Typical

Independent masseurs should ask the price they wish to be paid for the services rendered. If the services exceed the advertised labor, a “tip” may very well be warranted. If not, the advertised fee is sufficient. This approach has always worked very well for me. Let’s not play games.

I believe MMX on West 14th Street specializes in this desire.

It wouldn’t bother me at all. But if it diminishes your experience then by all means reschedule. You are spending your money and you should be totally comfortable with the situation.

That’s called marketing. 😉

OMG. I just noticed he now charges $250 for his silly, bizarre and totally awful “service”. It’s like a prank! To be clear, the photos are the best he has ever looked in his history. He’s not all that. Whatever….but he (if true to form) will sit you down like a child and go over the “rules” for 10 minutes (which is part of your “massage” time, BTW), and those rules include no touching him (no one who meets him will want to touch him, trust me) and that he does not want to touch or see your privates in any way shape or form (fine with me!) and that if you want to view his flabby belly from a distance it’s going to cost you (no thanks!). I can’t believe I stayed for that freak show. Live and learn. AVOID even if he is offering his “massage” for free.

Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. Unless you like to be lectured and quizzed before receiving a lousy “massage” on a hard mat. And this doesn’t even begin to cover all the oddities and idiocy experienced while visiting this guy.

Why not just avoid the situation and not send a photo? Why put your photo in a text exchange? It all seems harmless and low risk until it isn’t.

It’s for screening. I wouldn’t participate in that or help start a trend. Next.

Don’t send a deposit!

I’ve never seen Jacob but saw “Scott” about 10 years ago and these same photos were out of date then. As others have noted it was terrible. I should have just paid and left. He went heavy into the “sensual” aspect of the massage and I had absolutely zero interest in that with him. Zero.

Photo 2 is interesting, if paying close attention.

Like a lot of service industry businesses there was a huge uptick in demand following COVID restrictions and now that demand has normalized. There will be a readjustment period.

His English isn’t strong. Sometimes the subtlety of how things can sound and be interpreted by a fluent speaker isn’t fully appreciated by ESL folks. He’s a nice guy.

If you do get to see him you get a very, very, very lackluster and pointless experience. It’s not with your time much less your $200.

Yeah. Very lackluster and uninteresting experience.

It could be worse. Watch Tinder Swindler.

For a $5,000 processing fee and access to your banking details they will also transfer an unexpected $10 million inheritance into account!

I recommend Peter McPherson. He has his own booking website that's easy to find.

Why book at the last minute? Why not? What's the problem of a polite request? If you can't or don't want to just say no. If you don't want to be bothered by requests turn on an auto reply that you are not available and maybe add that you will take appointments at x or y date or time. I sometimes book last minute because unexpected time in a busy schedule becomes available. Or the mood strikes. Or I find myself near a therapist's location. The bigger annoyance is masseurs who use the "Available Now" indicator and then respond that they can see me "tomorrow" or "next Thursday". The word now actually has a very specific meaning in the English language. It means "at the present time".

I don't want any advice from you. LOL

I doubt anyone knows whom or what you are talking about.

I have never met him but his ad and photos have been around for many years. I would say those photos are 15+ years old.

I think it is a "lost in translation" issue. Not native speakers often don't perceive subtle messages or intent with word choices. I doubt it's meant in any condescending or offensive way. At least that's my take on these funny little phrases.

I have no idea where cryptocurrency prices will go in the future and neither does anyone else. But it looks like, so far, the big "pump and dump" event in Miami a few weeks ago has not payed off for its sponsors as cryptos have only fallen further since the hype. I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of bored "investors" with stimulus funds really inflated the market for awhile, feeding off of each other's trades. That is obviously not sustainable. Don't gamble more than you can comfortable lose.

This is all fake, you all get that, right? I hope so.... If you don't get it that.....Then I'm Melinda from Nigeria and I want to send you $10 million! But first I need a $10,000 processing fee, your bank account number and your social security number. Let me know when you want to wire the funds.