Exactly like any other boundary, deposits are a matter of personal choice for each professional and potential client.
You either respect the boundary, or you move on.
Trying to negotiate boundaries simply indicates that you don’t understand what “boundary” means.
@Drop_the_Mike I'm sorry this happened to you. You should report any professional cuddlers who scammed you. They need to be banned. Also you should contact your credit card company & dispute that amount so you can get your money back.
@CaringSoul CashApp will do nothing in that situation.
@Drop_the_Mike I don't cuddle with a new cuddler who requires a deposit for the very reason you indicate.
@frace95
I thought that professionals are required to respond to those whose schedule is within fit, especially if within reasonable distance
How do you know the pro(s) you're messaging are not booked, sleeping, working, planting tomatoes at the time you're requesting to book?
You don't. You have no way of knowing our individual schedules. You're not owed a response. What is a reasonable distance for you may not be for them. Is it courteous to respond as promptly as possible to inquiries? Absolutely. However, we have lives outside of the site. Not all pros are full time. Some have families, other jobs and gasp hobbies.
Reporting and expecting pros to be banned for not responding to your messages is a huge waste of moderators time and energy as @quixotic_life explained. It's almost laughable at how ridiculous this is.
I want to plant tomatoes
@pmvines
Where I grew up we had tomato bushes, in four varieties, and a large fig tree.
Tomato-Fig preserves are the best hamburger condiment EVER.
And pretty dang awesome on a bagel with cream cheese.
@quixotic_life , I was at first for a very long time not wanting to cuddle with professional cuddlers so I don’t spend money, so I was strictly only messaging enthusiasts. But most people would ignore immediately or eventually (even those less than an hour away), some were untagged professionals, others become inactive eventually, and some would get banned. I was getting tired of it, and I had set my account for deletion process (it takes 14 days for that to be finalized). Then, I realized I can request from professionals to cuddle, despite them charging money, which definitely makes time to be very limited that can be spent. So I stopped the deletion process and reactivated my account. I haven’t really tried booking too much with professionals due to various reasons, but this what I mentioned was the first case so far with being ignored by a professional, or more like, so called “professional”, even for session request (I haven’t attempted booking proposal, was just asking first before going forward with it).
@Envie agreed 100% we are not owed a response. I have had some not reply, but that’s their right, we are not owed a response. If they do it’s cool, if not it’s too bad but such is life.
@pmvines , it’s pretty late to be planting tomatoes, time to start thinking about fall crops.
Someone requiring a deposit is not necessarily a scammer. There are lots of reasons why a pro might not respond.
If anyone on CuddleComfort has truly been scammed - like someone requiring a deposit, then not showing up and not refunding the money - it needs to be reported so they can be banned.
I’ve been on this site for about 3 years. I cannot recall anyone complaining in the forums about getting scammed by a pro from this site.
@MrMarkAndrew
NEVER pay for something in advance. It's that simple. PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, etc. It's far too easy for the other person (scammer or not) to take the money and run. Just DON'T do it, and if someone still insists on not taking good ole cash, then delete them ASAP.
The never pay for something in advance is not how it works actually. Whether you pay online or in person for anything you must pay first before receiving the goods and services. Only in few situations do you get something first then pay later but that isn't how it normally works. I don't ever ask for deposits but it is a common thing that isn't just in cuddle therapy so it is normal too. But I always ask for a virtual or in person session to be paid first and not with cash. Call it scam if you'd like but none of my clients ever got scammed. I will tell you the reason for that though. I also do cuddle therapy elsewhere not just here. Cash clients were the worst. I only have one left and may remove him too but he's learning to use CashApp at least and is still overall timely. But why are they the worst? Well...they don't feel obligated to show up where and when you decide to meet and I am not ever going to waste time and gas for such clients. Before I would confirm with them day of and sometimes you get replies and sometimes you don't. So those that are terrible with all that then I don't even go. Haven't had a no show yet this way and got rid of bad clients during screening. I only ask for money upfront now and now they all show up and keep showing up. So works out for everyone.
@frace95 ~ Cool. Well, hopefully you'll find someone who not only responds but will also help put you at ease about the process.
Moving forward, I think I think if you keep in mind that everyone here is different, which at times means experiences of delight and frustration abound. But for most, hoping for the best, while not having any expectations, is probably our best bet for finding successes here.
All the best and good luck! 🍀
In fact, a professional cuddler wasn’t replying after the first reply! It is insane! On top of that, she lives not far, so like is she just trying to grab attention or what? I reported her, she should have been banned or at the least suspended in my opinion. I even fitted in her age range preference and gender preference. There is no way it could have been due to racism, if you guys were wondering that.
You do know that professional cuddlers do not need to reply or even cuddle anyone that messages them right? They can cuddle whenever they have time or take a break on cuddling. They will only be banned for breaking rules like taking your money and nor cuddling with you, doing sexual advances, and other things like that but not for not replying to messages or refusing to cuddle.
@Amortentia I just want to say that in person you pay for goods at effectively the same time you get them. This is different because it's "safe" for everyone bar effective robbery which I don't think is applicable considering the overwhelming majority of non-robbery in person transactions.
@Babichev
Really? I've complained about this quite a few times and seen other complaints.
My perception is actually that things have improved a lot. I don't think I've run into any outright thieves/scams in quite a while. But circa 2019 it seemed like a pretty big portion of pros were thieves or otherwise scams.
"Whether you pay online or in person for anything you must pay first before receiving the goods and services."
You pay the restaurant bill at the end. Same think with seeing a doctor. Same thing when you get a haircut. Those are just three examples.
@eptx I see you only read the first part of what I said. I wrote about what you said as well. And hair places don't always work like that. I got my hair done 2 weeks ago and paid first. Plus some restaurants have you pay first. Sadly, one of my favorite restaurants did that (Hometown Buffet) but because of covid closures it went out of business.
@JasonCuddles not always. Like furniture places. Last time I was there I bought living room furninture that was on display there. Took at least a week to get it after paying for it.
@CuddleWho I am glad you complained when you saw that happening. Members like you help keep this place the way it is intended to be. Also, sorry that you had gone through scams. I hope you don't meet any more scammers on here.
@Amortentia
I read everything that you wrote.
The problem is that you're comparing apples to oranges. A furniture store is a business that sells physical goods. If they don't deliver the furniture and don't refund me, then I can file a chargeback with a credit card company.
You're not a business. You don't own a store. If you scam me, then I have no recourse against you.
@eptx and if you pay for cuddling services here and don't get it delivered you can make a report to the site and get your refund. Has been done here before from what I have been told. You just must make the person running their cuddling business on here to keep their end of the deal if you decide to work with them. Good luck.
@Amortentia ** and if you pay for cuddling services here and don't get it deliveres you can make a report to the site and get your refund. **
Do you have proof of this? What if the client files a fake claim? The professional can't prove that they cuddled with a client.
You just must make the person running a cuddling business on here keeps their end of the deal if you decide to work with them.
And if they don't keep their end of the deal? Then what happens?
@eptx Ok. Let me explain how it works. And I said paid first above so that is the key point there. Also, best to use online payment sources too like CashApp to get your proof. Like I only had it happen on here once but it was a newbie so it is understandable. He is like I am ok with CashApp but I am not ok to pay first because you might not show up. And I said well if I need to miss it I will refund you in full but I never had to miss a session yet. Also, said he can use a screenshot from cashapp to report me if I fail to keep my word and blah blah blah then I will have to deal with a ban or charge against my account or whatever. Which isn't happening. Long story short he is now a repeat client of mine.
I know how it works. All I am saying is you're not a business. You can't compare yourself to a business.
I still haven't seen where cuddlecomfort will refund a client if they get scammed. Also, that can open a can of worms. A client can just say the professional never showed up. You can't prove that you cuddled with somebody.
So please show me where on this website where it states something like this: "and if you pay for cuddling services here and don't get it deliveres you can make a report to the site and get your refund".
@eptx well for cuddlers like you I just don't recommend dealing with people who run businesses online if it is paid for that work similar to this. So think it is best to leave it at that. Physical business buildings for cuddle therapy is more appropriate for some but these businesses are not available everywhere.
I also do not reveal client names on here who had issues with other pros on here or friends of theirs who had issues and got the pro banned. Or the name of the pro and the facts of proof sorrounding that situation. That was all resolved and put away nor did I care too much to listen to the whole crazy story. So if you have questions about how things are investigated here though I would just ask Mark.
well for cuddlers like you I just don't recommend dealing with people who run businesses online if it is paid for that work similar to this.
????
I also do not reveal client names on here who had issues with other pros on here or friends of theirs who had issues and got the pro banned. Or the name of the pro and the facts of proof sorrounding that situation.
huh? I never asked you to reveal any names.
You stated this: "and if you pay for cuddling services here and don't get it deliveres you can make a report to the site and get your refund."
You said that clients can get their money back if they are scammed. Do you have proof to support this?
** Plus some restaurants have you pay first. Sadly, one of my favorite restaurants did that (Hometown Buffet) but because of covid closures it went out of business**
Yes, but you are receiving the food right after you pay. You aren't paying a stranger on the Internet.
The main point is that everything is buyer beware on here. I do not suggest paying a deposit.
"DISCLAIMER: We do not check the credibility or authenticity of members who are considered 'Professional'. You should therefore always exercise due diligence independent of this website to satisfy your own peace of mind in regards to safety."
I will just leave it where it is left off...
The main point is that everything is buyer beware on here. I do not suggest paying a deposit. "DISCLAIMER: We do not check the credibility or authenticity of members who are considered 'Professional'. You should therefore always exercise due diligence independent of this website to satisfy your own peace of mind in regards to safety."
Do you have proof to support this?
And short answer.... So if you have questions about how things are investigated here though I would just ask Mark.
And shorter anwer... I cannot discuss details.
I am still not sure what you mean by this. Online businesses are exactly that. They're businesses. You don't own a business.
"and if you pay for cuddling services here and don't get it deliveres you can make a report to the site and get your refund."
Please don't state things that aren't true. Thank you and good luck.
I think if a pro doesn’t show up for a session (whether the client has paid or not) a moderator requests the pro to offer that client a free cuddle or extra time or something. Can’t remember. 🤔
If a client doesn’t show up, they are asked to pay a bit back to the pro. I could be wrong because it doesn’t seem very fair for the client side on this but let me go digging lol