Hagglers - what is it they really want?

Now you are teasing ... Hmmm. I wonder what that might be. I guess there is only one way to find out, madame. Originally Posted by Moto
Yes... I have it here since that morning... and it gets warmer and warmer in my hand every time I think about how you stood me up for that hot new girl . But don't worry, I forgive you... But I still have to give this here to you as I promised, and then we will be even
citizen44's Avatar
I don't haggle with a provider over the cost of her services, I consider it uncouth. I rarely even discuss rates at all with the girl directly. If I am unwilling to pay her advertised rate I move on. I may occasionally inquire about a special I saw advertised to see if it is still in effect but that's as far as I take it.

I think the obvious answer as to why some guys do it is that it's a numbers game that is likely effective some percentage of the time. Ask enough ladies for a discount and some will undoubtedly comply. I doubt we'll see much in the way of honesty from those ladies in a thread like this for obvious reasons...

As to the cultural influence you mentioned I'd say that anyone who has travelled to developing countries can tell you that this concept of a "sticker price" set by a business for a product or service has much less meaning in many places. This idea of fixed pricing is largely a western/first world concept. The smaller the business or fewer middlemen between producer and consumer the more flexible pricing becomes. It is commonplace in many countries for haggling to occur on many many goods and services. Not only is it not looked down upon it is normal, expected, and anyone who pays the initial asking price is a sucker. India is one of those countries where vendors have been just as happy to haggle with me for a half hour over a $10 trinket as they were over an expensive hand knotted rug. I can only surmise, but I'm betting these gentlemen you reference mean no disrespect in many cases, it's just the way they may be accustomed to things being done. Originally Posted by SpiceItUp
So whether you are a gentleman or a sucker is all a matter of which side of the TX border you are standing on? If you ran down in to Mexico for a short day trip do you start feeling bi-polar?
SpiceItUp's Avatar
So whether you are a gentleman or a sucker is all a matter of which side of the TX border you are standing on? If you ran down in to Mexico for a short day trip do you start feeling bi-polar? Originally Posted by citizen44
lol I guess it depends on the cultural standards of wherever you happen to be. It's not customary in the US to haggle with a business over the prices of its goods or services. Hence "sticker prices" tend to be fixed and reflect the going rates. Even for service industries where pricing is often all over the map from one business to another it's not customary to haggle over prices. No one is a sucker for paying sticker price in the US except in rare cases where haggling is the norm , ex. vehicle purchases.

In other places where it's more customary to haggle the initial price is often set higher than the going rate in anticipation of the haggling process. Therefore, if you're in one of those places and you pay the initial price you're somewhat of a sucker.
lol I guess it depends on the cultural standards of wherever you happen to be. It's not customary in the US to haggle with a business over the prices of its goods or services. Hence "sticker prices" tend to be fixed and reflect the going rates. Even for service industries where pricing is often all over the map from one business to another it's not customary to haggle over prices. No one is a sucker for paying sticker price in the US except in rare cases where haggling is the norm , ex. vehicle purchases.

In other places where it's more customary to haggle the initial price is often set higher than the going rate in anticipation of the haggling process. Therefore, if you're in one of those places and you pay the initial price you're somewhat of a sucker. Originally Posted by SpiceItUp
Spice, thank you for your insight. I was not aware that absolutely everything in India was negotiable. That explains a lot. As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans.
Johanna

I too am an independent and offer professional services. Although some would suggest I screw people for a living, my professional services are of a somewhat different nature than yours. I wish I could sell your kind of services.

I probably have money problems with 1% of my clients. I've found 99% of my problems come from that 1% of clients who do not respect my charges. And I spend 10x the unpaid time communicating with them trying to make them happy and I am seldom successful.

I've found someone who wants to haggle over price almost always ends up being part of the 1% that cause problems. When they bring it up I tell them all relationships are based on mutual respect and if they can't respect my fee structure we can't do business together and I cut them loose. It just isn't worth the time and hassle when there are others who want to pay full price and appreciate the service.

While some would accuse of stereo typing I find certain cultures are more likely to haggle and I have had some potential Indian clients try to haggle.

I don't haggle for the services sold on this site. If I don't want to pay the price I wait for a special or just move on.

But that isn't to say haggling isn't expected for some items or services such as car buying or buying things off Craig's list. Generally no contract can happen unless both the buyer and seller are willing and agreed.

That is my take on it. I am much happier cutting the hagglers loose.
citizen44's Avatar
Posts like this are surreal and make me SMH.

SIU, with good humor, I hope you don't mind if I poke a little fun.

You used the terms uncouth, gentleman and cultural norms all in the same post.....and you did it on a hooker review board. You are a man who frequently pays girls far younger than yourself to screw you and indulge in your predilection for soft core choking. You did this in a country where 95% of the populace would view all of us with anything but scorn. Were we open with every one about our hobby, they would view us as anything but gentleman. Taking an issue of whether someone haggles with a hooker and ascribing terms like gentleman and couth is laughable in relation to cultural norms.

Johanna...I'm sure that in a society which looks down on hookers it may seem like being able to say you at least charge a lot offers a shield against the cultural scorn, but it's a false shield. Your VALUE is not based on what you charge but in all the things that make you who you are. I am a son, a partner, a father, and so many other things. Least of those is what I do to make money. This is an entertainment business, nothing more and nothing more less.
Free country. Go ahead and ask for it. But don't be upset when I say, sorry, but my rates are posted on my showcase.

Funny to me is that when a client asks for the same services for less, he is just trying to negotiate a better price but, if a provider was to ask extra for a service that she advertises as part of the experience she offers for her regular rate, I wonder how she would be looked at.
It's all about control. That is all.
General Feuerbacher's Avatar
I noticed that the OP's Eccie page offers special rates for special people. My Mom told me that I was special.
SpiceItUp's Avatar
Posts like this are surreal and make me SMH.

SIU, with good humor, I hope you don't mind if I poke a little fun.

You used the terms uncouth, gentleman and cultural norms all in the same post.....and you did it on a hooker review board. You are a man who frequently pays girls far younger than yourself to screw you and indulge in your predilection for soft core choking. You did this in a country where 95% of the populace would view all of us with anything but scorn. Were we open with every one about our hobby, they would view us as anything but gentleman. Taking an issue of whether someone haggles with a hooker and ascribing terms like gentleman and couth is laughable in relation to cultural norms. Originally Posted by citizen44
Lol poke fun all you like, I don't take this too seriously man I just tend to have a formal communication style which sometimes makes it seem that way.

Im not sure what you're saying here though.

Are you suggesting that because we in the hobby don't subscribe to SOME of what society at large deems acceptable that somehow ALL of our cultural norms no longer apply to us?

Are you suggesting that I can't enjoy fucking pretty young women for money and simultaneously be couth and a gentleman about it?
I noticed that the OP's Eccie page offers special rates for special people. My Mom told me that I was special. Originally Posted by General Feuerbacher
I special too, did you ride
the little yellow bus every
morning? A yellow hummer
sounds better.

Taking an issue of whether someone haggles with a hooker and ascribing terms like gentleman and couth is laughable in relation to cultural norms.

Johanna...I'm sure that in a society which looks down on hookers it may seem like being able to say you at least charge a lot offers a shield against the cultural scorn, but it's a false shield. Your VALUE is not based on what you charge but in all the things that make you who you are. I am a son, a partner, a father, and so many other things. Least of those is what I do to make money. This is an entertainment business, nothing more and nothing more less. Originally Posted by citizen44
Citizen,

A person's core beliefs don't have to disappear based on his choice of "entertainment". A true gentleman will be a gentleman with every person he encounters, not just with those who are socially acceptable.

I don't believe I charge a lot, but even if I did, my rates do not provide a shield from scorn lol. If society scorns me that is their choice, I know who I am - who I really am - outside of entertaining, and this industry does not define me. My perception of myself is the only one that matters to me. I'm not quite sure where you were going with this. Anyway, I see where you stand, and thanks for your input.
Hey.... I have a returnable coke bottle... And 3 shiney nickles... Who wants to trade?
Doubled Clicked
I had an appointment recently with am out of town provider, I was unsure of her rates because her showcase listed her hometown rates, but was unclear of her travel rates. Sometimes guys just ask questions for clarity, not haggling. Also, I tend to request multi hours, and usually, not always, the second hour is reduced. Again, seeking clarity. Then there's the case of one who charges more for incall than out, the opposite of what I've seen elsewhere. When she explained, the problem no longer existed.
Then there's the previously mentioned "hooker math". Where an hour is 300, 90 mins 500 and 2 hours is 700. That just doesn't make sense and should be negotiated.
I for one could never understand trying to lesson the providers interest in seeing me. I'm sure that if I were trying to get a lesser price there would certainly be the risk of receiving lesser service. A risk I'm not willing to take. Why would anyone give you their best performance after you've just insulted them by paying a reduced price.
As far as the Indian culture reference, although never having traveled there, my experience its limited to dealing with the ones living here. And yes when I've dealt with them, I had often showed up with a product with a pre agreed price labeled on it. But when the money was to be exchanged they almost always asked for a better deal. Once this became a pattern, I raised the pre agreed price 10%, then offered a 10% deal at the money exchange. Problem solved.