Bottom line, any possessional pro here is an independent contractor at best, therefore, pricing can and will always fluctuate. It's not a hard concept and I don't need an economic break down, I personally have never changed my pricing in almost four years, but that's my DECISION.
If you do not like what a pro is offering, just like any other service, look for what you do want instead of complaining of what you don't have, and maybe you too, will find a cuddle enthusiast or a professional in your range, whatever that range be.
El Fin.
The only point I can see to this discussion - which is a topic that has been raised repeatedly - is to cultivate resentment and suspicion, which others have pointed out.
If you think hiring a pro is too high, then I suggest you take the time to cultivate relationships with other enthusiasts who do not charge for cuddling. Calculate the amount of time it takes you to do that and compare that to the price of hiring a pro.
Pros are saving their clients an enormous amount of time they would otherwise use to find a fellow enthusiast. Pros take on an enormous amount of risk. For every report of inappropriate behavior that we get I think it would be safe to estimate there may be dozens more that go unreported. I’m sometimes alarmed when I check a report about someone sending blatantly inappropriate messages to see that person messaged at least a dozen other pros before they were reported. That’s just messages. I’ve cuddled about a dozen men from this site and, in spite of very specific conversation with them before hand about boundaries, etc., the vast majority of them were boundary pushers who I never wanted to see again. It is not relaxing or enjoyable to cuddle with someone who is trying to hump you, breathe heavy into your ear, kiss you, suggest “skin to skin” cuddling, etc. Frankly, I would not want to go through the mental wear and tear - not to mention the very real risk of harm - of putting up with all the boundary pushing, groping, inappropriate requests, no shows, etc., for any amount of money.
Personally, I think we should have a moratorium on deja vu topics like this. They have been “discussed” - if you want to call the whining and bitching a discussion - to death. They serve no purpose.
We all have choices. Don’t want to pay a pro? Don’t.
I was resistant to the idea of paying at all when I first came here. When I had my first cuddle (paid) I realized that it was worth sacrificing other things in my life.
I'd love to be able to do it more, but I've learned some things along the way:
1 Finding a few people who I truly connect with on here is worthwhile. I invest in personal connection with a few, and assess the kind of energy they have. While most people I've cuddled charge between 80-100 per hour, I currently scheduled with someone who charges 150 per hour. I'm excited about it, because I've been able to see that she is real in her ability to connect. I'll have to forego a few times eating out, but it's worth it.
2 Scheduling ahead gives me more for my money. The anticipation of spending time with someone is something that brings me joy the whole time I'm waiting. It's not unusual for me to schedule 3-4 weeks in advance.
3 A couple of my regular providers have volunteered a discount for me because they like cuddling with me. (I didn't ask them to do that) Having that offered feels really good, because I know it isn't just about the money for them.
4 Yes, I'd still like to do it for free. After about 4 years on this site, I'll finally get to do that. It's my reward for being patient, and for being open hearted to everyone. It would never have happened without the paid cuddles.
Why does ANYONE care what others are charging?
You can set your search to a max price you're willing to pay. You will eliminate those who do not match your criteria. You will never be subjected to seeing these "inflated" rates. FFS.
Perhaps it's gone unnoticed by many who don't have to rent, but the COL all over the country has skyrocketed. My rent alone went up 33% this year. I haven't pulled the trigger on increasing my rates to offset this , yet, but I can certainly see why many pros have. You are paying for our time. How we value that time is an individual choice. Complaining about it not changes nothing.
I mean, you have a group of paying male clients who are not happy with how high prices for cuddles have soared. You can't argue the fact that prices have risen dramatically in a short time frame for the same service. So there's frustration there. I don't think it's a bad thing to voice that. Solutions? Find female enthusiasts...well, we've established that's pretty much impossible and not worth the effort. The best solution IMO is to wait it out. Remember, us men paying for cuddles is what pays the bills for the site. Deactivate you account for a couple of months, heck, delete it too and make another one a couple of months later and see if things change. Don't settle for paying your paycheck for a service on a site that was originally intended to be free. And if you are an enthusiast and find success, good for you! But this message is for the men who pay for cuddles..stop complaining and so something about it. Don't settle, because you are worth it.
I know that many people on here are frustrated with the expense of paying for a pro cuddler and find it unfair and even something to be angry about since after all, aren't we exchanging something of equal value? Well the painful answer (for everyone) is no. This isn't just a hug for a hug kind of a deal. I'm not just getting a hug out of this. I'm getting a HUGE AMOUNT of humans who do not know how to treat me like a human being. In case it's not clear... managing that is work, actual real life screening/ communicating/ teaching work. Moreover, I'm getting people who are trying to actually trick me into dangerous situations. It's not worth it to me to do the emotional labor of teaching people how to not "accidentally" touch me inappropriately for free. This is not an equal exchange. It's a lot of work and until that can happen naturally and easily, then there will be well paid cuddlers. There must be safety and mutual respect or there will be a charge for the actual physical and emotional labor involved in this exchange.
If you care to read about what I actually do: I teach people how to communicate about consent and touch in a way that feels good for everybody. I teach people how to value platonic relationships and not sexualize me immediately for having a female body. I provide a therapeutic service that not only feels good but helps many deescalate from anxiety spirals, survive desperate life situations, bare the burdens of mental and medical illness of themselves and those they love. Cuddling provides connection for some people who are truly isolated in their lives and communities. Not only do I offer the comfort of my body and my genuine care to anybody who can agree to respect my boundaries, I am easily accessible and uncomplicated to schedule with (Lets not pretend that convenience is not something we consider valuable!). I provide privacy to really enjoy this kind of touch. I invite people into my home and genuinely enjoy cuddling the hell out of them. I screen for predators. I occasionally meet sociopaths that make me feel deeply uncomfortable and unsafe. And for all of that, I only charge $100/hour. WOw! WHatAdEAL!!!
@Rezz
You're literally asking why buyers care what price sellers set. Does this really need to be explained?
I also think some of the people complaining about prices forget that us pros are also doing work to prep for our clients to come over. I clean my house, have a complete separate bedding I have put on my bed before you come, sanitize, I offer drinks and snacks, mints etc. most of us Pros really take this seriously, and treat it like a full blown experience so I think that’s something to take into consideration when seeing a price.
@CuddleWho
Hiring pros is a 100% optional service on an otherwise free site. No one is forcing anyone here to hire a cuddler whether she's charging $45hr or $2000. So no, it's no one's business why Sally in CO charges $200+ an hour. She'll either book clients or price herself out of the market.
There's no shortage of pros here who charge $60-100 hr. When $200+ becomes the norm rate then I'd raise an eyebrow.
Out of interest are professionals here open to negotiation of rates? Or is that a categoric no? Or a maybe, depending on the person and situation? Just curious how most pros handle it - whether it's a super-hard stance or if there is an element of empathetic understanding for clients who still need that connection but are restricted with their current financial situation
@LolaCats I appreciate the prep you do you when you host. However, what would you say to the clients who prefer to host pros? Many pros don't host actually. I prefer they come to my home, and I do everything you say as well. Clean sheets, clean bathroom, light a candle, offer a drink or snack, etc. I don't count that as 'prep' work necessarily, just being a good host.
@Midnight01 i do count it as prep work because this is my job ☺️ I choose not to be a guest in someone else’s home for a cuddle, because to me, it’s incredibly unsafe for some many different reasons. But I completely understand the Pros that do. I’m not sure what you’re looking for as a response because I don’t go to cuddlers homes. ☺️
I don't think it matters a bit what any man says on the forum about prices. If enough men can afford it and think it's worth it, the cuddlers are still going to make more an hour than 99 percent of hourly workers and the website is still going to rake in commissions. The gravy train for both will keep rolling.
Also I might add, anyone can apply to do this job so if the price is something you can’t afford but still wanna cuddle, why not consider being a professional? Just a thought 😌
To the person talking about $200 means non-platonic... I've never done a cuddle for $200, but I have for $150 on multiple occasions. She was nothing but professional. High price does not mean there is more being offered.
@Mr_Cuddle_Bear
I agree. I've studied a lot of math in my life, and they never mentioned anything about non-platonic numbers.
Every time this topic comes up I cringe, because I know that someone is going to pitch in with comments that accuse pros of various things.
If someone has evidence of wrongdoing by a pro, the forum is not the place to air it. It should be reported. Price point is not evidence, however. If I choose not to schedule a session with pro xyz, then pro xyz's price is none of my business.
@snugbuddy "cuddlers are still going to make more an hour than 99 percent of hourly workers and the website is still going to rake in commissions." Pro cuddlers are not booked 8 hours/day 5 days a week though. Most pros who consider themselves "full-time" might have a client or two a day, if that, because it's still not a popular mainstream service. Many pros though only do this as a side gig. So even at $200/hr, that pro might only be seeing a client a week (and that may be all she wants and why she set that rate), not rolling in the dough and the site isn't raking in the fees.
@LolaCats
most of us Pros really take this seriously
I suggest you go book sessions with 10 randomly selected pros, then come back here and tell us how seriously most pros take it.
@CuddleWho i literally don’t know what you mean by that. Are you implying that some random 10 pros do not take their job seriously?
To those who are asserting or implying that it's somehow inappropriate for clients to discuss or complain about prices...
The large majority of people who actively use this site, who are actively meeting people and cuddling them, are male clients of female pros. I would think the purpose of this forum is for people to discuss their experiences on this site. For most people on this site, browsing pros, looking at their prices, using price as a selection criterion, considering what price is worthwhile to pay, considering what differentiates pros at different price points, and paying for cuddles is a big part of their experience on this site.
It's completely normal and natural people want to discuss this. Go browse some forums for people interested in used cars, or retro video games, or collecting coins, or whatever else... they all discuss price, they're all concerned about it, and they all occasionally complain or express surprise when they see prices that seem unreasonably high or low. Why wouldn't they? Do you really think this is somehow an inappropriate thing to talk about? Seems completely normal to me.
If you don't want to discuss this issue, then maybe rather than getting defensive and coming into threads and telling people it's none of their business what people charge (which is absolutely nonsensical), maybe you could just skip those threads? There's plenty of other threads where you can talk about the topics that interest you.
i literally don’t know what you mean by that. Are you implying that some random 10 pros do not take their job seriously?
I have a hard time believing you don't know what I meant, but I'll spell it out anyway: Contrary to your claim, most pros don't take pro cuddling seriously. The reason you think otherwise is that you (I assume) have little or no experience cuddling pros.
@CuddleWho wow seems like you need a cuddle ☺️ And I’ve talked to a bunch of great professional cuddlers that do take this very seriously. I’m sorry if you’ve experienced something different but this is our livelihood and we all put ourselves at risk doing this job, even you as a none pro do too, so yes, MOST pros take this very seriously. ☺️ I hope you have a great day! 😁
"Contrary to your claim, most pros don't take pro cuddling seriously."
Citation needed.
I cuddled here for 2 years as an enthusiast.
The majority of pros I saw took it very seriously.
Does that makes my claim wrong and yours right?
Not really, this is all rather subjective and neither of us can really provide evidence outside of our experiences to defend this claim so why bother talking about it?
And unlike cars, games, and coins you are not buying an item here, but a service.
And when it comes to services, no, people don't tend to argue things like cost. My therapist got too expensive for me to afford, I didn't question her rate or level of professionalism, I found other methods of coping and eventually got one covered by my insurance.
If a particular masseuse you wanted raised their rates you'd simply see another one, and opt to do something else.
Freelance sites like Fiverr don't discuss rate problems with clients, because the market is what it is and freelancers can charge what they charge.
Services vary wildly in price all the time, for seemingly innocuous reasons. 🤷
@Gary, while some pros will negotiate rates in some circumstances, there is a general perception among pros (that bears out in my experience) that clients who ask to negotiate price eventually start pushing other boundaries of respect, consideration, and professional distance. In almost every instance it erodes the relationship and both parties end up feeling burnt.
When other pros ask my advice about negotiating, I advise against it. Incentives, on the other hand, seem to work well. Practices like giving weekday, daytime, or multi-hour discounts has a much higher satisfaction rate in the long term.
People pay for the things they value and, with luck, value the things they pay for.
There is a lot to consider when looking at a cuddler's hourly rate. I always look for years of experience and number of karma. If not much experience, I expect a lower rate than someone who has much. Also training. if trained, I don't mind a higher rate. Some come on this site just brand new, and charge as much as a cuddler who has been here for a long time and enough karma to know about her.
Also if a cuddler has been on for a long time, without karma,, that can tell you something as well.
@Lev what can it tell you? I'm curious.
@SleepySheep1
And unlike cars, games, and coins you are not buying an item here, but a service. And when it comes to services, no, people don't tend to argue things like cost. My therapist got too expensive for me to afford
And when it comes to services, no, people don't tend to argue things like cost. My therapist got too expensive for me to afford
I mean... This is just so completely contrary to practical experience. Why would people arbitrarily stop talking about price for a service when they do talk about it for goods?
Of course people discuss and complain about price of therapy; I've seen complaints about that exact thing all over social media despite not even looking for mental-health related content.
Here is a random subreddit I found, where I searched for the word "price." As you can see, people regularly talk and complain about prices of therapists.
In fact price of therapy is actually a fairly big policy concern, as you can see for instance by this article.
Again... if you or anyone else doesn't want to talk about cuddle pricing, you don't have to participate in this thread. But you don't get to come here and tell others they're not supposed to talk about it.
I know it seems high, but it is situational. I pay way more in DC than when I am in Nashville. But my townhome cost 3 times the price in Nashville. People have to be able to survive in the community they live in. I like to travel to cuddle because I get more time in Nashville and Harrisburg than I do here in DC.
I know what I mean when I say, “this pro doesn’t take cuddling seriously.”
But what the hell is this post about anymore?
Price. Prices. And pricing. ☺️ The original post to this discussion was why does a particular cuddler charge $200+ So we’ve all been weighing in ☺️ It’s an interesting conversation for a trade that’s not mainstream. But truthfully, we will never know why that particular person decided to charge that price unless we asked that person.