Gas prices and our business (as providers and clients)

[Michael Wayne]

Well guys I was waiting for someone else to post this thread but since no one has and since my 9am client just cancelled last minute on me I have an hour or so free on my hands. This has been bothering me for a while now so I thought I would get imput from clients and escorts alike. I try VERY HARD to keep my rates as LOW as I can. I am NOT of the opinion that the most expensive guy in a market is necessarily the best. In fact many of my clients say that the more they pay the LESS they get. Alot of the 250-400$ an hour guys provide alot of ATTITUDE but not alot of bang for the buck so to speak. There are exceptions and good ones but I am just reporting what I hear from REAL clients. So, as a result of this percieved arrogance of the top dollar rentboy I post a REASONABLE rate for one, two hours or overnights which attracts great clients. I understand the economy and recession reality so I try to not set my rates so high as to repel new clients. All of that was well and good until $4 gas came along. Now they say here in florida that $5 gas will soon be a reality. Cabs are higher. flights are ridiculous...etc. Now, I live in a local market that requires a tremendous amount of driving to get to my clients. I am in ft. myers/naples, florida and just to get to naples from ft myers is 45 minutes and back. Many of my clients are in sarasota (1 hour away) many more are in tampa bay (2 hours away) I also have numerous good clients in ft. lauderdale (2 hours away). FUEL COSTS ARE EXPLODING. Now most businesses just pass this off on their customers. I feel bad about doing this. I see the rates other guys are charging and I wonder .......... What I have been doing lately instead of raising rates is asking new clients who are over an hour away to book 2 hours. This seems more classy than charging for driving time or adding a fuel upcharge......finally: not every client is RICH. We are seeing more Hampton Inn calls now than Ritz Carltons. That is the new reality. Do we settle for a little less (or alot less) profit or risk raising rates and losing clients? FYI - I drive a fuel efficient Corrolla so it is not like I am driving a Hummer to these clients. http://www.rentboy.com/mikey9nola1 239-464-6053

[Michael Wayne]

let me give a specific example: last weekend I drove to ft. lauderdale to see a regular and had an amazing time! It was a 2 hour drive and he gladly paid me for a 2 hour call so I made 250. glad to get it and I am flattered that in such a competitive/cut-throat market as ft. lauderdale that I can still do well and attract these type of clients. Now the other side: gas cost me 42 dollars (in a corrolla! lol) tolls cost me $7. was tired and hungry after the date so paid $20 for dinner. total is $69 which means profit was only about $170. total driving time was 4.5 hours. A typical Tampa client is about the same. Sarasota about half of that. etc. now, here is the question: do you tell the clients this and ask for more or do you grin and bear it? Clients: are yall tucking in a little extra gas money as a tip? Now, I have NEVER expected a tip. My outcall rate includes all travel costs and expenses to get to and from the client. But to expect a guy to have the same rate as he did when Pres. Obama was inaugurated and gas was $1.90 now when gas is $3.99 is a stretch. Also, lately I have had several potential new clients that required an in call decide not to drive to me because it was too far (aka...i will spend too much on gas) Now, my favorite gay, and now deceased, radio talk show host Neil Rogers down here in south Florida used to say, "The day Neil has to complain about gas prices is the day Neil has failed. I don't mean to sound arrogant but Neil Rogers can afford to buy gas even if it hits $10 a galon as in Europe." Now, don't yall think I am broke (lol) Mikey can afford to buy gas. Business has been good! but it is a business and the name of the game is PROFIT and alot of my profit is being drunk by my car!

[tom1980]

I think the way to compensate for higher gas prices is to increase your fee for outcalls. As a client, I realize that most guys charge more for outcalls than for incalls because of travel expenses. The difference in rates makes it clear to your clients that you are trying to cover the additional expenses (for both time and gas) to go to them. You also might be able to list a fee range for outcalls that starts at your infallible rate and adds up to $50. You can then explain that the charge varies based on distance. I wouldn't be offended by that, but I can't speak for other clients.

[Guest JackF]

This is very interesting and also a touchy subject, I feel. I can certainly see both sides of the fence, both the client & the escort. Personally, I used to never really upcharge for gas/tolls unless I was going to drive a considerable distance to get somewhere. But now, with the price of gas increasing, the tolls being ridiculous down south & sometimes having to pay for parking, my out-of-pocket expenses can easily reach $50 for a simple outcall.

I will be the first to admit I drive a truck and only get 14-16 mpg, on average, so for me to drive somewhere even locally can begin to get pricey. Mikey is lucky enough to get better gas mileage than I, haha.

Sometimes I feel that if you are up-front & tell them, "listen, I drive an SUV, gas isn't exactly cheap these days and I'm doing my best, would you mind throwing me an extra 20-40$ to cover gas/tolls?" Most are cool with that, IMO. The ones that aren't are typically your "coupon clipper" guys anyway that want to get you cheaper than your advertised rate because they "don't want to do everything" or "only wanna suck". I'll even go as far as to offer a little bit extra time (10-15min, whatever) to make them feel better about giving me a bit extra to cover gas. Afterall, it's not like I can still drive around with an empty tank - I HAVE to fill up eventually, hah.

I also feel that if you make your fee just a few $$ more, you'd still be fine, most likely, plus it can offer a "buffer" zone for both parties. I'm not trying to break anyone's bank at the end of the day, but when you figure in expenses on an escort's part, it can easily add up to us making almost nothing or just breaking even, which often times isn't even worth the hassle.

Hopefully that makes sense and doesn't come off too negatively, as that is not the purpose.

[Guest JackF]

Another point I forgot to mention, but was touched on already is asking for the client to extend the session length to also aid in the travel department. Some folks just don't get that for an escort to spend 2-3+ hours in the car just to travel to a one hour appointment is a bit much. I will sometimes ask if we can extend the appointment to 1.5 or 2 hours to make the travel time worth the effort. I don't think it's asking for too much, but certain situations it may not be appropriate, of course.

I definitely would agree that driving more than 2-3 hours for only an hour appointment may not be worth the time and effort. I would never charge for "drive time" as some others may do, I only ask that my gas/tolls/parking fees are covered and that you pay for our time "together".

[Cal28]

Not that it's any of my business what you charge, Mikey, but since you asked for opinions, my two cents is that your rates are too low. Even if you bumped it up to $200 for an hour and $300 for two, you still would be under market rates. Keep your regulars who might balk at an increase where they are, but institute the new charge for new clients. No doubt you know best which rates bring in the business, but coming from a client's perspective, I'm not sure I'd be open to up-charges based on distance. It would make me suspicious about what other up-charges the escort has up his sleeve. I will say that asking a long-distance client to book two hours is a very good solution, IMO, and I wouldn't object to that at all.

[gallahadesquire]

I think the way to compensate for higher gas prices is to increase your fee for outcalls. As a client, I realize that most guys charge more for outcalls than for incalls because of travel expenses. The difference in rates makes it clear to your clients that you are trying to cover the additional expenses (for both time and gas) to go to them. You also might be able to list a fee range for outcalls that starts at your infallible rate and adds up to $50. You can then explain that the charge varies based on distance. I wouldn't be offended by that, but I can't speak for other clients.

 

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Tom. And welcome aboard!

[gallahadesquire]

Another point I forgot to mention, but was touched on already is asking for the client to extend the session length to also aid in the travel department. Some folks just don't get that for an escort to spend 2-3+ hours in the car just to travel to a one hour appointment is a bit much. I will sometimes ask if we can extend the appointment to 1.5 or 2 hours to make the travel time worth the effort. I don't think it's asking for too much, but certain situations it may not be appropriate, of course.

I definitely would agree that driving more than 2-3 hours for only an hour appointment may not be worth the time and effort. I would never charge for "drive time" as some others may do, I only ask that my gas/tolls/parking fees are covered and that you pay for our time "together".

 

With my first appointment with who-is-now-a-regular-escort, I was informed that "It will have to be a minimum of two hours", since it's about 40 miles. The first appointment was seven hours. Since then, we've given up, and just do overnights.

[down_to_business]

I see your dilemma. Raise rates or add minnimum time requirements and risk alienating clients, driving them to find cheaper alternatives (like the guys on craigslist and backpage etc) or ask for gas money and risk appearing to nickel & dime the client. Or grin and bear it and cut into your profit. I can only offer you my perspective. I think it would be reasonable to put the following statement on your website : All appointments involving travel over 30 miles from zip code 12345 require a 2 hour minnimum appointment. This would be the least offensive to me, anyways. I would, however, recommend doing something different than making the 2 hour rate double the 1 hour rate. That math might work for some but it is 100% way to alienate me as a potential client.

 

1) Simply raising rates for all clients wouldn't be the best solution because you are really in an economy where discretionary speding is the first thing to go. Yes you are paying more to travel, but between food and energy prices rising, chances are they are having to spend more on the basic necessities as well and simply may not be able to afford it. In this economy price sensitivity is very real.

 

2) Asking for reimbursements of tolls and travel costs. Again this is only my opinion. I hate feeling nickled and dimed. Once I hired an extended engagement for a few thousand dollars. the escort decided to hit me up for an additional taxi fee to get from his residence to the airport. That ruined the entire weekend for me. All I could think about was the added charge that was sprung on me from the moment the escort arrived to the moment the escort left. That being said, however, if you are going to make a really long trip to see me and you are not going to make me book anything more than 1 hour-- I see nothing wrong with (if advance notice is given) asking me to reimburse your tolls or add a gas allowance.

 

Hope my perspective helps.

[Guest JackF]

With my first appointment with who-is-now-a-regular-escort, I was informed that "It will have to be a minimum of two hours", since it's about 40 miles. The first appointment was seven hours. Since then, we've given up, and just do overnights.

 

Glad it worked out for you! I like those stories.

[maxwellissmart]

1) Simply raising rates for all clients wouldn't be the best solution because you are really in an economy where discretionary speding is the first thing to go. Yes you are paying more to travel, but between food and energy prices rising, chances are they are having to spend more on the basic necessities as well and simply may not be able to afford it. In this economy price sensitivity is very real.

 

2) Asking for reimbursements of tolls and travel costs. Again this is only my opinion. I hate feeling nickled and dimed. Once I hired an extended engagement for a few thousand dollars. the escort decided to hit me up for an additional taxi fee to get from his residence to the airport. That ruined the entire weekend for me. All I could think about was the added charge that was sprung on me from the moment the escort arrived to the moment the escort left. That being said, however, if you are going to make a really long trip to see me and you are not going to make me book anything more than 1 hour-- I see nothing wrong with (if advance notice is given) asking me to reimburse your tolls or add a gas allowance.

 

Actually—it's worked a little more like this: I've lowered the price across the board, and then suddenly the floodgates have opened. I've always found that that economy doesn't affect the desire to spend on luxury items, but it does affect the threshold amount to get someone to take the plunge and spend at all. Surprisingly, I only had to lower rates about $20. As far as asking for reimbursements—I don't "ask" for anything, which is one of the reasons I've always put "rates vary," for the past couple of years of escorting. I can raise or lower prices as needed once I find out how close or far someone is to me. But I don't raise prices because of gas use anyway—that's one of the expenses of doing business—and I'm sorry, but gas prices have been in the $3+range for quite some time now, and even an overnight price hike of .50 isn't going to faze me that much (it would only add $5.50 to the price of filling my tank anyway). I'm more concerned about time. Why would I drive 4.5 hours—in Mikey's case—for $170? The likelihood that someone is going to call me locally during that time is relatively high, and I could miss out on a much less complicated appointment. Besides, even with a regular—I'm going to me mightily pissed if I drive that far and get there and hear: "oh, something came up, and I have to cancel."

[Kevin Slater]

Actually—it's worked a little more like this: I've lowered the price across the board, and then suddenly the floodgates have opened. I've always found that that economy doesn't affect the desire to spend on luxury items, but it does affect the threshold amount to get someone to take the plunge and spend at all.

 

I've often thought that escorting may be counter-cyclical, like beer. During rough times, wine drinkers drop to beer and beer drinkers drink more. I think those who can afford it keep hiring, and it may be the case that those that have to cancel vacations, large purchases, et cetera make small amends by purchasing an hour or two of luxury. Like the opulent films produced in the 30's, I think a session with an escort offers an escapist distraction from the condition of the outside world. Anecdotally, the downturn hasn't seemed to affect me negatively.

 

Kevin Slater

[maxwellissmart]

I've often thought that escorting may be counter-cyclical, like beer. During rough times, wine drinkers drop to beer and beer drinkers drink more. I think those who can afford it keep hiring, and it may be the case that those that have to cancel vacations, large purchases, et cetera make small amends by purchasing an hour or two of luxury. Like the opulent films produced in the 30's, I think a session with an escort offers an escapist distraction from the condition of the outside world. Anecdotally, the downturn hasn't seemed to affect me negatively.

 

Kevin Slater

 

I agree—and I never bring up the economy. The last thing I want is for someone to look at me and think they should be spending their money more wisely. And that's not for me to judge anyway—for all I know, they're terminally ill and this is how they want to go out.

[gallahadesquire]

I agree—and I never bring up the economy. The last thing I want is for someone to look at me and think they should be spending their money more wisely. And that's not for me to judge anyway—for all I know, they're terminally ill and this is how they want to go out.

 

That would make the Health Care Proxy or Advanced Directives Lawyer somewhat surprised! When I nearly died in the Hospital, the Intensive care guy didn't have the common decency to tell ME that. Of course, my reaction would have been ... surprising to all involved, especially the Cardiac Monitor.