Demand Pricing?

[+ Phactor]

I agree demand pricing is typically reserved for commodities. But I recognize that revenue attainment is critical to a business, so I cannot fault someone from using the pricing method if it works for them. Just for kicks, I created a hypothetical rate schedule: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TFUO2JfbuiSP5FTNXDufKqptPcUKdfpdVXrplEKwkSo/edit?usp=sharing

[+ WhamIAm]

It's the escort's right/decision to choose.

It's the client's right to pass.

Changing the rate once agreed upon is disrespectful and a dick move.

Tossing him out of the car is awesome.

[MiamiLooker]

You're are correct, it is an excuse/reason to make more money, we are a capitalist society after all, but as KW mentions, if an escort decides that it benefits him, then that's his prerogative, but it is also my prerogative to say "No Thank You" as I do with cruise lines, airlines, hotels etc. that engage in "demand" pricing.

 

I just had a local escort raise his price on me quite suddenly as I arrived to pick him up for a little dinner first. After he was in the car, he casually mentioned his price had increased from the last time, his reasoning, it's summer here and there are fewer escorts and he was in demand. I thought about it for a split second and I simply said, "That doesn't work for me." He quickly offered a lower price, but said he would do less...Uh nope...I thanked him, let him out of the car, and drove away. I ended up having a perfectly delightful evening with friends at 'Sea Watch' on the beach.

 

It's a free world, and escorts are free to do whatever it is they feel is necessary with their pricing, and as a consumer, I have the option of simply saying "No thank you"...If I can see pricing differences in some format for peak times, that I'm OK with, but to spring a price increase on an unsuspecting client at the last minute like @dutchmuch mentions, that is not OK..and unprofessional in my book.

 

How did it make you feel? Did you think you’d misjudged your “connection” with the escort; that maybe the connection the escort had was more with your wallet than with you? Is there a possibility that you will ever hire him again, or has that bridge been burned?

[Nvr2Thick]

It could be demand pricing. It also could be that the escort is choosing to make himself available to the highest bidder. Maybe he has appointments already arranged at $250, but he has found that he's generating unanticipated interest so now he's hoping to draw in some $350 clients to bump his cheaper appointments. Some poor fool probably got a call that the escort who agreed to meet with him a week in advance has suddenly taken ill <cough> <cough>.

[bigvalboy]

How did it make you feel? Did you think you’d misjudged your “connection” with the escort; that maybe the connection the escort had was more with your wallet than with you? Is there a possibility that you will ever hire him again, or has that bridge been burned?

 

It made me feel like he was taking advantage of me, especially since he was already in the car. I guess he thought I wouldn't care, since my previous payments to him were on the generous side (I'm a heavy tipper;)). Through text messages earlier I had asked him if the price was the same as last time. In looking back at his response, it was a bit vague, now I know why.

 

I didn't misjudge my connection, because I don't have any misconceptions about the relationships with hires. I like him, but in the end, it is strictly a business transaction, nothing more. We're not in love, we're not dating, he's not moving in, and we're not getting married...that said, I would def hire him again, but it's up to him to contact me and make amends. So far we are 72 hours and counting. He'll contact me most likely when rents due.

[mike carey]

There's an interesting dynamic playing out here, and I'm not saying it's good or bad, just noting that it is there. I wonder where else it applies. When we buy an airline ticket or a hotel room we have no expectation that the price we pay would reflect what we had paid in the past. (Granted, we can join a loyalty program that provides some benefits, but that's different.) I don't think anyone would expect to pay the same fee each time to a doctor, lawyer or plumber. But it seems that past pricing by escorts is expected in some way be linked to future meetings. I understand that some escorts do freeze prices for regulars, but should we expect them to do so? Or should we agree on the price each time in the process of setting up an appointment? I agree that telling a client that they are being charged more because that's what the escort thinks he can get is insensitive, and to some extent foolish, but I'm not so sure that having varied fees is such a problem. It's how they communicate that is the issue.

[+ José Soplanucas]

There's an interesting dynamic playing out here, and I'm not saying it's good or bad, just noting that it is there. I wonder where else it applies. When we buy an airline ticket or a hotel room we have no expectation that the price we pay would reflect what we had paid in the past. (Granted, we can join a loyalty program that provides some benefits, but that's different.) I don't think anyone would expect to pay the same fee each time to a doctor, lawyer or plumber. But it seems that past pricing by escorts is expected in some way be linked to future meetings. I understand that some escorts do freeze prices for regulars, but should we expect them to do so? Or should we agree on the price each time in the process of setting up an appointment? I agree that telling a client that they are being charged more because that's what the escort thinks he can get is insensitive, and to some extent foolish, but I'm not so sure that having varied fees is such a problem. It's how they communicate that is the issue.

 

As we know, there are as many business models as escorts. So far all my regulars have frozen there rates, but my hiring history is very short, just a couple of years. Of course I would accept and adjust in the fee, I would just appreciate discussing and agreeing on the new price when making the appointment. Discussing it during the appointment feels completely inappropriate and very uncomfortable to me.

[mike carey]

I agree, @latbear4blk, during the appointment isn't the time to discuss it, and the escort should be open about the rate hike, which from @bigvalboy's latest post, it appears he was not. Even saying, 'I'm charging $xxx on weekends now but I'm still charging $yyy during the week, would you prefer to schedule then', would be preferable to springing it on the client during the meeting.

[+ Truereview]

There's an interesting dynamic playing out here, and I'm not saying it's good or bad, just noting that it is there.

I think the interesting dynamic that is also playing out in this thread is how much emotion is the actual currency. Regardless of how much we pretend these are "business transaction," when you look beneath the surface of most of these situations, the common denominator is that people (clients and escorts alike) don't want to feel taken advantage of, disrespected, betrayed, flaky, unreliable...blah, blah. The price surge is just a fact, the emotions that come with it are the tricky part to manage.

[Nvr2Thick]

There's an interesting dynamic playing out here, and I'm not saying it's good or bad, just noting that it is there. I wonder where else it applies. When we buy an airline ticket or a hotel room we have no expectation that the price we pay would reflect what we had paid in the past. (Granted, we can join a loyalty program that provides some benefits, but that's different.) I don't think anyone would expect to pay the same fee each time to a doctor, lawyer or plumber. But it seems that past pricing by escorts is expected in some way be linked to future meetings. I understand that some escorts do freeze prices for regulars, but should we expect them to do so? Or should we agree on the price each time in the process of setting up an appointment? I agree that telling a client that they are being charged more because that's what the escort thinks he can get is insensitive, and to some extent foolish, but I'm not so sure that having varied fees is such a problem. It's how they communicate that is the issue.

 

We all seem to be focusing on the upsurge, but demand pricing could well be used to lower prices as well.

 

Kevin Slater

 

If an escort has a consistent rate he might offer: "based on who I am and the experience I can deliver my fee is $400/hr" -- effectively he's saying that if I as a client don't want to do business at that rate either someone else will, or he'd rather not provide his services than provide them for less. With a demand/surge rate he's saying the same thing, but with the qualification that these are his expectations for a specific time interval; he's expecting to provide services to me or someone else at $400/hr on Friday evenings, or to do something else at that time rather than charge less.

 

For me the problem becomes the off-peak rate. I've never felt it was right to haggle with an escort. He should have control of what his time and service is worth. As BVB and others have noted; the escort decides how he wants to do business and I say yes or no. Aren't I effectively haggling if I try to hire an escort, discover he's surge pricing on a busy evening, and choose to hold off until off-peak time?

 

How would an escort feel about this scenario:

I call to arrange an encounter for Saturday evening. You negotiate $800 for a couple hours, which I realize is the top end of your range. I decline, and either right away or during a subsequent call I try to arrange for a Tuesday afternoon, expecting off-peak rates? Aren't I effectively haggling by saying you're not worth your peak rates to me, but I'll settle for off peak rates?

[mike carey]

Aren't I effectively haggling by saying you're not worth your peak rates to me, but I'll settle for off peak rates?

To some extent yes, but to me haggling is when he names his price and you offer to pay less. If he advertises up front (either by posting a variable rate or giving different answers to 'ask me') he is the one that is offering a choice. Clearly the fact that we are uncomfortable with differential pricing says that we don't consider this a purely business transaction, it's personal and private. When I search Qantas for an airline ticket it asks if I have to travel on the dates I entered and if I say no it tells me the lowest price every day a week either side of that date.

 

As I said earlier, I'm not suggesting that the way we approach hiring cost is good or bad, right or wrong, just that we seem to think about it differently from the way we assess the prices of other puchases.

[MiamiLooker]

It made me feel like he was taking advantage of me, especially since he was already in the car. I guess he thought I wouldn't care, since my previous payments to him were on the generous side (I'm a heavy tipper;)). Through text messages earlier I had asked him if the price was the same as last time. In looking back at his response, it was a bit vague, now I know why.

 

I didn't misjudge my connection, because I don't have any misconceptions about the relationships with hires. I like him, but in the end, it is strictly a business transaction, nothing more. We're not dating, he's not moving in, and we're not getting married...that said, I would def hire him again, but it's up to him to contact me and make amends. So far we are 72 hours and counting. He'll contact me most likely when rents due.

 

I’ve seen escorts again after they’ve been inconsiderate of me. I just realize our connection is strictly about the sex and the money. I’m ok with that. But I have other regulars that have always been respectful and considerate of me, and I usually find I enjoy my time with them a whole lot more, and they’re at the top of my list when I’m looking for an appointment. If asked for a favor, I would go out of my way to help them out; the others, not so much.

[MiamiLooker]

How would an escort feel about this scenario:

I call to arrange an encounter for Saturday evening. You negotiate $800 for a couple hours, which I realize is the top end of your range. I decline, and either right away or during a subsequent call I try to arrange for a Tuesday afternoon, expecting off-peak rates? Aren't I effectively haggling by saying you're not worth your peak rates to me, but I'll settle for off peak rates?

If the escort is offering "an early bird special", why shouldn't a client select it?

[rvwnsd]

I know of a couple escorts who quote "x" dollars as their rate, but give a $50 discount for weekday afternoons because business is slow at that time. That would probably be a more palatable way of offering "demand pricing" if an escort was inclined to do so. However, whether the price goes up or down, the variable price places more value on the timing than on the escort. I can't see this working over the long term.

[Samfoslom]

Interesting idea, but it seems like there is some potential to alienate clients for whom a rate changes and some headaches for a companion who has to figure it out and explain it. I have occasionally seen escort ads which present lower rates for Tuesdays, for example, or time before 6:00 pm. I think this is a good idea because its easily explainable and repeatable.

 

That said, it would seem that demand-based pricing works best for commodity products & services - things which are readily comparable, like the Uber example, electric power or ability to use an express lane during rush-hour. Fortunately we have a broad, very diverse group of wonderful companions and what appeals to me, and has a high perceived value, would not appeal at all to another.

 

For the record, I was just trying to be ironic. :rolleyes:

[bigvalboy]

To some extent yes, but to me haggling is when he names his price and you offer to pay less. If he advertises up front (either by posting a variable rate or giving different answers to 'ask me') he is the one that is offering a choice. Clearly the fact that we are uncomfortable with differential pricing says that we don't consider this a purely business transaction, it's personal and private.

 

I agree with @mike carey. Haggling is when he names his price and you offer less. We have drifted a bit off subject from what the OP originally was talking about. I have absolutely no problem with an escort who varies his prices for whatever reason he chooses. That's his choice, so long as those prices are discussed or stated clearly up front and well in advance of an appointment. I believe what the OP was originally talking about, is a sudden change in prices. In my case, the price increased after the appointment officially started. He was trying to price gouge me, and that is disrespectful in any business transaction. Emotions have nothing to do with it. Had he told me via text that he had to raise his price because it was a holiday and he was in demand, and only in town for a few days, or whatever, that would have been fine, and honestly, I probably would have paid the higher fee, but it is disrespectful for anyone in business to change the pricing structure on the fly as it were.

 

During a remodel, appliances were suppose to be included in the price. As the project went on, unbeknownst to me, the contractor began losing money because his labor cost were out of whack. When we were finally at the appliance store, and I had picked out all the appliances, the salesman asked me if I wanted to charge it...Uh no, I looked at the contractor and said, "He's paying"...At first he tried to tell me that appliances were not included. A very short and heated discussion ensued. He finally admitted that he was upside down cost wise in the project. OK, that's a different story, but he lied to me initially, and tried to change the terms of the deal at the last minute...That's "disrespectful"...period.

[+ José Soplanucas]

For the record, I was just trying to be ironic. :rolleyes:

Never make jokes with this topic. There are countless threads in these forums that prove how sensitive it is.

[+ Truereview]

Emotions have nothing to do with it...A very short and heated discussion ensued. He finally admitted that he was upside down cost wise in the project. OK, that's a different story, but he lied to me initially, and tried to change the terms of the deal at the last minute...That's "disrespectful"...period.

And feeling disrespected is an emotion, BVB. As a matter of fact, engaging in heated discussion with your contractor is also emotion-based. I'm not saying it is wrong or right. It just is. And, as with many other things that require interaction amongst humans - particularly intimate interactions - ignoring the emotion can lead to all sorts of transactions gone wrong. When confronted with change or challenge, for me, acknowledging the emotion helps me move forward, but for others ignoring it is the best answer.

[bigvalboy]

And feeling disrespected is an emotion, BVB.

As a matter of fact, engaging in heated discussion with your contractor is also emotion-based. I'm not saying it is wrong or right. It just is. And, as with many other things that require interaction amongst humans - particularly intimate interactions - ignoring the emotion can lead to all sorts of transactions gone wrong. When confronted with change or challenge, for me, acknowledging the emotion helps me move forward, but for others ignoring it is the best answer.

 

R U OK...you sound a little emotional. ...

[Maximus69]

GIRL, Im just happy to get anyone at this point lol

Thinking about actually dropping my prices, but then I see escorts having the same prices as me or even higher like 250,300 etc and getting hired so maybe I'm just ugly lol. Maybe I should drop my rate to 200/225 who knows hopefully it may help :confused:

 

Looking at getting a part time job to stop my stressing about the unsureness of when ill get the money for my rent and food lol

[+ Truereview]

 

R U OK...you sound a little emotional. ...

Lol!

[BabyBoomer]

Maybe I should drop my rate to 200/225 who knows hopefully it may help :confused:

 

 

For now, keep your rate as is. See how the *Buy two hours get one free* works.

 

~ Boomer ~

[+ José Soplanucas]

GIRL, Im just happy to get anyone at this point lol

Thinking about actually dropping my prices, but then I see escorts having the same prices as me or even higher like 250,300 etc and getting hired so maybe I'm just ugly lol. Maybe I should drop my rate to 200/225 who knows hopefully it may help :confused:

 

Looking at getting a part time job to stop my stressing about the unsureness of when ill get the money for my rent and food lol

 

You are in a very hot market, boy. Abundant competition. I was just scouring the ads in NYC and Imeven saw very hot guys asking only 150. Maybe they are not real, but the ads are there.

[Maximus69]

For now, keep your rate as is. See how the *Buy two hours get one free* works.

 

~ Boomer ~

 

Yeah I got that idea from my fellow forum member brian kevin lol

I'll see how it goes after a month like u said, then if it doesn't work, ill drop the rates

[Maximus69]

You are in a very hot market, boy. Abundant competition. I was just scouring the ads in NYC and Imeven saw very hot guys asking only 150. Maybe they are not real, but the ads are there.

 

I know pa, tons of escorts in nyc and tons of hotter guys haha

I will probably have to drop it that low haha but lets subtly drop it month after month lol