Price Negotiating

[Deleted User]GameStriker4481 (deleted user)
edited June 2018 in Pro Cuddling

I've been looking at some Professional Cuddlers profiles and I see that some charge $100/hr. and I saw one even charging $120/hr. I feel those prices are extremely steep compared to the $40/hr. minimum or the average $80/hr. rate. I understand the economic and financial state of the world today and that each individual is in different financial situations. I also understand that Pro Cuddlers have the right to choose whatever price they want. However, I want to know are Professional Cuddlers willing to discuss a reasonably lower rate with clients? Do you consider it rude for a client to ask that kind of question?

NOTE: I posted a poll below, but I kindly ask that you do not participate in it unless you are an actual professional cuddler (however, you are free to post in the forum). I ask this because just keeps the results as real as possible. Also if you put "Other", please explain why or your personal view on it.

Comments

  • [Deleted User]navyman35 (deleted user)

    They should be

  • netrunnernetrunner Mod

    The hard truth about it is that any Pro can list a price they want. That price could be based off the told industry average of $80/hr and that the lowest allowed rate they can post is $40/hr when applying for a Pro account. I know many Pros will say no, they set their rates and don't want to negotiate them and instead many will offer discounts for multiple hours, if you rent a hotel room for the session, if it's your birthday, and repeat or regular Clients as some examples.

    Pros come to what they charge on an hourly rate in a number of factors. Some will cite personal safety as the main or only reason for charging a certain rate, some will go with what is suggested when signing up and never change it regardless if they are doing successful or getting no business at all, some will start low and raise it based on searching the active Pro cuddle market in their area to be fair or competitive for where they are, and some will look into the business side of things on how much it costs for personal and professional care of themselves, maintaining and cleaning of their "cuddle sanctuary" (if they host), car maintenance costs driving per mile to and from Clients, candles/incense, music for playlists, the fee they pay per session to the site, etc etc etc... on top of a profit to themselves for their work as a cuddler as part of their rate.

    So really, it depends on the Pro... it could be that asking to negotiate a different price would mean only less money from the session for them to use for personal activities but it could very well mean them taking a hit to their business and only source of income. Not to say that either is right or wrong, but when you don't know if this is a Pros business and only source of income, I say it's best to leave discounted prices as being offered by the Pro than to be asked of by a Client.

  • EmmalineEmmaline

    nope! rates are rates.

  • cease2existcease2exist

    The pro I go to gives me a discounted rate due to my personal financial situation, but I didn't ask for it. They reached out to me to feel out my interest and when I explained to them that the only thing holding me back was affordability, they told me that they have a personal policy of working with people on price who are in a tight spot.

    My suggestion is to just do like this, use to forums to inquire if anyone has any flexibility and let them reach out to you if they are flexible, then you don't have to worry about directly offending anyone.

  • ubergigglefritzubergigglefritz

    I offer bonus hours for regulars, monthly discounted packages, weekday discounts, etc. I also have a cheap intro cuddle. If you have an idea for a new discount that will benefit both of us, I will listen. But in general, I think I offer enough at the moment :-)

  • quietman775quietman775
    edited June 2018

    It's one thing for a pro to advertise rate specials, volume discounts, and price flexibility as a strategy for gaining market share (or as an act of compassion for the cash-strapped). It's another thing entirely to ask a pro to negotiate her rates when she hasn't advertised rate flexibility. It might come across as negative, as in "I'm interested in your service, but I don't think it's worth what you are charging." To avoid being inadvertently insulting, I won't try to negotiate.

    @navyman35 , I don't think there is any "should" here. Do I think every cuddle pro's rates are reasonable? No. But the beauty of the free market is that there is always a lower-priced provider down the road. You can vote with your wallet. (That's why I don't own Apple products! LOL) @ubergigglefritz , I'll try to catch you on a weekday! ;-)

  • MorpheusMorpheus

    I never had a pro offer a discount but almost all pros that I have seen have given me free time. This only seems to happen when I host which I do most of the time. I think the girls generally just feel comfortable. They usually will stay an extra hour for free but I’ve had 1 pro stay 7 extra hours for free lol I once had a two hour session turn into an over niter and no extra cost. I won’t see a pro if she’s charging ridiculous prices but I’ve always felt the key to success with a pro is to make sure you make them feel safe and comfortable and many times they will reward you.

  • AshleyCuddlesAshleyCuddles

    I don’t believe any pro would be comfortable with someone trying to negotiate. I know I’ve offered discounts to trauma victims especially if they needed continuous sessions of comfort to help recover. But I offered initially. Honestly anyone approaching me asking to negotiate I would just wish them well and say that I wouldn’t be able to meet with them. I think enough of us have experienced the “give an inch/take a mile” and it just never goes well.

  • MarvinNYCMarvinNYC

    Like any negotiation, you have to be willing to walk away. The fact that a cuddler may charge 2-3 times the market price is a huge red flag to me. There are plenty of very nice ladies charging market rate prices in the NYC area, so I don't complain or negotiate I just move on ....

  • pmvinespmvines
    edited June 2018

    If I saw paid cuddlers, I would simply avoid the ones who are overly inflated from what I can afford and stick with ones who are more reasonably priced. If they are whatever the average standard rate is, or even if they aren't for that matter, I think haggling for a service is a bit tacky. Its not a garage sale after all. Also has potential of creating a needlessly awkward situation for you both, and if the person does agree it might be begrudgingly , which I could see making for a not as good visit. I saw someone yesterday for a 60 dollar massage. Three weeks ago a saw someone for a 75 dollar massage. Both were very similar. So i will likely see the 60 dollar one again and not the 75 dollar one unless it is more geographically convenient. But i will not ask the 75 dollar person to match the 60 dollar rate, that would be an insult to her. Just don't pursue it if its not something you deem as a fair rate.

  • ubergigglefritzubergigglefritz

    @quietman775 That's the idea, ha. Most people want fri-sun, so the discount hopefully encourages people who can make mon-thurs work to make that happen, which keeps my weekends free for people who can't. :-)

  • [Deleted User]galowglass (deleted user)

    Free market concepts say that a person can charge whatever the market will bear. If somone is in fact delivering less value than they are charging, potential customers will look elsewhere.

    An exceptional cuddler (however you define that), logically and realistically, can charge more than a cuddler that is inexperienced. If you don't like someone's rates, avoid the negotiating because its extra drama. Just vote with your feet and find someone else.

    If there is no one else, that's just another economic factor. In a scarce market, the supplier has more liberty to charge more. It's not a sin, or immoral to make a living and to acheive the best results for yourself.

  • ubergigglefritzubergigglefritz

    My vet once offered to do an autopsy for one of my cats for free because she was genuinely curious to see what was going on, since the ultrasound showed something she had never seen before. Point being, personally, I would love people to still message and talk to me about themselves and why they're interested in a cuddle session. If you're my ideal client type, I might be more motivated to get you in for a cuddle =) I'm not offended if you make a price offer in general, but you MIGHT make an offer that offends me. Be understanding and respectful of what we are doing, the time involved in working with you as our client (it goes beyond simply the session), and our own bills we have to pay. Also know that, even if a special offer may be feasible for one session, it may not be a long-term solution. I look at it as I'm trying to build my business, it's a new industry, maybe you've never done a session before so aren't convinced on its value. I might be more flexible for an initial session, if I have no others scheduled that day, and if there is hope of a future professional-client relationship at my normal rates. Someone who is VERY genuine about this work and wanting to build a business, and isn't busy yet, may be be more likely to listen to an offer for a first session (but a lot of people just plain aren't, as can be seen in this thread). I wouldn't even bother if the person is already very successful. Just another perspective... Oh, and I'm MUCH less likely to entertain deals on the weekends (if at all), since that is more prime time for current clients and other personal activities... You have to be willing to be flexible to fill in the professional's gaps and when they are most interested in doing a session if you're wanting a special deal.

  • pmvinespmvines

    I have always thought it a bit classless to try to haggle with someone for services as opposed to say an item for sale. I realize sometimes you need the person to work with you a little and there is nothing wrong with that. Just some people are always looking for a bargain and get a rush out of not having to pay full price for something. If I am buying a used car I will haggle all day long, but if I am obtaining a service like a massage, pet sitter, house keeper, etc, I just respect the asking price and if it is not something I can afford or if there is someone doing comparable work for less I will go with them.

  • ubergigglefritzubergigglefritz

    @pmvines I agree. It's just all in how it comes across. Definitely risky, but there's a slim chance if you have no other options, ha. I don't know. I was just saying a startup is more likely to maybe be interested. They are often still figuring out their rates. They won't know why they're not getting any response if no one says anything...

Sign In or Register to comment.