Gucci and Prada aren't bad, but sartorially neither one has been noteworthy of late, especially since Tom Ford stopped designing for them. Their suits and ties are not well made and ARE expensive for no good reason. The leather goods are decent, but you can find these in outlet malls at significant discounts. Louis Vuitton is one exception and attempts to control inventory and remain exclusive. Maybe if you used that as an example, I would have been less likely to interject.You don't think rates are negotiable as well? Even for providers who say their rates aren't negotiable, if you're doing a multi hour session, or you're a frequent customer, there's going to be some leeway. That's just how it is.
Louboutin is also an exception, until he decides to branch out into makeup or skin care or whatever is next on his radar, but from what I've read, he is passionate about shoes and continuously attempts to fuse architecture and fashion into a well recognized $900 shoe. His men's line is not good compared to other makes and are again, expensive for no reason.
Mercedes must absolutely defend their higher price. Obviously not against a kia or such, but against similar competition. They have shareholders to answer to. Additionally you can test drive a Mercedes and without a doubt, you can negotiate in a Mercedes dealership without being labeled cheap. If the salesman and the client can't agree on a price, then no one gets their feelings hurt and the salesman doesn't go back to the locker room and share a laugh with his cohorts and warn them to stay away because he is cheap.
I just traded my Rolex for a PP. Negotiate away on these brands as well.
I chuckle when hooktards compare themselves to boutiques in the Galleria. This concludes my DG style rant. Originally Posted by Chrisrock
Like any kind of sales, the costliest, most time consuming part of the business is acquiring a new customer. If a regular customer shows they're dependable, and relatively low maintenance, they'd rather have another visit with that customer than another client paying more for an hour session. Even if in general they won't negotiate on their rate.
As far as a provider defending their rate, you're missing my point, whether purposefully or not.
A successful luxury brand doesn't defend themselves directly for being more expensive, to someone who doesn't want to pay the price. It's self defeating. Just let them move on. They're selling the sizzle, not the steak. Either the sizzle is something that appeals to you, or it doesn't. But if all you care about is the steak, then you're not going to pay the premium price a luxury brand commands in the first place.
And yes, if you come in trying to negotiate a rate which the salesman finds laughable, or you conduct yourself like a clown, you're going to be made fun of as soon as you're out of ear shot. In fact, when sales people get together to talk about customers, they don't share stories about all the wonderful customers that negotiated a tough but fair deal. They talk about the horror stories, or the laughable ones with no clue.
The bottom line is that a provider has a monopoly on her services. If she's valued for what she brings to the table, if she's considered unique in some way by at least some of her clientele, they're not going to be able to go to some one else and get the same experience.
On the other hand, if the hobbyist doesn't value any of those unique qualities all that much, then she becomes a commodity. Time for money, and whoever gives the cheapest rate becomes the most desirable.
Some providers want to screen out that kind of hobbyist, and they can afford to. Some providers have to play the negotiating game up front or they won't be able to get enough clientele to meet their overhead.
I just don't think it behooves a provider to defend her rate on Eccie directly. The way to defend the rate is to behave like someone who commands that rate...or don't post at all, which is what most women who command a premium rate choose to do.
Defending the rate directly just makes the provider look defensive. It's not a good plan of action, IMO.
