Tipping

[vikingguy]

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, so bear with me.

 

Living just outside of Philly, I've often utilized the services of the guys at Premier. They've always had great guys and have great service. Their rate for the area I live is $180, which I think is very reasonable. I've always tipped the escort nicely, thanking him for our time together, knowing he had a 30 minute travel from center city to my location.

 

I recently hired someone having seen his reviews on here. He's listed as "Philly", but the agency site has listings from across the country. Apparently the escort came from south of Philly, and had about a 45 minute travel to my location. His rate was $250 plus a $50 travel fee. At the higher rate and travel fee, I was not so inclined to tip as nicely as I had with Premier.

 

So, the question is, was I unfair to the latter?

[JT Brooklyn]

Viking. Well you know the Old Saying "Time is $$" IF the Travel was 45 min each way, that's 2 Hrs of "Working Time" worth $500! At least that's the way the Working Guy's would and do explain it! LOL

 

Your Tip is up to you, you did Pay an agreed Travel Fee.

 

As for myself, I would have done the Driving, Saved a Bunch of $$ and probably got Laid just as well, IF not better Cheaper! IMHO :P

[Steven_Draker]

>So, the question is, was I unfair to the latter?

 

Vikingguy,

Tipping is discretionary. If you don't think tipping is necessary in a particular circumstance, then don't tip.

30-40 % of my clients tip. Tippping is always appreciated and remembered, but completely up to you.

 

Steven Draker ~

http://www.hotsexystud.com/uk

http://www.daddysreviews.com/review.php?who=steven_draker_brussels

[RockHard]

The subject of tipping can be contentious and, in America, the whole process has gone wacky and tacky. I think the act of tipping should be eliminated and simply figured into the bill. Unfortunately, some employers will abuse that process, by not paying, and service workers would really have to claim their gratuities at tax time.

 

The history of tipping is quite fascinating and a good read. I'll never take issue with low-wage service earners relying on tips to augment their income potential. However, isn't there something queer about contemplating a tip for a $250-an-hour service? Does anyone tip their lawyer? Their doctor? Their dentist? (Assuming you have any one of these.)

 

Of course, many escorts are greedy and are only interested in money. If you don't tip them, you may find yourself stabbed. I don't play in that genre.

 

The classier male companions, like Steven Draker, insist that gratuities are discretionary or not necessary at all. And there are probably many reasons why a man like Steven would be so thoughtful. Consider these generalities:

1. In Japan, the offer of a money tip is considered insulting. If the service wasn't worth the price you paid, your tip is saying the guy who helped you is underpaid. The way to show gratitude in Japan is by presenting something wrapped. (Here, you probably could put money in an envelope and spare yourself some embarrassment.)

2. In Italy, if you tip your waiter (who happens to be the chef's son) 20%, you're saying to the chef that he isn't paying his son enough. Not to mention, a service charge (coperto), most likely, already appears on the bill.

3. In the beauty services industry in America, the general rule is that the owner of the business does not accept tips, since he/she is making profit off the employee's gross.

4. The "owner" rule usually applies to self-employed individuals, too, but customers tend to tip at their own discretion, depending on how happy, wealthy, and generous they are.

 

The bottom line is there are no definitive rules. But, consider this: over-tipping is often considered a sign of insecurity—a way of saying you don't deserve the service for the price stated. So, be careful. You want to be sure the only message you send is that you are a thoughtful, kind, and appreciative gentleman customer.

 

Good luck. :-)

[+ Axiom2001]

...excellent response, Rockhard. I wholeheartedly concur with your take on this! Yes, tipping in this country has truly, truly, truly gotten out of hand, especially when one goes into a restaurant or a fast food place and a jar is on the counter for tips. I resent this much and rarely leave anything.

 

And in a previous thread at this forum, one escort stated that the prices charged are ample, thus escorts should NOT expect to receive tips. I almost never tip an escort when I am shelling out from $200 to $250 for a mere hour of the guy's time regardless of how good the sex was.

[soccerjock624]

To tell you the truth I think people practically tip everyone these days I mean honestly i go places all the time and someone will ask me if i tipped that guy that stands in the bathroom to hand you a towel, or the person who cuts my hair or something crazy. I understand tipping people are making less and relying upon tips ie. servers but not someone who is already making a decent wage. To the deal with escorts, I am an escort so I understand how much I enjoy the trip because in my mind its paying for my gas or driving time. I also always remember the guys that tip me but do I expect one, no. So my advice is, if the guy really pleased you and you want him to make the effort to see you again in the future and keep you in mind when traveling then tip him.

[Epigonos]

I NEVER tip an escort. I always try to take the guy I'm hiring out to lunch or dinner and then back to his place or mine for a couple of hours. In an early email I ask what his fee would be for such an arrangement and if it is within my budget we set up an appointment. The escort sets his fee I don't. If we get together I pay the fee HE sets and that is that.

[+ Charlie]

I always tip the guys from Premier, if the service was good, because the fee is so low--compared to most agencies or individuals--that the escort can't be making very much. I rarely tip a self-employed escort, unless he gives way more than expected for his set fee, such as stretching a one hour appointment into a couple of hours for no extra charge. It sounds like the escort you hired probably earned more with his set fee and travel charge than the guys from Premier, even with their tips.

[Guest bighugbearphx]

Obviously, guys working for Premiere can't set their own prices, and have to take what the agency charges. In a situation like that, I would tip if I felt the escort could have commanded much more on his own.

 

But guys in business for themselves already price themselves at what their service is worth in the marketplace. I would not add a tip, except for truly extraordinary efforts.

[Quincy]

>30-40 % of my clients tip. Tippping is always appreciated and

>remembered, but completely up to you.

 

I understand the appreciated part but what do you mean when you say it's remembered? Do you do a better job for the repeat clients who tip than you do for the ones who don't tip? If not, in what way is the tip remembered?

[Epigonos]

Agency escorts present an entirely different tipping dilemma which, as I have never hired from an agency, I had NOT considered. But even here there is a problem.

 

1. Premiere in Philadelphia has a $170 fee for the first hour and $100 for each additional hour,

2. Maximum in New York, on the other hand, has a $300 fee per hour

 

I certainly realize that the cost of living in New York in considerably greater than that in Philadelphia BUT.......... I think I will stick to independent escorts -- a lot easier. But damn I must admit that both agencies have guys working for them that rock my boat.

[JT Brooklyn]

Quincy..Good Question? But I think the Answer would have to be Obvious! As it is in ALL Tipping situations!

 

The thought of "He's a Good Tipper" brings out the Best in Service People! IMHO of course. :P

[+ purplekow]

If the service has somehow been exceptional or if the gentleman has gone out of his way to insure that I have had a better time than would otherwise be expected, I will give a tip. Most of the time though, I invite the gentleman out for a meal or in some cases with a repeat visitor, I will buy a gift. I agree with those that say that this is a contracted service and for average service, I pay the expected fee.

[+ ArVaGuy]

With escorts I will consider tipping the guys that work for an agency since they have to split the fee. And some guys have not deserved a tip in some instances.

 

For the independent guys who don't work for an agency I have tipped a few of them if the service has been outstanding. By that measure, I am not just talking about the fun and games in bed. I also consider the promptness of replys to messages, (24 hours or less), how much effort he puts into buidling a rapport beforehand, and delivering on things we discussed in our e-mails. Therfore when I tip, these guys have really earned it IMO.

 

Since this thread has other issues on various tipping customs, let me throw out what I have to deal with in my line of work. Dealing with hotels it seems as if everyone has a hand out. Take that 20% service charge (apporaching 25% in some markets) wait staff does not get that full amount. It's split with captains, banquet managers, directors of Food & Beverage, and in some major chains, even the General Manager of the hotel or resort gets a cut.

[Guest skrubber]

Having been using Premier for some time now I have come to know the escort gets a little better than half of the agency fee. I keep this in mind when I tip and I ALWAYS tip the agency guys. I also tip the independent guys too but not nearly as well as the agency guys - maybe twenty bucks for an hour. Remember the tip (if any) is up to you.

[Louis]

There was an escort that visited me several times. The second time he came to my place he got lost, actually if there was a wrong turn to make he would make it...just one of those situations, so I headed out with my car, met him and he followed me to the place where we were going to eat. We then went to my place and when it came time to pay him I added an extra bit I think fifty dollars, because it used up a fair bit of his time. He emailed me the next day thanking me for the tip. If I am seeing a student, I will always tip them. I know they are generally in the business to make enough cash for school, so I feel if I give them more than they ask, it may just help them out a bit.

Louis

[Guest carter07]

I'm an older guy (70) and don't hire often. But when I do, and I'm always upfront about my age, and it's a good experience (and so far my experiences have been good) I tip. I do so for the simple reason that I know my body reflects my age and even though I'm pretty much in shape my body isn't any kind of turn-on. So I figure that anyone who makes the effort to enjoy, or appear to enjoy, being with me deserves a bit exra. I understand all the reasons for tipping or not tipping, but I feel more comfortable tipping than not.

[Guest zipperzone]

>However, isn't there

>something queer about contemplating a tip for a $250-an-hour

>service? Does anyone tip their lawyer? Their doctor? Their

>dentist? (Assuming you have any one of these.)

 

RockHard makes an excellent point. You would never think of paying your lawyer or you doctor because you know they are making a very good wage based on their charges.

 

If you think about it, an escort charging $250 per hr is probably making more than you are. Why would you feel compelled to broaden that gap? And don't forget........ YOU pay taxes on your full income.

While most escorts will claim they also pay taxes, nothing they say could ever convince me that they declare anywhere near their full income in what is basically a cash business. Come on - Give your head a shake, guys!

 

 

 

 

>

>Good luck. :-)

[Guest zipperzone]

>So my

>advice is, if the guy really pleased you and you want him to

>make the effort to see you again in the future and keep you in

>mind when traveling then tip him.

 

Oh really? Is this just slightly self-serving? You be the judge.

[SAdler]

I really wasn't going to weigh in on this because we know how popular my opinions tend to be but I figured I'd just respond to a couple zipper notes

 

Responding to Brett and then Zipper's reply. Self serving ... well no, it's really not. Like was brought up ... a lot of effort SHOULD go into an escort's planning to meet a client. Those of us that want to give our guys a good time put forth that extra effort and it's nice to be acknowledged for doing so. Now obviously by no means would I ever expect to be tipped but it's always more than appreciated when it's done. When I am tipped, I think of that client as someone I definitely would want to see again. It's not to say that I wouldn't see someone that didn't tip but I would definitely say I would give preferential treatment to someone who did.

 

For example (and this just popped into my mind and hasn't come up yet): If a regular client who I was on a scheduled basis at a discounted rate because we were seeing each other so regularly wanted to see me the same night that a client who I rarely see because they travel but tips well wanted to see me, I can pretty much safely say that I wouldn't think twice on who to schedule since I never see more than one person per day.

 

It was brought up by someone else that some escorts travel about to an hour to get to an appointment and then of course the hour home. Living in LA with neighboring areas like Orange County or the far reaches of the valley, this can be a common occurrence. Even with a travel charge if I know that a client JUST wants an hour or something, I'm personally not as likely to go the extra mile (literally and figuratively) to go see them. So again, tipping is obviously not required but it definitely stands out in a working guy's mind as to who they are going to see and when. Just like when you stay at a nice hotel and tip the concierge and other service staff for preferential treatment, the same courtesies apply.

 

Going off Rockhard and other's delving into job comparisons, obviously using the waiter argument is a moot point by now. And I agree that yes, we are probably grossing more than most and thus shouldn't be expecting to be making that much more.

 

I think that the point I'm trying to make was just that this really does come down to each person's individual taste. I don't believe zipper's comment about getting people to shake their heads in agreement with him that tipping is off base is completely warranted. People should do what they feel is necessary and shouldn't be bullied by other people's interpretations of a situation.

[Luv2play]

I was a bit taken aback by your suggestion that you would give priority in setting up an appointment to an infrequent client that tips as opposed to a steady client that gets a volume discount and does not tip. If you think about that for a moment, the customer that may be putting several or many thousands of dollars in your pocket over a year gets short shrift to a client tha maybe pays you only several hundred dollars a year. I hope for your sake the steady client never cottons on to his second-class status.

[RockHard]

"we know how popular my opinions tend to be"

 

A man without opinions tends to say nothing and a man who says nothing tends to be dull and boring. Never hold back, Scott, because many of us like you for who you are.

 

"When I am tipped, I think of that client as someone I definitely would want to see again."

 

Who doesn't appreciate more cash?

 

I've always said (in one way or another), generous men will reap more rewards than the cheap or stingy. (I can't speak for Steven Draker but I have a feeling this is what he meant by "remembered.")

 

But what about the fun, loving, appreciative men, who can't afford to be generous with cash, let alone pay $250-per-hour, but yearn to be intimate with a hot man who sells? Are these men less deserving of our memory because they earn less?

 

Should a "great" guy, who only makes $40,000 a year and can't afford to tip or be a "regular," be treated differently than a not-so-great guy, who can't get enough of his boy-toy and can easily afford to throw 40K at an escort per year? I guess the answer depends on how the escort views his work, his dick's relationship with money, whether or not he has a drug addiction, and/or how he defines a "great" guy.

 

Let's face it, not all gay men are rich with glamorous jobs. And many of those guys are demanding pricks with attitude. There clearly are many, many wonderful men out there who can't afford $250-an-hour for fantasy companionship, let alone a tip. Whoever decides to corner that market has the financial portfolio I want to manage.

 

Finding a fun, reliable customer (with a sexy smile, clean ass and fresh breath) is a gamble regardless of his income or his tipping procedure. Is money the be-all, end-all motivation for every escort? Gentlemen, it depends, doesn't it.

 

If you have concerns, it's easy to tell where any escort truly stands on tipping. Simply ask him when you call, "Do you expect a gratuity?" or, "What are your thoughts on tipping?" The way he handles the question will say a lot about him and then you will know whether or not you wish to proceed with the guy.

[BgMstr4u]

Helpful thoughts.

 

I assume that an independent escort has done the calculations of time and expense in setting up for and performing his work, that his fee reflects what he needs to get from the transaction, and that includes transportation and other uses of his time, which are all necessary parts of his professional service. So if my time with him is satisfactory, what he has asked for is what he wants, and that is what he gets. Only if it is Truly Wonderful will I consider giving a tip, and for the reasons Scott gave: I want to be remembered to him again. And the size of the tip depends on how Truly Wonderful it was, and in my experience, with most escorts, even well reviewed ones, Truly Wonderful is fairly rare. A professional escort will, like all other professionals, be prompt and pleasant in contacts, do his scheduling work well, be on time, clean and prepared, pleasant in the encounter, do his work well with me, and leave me feeling good and wanting more. That is simply professional, and is what his fee is calculated to cover. So if I give a tip, it is because something in the experience rises well above the level of a good competent professional.

 

It is a different matter with those working for an agency. They have no say in setting their fee, regardless of their outlay of time and effort. Their cut is smaller because they are not doing the contact work. They are much more like waiters in a restaurant, and are probably underpaid. I happily tip these guys when they do a good to better than average job.

[JT Brooklyn]

True. This $$$ discussion has come up many times before.

 

At $250 an Hour, other than Travel Circumstances,Extra Service's Requested, TIPS really aren't NECESSARY!

 

BUT we do all know the "High Roller's" who just Love to keep "Rolling High".. UNTIL the Rates hit $300 an hour. They have already in some cases...

 

Then they will be the first one's to Wonder Why ANOTHER Rate Hike? LOL :P

[SAdler]

Nobody is getting second class status or giving anyone the shaft.

 

I merely said if I was discounting service for someone to see them regularly and someone who was TRAVELING came into town I'd probably give them priority. The person who I would see regularly is available all the time in LA but the person who travels and makes it apparent that they are really motivated to see me might get the priority of a particular day.

 

Sorry if the meaning behind that statement got lost or the context twisted.