Edit: Oops, never mind. Joining @Sooson and @starrynitecuds on the couch.
@lonelytauros I got up to use the bathroom and came back to this: Had to share a pic. These boys! 🍿
@justwanthugs Great tip-Pun intended- Thanks for the info- Many members may not consider the CC fee when hiring a Pro
Pros, if you have a session with a client after the initial session, do you book through the site? If not, do you lower your price because you now don’t have a site fee?
@Morpheus We are required to book all CC sessions and subsequent sessions through the site.
I have sessions booked through other avenues (like social media) and I charge less when I dont have fees to deal with.
Sessions booked with other sites that have higher fees (and also a minimum session amounts) I charge more.
Clients, when you have a subsequent session with a pro, do you book through the site? If you don’t, does your pro lower her rate since she’s not paying the 15% fee to the site? If she doesn’t lower her rate, do you still tip 15% to cover that fee that she isn’t paying?
@justwanthugs you are awesome for that, bc yes CC takes 15% of what Pro's make. I never expect to tips but that's sweet .
@Morpheus pros have a non-compete clause in the contract for a full year following ending their contract, in addition to what @LadyVel shared. This means not only are pros required to continue booking with clients they meet on CC through the site, but also if they stop being a pro they cannot legally keep booking any clients from CC off-site for the period of one year.
Many pros probably do not realize this, and I don't know how strictly CC enforces it, but the legal terms are and there's grounds for monetary damages at least. When I went back to being an enthusiast instead of pro here, I was well aware of this - I've had non-compete clauses in most of my contracts over the years and I know to read the fine print. It's not been an issue for me, since I only had one regular client through CC.
But in short, no pro or client should be booking off site, ever, and if the pro stops being a pro on CC then they have to stop booking CC clients for 1 year. The wording also applies if the pro is banned or deletes their account, not just if they revert to enthusiast.
In very general terms, I tip any service provider when they don't set their own rates.
So a hair stylist or massage therapist working as an employee at a studio, where the studio sets the prices, I would tip. One of those people working independently for themselves, I wouldn't tip.
I have not (I don't think?) tipped any pro cuddlers here. While I know they have to pay a 15% surcharge to CC for each booking, they're also in charge of setting their own rates. I assume pros have set their rates accordingly, with the surcharge taken into consideration.
I also think that tipping carries a small danger of being used as a way for a client to request (or a pro to offer) additional, prohibited services. Like "the flat fee is for cuddling only, but for $XX extra will you do this [or I will do this]?"
@cuddlefaery in the US at least, non-competes like this one are about to become null and void (and they were already really, really difficult to enforce anyway).
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/04/ftc-announces-rule-banning-noncompetes
@WiserGuy3000 That is a good point about how tipping can have a negative impact in terms of being used to try to promote breaking TOS. I have heard from friends who are pros that they have had clients try to buy their way into their pants. And on the other side of that coin there are pros who will offer that to clients for additional tips. I can see where just going with the agreed upon advertised rate can be safer for both sides and less confusion for what the service actually entails.
@pmvines right? In the US, "tips" are often used as euphemisms by sex workers, especially those blurring the lines between massage and sex work. So I've seen ads where the flat fee is $100/hour or whatever, and then wording like "tips gratefully accepted" or "tips for additional services." I've not seen that sort of solicitation in CC profiles, but I can certainly imagine it being used by clients or pros to (pardon the pun) "feel out" the situation.
IM always tip the cuddler at least to shoew my appreciation, MORE IF SHE DOES A GOOD JOB, ex tra if shre needs to come to ,y place.
While I know they have to pay a 15% surcharge to CC for each booking, they're also in charge of setting their own rates. I assume pros have set their rates accordingly, with the surcharge taken into consideration
Exactly
@WiserGuy3000 while interesting, that's a completely different type of non-compete clause. That's specifically aimed at executive level employees at large companies to keep them from forming new competitive companies. It defines executives earning over something over $100k. Most independent contractors I know who have struggled due to losing clients with non-compete clauses don't earn anywhere near that. (Edit: upon further reading, I see I misread the excerpt. It still would not fully apply here as pros are not employees of any type with CC - the contract they sign is for services rendered.)
Also, since CC is based in the UK, their laws are what apply here 🤷🏻♀️
Heh, it would be hilarious to see any attempts to actually enforce that noncompete in the US. That would be serious popcorn time.
There's a huge difference between something merely being legal, as opposed to being enforceable.
Sometimes a company will put these things in place knowing they will never really enforce it. I suspect that's the case here.
There’s a pro in LA that has this in her profile
At least a 20% tip 💌 at the end is HIGHLY encouraged. This will make up for it and make me a smiley, adorable cuddly teddy bear. 🧸
She also has this in her profile.
Fee: $150/hr Plus $60 if 30 mins away Plus $90 if 45 mins away Plus $120 if 1 hr away Any weekend booking is an extra $100 (excluding virtual hangout)
So if you book an hour $150 and you’re 30 minutes away + $60 and you book on a weekend +$100 = $310 for an hour and you tip “at least” 20%
20% of $310 is $62 bringing your total now to $372.
Um, no thanks.
Perhaps the Pro in LA has good reasons for her rates. Sounds to me like she values her time.
I ran across a pro on the West Coast who charged a flat $400 an hour, so she saved clients doing all that math
@TxTom No shit she values her time. But seriously let's call it what it is. "Values her time" can only excuse so much.
Sadly, as of this morning, she has banned herself.
@Morpheus darn and I just happen to have an extra $372 to spend
You can probably my find her on financialdomination dot com (I’m being funny, I have no idea if that’s even a real site)
@Morpheus It is. I haven't been brave enough to visit it, so I don't know what it has.
Why are some people bothered so much by what a Pro charges?
I don't expect tips at all but it's really nice when it happens.
@TxTom you know, I really don't know. I hope it is not something as simple as being jealous of another persons success. I see that more and more these days. I enjoy seeing people everywhere being successful in their lives. I always liked that quote about a rising tide lifts all boats....
Paying for cuddling is a luxury. Monday morning, I was out very early. Before noon, the gas prices at Speedway stations had gone up 30 cents. By 5 pm, the prices at nearly all the stations matched Speedway. Why? Most hadn't even gotten a delivery. They changed it because Speedway did. Pure and simple. "If they can do it, why can't I?" The price isn't going to come down as quickly, either. It's the "new normal," and people are going to complain. I would definitely question the new pro charging more than established pros in the area. This is completely acceptable in the service industry. Ask good questions. Have you gone through any training? How do you set the mood? What do you expect from me? Don't just judge by the words, but by the tone, too. Pros may be able to charge what they want, but the client can decide how much they want to spend. And the pros may have priced themselves out. I'm seeing that in my area, new pros decrease their rates after their newness wears off and the appointments slow down.