Reluctance to Disclose Rates

[tenderloin]

I loved it when guys used to be able to show their rates on their Rentboy/Rentmen profiles.  Those days are gone, of course. When considering a hire, I first glean as much info as I can from their profile to see if we align. My next step is to send a brief, polite note asking for rates and if there are any quirks such as a different rate for the second hour, or difference between incall and outcall, difference depending upon what we do together, etc.  Sometimes they come back with a response that allows me to make a decision quickly; earlier today I got this:  "$500 per hour, two hour minimum." I said thanks but no thanks and moved on. 

But I am struck by how many guys are really reluctant to give any answer at all. For example, I am going to Philly for a few days next week. Planning ahead, I asked a guy for his rates. His response was "your not even here"  I said "Right, coming next week and want to line something up."  His reply: "But you're not here now."  We went one more round and I gave up.  Another guy in NY came back with "when are you looking for?"

I get it that escorts deal with a lot of time wasters, but is it so tough to have a canned answer so that we don't waste time on the game?  What am I missing? 

 

[Simon Suraci]

You’re not wrong, @tenderloin. This is time wasting behavior as we frequently discuss, but in the other direction. Every masseur or escort should have rates ready to share upfront, or at least a range if they have a complicated pricing structure. It’s a really bad sign if they are not forthcoming about what they charge.

Keep in mind the guy may have some questions for you first so that he can accurately quote you. And those questions should not have anything to do with the way you look. Things like host or travel/distance, how long of a session, which activities, and so on.

It shouldn’t matter if you’re in a different city at the time of contact. If anything, that’s better because you’re a proactive, cool headed client. Never a bad sign in my book. Just my opinion. Some guys only take same day / last minute. I will never understand why.

I’m sorry, $500/hr with a two hr minimum is insane. He’s either one of the most desirable, popular porn stars/instagays, or a deluded individual. In either case, he probably doesn’t need to do this work as his main income. He’s fishing for only the really big fish and hell if he cares that most days he has no fish at all, of any size. Once in a while a big one bites, and that’s just gravy money on top of his other income stream(s).

[+ DrownedBoy]

I occasionally see ads that say "same day only" or "preferred." I wonder if that's a real phenomenon. Even if it is, the guy's being a tease by not giving his rates a few days in advance.

[tenderloin]

6 hours ago, DrownedBoy said:

I occasionally see ads that say "same day only" or "preferred." I wonder if that's a real phenomenon. Even if it is, the guy's being a tease by not giving his rates a few days in advance.

Right.  Being in NY, there is always someone ready to respond. But when I travel to most other cities, you got to line up your ducks well in advance. There's a limited choice to begin with, and most guys are not just sitting around waiting for someone to call.

[marylander1940]

On 6/3/2023 at 6:09 PM, tenderloin said:

I loved it when guys used to be able to show their rates on their Rentboy/Rentmen profiles.  Those days are gone, of course. When considering a hire, I first glean as much info as I can from their profile to see if we align. My next step is to send a brief, polite note asking for rates and if there are any quirks such as a different rate for the second hour, or difference between incall and outcall, difference depending upon what we do together, etc.  Sometimes they come back with a response that allows me to make a decision quickly; earlier today I got this:  "$500 per hour, two hour minimum." I said thanks but no thanks and moved on. 

But I am struck by how many guys are really reluctant to give any answer at all. For example, I am going to Philly for a few days next week. Planning ahead, I asked a guy for his rates. His response was "your not even here"  I said "Right, coming next week and want to line something up."  His reply: "But you're not here now."  We went one more round and I gave up.  Another guy in NY came back with "when are you looking for?"

I get it that escorts deal with a lot of time wasters, but is it so tough to have a canned answer so that we don't waste time on the game?  What am I missing? 

 

That guy you contacted in Philly was simply difficult, I would move on. 

Unlike you I never had the problem of getting straight answers when it comes to rates but do get a lot of "What do you get into?" before I get an answer, I guess some might charge differently based on what you ask, certainly "role play" witch is not my thing, should be more expensive because it involves a lot of acting. 

[marylander1940]

6 hours ago, DrownedBoy said:

I occasionally see ads that say "same day only" or "preferred." I wonder if that's a real phenomenon. Even if it is, the guy's being a tease by not giving his rates a few days in advance.

Folks should be more flexible. Some might be skeptical about clients who make plans for later in the week based in their own experiences about flakes, unfortunately good clients pay for timewasters. 

[marylander1940]

17 hours ago, tenderloin said:

Right.  Being in NY, there is always someone ready to respond. But when I travel to most other cities, you got to line up your ducks well in advance. There's a limited choice to begin with, and most guys are not just sitting around waiting for someone to call.

Agreed!

I've found many times that the smaller the city the more likely escorts also have a part time job.

[+ Tygerscent]

On 6/3/2023 at 5:09 PM, tenderloin said:

I loved it when guys used to be able to show their rates on their Rentboy/Rentmen profiles.  Those days are gone, of course. When considering a hire, I first glean as much info as I can from their profile to see if we align. My next step is to send a brief, polite note asking for rates and if there are any quirks such as a different rate for the second hour, or difference between incall and outcall, difference depending upon what we do together, etc.  Sometimes they come back with a response that allows me to make a decision quickly; earlier today I got this:  "$500 per hour, two hour minimum." I said thanks but no thanks and moved on. 

But I am struck by how many guys are really reluctant to give any answer at all. For example, I am going to Philly for a few days next week. Planning ahead, I asked a guy for his rates. His response was "your not even here"  I said "Right, coming next week and want to line something up."  His reply: "But you're not here now."  We went one more round and I gave up.  Another guy in NY came back with "when are you looking for?"

I get it that escorts deal with a lot of time wasters, but is it so tough to have a canned answer so that we don't waste time on the game?  What am I missing? 

 

I can see why people would be reluctant to share their rates. I get inquiries from clients where the first thing they ask me is what my rates are.
 I honestly may not respond to them~  I look to see if they are a premium Client, I look to see how long they have been RM member and I may start other conversation to get some idea of who they are and what they are all about~
 I get a number of inquiries regarding rates from people that start out communications like they’re a Client looking to hire me but, it turns out they’re actually escorts trying to see what I’m charging~  This typically happens when I’m touring and is more prone to happen in certain cities than others and so, I’ve come to expect that type of inquiry by percentage~ 
 sometimes other providers might get a little nervous that they’re going to lose business if other providers are in town, and they will try to underbid them but, it’s not healthy for the industry because, it forces good providers out of work and lowers the standard of provision. It also means that other more desperate providers can do the same thing and underbid the under bidders thus driving the market down more. it’s equally dangerous for clients to play into driving the market down like that because, providers can become overworked, under provided for and then they either have to raise their rates significantly to get by or simply lower the quality of their provision~
 When the market becomes flooded by these guys who are under bidding themselves, (and it pulls business away from the higher quality providers), those higher quality guys increase their rates because they feel that they’re worth it~          
  Suddenly they become a more precious item~ You end up with a bunch of guys who have either really inflated rates or are desperately under charging themselves and offering low quality service because they’re over worked and under provided for.  
 
  
 

Edited June 9, 2023 by Tygerscent

[Simon Suraci]

@Tygerscent

I’m never put off by others traveling through or fearful of competition in my market. I feel no need to raise or lower rates. I get enough clients to keep me busy working. Let the other guys get the business from clients to whom they most appeal. I can’t be them, but they also can’t be me.

The people who want to see me want me specifically. I’m not the hottest or youngest, most muscular, or whatever other quality you want to apply, but I have my own unique appeal that others can’t offer. Surprise, surprise, some of those qualities aren’t based on looks either, although I acknowledge looks matter quite a lot. In that sense providers are not a commodity.

As long as you don’t charge extremely high or extremely low rates, clients choose you because of your particular appeal to them.

That’s not to say nobody compares rates and that rates do not affect hiring decisions. BUT if rates are relatively close in a given market, it doesn’t influence the client that much because his priority is a good experience, not a slightly cheaper one.

A great experience for the going rate = perfect contentment.

A great experience for a lower than average price = bonus, elation!

A bad experience at a lower than average price = regret.

A bad experience at a higher than average price = resentment.

A client looking for a bargain is not a client I want anyway. I value quality matches over quantity. Let the other guy have the bargain business. I feel empowered saying no and not feeling like I have to undercut to make my living.

The sweet spot is confidently saying no to a minority of inquiries. If you say yes to everyone all the time, you’re doing something wrong. When you’re having to say no to most everyone, it’s also a sign you’re doing something wrong with your business model.