There have been providers of all types and many price levels who have ended up screwing guys over on deposits or pre-paying. Some of them were completely trustworthy, until that one time when they weren't. If you want to take that risk, then have at it, but there are many examples of warnings out there against such a risk.
The whole idea is silly that a deposit is needed. Just as you tell the guys to do their research, the providers should do theirs as well to see what the demand for their service is when traveling. If a provider is good enough where the demand is high, then they have zero need for a deposit because they will have guys lined up wanting to see them.
Originally Posted by Sleepy363
Well, for example I enjoy coming to Houston (where I am at now). My schedule was completely book for a month leading up to coming here. A week before (my room was booked two weeks before because the hotel was pretty full) I was firming up appointments and I got 4 cancellations. If I had asked for something like a $20 deposit (to which they could have used for their next appointment) then it would have helped cover this trip's hotel cost.
Why is that unreasonable?
Sometimes these kinds of trips work out well and the openings turn out for the best and I get a decent amount of interest while I am here, but I really prefer the interest ahead of time.
$20-$40 isn't asking the world to confirm a 30-60 minute traveling appointment.
Hell, I'd set up a PO Box for that. (and to set up something for sexting as well...since it seems I have a few guys on kik that are interested in that)