"Percentage Off" advertised by providers - do you ask ?

[Ali Gator]

I've noticed over the years many providers (especially travelers) advertise a 'percentage off' for new clients, or if you book Mon- Wed, or before 1 pm, etc. These percentages range from 10 - 25% off their regular rates (and it's mostly masseurs, though I've seen it in escort ads as well).

So my question is : Do you usually take advantage of these offers, and how do you bring it up when it's time to pay (or sooner) ? Through experience, I notice they never bring it up themselves (even though it's in their ads).  I've mentioned it a few times before I get on the table, and sometimes they acknowledge it and other times they say, 'oh, that expired' (but it's still in their ads). I don't push it.

How do /would others handle it ? 

[pubic_assistance]

30 minutes ago, Ali Gator said:

how do you bring it up when it's time to pay (or sooner) ?

I've never hired anyone without first confirming the price based on my request for date/time of day & hours requested.

So I pay what we agreed to.

I tip for anything that goes beyond that agreement.

 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

47 minutes ago, Ali Gator said:

How do /would others handle it ? 

Let's say his rate is $250 for a 120 minute massage, and advertises 10% off on Wednesdays.  When confirming the date/time, I'll add,  "To confirm, that's $225 for 2 hour massage on this Wednesday at 3pm (including advertised 10%off on Wednesdays).  I'll message again Wednesday morning to confirm address".

[Ali Gator]

3 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

I've never hired anyone without first confirming the price based on my request for date/time of day & hours requested.

So I pay what we agreed to.

I tip for anything that goes beyond that agreement.

 

But the question is - even when confirming the price beforehand, as you do - do you ask about the 'percent-off offer' they advertise in their RMass or MassFinder ad ? Do they honor that offer when you show up for the appointment ?

I should elaborate on my above post: I usually confirm, too, when making the appointment via text  and mention the advertised offer, to which they say 'yes'. So if they say their rate is $200, I will respond with "I'm booking before 1 pm today, so with your 20% off you advertise, that brings it down to $160, correct ?"  They ALWAYS say 'yes' via text messages back and forth. 

Before I undress and get on the table, I confirm once again, as I say, ' just to make sure, so we understand each other, according to your ad...' 

I get one of the three responses at that point:

1. Yes, that is correct (usually about 20% of the time). They honor their offer in the ad.

2. No, that offer expired (or no, that's just when I'm home..) - when I point out our text message exchange from a few hours before, they just shrug their shoulders and pretend they misunderstood. They don't honor their own offer.

3. They look baffled, and then tell me no. I show them our text exchange and they tell me their English is 'no good'. I show them their own ad with the offer, and they say 'English is no good'.  But it's good enough for them to charge their regular rate. 

So I'm curious how others handle this ?

(PS - I also see '20% off' with a 'military ID', with a 'student ID', with a 'First Responder ID', etc. Non apply to me.) 

[Ali Gator]

Just now, Vegas_Millennial said:

Let's say his rate is $250 for a 120 minute massage, and advertises 10% off on Wednesdays.  When confirming the date/time, I'll add,  "To confirm, that's $225 for 2 hour massage on this Wednesday at 3pm (including advertised 10%off on Wednesdays).  I'll message again Wednesday morning to confirm address".

Do they usually honor it once it's time to pay up ? 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

Just now, Ali Gator said:

But the question is - even when confirming the price beforehand, as you do - do you ask about the 'percent-off offer' they advertise in their RMass or MassFinder ad ? Do they honor that offer when you show up for the appointment ?

I should elaborate on my above post: I usually confirm, too, when making the appointment via text  and mention the advertised offer, to which they say 'yes'. So if they say their rate is $200, I will respond with "I'm booking before 1 pm today, so with your 20% off you advertise, that brings it down to $160, correct ?"  They ALWAYS say 'yes' via text messages back and forth. 

Before I undress and get on the table, I confirm once again, as I say, ' just to make sure, so we understand each other, according to your ad...' 

I get one of the three responses at that point:

1. Yes, that is correct (usually about 20% of the time). They honor their offer in the ad.

2. No, that offer expired (or no, that's just when I'm home..) - when I point out our text message exchange from a few hours before, they just shrug their shoulders and pretend they misunderstood. They don't honor their own offer.

3. They look baffled, and then tell me no. I show them our text exchange and they tell me their English is 'no good'. I show them their own ad with the offer, and they say 'English is no good'.  But it's good enough for them to charge their regular rate. 

So I'm curious how others handle this ?

(PS - I also see '20% off' with a 'military ID', with a 'student ID', with a 'First Responder ID', etc. Non apply to me.) 

I confirm a set $ by text before the meeting

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

Just now, Ali Gator said:

Do they usually honor it once it's time to pay up ? 

Yes, the price agreed upon by text before the session is the price I pay

[Ali Gator]

Just now, Vegas_Millennial said:

Yes, the price agreed upon by text before the session is the price I pay

Good to know. As I mentioned above, I have found it to be a challenge for many of my experiences in the past couple of years. 

I guess I should also point out it's mostly new providers, on the younger side (under 30). They are the ones who don't honor their advertised offer. The older, more experienced providers usually do. 

[pubic_assistance]

1 hour ago, Ali Gator said:

do you ask about the 'percent-off offer'

You're making it too complicated.

If you've inquired about their price during their discounted period, and you've confirmed a price. There is no need to further discuss the discount.

Your quoted price is your quoted price.  If they get confused, you show them the text thread.

[Ali Gator]

35 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

Your quoted price is your quoted price.  If they get confused, you show them the text thread.

Please read my post again. I do show them the text thread (which discusses the advertised discount) and they respond that either 'It expired', or 'it's just valid when I'm home, not traveling', or they say they didn't understand what I meant because their English is 'no good'.

So again, I ask, what do others do in this situation ? Do they insist on the discount and agreed upon price, or just end it there ? 

[pubic_assistance]

45 minutes ago, Ali Gator said:

their English is 'no good'.

If there English "no good". Then show them numbers.

[Nightowl]

I find the discussion of fees to be too awkward and tend to avoid it, even when a discount is advertised, so I usually prepare to pay their full advertised rate plus a generous tip if it’s a good session.  I may end up missing an opportunity to save some money but it’s not that much in the end.

[Ali Gator]

1 hour ago, Nightowl said:

  I may end up missing an opportunity to save some money but it’s not that much in the end.

Actually, 20% off $150 - $200 is quite a bit to save. 

[Nightowl]

20 minutes ago, Ali Gator said:

Actually, 20% off $150 - $200 is quite a bit to save. 

Depends on your perspective