@Aurora87
And everything under $80-100/h is just showing that you don't value your service enough or you simply don't really see yourself as a real PRO.
That's simply not true. Several of the professionals I know set their rates as low as possible, and it breaks their heart to charge at all. They want to bring touch to people who need it, and don't want money to be a barrier.
being a business owner(s) and consumer of goods and services for decades, this is my 2nd least favorite thread and makes me yawn every time I see a new post(s) on this thread. Yawn. Everyone stay safe and carry on
@OhioMike the curiosity is too much, I have to ask .... which is first?
@CuddleDuncan it really doesn’t matter. The longer you are here the more repetitive the negativity gets. Oh well 😁carry on !
Darn it! I was lurking because I wanted to see your #1 most despised thread too, @OhioMike. I guess it shall remain a mystery.
@squeakytoy I'm thinking there isn't actually a #1, but maybe I'm wrong. Like if I say this is reason #32 that I get frustrated in the forums, lol. There aren't actually 31 other reasons listed out. 🤔 Anyway, I completely get what @OhioMike is saying now, which is why I realized maybe he was just saying #2 without there being a #1. I've been here for over three years and yeah, it mostly all gets monotonous eventually. 😆
@ubergigglefritz 👍thank you 😊
@ubergigglefritz Ahhh, okay! That's fair. I mostly wanted to know because I was wondering if it lined up with my least favorite topic. But this makes sense.
Attractive women can have a higher price
I think it depends on how "demanded" or unique they are, how good the service is, and how much they value their time. Like when you go for a tattoo, you will get vastly different quotes from different shops or artists for the same piece. So it all comes down to how much are you willing to pay for it? Is it the artist/shop you really want regardless of the high price?
I have no doubt there are pros that overcharge for the little effort they put into the season. But I am also sure there are pros who are definitely worth the price
People can charge as they see fit. I have yet to see a comment unless i missed it haha, but i think an important pount to make is the variable as a pro. You have no idea what REALLY is going to happen so charging a little extra might make the riskier side a little less scary.
I personally started here years ago. Quit pretty soon after bc it was just really bad experiences after another. The rates were low and i literally got NOTHING but people who wanted to nickle n dime me, demand things from me, be inappropriate. I was like 21 maybe at that point.
Im 24 now. I have my own cute safe neighborhood place, i have a LITERAL cuddle section in my home now. It isnt a bed. Nobody comes to my normal ass bed haha they get my crazy comfy day bed🖤Tv tablet daybed new sheets bedding exc. Things arent cheap.)
Im debating on getting some tea lights and like a canopy to add to a more “enclosed tight personal cuddle) experience (and i have colored lights🖤
I drive, i host, i accept crazy last minute bookings, i accomodate, i offer food drinks whatever.
I clean THE CRAP out of my house for bookings. (Dog hair, dust, carpet scrubbing, wall scrubbing, exc. like i literally have been working on the stairs for no rrason bc u only walk on them🤣🤣🤣)
I have some mental health (addiction, gambling, exc.) background.
Im an extremely amazing conversationalist
I literally just got this suuuuper expensive air conditioner to add to the expirience. (I have a window unit but wanted a floor one so the cudlee would 100% be able to be at their full comfort.
Im even in the works of putting together like “to go bags” as gifts.
You can NOT look at a price someone charges and compare it to what u think is acceptable. Yoy have no idea what the person has done or is actively working on to better the experience.
You dont know what someone has been thru that may have an effect on the rates.
How does another person get to tell a human what their time, comfort, body, energy, service is worth when u know nothing about them let alone their business.
Karma is also helpful but it doesnt show the full story. Someone may have 1 or 2 or 3 karma, but u have NO clue how many regulars have re booked multiple times. Time n time n time again. So karma doesn’t equal experience either and it also doesnt seem to be a huge deal in my area bc not one person has even asked me about it.
Someone mentioned cost of living as well and that alone makes a difference. If someone can host especially super last minute and lives in a good area it costs money to live let alone host.
I genuinely dont like the amount of judgement i keep seeing here.
Everyone has a system that works and in my experience charging less opened doors for problems and the end result was that i literally had to quit.
I seen in my email that i got a random booking request n i decided to check it out n i decided to try again n im happy i did.
Its going much better this round.
I would never look at someone who charges low or high n even think “why” what other pros do for their business is literally their business.
How can people who claim to want and enjoy cuddling, which is a very affectionate and people skills related field, have sooooo much negativity!
Were all human we have flaws its natural to think things and assume things and have an opinion.
Idc who u are. What u charge. What your opinions are. What u look like. I wish everyone success. Whether your rates are 5$ or 500$
Whether u have 0 karma or 999 karma
Whether youre new or seasoned.
The hate on pros really shines bright sometimes so maybe try to be mindful. If u experience a pro n genuinely dont believe the rates are fair then i get it. But u have no idea until u actually do n i feel shaming strangers isnt very “positive cuddle experience” behavior.
In most other professions potential clients have ways to compare the services or products offered, can ask about experience, training, get references, check out the ambiance or amenities, etc.
Here on Cuddle Comfort, however, you really can’t ask the question, “What makes your service worth $X.XX more than your competitor in the same city?”, without raising all sorts of eyebrows and red flags. (Clearly, with ample reasons…)
But, as CutieKat points out, she deliberately has extra amenities for the comfort of her clients. She has specific skill sets and training.
Long post short, what is the polite way for an interested potential client to ask about those things without the red flags and eyebrows being raised?
@CharlesThePoet I would never be offended if a potential client asked me those sorts of questions. I actually encourage people on this site to vet potential pros. A good pro will answer willingly and not get offended. My opinion of course. 😆 Another question you could ask is what makes them unique from other professionals. But really, ask whatever you would like to ask. 😇
Any pro out there that is passionate about their job will love to answer any question you have as long as it’s respectful. I also love answering any questions one would have about pro cuddling even if you don’t have any intentions of booking. How is anyone going to know what pro cuddling is like if they don’t ask? But the questions have to come from somewhere genuine and not someone asking out of rudeness or judgement.
If you’re putting out money for a cuddler, of course you want to know what you’re getting. Unfortunately, we do get a lot of questions that have an underlying tone of “sexual desires” and a pushing of boundaries, so we are always on the edge waiting for that one word that changes the tone of an innocent question to that of a red flag. Which is why it can be important to have a normal conversation with the pro first. Get to know each other and show the pro that you are actually there for the platonic experience.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to book immediately though, so if you don’t really have time to get to know the pro, I would suggest asking your question in a personal (quickly trying to get to know you) type way.
“Hello, I hope you’re well. I’m trying to find a pro in my area that I connect with and feel comfortable. What are the best qualities of your cuddle sessions? Caressing, hair play, amazing conversations. What makes you stand out from some other pros near me? “
I wouldn’t mind a question like this. I love to prove my worth and I can understand the importance of finding a pro that’s best suited to your needs. By throwing in a few examples of what you look for most in a cuddle, the pro can clearly see by your examples that your respectful of boundaries and just want to find a pro that can give you what you want (platonically of course lol).
In total, I’ve been with more than five different cuddlers. The best one was the least expensive. Ranking them, the last one was the most expensive.
There are some other cuddlers I’ve considered, but their fees are almost double the average rate.
Is there a formula for setting rates?
Per the countless other threads on pro prices , they are independent contractors and have the flexibility to create their own rates with the minimum of 40 an hr
A pro cuddler have the the right to put their fees. $100, $300, the most i ever seen on this site $2000 an hr. If they want to charge 1 billion is up to them. That I'll pay that much? No I won't. There's some that charge $60 pr hr on this site.
@TheNewNovelist your report is consistent with the other anecdotal evidence I've seen, which is that insofar as there is a correlation between rate and quality of service it is negative.
As already mentioned, professional cuddlers are freelancers and decide their own rates.
You can't and I repeat complain about pros rates here. It is frowned upon .it will get defended to the end whatever it is and helps pay the bills
In the free market, rates find a center.
Those who do not charge "enough" will eventually find it too tiring, unprofitable, and stop offering services.
Those who charge "too much" will not find customers, and will eventually change their rates or stop offering services.
This is the way. Complaining about the way is like complaining about the wind.
Charging $1000 is brilliant! I think paying it would be too. I mean think of the exclusivity that could afford one. Plus I'd imagine there would be less burden on the Pro to fully book themselves to make ends meet, so they'd have less psychic clutter, more energy, and be able to really focus on their client(s).
Also, I've seen a Pro who listed a partial weekend (36 hours ?) for over $4000. Again brilliant! And from their photos and write up I came away with the thought, "Damn! This woman clearly knows her worth, what she has to offer, and isn't scared to put it out there. Plus her rules/boundaries were concise and communicated, "Don't even think about crossing any lines or else." Idk ~ but I was impressed and I truly hope she's doing well for herself.
@Sheena123 - excellent response - and educating for both enthusiasts and other Professionals.
"By throwing in a few examples of what you look for most in a cuddle, the pro can clearly see by your examples that your respectful of boundaries and just want to find a pro that can give you what you want (platonically of course)"
Would that more folks approached and navigated in a similar fashion,
Thanks sideon 😊 here’s hoping people take these words to heart. 🌸🌸
I notice that Rule 8 of the Male Cuddler Contract and Independent Contractor Agreement says "You are allowed to charge Clients for your services at a rate of your choosing but above a minimum of $40/hour."
Since I haven't gotten any bookings (and I've only gotten two requests) in my first two months listed as a Pro on this site, I'm considering dropping my rate to $40 just to see if that makes any difference. So far in my experimentation, nothing I've done to my profile or pricing has increased the number of requests I've gotten, so I wonder if it would be unwise to lower my rate. Honestly, I bet I could lower it to $0 and get no bookings. As Mama Rose in Gypsy sings, 🎵"Some people got it and make it pay / Some people can't even give it away."🎵 It would be an interesting experiment to see if this male pro could even give it away! I can't lower my rate to $0, though, so that experiment is not an option. (That is, unless I go back to being a non-Pro.)
P.S. Come to think of it, the very next lyric in the song I quoted is "This people's got it / And this people's spreadin' it around!" I do believe I've "got it," but maybe I should lower my rate to the minimum or go back to being a non-pro and just "spread it around!"
@nurturingman, considering that men who aren’t charging have a hard time getting cuddles, you may be right. However, you also have an exceptionally good profile.
@nurturingman you've thought of it, you might as well try it. What's the worst that could happen.
Thanks, @Babichev
I decided to lower my rate to a half-off introductory rate of $40/hour, @CuddleDuncan
Oddly enough, I found out that even if I create a “discount rate” of $40, my rate will still show up as $80. That will affect people’s search results (I believe), so I lowered my regular rate and wrote at the end of my profile:
To introduce people to the benefits of hiring a male professional cuddler, I'm offering a half-off introductory rate of $40/hour through at least the end of 2021.
I’m currently up in central California. I looked up the local pros and the lowest price within driving distance is $130 an hour. That’s insane in my opinion.
@Morpheus, where are you and what are you counting as central CA? I’m seeing plenty of women in Fresno and Modesto For $80-100/hr