Why do many Massage clients book things at the last minute?

[Cari]

@Jarrod_Uncut haven't seen your ad, so not sure if you already have it on there and I know this won't completely stop it cause let's face it most folks don't read and/or follow directions anyways 😒 but maybe in your ad you should mention that you need at least 2 or 3 hours or however long advance notice. I've seen that before on other ads, it might help reduce those last minute inquiries a little bit

[Jamie21]

18 minutes ago, Cari said:

I usually only splurge on massage when I actually need one and that's usually after getting my ass kicked by my trainer in a workout and often times I'll see if I can just foam roll and stretch then see how I feel the next day before I finally hit a provider up and see if they're available. I don't think I've ever hit anybody up an hour before a time I was requesting though, I'd say the least amount of time has been 3 hours. However if I'm traveling, I usually always hit the provider up a few days in advance to set something up, interestingly enough I've been flaked on more by providers when I do set something up a couple days in advance compared to setting something up a couple hours before...go figure 🤔

I wish more providers made it easy to book like this guy https://www.mensbodyworkla.com/appointments he also advertises on rentmasseur but you can just go to his website and see what days and times he's available instead of going back and fourth in text. There's a few other guys who do this and I always appreciate how quick and easy it is to schedule something with them.

I know that guy in LA. He’s a good guy.  I’d recommend him. Very professional. It’s a great booking system. I’ve looked at similar and it works if your life is relatively simple! Mine isn’t, I do other things as well as sex work so it’s not ideal to use a booking system like that unfortunately. It would save the back and forth messages although these aren’t especially arduous. 

I’m most intrigued by the long legal disclaimer on his website. From a British point of view it looks unnecessary (and probably not completely watertight) but I guess the US is a much more litigious country. 

[xyz48B]

@Jamie21– I don’t consider all work talk work. But it does raise an interesting point. Lawyers do work pro bono or offer some services gratis, with the expectation that one seeking insight may become a client. Does a math teacher who helps her nephew with his algebra homework get to say she’s working but the same kid’s dad doesn’t since he’s a barber? Do escorts do pro bono or gratis work? Is offering nude photos in an ad gratis work? I’ve been out and about after I leave the office and because of my uniform, folks approach me and ask for services. I render them but don’t get paid. Is it work? I suppose. It doesn’t strike as something that I need to keep track of and demand compensation for. And seeing as I enjoy my work for the most part, if I’m asked about my expertise or called upon to offer a service “off the clock,” it doesn’t make me feel like I’ve been taken advantage of. Should I feel that way?

Your buddy asks you to go on vacation with him to the Bahamas. He says he’ll pay for to sweeten the deal so you can hardly refuse going. He simply doesn’t want to go alone. Let’s assume said buddy knows you’re an escort so he knows under normal conditions time spent with you is comped. Let’s also assume you get intimate one night in Bahamas. Is that work, even though it’s a friend? Or what if he asks sex questions to improve his own hookup life while you guys are chilling one night, don’t even have to get intimate? Is that work?

Some friends in service work do want their friends to pay if they provide a work-related service. I just wonder where the work-play line is drawn.

[xyz48B]

53 minutes ago, Jamie21 said:

I’m most intrigued by the long legal disclaimer on his website. From a British point of view it looks unnecessary (and probably not completely watertight) but I guess the US is a much more litigious country. 

There’s also the fact that sex work in the United States is technically still a crime. I don’t think those disclaimers hold up whatsoever if they were ever brought to the light of day in some kind of legal proceeding, however.

[510guy]

I understand your point and why it can be frustrating. I have been guilty of asking last minute before. 

At least for me I live in the suburbs so am not always out where most of the providers are. So if I find myself in the city then I may ask someone if available. But other than that I try for 24 hour notice. 

[Deadlift1]

I get a much better massage (more extras) if I schedule 2 days in advance.  I also schedule on a day that he is usually slow like a Sunday.   Calling for an immediate appointment is rude.  And if he does fit u in the experience suffers because he is too tired.  The provider needs to put in his ad that he needs a 24 notice.

[Jarrod_Uncut]

15 hours ago, Dallas Jayson said:

I have several comments, and these are from my experience.

I often travel for business, and the nature of my work/client need, is somewhat unpredictable.

When I have attempted to plan ahead I have found that 1]some providers do not take you seriously if you are not currently in their city and that many providers 2]assume you are playing games if plans change.  Consequently, I wait until I am back in my hotel, and begin the process of find a provider.

As a business owner, I find good customer service from providers VERY RARE!  Every service industry is all about customer service, anticipation of needs and accommodation.

Just my 2cents

But you also have to consider this: we are not “business owners”. Not that you are implying that or not. Technically most “providers” are independent contractors, and that term is so broad, I used to be an “independent contractor” making $8 an hour cold calling (aka scamming) “clients” from 9 to 5 pm for a telemarking company (I get sick just thinking about it) I’m glad to know I’m doing something far more rewarding and honest than that. I lasted in telesales for maybe a year or 2, while this has been a 10+ year marathon…despite the setbacks, it’s been manageable and most frustrations are easily fixed by a simple change of city.
 

But point was: back in the day many providers were “owned” by agencies and such. Massages may have been done at spas or whatever. Although you’re totally right about customer service defining, this is going to be a bit different industry as a whole AND that goes for BOTH sides of the occasion, whereas clients play the customer and they don’t always act like they’d do at a grocery store, so to speak. 

Edited October 9, 2021 by Jarrod_Uncut

[Jarrod_Uncut]

14 hours ago, marylander1940 said:

Part of the job is being available, you might days with nothing going on and suddenly the phone rings and is your choice to leave errands, hookups, etc. for later and take the call or not. 

At least in this century escorts have a cellphone and they're not stuck at home waiting for their landline to rin like it was in the early 90's. 

the guy who contacted you at 7:30 should have been more flexible, maybe his expectations about you being available right away were too hopeful but most escorts usually can go meet someone at a hotel within an hour of less as long as they're free.

Massages are too much work and half the pay or even less. Make up your mind about it. 

Okay, let me stop you there. Don’t say “most”. If you’re going to quote, be sure to cite a reference. Because I don’t buy it. You even contradicted yourself: “MOST ESCORTS CAN MEET WITHIN AN HOUR AS LONG AS THEY ARE FREE.”

well no shit? You think????? Guess what? I wasn’t free, that’s the caveat right there.  I also didn’t have available now up like I was free either. 
 

you ain’t gotta tell me. Even if @xyz48Bdidn’t say it…I know many escorts probably aren’t just “free within an hour or less”. I can be at a hotel, in the MIDDLE of a busy city, bored, horny and hosting…and 9 out 10 I can’t even get someone to my hotel to fuck at the time I want them to. I usually have to wait several hours or even days, to find someone available. 
 

when I was in Phoenix last month, I did 1 freebie hookup: we met on Grindr on a Sunday but didn’t actually meet until Wednesday. Patience, is a virtue. 

[Jarrod_Uncut]

9 hours ago, Jamie21 said:

I know that guy in LA. He’s a good guy.  I’d recommend him. Very professional. It’s a great booking system. I’ve looked at similar and it works if your life is relatively simple! Mine isn’t, I do other things as well as sex work so it’s not ideal to use a booking system like that unfortunately. It would save the back and forth messages although these aren’t especially arduous. 

I’m most intrigued by the long legal disclaimer on his website. From a British point of view it looks unnecessary (and probably not completely watertight) but I guess the US is a much more litigious country. 

That’s what I’ve wondered to myself as well (regarding booking system). I know since Covid some barbers have adopted the system. I even tried it out a couple of times: I booked my regular barber in Denver and then I went in and he wasn’t there. I called him, and he said he wasn’t there and was in quarantine 🤦🏽‍♂️ 
 

I think if I just had a regular massage studio, didn’t travel and actually lived in a city that I enjoy and have a steady stream of clients and healthy Gay social life…I’d probably settle down and just take bookings. But right now I’m planning for a tour that will cross 6 cities, and there’s not a lot of time for precision there.

[Jarrod_Uncut]

4 hours ago, Deadlift1 said:

I get a much better massage (more extras) if I schedule 2 days in advance.  I also schedule on a day that he is usually slow like a Sunday.   Calling for an immediate appointment is rude.  And if he does fit u in the experience suffers because he is too tired.  The provider needs to put in his ad that he needs a 24 notice.

Brilliant! Glad you understand that.

In my case I do say I need advanced notice. But many just claim they don’t know how to get to the read my text section. I think they purposely skip it out of habit, in order to contact many providers at once.

[Deadlift1]

How often do people who want an immediate appointment follow through and book.?

[Pd1_jap]

On 10/9/2021 at 6:14 PM, Deadlift1 said:

How often do people who want an immediate appointment follow through and book.?

I do. 

[Jarrod_Uncut]

On 10/9/2021 at 8:14 PM, Deadlift1 said:

How often do people who want an immediate appointment follow through and book.?

Lately, most of them don’t. Usually because once they learn I’m not magically available right then and there, they usually don’t follow back up for weeks or months. 
 

There’s some particularly annoying types in Kansas City who would do that regularly: Text me and ask if I’m available (always to host, because they can never host) like early in the afternoon when I’m not free. When I suggest a later time or try to arrange for next day, they never ever follow thru. But then will contact again a few months later and do the same thing. 
 

I think some people do it purposely just to be a pain in the ass. That’s why going forward, this partial Rentamenal shutdown I have going is going to remain in place. 

[BeefyDude]

For me personally, weekdays are OUT due to schedule. Weekends are the only time - Saturday preferred.

However, Saturday is also my run errands, yard work etc day.  I never know when they are going to finish. So for me personally its hard to book ahead.  I would rather risk not getting an appt by booking too close vs. booking one and cancelling.   Being respectful to the masseur.

[wDarling]

I guess at regular spas, unless it’s a really popular place, people often expect someone to be available pretty quickly? And for cheaper places you don’t really book very far in advance because the availability of the staff changes. So maybe people are applying that same mentality to booking with you, expecting you to always be on-duty?

Do you have your hours posted in your listing? Some masseurs only work within set blocks of time. Would that help? Also wonder if you would have an issue with this if you prioritized incall over outcall (maybe outcall isn’t your thing if it leads to last-minute bookings and the hassles of last-minute travel?).

 

 

[Sixpack]

3 hours ago, BeefyDude said:

For me personally, weekdays are OUT due to schedule. Weekends are the only time - Saturday preferred.

However, Saturday is also my run errands, yard work etc day.  I never know when they are going to finish. So for me personally its hard to book ahead.  I would rather risk not getting an appt by booking too close vs. booking one and cancelling.   Being respectful to the masseur.

Yes not sure why it is an issue to book a few hours in advance. there is enough cock where I am in nyc area that no need to book too far in advance to get my Asian glory 

 

[BeefyDude]

Everyone has their own reason.  Mine is just one example.

Trust me if i'm able to book as much in advance as I can I do

[Typical]

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".

[MmM]

3 pages of discussion is way to long for this topic.  Don't overthink it.  There can be several reasons why clients prefer last minute booking. They could have an unpredictable schedule as well and realized that they have extra free time, they could be DL and perchance got a free time before they head home, they don't have a regular work schedule....etc.   You can put in your ad that you are not available for last minute scheduling and require x-hours of lead time, autoreply if you are not available, or an answering service as if you are working in a spa.  Otherwise, just say no you are not available when asked.  Unless you want someone else to manage your inquiries, you will have to deal with last minute bookings.  That's the nature of the business.  Insanity is doing the same protocol and expecting a different result.

[+ ButchAtl]

I find it helpful when some providers list in their ad text that they prefer same day appointments.  Others may mention they prefer and/or recommend advance scheduling. 

Several times I have tried to schedule ahead and receive the reply, "I only do  same day appointments or call me on the day you want the meeting." 

[MiamiLooker]

On 10/9/2021 at 9:14 PM, Deadlift1 said:

How often do people who want an immediate appointment follow through and book.?

I may be wrong, but I doubt if a provider usually knows whether they’re the client’s first choice or fifth choice when they’re contacted. It could be the client is following through, but just with a different provider.

[Deadlift1]

OP are u the provider previously known as MOCHA?

[+ Tarte Gogo]

Maybe someone else mentioned it already (sorry I haven’t read the 3 pages of discussion) but for me it is very simple: I cannot predict in advance if my body will will be tired and will need a massage. 
How could I? If I could predict how hard my work day will be tomorrow, and how badly I will need a massage to relax from it, I’d have amazing powers that I would have used to get rich, and I would have retired already.

Edited October 18, 2021 by Tarte Gogo

[Kcdave]

On 10/15/2021 at 1:46 AM, Jarrod_Uncut said:

Lately, most of them don’t. Usually because once they learn I’m not magically available right then and there, they usually don’t follow back up for weeks or months. 
 

There’s some particularly annoying types in Kansas City who would do that regularly: Text me and ask if I’m available (always to host, because they can never host) like early in the afternoon when I’m not free. When I suggest a later time or try to arrange for next day, they never ever follow thru. But then will contact again a few months later and do the same thing. 
 

I think some people do it purposely just to be a pain in the ass. That’s why going forward, this partial Rentamenal shutdown I have going is going to remain in place. 

I don’t think we ever do it intentionally. our schedules just can’t connect  because of other schedule issues.  Perhaps we need to spend more time and plan ahead. That is always my problem is it when I’m in the mood, I want it now 😉.
I guess I need to be a better planner.

Edited November 13, 2021 by Kcdave