. He has four reviews that seem legitimate in a very short time. His ad doesn't include a phone number, so there's no way to verify that.

I don't have experience living in Vietnam, but I've been living part-time in Panama for the last 16 years. During this time, I've seen many expats, particularly from the USA and Canada, come and go. They usually stay for 1-2 years before returning home. There are various reasons for this, and here are the most common ones from my perspective:

While it is true that you can live in Panama for about $1,500 a month, this is not comparable to Western standards. Many expats move here thinking it will be like living in Florida for a fraction of the price, but they quickly realize this is not the case. 

For reasons I have never understood, most expats from the USA and Canada are unable or unwilling to learn the language. This leads to feelings of isolation and frustration when dealing with everyday issues. 

Healthcare is another major reason. If you are over 60, it is almost impossible to get health insurance. If you are younger, you can get coverage, but not for any pre-existing conditions. While you can pay out of pocket for most healthcare needs, a major health issue will likely require returning home, trust me on this one.

Additionally, adapting to the local culture can be challenging. Many expats expect things to work the same way and within the same timeframe as they do back home. This is not the case, and adjusting to the new culture requires time and understanding.

Of course, there are other reasons as well, but in my opinion, these account for about 80-90% of the cases.

1 hour ago, Coolwave35 said:

RyanVersGood on RentMasseur

RENTMASSEUR.COM

---

View my profile on RentMasseur.com

I just had a wonderful experience with this masseur. I contacted him for a sensual massage and about a quarter in realized he should probably have been advertising his services on the sister website. 
 

Very easy to communicate with. Showed up on time. Did way more than expected and is a sweet guy.  

I agree completely. He's a really nice guy, even better looking in person, and very willing to go the extra mile.

On 5/21/2024 at 7:11 PM, pubic_assistance said:

The 💎 emoji means someone is looking for crystal meth.

Wait, what? Are you sure about that? I never understood it to have anything to do with drugs.

9 minutes ago, marylander1940 said:

They can only "game" the system if they create paid accounts with friends CC, as you say that's impossible to do with hundreds of reviews. 

I have firsthand knowledge of a provider that will give 50% off your next appointment in exchange for a 5 star review.

2 minutes ago, marylander1940 said:

or get their negative reviews removed, it happened to me twice and I closed my account n RM because of that. 

Exactly my experience as well.

1 hour ago, SouthOfTheBorder said:

some providers on RM seem to be able to make poor reviews disappear- not sure how it happens.

There are also providers who, after delivering a poor performance, immediately block the client to prevent them from leaving a negative review.

Effective communication is key to a successful provider-client relationship. A good provider will expect you to ask for exactly what you want. There's no need to be shy; I can guarantee you won't ask for anything they haven't heard before. While good providers are skilled at reading clients and guiding the session accordingly, leaving them to guess your preferences isn't the best approach when hiring.

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I'm sure a moderator will move it if necessary.

I remember someone mentioning a specific URL format to achieve this within RMass. I saved it somewhere but can’t find it now.

In RM, it’s easy to see all reviews by a single reviewer since you can just click on their name to go to their profile, which includes their reviews. However, it's not as straightforward on RMass. 

I know I can do a specific Google search, but the results aren't presented in a very useful manner, especially if the client has left many reviews.

On 5/22/2024 at 8:59 AM, badger said:

I've found someone in rentmen who's got me very interested. He's got 151 reviews, total score 5 stars. Initially I thought this was a really good sign but now I'm thinking, like, that can't be right. Is this even possible? Or a red flag for bullshit?

It's important to recognize that relying solely on RM reviews isn't advisable. Providers can inflate their review numbers. If you search this site, you'll find several threads discussing this topic.

I do read reviews and often reach out to reviewers directly. I'm cautious when I see multiple reviews from the same person for a single provider. I also look out for accounts that have only one review and were created on or just before the review date. Personally, I tend to avoid leaving negative reviews unless there's a significant issue, like a scam or a major problem. I'm sure many others share this approach. Therefore, the absence of negative reviews for a provider doesn't necessarily reflect their quality.

I've hired providers with many 5-star reviews and had less than memorable experiences, and I've also hired providers with few or no reviews and had great experiences.

Always remember that you are paying someone to play a role. While having some type of connection can enhance the experience, it’s crucial to never forget that it's a fantasy you’re paying for. Don’t worry about how much is genuine and how much is an act, just enjoy it for what it is. If you lose sight of this, you might end up paying both emotionally and financially.

He also has a profile on RMass: https://rentmasseur.com/DanielHot

I texted him last year, but his responses didn't make any sense, and I got the impression he didn't know what he was doing, so I decided to pass. I have no idea who the other guy mentioned in his RM ad is. The one review on RM isn’t very encouraging: "He is very beautiful, but that’s about it." How he can be in Bradenton and Jacksonville, Fl at the same time is beyond me.

First of all, I’m sorry this happened to you. I'm sure you now understand why many people here have a no-deposit rule. You might also want to consider reporting him to RM as well.

While I understand that being in your late 30s is considered ancient in gay years, you'll find that quite a lot of people well above that age are doing the hiring.

13 minutes ago, Pensant said:

I’ve rarely been asked my age. Since I look younger than my chronological age, I never volunteer it.

I do look good for my age as well and I don’t remember ever being asked but like I said, I only started volunteering this information only a few years ago due to a little incident.

54 minutes ago, Wanderoz said:

Yikes, when I saw Photo 5, I thought it would be like sleeping with Young Sheldon!  The other photos, not so much.

Bazinga!