I wish some would not say: “your prices went up” Well should it never?

[pubic_assistance]

On 9/1/2023 at 9:39 PM, Jarrod_Uncut said:

Like dude, I’m 36 now. Were you making the same at 36 as you were at 21? For fucks sake, recognize the value of the service. My services hasn’t gone done in quality. At all. At all. 

In most careers you make more with experience.

But when it comes to escorting I'd probably pay more for a 21 year old than I would a 36 year old escort.

( I mean ...personally, I wouldn't even consider hiring someone that old).

So this particular career has a different valuation curve than others do.

Edited September 3, 2023 by pubic_assistance

[Decatur Guy]

There's nothing wrong in raising your rates. These are inflationary times. Just know that some clients -- current or prospective -- may be in jobs or situations where they haven't gotten raises at the percentage you might be raising your rates. You might price yourself out of reach of some people. 

For instance, I've gotten one raise since 2017. For various valid reasons, I've stayed in the job anyway. I've seen the average provider rate go from about $250 an hour to $350 an hour in my area in just the past few years. That's 40%. Meanwhile, my one-time raise in six years was 28% about a year ago. Naturally, I've had to curtail and turn down people who quote $400 or more or even $350 an hour at times.

One thing I do is I hire the guy who continues to charge $280 the most often by far. We've never discussed it, but I think he realizes that I'm steadier with the calls because of the lower rate.

In general, I think providers (in my area at least) are outpacing others in wage inflation. That's going to sometimes cost providers some business. 

 

[NyGold]

2 hours ago, arnemgreeves said:

Do you need an online stranger to lecture to? I'm sorry you're this unhappy. 

I don’t think I’m the one here needing online targets … 

[NyGold]

5 hours ago, arnemgreeves said:

I'm not sure what your point is. My point is that clients who bitch about this are cringe. it's beyond their control, so they can move on. 

They are moving on … the OP can’t understand why 

[liubit]

10 hours ago, NyGold said:

claiming to be south of 40 when he was visibly north of 50.

I loved this expression. You made me laugh, @NyGold, thanks! 

[+ José Soplanucas]

[Luv2play]

On 9/2/2023 at 10:54 PM, pubic_assistance said:

In most careers you make more with experience.

But when it comes to escorting I'd probably pay more for a 21 year old than I would a 36 year old escort.

( I mean ...personally, I wouldn't even consider hiring someone that old).

So this particular career has a different valuation curve than others do.

I'm just the opposite. Most 21 yo don't have a clue about what makes for good sex. Wam bang is their style. 

With age and experience one can become a maestro. Or not. But the good 30 something year olds can't be beat, imo

But each to his own. Thank God.

Edited September 4, 2023 by Luv2play

[+ KensingtonHomo]

2 hours ago, Luv2play said:

I'm just the opposite. Most 21 yo don't have a clue about what makes for good sex. Wam bang is their style. 

With age and experience one can become a maestro. Or not. But the good 30 something year olds can't be beat, imo

But each to his own. Thank God.

I feel the same way. I don't even find 21-year-olds attractive. They're not done baking to me and are nearly always bad at sex. Plus in my experience, the younger, more ripped guys can act like they're doing you a favor. But I don't value youth, so I'm like "meh..." For me, guys in their mid-30s to 40s are ideal escorts. They tend to have been in the business for a while and have been successful enough to last a decade or more. Or, they're guys with other interests or work who escort because they love sex and having it with various people. 

Regarding @Jarrod_Uncut raising his prices, I think he should. Nearly everyone has experienced inflation and everything costs more. I've noticed that providers who lived near us and who we host don't really charge more but those who are visiting and paying for a hotel, etc, have raised their prices. 

[Jarrod_Uncut]

On 9/2/2023 at 10:13 AM, NJF said:

Age may be part of the problem. Gays are the worst ageists. One of my friends just posted on facebook that he felt like 58 in gay ages lol because he just turned 29

oh gawd. Reminds me of a guy I mess around with who’s only 22 years old and was talking about his plans to get Botox because he’s aging 🙄 (and to anyone who thinks 36 is “old” majority of the guys who hit me up nowadays are younger than me. I think I’m getting more 20s guys, than I was actually getting in my 20s lol).

I’m like dude, just use some vitamin E and cocoa butter. No need to start looking like a mannequin so soon in life lol.
 

On 9/2/2023 at 1:52 PM, NyGold said:

There’s a reason one of my favorite guys in my geography is also one of the least expensive. He came to his senses and realized he couldn’t get away with claiming to be south of 40 when he was visibly north of 50. He has also started selling mortgages and life insurance in addition to his former primary work, and I admire his foresight and being nimble. 

The idea that we are entitled — entitled — to more just by hanging around without increasing perceived value in the market - is at the root of many problems facing our economic society. 

Ok, let me explain more to this: me wanting “more” is not necessarily entitlement. I actually sat down and thought about WHY I need to put my prices up. It’s not simply because “I feel like it” or that “I been doing this for too long, it’s time”.

For me, as mentioned: my costs are gone up, and so has my effort in both myself and my presentation. For example; a hotel room with just a bed and TV isn’t enough for me anymore. I find it very uncomfortable, and makes it hard to enjoy being on the road and seeing clients. Most all hotels I host at nowadays, are suites with a separate bedroom and living space. Or at the very least, a couch. That tends to come at an extra cost. And many hotels aren’t upgrading top level members like they’re supposed to, I’m finding. 
 

The other thing is…the increased client flaking and guys who don’t read ads and claim having a website/deposit is “too complicated/difficult”: this also pushes me in a direction to have to raise my rates. Because I’m working with fewer people who are willing to screen and respect the need to establish boundaries. The days of just taking clients Willy nilly and winging it, are diminishing for me.
 

Even when I try not to take deposits: as I did earlier today, half still don’t show up. I had someone book a session claiming to be coming to reserve a hotel and do a two hour session. Then I realized I didn’t bring up the deposit part. Time comes around, complete no show. 
 

Then there’s some people who want to give a hard time about deposits and don’t want to pay em. However, it’s anyone’s guess whether they actually show up when the time comes. And I have no real clout that they actually will, until they show up. And by that point, I’ve likely spent money on travel, accommodations, and already far from home. By that time, it’s too late. Some clients expect us to take on FAR TOO MUCH risk for $200-$300. I have to travel to a city, book a hotel, and pay for hotel: all with no deposit from anyone? No. 

Similar to how shoplifters/and those mass burglaries cause stores to have to pass it on to consumer prices, having a bunch of NC/NS can have the same effect. 

On 9/2/2023 at 8:16 PM, DWnyc said:

@Jarrod_Uncut you should be thankful to get the feedback from potential clients even if you don’t agree with what they have to say.

Large companies spend millions on market research to understand what’s on their targets’ minds. 

What you do with that information received is of course totally up to you.

Feedback is one thing, but I’m not sure what you’re getting at. If it’s in relation to rate choice, I can clarify that:

In the past year, the 3 clients who noted my rate went up: one was from adam4adam and he took some time to finally agree to booking to begin with (unfortunately, a site known for lower rates), another defrauded me out of the session, after paying with a credit card. And another was a client who had relocated, and said my prices went up: 3 YEARS after he last booked me 🤦🏾‍♂️ 

So not all client feedback is necessarily good feedback. 

 

On 9/2/2023 at 9:54 PM, pubic_assistance said:

In most careers you make more with experience.

But when it comes to escorting I'd probably pay more for a 21 year old than I would a 36 year old escort.

( I mean ...personally, I wouldn't even consider hiring someone that old).

So this particular career has a different valuation curve than others do.

Well, you’d be getting ripped off because: I doubt that 21 year old is going to give the same level of service as the 36 year old lol.

Hell, I’m giving a better presentation in the biz now, than I was at 21 years old lol. Though I do feel there was more clients back then and it was MUCH easier: Craig’s, backpage, A4A used to allow rates, M4RN, rentboy, even RentMen was just a seedling 🌱 back in 2008 when I was 21 😂 and there was less providers than now, and no lousy hookup apps. 
 

2023 in the escort industry a jungle 😵‍💫 

 

16 hours ago, Luv2play said:

I'm just the opposite. Most 21 yo don't have a clue about what makes for good sex. Wam bang is their style. 

With age and experience one can become a maestro. Or not. But the good 30 something year olds can't be beat, imo

But each to his own. Thank God.

Exactly. Maybe in some circumstances like, daddy/son role. But…there’s plenty, maybe even MORE tall, older, beefy bottoms out there that hate the idea of being forced into some “daddy/father” role, and rather want to be fucked.

As I’ve gotten older, I am finding my quality of (ones who actually show up) client has improved. And, some are even younger. Recently had one who was only 27 or 29. I was 🤩 on cloud 9.

13 hours ago, KensingtonHomo said:

I feel the same way. I don't even find 21-year-olds attractive. They're not done baking to me and are nearly always bad at sex. Plus in my experience, the younger, more ripped guys can act like they're doing you a favor. But I don't value youth, so I'm like "meh..." For me, guys in their mid-30s to 40s are ideal escorts. They tend to have been in the business for a while and have been successful enough to last a decade or more. Or, they're guys with other interests or work who escort because they love sex and having it with various people. 

Regarding @Jarrod_Uncut raising his prices, I think he should. Nearly everyone has experienced inflation and everything costs more. I've noticed that providers who lived near us and who we host don't really charge more but those who are visiting and paying for a hotel, etc, have raised their prices. 

Exactly! In fact, I will even say I’ve “dreamed” of the day I could be a 35-45 y/o escort when I was younger. They often seemed to be able to set firmer boundaries, get flown around, and get more longer sessions/overnights.

Unfortunately, the damn hookup app culture and economy/Covid has dampened that dream a bit. I did get a taste of it when I first turned 30 back in 2017-2018. I’m hoping after the next election (politics often play a part too) things will level out. Too much “Demo/Repo” animosity going out right now. Maybe they should just elect an Eagle 🦅

Otherwise yes, I did continue to put my rates up. Unfortunately, I can’t only charge $200 anymore for everything and anything like things used to back in 2012. It’s nothing about being greedy or pompous, it’s just things are different. However, I will still stick with a tier level of service. I don’t imply anyone’s money is not valuable. $150 or $200 is fine for some meets. But the more involved sessions require a bit more.

And also: I know this may not mean much in the big scheme of things considering people probably use credit cards, etc. for such purchases but: I have sat and listened to clients/gay men tell me all about spending $30,000 on upgrades for their home, or $12,000 for a leisure trip, and $70,000 on a vehicle: I find it despicable those same people will turn their nose up about $300 or a $50 increase.

I find (the self absorbed) guys love to do that in general. They’ll talk all about how much they have and how much they spend on this and that, but treat their sex partner of low value. I’m just very against that. That’s why if someone tells me my rates are too high, I want to put them up. If someone says I should be charging more, I keep it the way it is, as that means it’s no reason to be gaslit since I could technically be asking more.

[pubic_assistance]

8 hours ago, Jarrod_Uncut said:

Well, you’d be getting ripped off because: I doubt that 21 year old is going to give the same level of service as the 36 year old lol.

What "Level of Service" ?

We are talking about escorting, not a visit to a spa or an outpatient health center, performing surgery.

As long as the guy's cute and willing, as a top, I am doing most of the work anyway.

[Archangel]

I’m sorry. I don’t like paying more for anything. Everything has gotten more expensive and I bitch about it. The product/service is no better…and my paycheck hasn’t gone up. In fact, my employer has told me that my health benefit will be reduced this year. So excuse me for not being happy that the cost of anything, including escorting, has gone up.

I wish I could set my pay rate and just expect people to accept it and happily so! 

[Archangel]

On 9/2/2023 at 2:52 PM, NyGold said:

The idea that we are entitled — entitled — to more just by hanging around without increasing perceived value in the market - is at the root of many problems facing our economic society. 

👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 

[CuriousByNature]

5 hours ago, arnemgreeves said:

Any supplier of any good or service can alter their prices as they see fit. 
if you’re a business owner lets see you never rise your prices. 

 

This is very true, I believe, and I've mentioned it myself in responses to various posts over the past few years.  But because I have never met with anyone I'm not sure my opinion carries any weight in this respect.  That said, I can't think of anyone who would WANT to pay more for something than what they had been paying - whether that is for a product, an experience, or a service.   

But the reality is that prices for pretty much everything always go up over time, and complaining about it does nothing positive for one's own well being.  As you noted earlier, @arnemgreeves the OP has every right to ask for whatever donation he sees fit.  I would add that @Jarrod_Uncutshould feel no need to explain why it has become necessary or desirous to increase the donation amount.  It really isn't anyone's business, and those who are put off by increases have to make decisions accordingly. 

Certain things always outpace the rate of inflation, and when something suddenly jumps a lot in cost, it isn't necessarily unwarranted.  It could be because, until that point, that particular product or service had been chronically undervalued compared to it's actual worth.  

[Nodalguy]

I think the circumstances can change things considerably. For example, I just started seeing this rentboy who's both new to me as well as to the scene. Because of that, he's charging pretty cheap prices compared to the going rate (so I have and plan to tip him considerably more to compensate for that because he definitely deserves it). When he raises his prices, I definitely won't complain. I actually told him once he has some regulars and good reviews, he needs to raise his prices for sure.

On the other hand, I had one provider who asked for a deposit and then after that, his prices never adjusted to reflect that I'd paid it. And he also kept asking for more with seemingly zero memory of the services and prices we had already agreed to.

One of the few things that really, really annoys me or turns me off is someone just being totally self-centered, money-focused, and making themselves, frankly, a rip-off as they have zero real interest in providing decent service. It reminds me of that ancient Horace quotation: "miraris, cum tu argento post omnia ponas, si nemo praestet quem non merearis amorem?" Which I would (somewhat loosely) translate as: "Are you surprised, when you value money more than anything else, if no one pays you the love you never earned?"

[Archangel]

11 minutes ago, Nodalguy said:

One of the few things that really, really annoys me or turns me off is someone just being totally self-centered, money-focused, and making themselves, frankly, a rip-off as they have zero real interest in providing decent service.

Or put another way, entitled to a guy’s money simply because a guy reaches out.

Or put more crudely, sees clients as nothing more than ATMs. I was going to say human ATMs, but such guys don’t really see us as human.

Calling them providers is also laughable because they really only take. I’ve dealt with those types and if I sense it while attempting to book, it’s a pass. If it turns out I was duped, they generally offer a shitty experience and they’re definitely not a repeat. 

[Nodalguy]

13 minutes ago, Archangel said:

Calling them providers is also laughable because they really only take.

🤣 Good one. That is going to stick with me.

[NyGold]

On 9/4/2023 at 9:46 AM, Luv2play said:

I'm just the opposite. Most 21 yo don't have a clue about what makes for good sex. Wam bang is their style. 

With age and experience one can become a maestro. Or not. But the good 30 something year olds can't be beat, imo

But each to his own. Thank God.

Remember your point about the good 30 year olds when you’re a good 40 year old and more …

[NyGold]

18 hours ago, Archangel said:

Or put another way, entitled to a guy’s money simply because a guy reaches out.

Or put more crudely, sees clients as nothing more than ATMs. I was going to say human ATMs, but such guys don’t really see us as human.

Calling them providers is also laughable because they really only take. I’ve dealt with those types and if I sense it while attempting to book, it’s a pass. If it turns out I was duped, they generally offer a shitty experience and they’re definitely not a repeat. 

Well it goes both ways, clients can be shitty too and maybe we collectively punish people for others’ bad behavior 

 

[Archangel]

@NyGold– we hear ad nauseam about the shitty clients. Decency goes a long way to covering a multitude of sins…If you’re a genuine person, if you do something boneheadedly rude toward someone else, another genuine person will likely forgive you or overlook it. But if you’re a jerk or only looking out for yourself, then your comeuppance will happen at some point. 

[Nodalguy]

On 9/4/2023 at 8:46 AM, Luv2play said:

Most 21 yo don't have a clue about what makes for good sex. Wam bang is their style. 

If they're bottoming, then they just have to assume the right positions and get into it (or convincingly feign getting into it). 🤣

[Luv2play]

1 hour ago, Nodalguy said:

If they're bottoming, then they just have to assume the right positions and get into it (or convincingly feign getting into it). 🤣

Obviously I was talking about tops. I guess bottoms can just fake it an any age.

[NyGold]

6 hours ago, Archangel said:

@NyGold– we hear ad nauseam about the shitty clients. Decency goes a long way to covering a multitude of sins…If you’re a genuine person, if you do something boneheadedly rude toward someone else, another genuine person will likely forgive you or overlook it. But if you’re a jerk or only looking out for yourself, then your comeuppance will happen at some point. 

Agreed

 

[NyGold]

On 9/4/2023 at 12:27 PM, KensingtonHomo said:

I feel the same way. I don't even find 21-year-olds attractive. They're not done baking to me and are nearly always bad at sex. Plus in my experience, the younger, more ripped guys can act like they're doing you a favor. But I don't value youth, so I'm like "meh..." For me, guys in their mid-30s to 40s are ideal escorts. They tend to have been in the business for a while and have been successful enough to last a decade or more. Or, they're guys with other interests or work who escort because they love sex and having it with various people. 

Regarding @Jarrod_Uncut raising his prices, I think he should. Nearly everyone has experienced inflation and everything costs more. I've noticed that providers who lived near us and who we host don't really charge more but those who are visiting and paying for a hotel, etc, have raised their prices. 

Let him and anyone else raise their prices, and do a handstand and dance a jig if they want. No one is stopping them, our discussion here doesn’t mean anything.

But if they genuinely (and not with faux naïveté) wonder why they can’t just do whatever they want and every client should accept it on a pace they set - after a while there isn’t much to say that’s  helpful or supportive. 

I’ve spent my career in professional services. I know what would happen if I participated in a discussion group including people like my clients expressing surprise and frustration on issues such as “why can’t I raise my prices and have the same or more bookings”, “why don’t my clients want my work exactly as I determine it should be” etc 

[Archangel]

1 hour ago, NyGold said:

“why can’t I raise my prices and have the same or more bookings”, “why don’t my clients want my work exactly as I determine it should be”

It’s the entitlement thing.

There will always be guys who will provide the service for less than the market average. If a guy wants to charge above it, he most certainly can. But one provider raising his rates just sets himself apart as more expensive than if a not negligible number of providers do so. If you’re on the vanguard of raising prices, in a price increase period, you can likely expect a decline in number of clients until the demand side catches up with supply. Supply also will adjust down if demand refuses to meet supply price (cf. elasticity and stickiness) 

[NyGold]

24 minutes ago, Archangel said:

It’s the entitlement thing.

There will always be guys who will provide the service for less than the market average. If a guy wants to charge above it, he most certainly can. But one provider raising his rates just sets himself apart as more expensive than if a not negligible number of providers do so. If you’re on the vanguard of raising prices, in a price increase period, you can likely expect a decline in number of clients until the demand side catches up with supply. Supply also will adjust down if demand refuses to meet supply price (cf. elasticity and stickiness) 

Plus just an inability to comprehend how the market measures one’s value. An individual thinking they are good, or the best, doesn’t mean their market thinks so.

Deciding to put all sorts of inputs into one’s service - with costs associated -without testing what the market will tolerate,  And then using that to justify price, and wondering why that might be surprising to anyone … and why if people spend money on something completely unrelated they can’t or won’t spend on their service …  the mind boggles. 

This is not about an individuals value to society as a human being, self worth, self esteem, to one’s family and friends etc.

It’s about capitalist reality.