"Ask me"

[pierrot]

I've been noticing an increasing number of escort ads that say "ask me" under the price category. I don't know how others feel about this, but it makes me a little nervous. Are they going to bargain with me? Do I have to negotiate a price before making the appointment? Given that talking about money on the phone is one of the ways you can be entrapped for prostitution, I would think it would be to everyone's advantage to just post the price so it wouldn't be necessary to discuss.

 

Maybe it's just because I don't have the haggling mentality, but I do not want to negotiate on the phone (or at all). It's a negative for me to see that. I just want to know the price, then I'll commit or not.

 

Do others have thoughts about this?

[Guest countryboywny]

I agree with you Pierrot. When I'm shopping escort ads and I see "Ask me" or "Varies" as well as faceless pics.. those ads go to the bottom of the pile.

[zeferrelli]

I can't agree more!

[+ sf westcoaster]

When I see "ask me" that makes my decision an easy one - pass on this escort.

[+ ArVaGuy]

I will not answer or give serious consideration to any escort ad with "Ask Me" in the rate quotation. Same with "rate varies". Better for the escort to state his rate or rates and that allows me to determine if he's in my budget range and not waste my time and his with a useless inquiry. Both "ask" and "varies" rate listings for me is an open invitation to negotiate the rate.

[imrthr]

"ask me" or "varies" = turn off

 

The consensus of opinions so far agrees that escorts who advertise “ask me” or “varies” are not likely to get calls.

 

I am aware that escorts pay to advertise. The advertising fee on Rentboy and other sites can be substantial if the escort advertises on a regular basis. It seems the escort is wasting his money when he creates an ad that does not state his desired fee.

 

Maybe enough escorts will read this thread and will think about lost revenue because they failed to state their rates.

[seaboy4hire]

This is just a guess but I wonder if the reason why some guys put "ask me" is because for the first hour one might charge $200 and then each additional hour after is $100 and they might find it easier to put down "ask me." Of course they could always put their prices in the text section of their profiles to avoid the dreaded "ask me."

 

Hugs,

Greg

[Kevin Slater]

The consensus of opinions so far agrees that escorts who advertise “ask me” or “varies” are not likely to get calls.

 

I am aware that escorts pay to advertise. The advertising fee on Rentboy and other sites can be substantial if the escort advertises on a regular basis. It seems the escort is wasting his money when he creates an ad that does not state his desired fee.

 

Maybe enough escorts will read this thread and will think about lost revenue because they failed to state their rates.

 

Unfortunately, I don't think most escorts put that much thought into their ads. I also suspect the posters on this board may not be representative of the general hiring population (in that guys who post here may be more analytical in their hiring process). I have to assume the ads are working for these guys or they wouldn't be paying for them. I doubt they're wasting their money, just not getting maximum bang for the buck.

 

That being said, I too read "ask me" and "rates vary" to say "move right along".

 

Kevin Slater

[+ ArVaGuy]

Unfortunately, I don't think most escorts put that much thought into their ads. I also suspect the posters on this board may not be representative of the general hiring population (in that guys who post here may be more analytical in their hiring process). I have to assume the ads are working for these guys or they wouldn't be paying for them. I doubt they're wasting their money, just not getting maximum bang for the buck.

 

That being said, I too read "ask me" and "rates vary" to say "move right along".

 

Kevin Slater

 

 

Kevin, I agree that most escorts may not put that much thought into their ads or their business for that matter if you look at how some of them operate. Also, very good point about the participants on this, and other message boards, being more analytical in their hiring process. The clients here likely tend to be more experienced and so have a clearer understanding of their expecations and how the business works in an ideal situation. Maybe including the lurkers here that group might comprise a sliver of 1% of potential market.

[uwsman2]

nonspecific rates in ads

 

I never call an escort whose ad says "ask me" because I want to know up-front at least what the range of fees might be. I suspect that the escorts are putting that because their rate varies based on their sense of the client and what the client wants them to do, and I don't begrudge them the right to do that, but I'm not interested in bargaining about rates over the phone with a person I don't know. In fact, I prefer that money not be mentioned on the phone, which is why I only call when there is an advertised rate (or a rate listed in a review on this site).

 

I wish the escort sites would allow people to put ranges in their ads. I would call an escort who advertised a range of fees, provided the top fee he quotes is not totally outside my "ballpark."

 

Another reason escorts may not want to list a rate is because they think this will give them some kind of "defense" if they are targeted by law enforcement. Fat chance! They're advertising on an escort site.

[AdamSmith]

I must be gullible. When I see an ad I like, and the rate says "Ask me," I do just that. Then, answer in hand, I decide whether to play or pass.

 

So far, I've never passed.

 

Granted I've been lucky enough never to have been told (1) a price that was outrageous, or (2) an answer that suggested an upsell is in the works. Either of those would shut it down.

[Guest Merlin]

I have never been bothered by a "don't ask" ad. If interested, I would ask the fee and decide whether it is in my range. I don't see a real difference between that and a price stated in the ad. I think many want to have a different price for different services, especially for bottoming. But, if an ascort starts wanting me to be specific about what I want and a commitment to pay, I would shy away. Often they think that making the ad ambiguous makes it less likely to be used as evidence in the event of a police sting. That would depend on the over all content of the ad. Perhaps the price varies with how busy he is.

I doubt that it is often intended as an invitation to haggle.