I would love to see if we as women could band together and collectively raise our rates. Show them who’s in charge here!
That would be illegal. It also raises moral questions about exploiting vulnerable people.
A significant number of professionals spend a lot of time thinking about how to make prices lower, so that more people who need a cuddle can have one.
The idea of a certain group being "in charge" doesn't strike me as being particularly consistent with the notion of a community that does its best to welcome everybody. Speaking personally, I would prefer to hire a professional who seeks to help me, rather than one who seeks to boss me around.
In more general terms, the secret to raising prices isn't about the prices themselves. It's about the "value proposition". For example, companies like Rolls Royce and Lamborghini don't spend a lot of time presenting their cars at car shows. Very limited advantage to being the most expensive thing there. Instead, they go to aeroplane shows. Compared to $50m for a jet, the cost of a fancy car is small change.
In other words, if you want to put up your price think about how a) you can offer the client more value and b) create the appearance of your product being more valuable still
@anjicuddles this is kind of gross to say. Cuddling is meant to be caring and nurturing. Nothing wrong with making money while doing it but to have this “show them who’s in charge” attitude takes that caring vibe out. You can choose whatever price you want but some genuinely enjoy snuggles while making money. I’ve been here almost 6 years with almost 200 karma. I could easily charge more than $100 but I’m content with the price I set myself at. Do what makes you happy but going about it in a way that tries to recruit other pros in raising rates simply to “show them who’s in charge” is not ok (in my opinion) For everyone else: not all pros think this way.
Show them who’s in charge here!
The Pro Mafia?
I can understand the sentiment behind wanting to feel empowered in our work, but I have to agree with much of what the others have shared. The idea of “showing them who’s in charge” doesn’t really resonate with the values of care and connection that I feel is what cuddling is all about.
As @CuddleDuncan pointed out, raising rates successfully is more about creating value for clients and building a strong reputation than trying to enforce collective changes. And I appreciate @Sheena123 's reminder that everyone approaches pricing differently... it’s about what works for you and your clients while staying aligned with the nurturing spirit of this work.
I would of course not be participating in a collective increase like that. I'd rather find ways to decrease my rate if I could.
Whether you raise your rates or not, anybody who reads your post will hopefully be put off enough to not hire you. And that's not even a statement about raising your rates as I support and feel you are entitled to do. But the attitude and the entitlement and the show them who's boss bit? Yikes !
I'm surprised she didn't post this in the pros only forum.
LOL, how much MORE do you want to raise your rates exactly girl boss?
I suppose, given the continual drip of entitled clients complaining that rates are too high, it makes a nice change to have a professional who charges $200 complaining that rates are too low.
Number 26 in the “numbers game” thread. Pros whose rates are too low.
I’m not going to lie- I definitely meant to post this in the pros only section But let me give a bit more background on my sentiment: over 90% of clients have been unruly, unprofessional, trying to cross boundaries every chance they get, complaining about market rate being too high etc. and even more of the messages I receive are from people who just want to endlessly chat all day every day without ever booking a session.
Don’t get me wrong, I have some great clients! And I love them very much! I offer them discounts every time we cuddle, and they often refuse because well, they’re just fantastic people! Some of them have even become hopefully lifelong friends. A good client is worth their weight in gold.
What I cannot stand as a girl’s girl is seeing women undercharging! For one thing, there are rules of business that apply to any industry, and clearly one of them is that price affects your potential client’s view of the service they are providing. They are more likely to see your value when your price reflects it clearly. This is true for luxury brands as well, and I would argue that cuddling with a professional is a luxury and NOT something everyone is entitled to!
Furthermore, (and this is just based off of MY personal experience so take what resonates), high value (respectful, timely, platonic, etc.) clients are often willing to pay a live-able wage. Have I gotten considerably less clients since raising prices? Absolutely. But high VOLUME work does not equate to high QUALITY clientele. I said what I said.
@mike403 I’m surprised that you visit my profile every day for months on end. I wonder what you could possibly be doing there.
@anjicuddles - I clicked on your profile twice.
@mike403 I wouldn’t want to admit that I was doing that either. But my point in saying that is that well, you might be perceived as being non platonic or a bit creepy silently watching. It is definitely something to check off on my list of red flags
@CuddleDuncan, if you become a pro, you too can be in charge of your own cuddle business. You can read my response below- but just know that this post wasn’t meant for you, but for women who are scared to charge a fair market rate.
@anjicuddles - lmao. Seriously? Whatever you say.
@LadyVel that is very selfless and charitable. To each their own when it comes to their cuddle business.
8, 10 ... (99?)
For your info, I sometimes click on profiles of people who post on the forums. It doesn't mean anything. I have been on this site since 2017 and I have never thought about crossing boundaries with anyone on here.
@CuddleDuncan im glad that there are males active here who can see irony when it’s on the nose 😆 that also gave me a good laugh.
Also fyi for anyone wondering, I raised it to this rate right before posting, but it took months of market research, inner reflection, and advice from friends/family to make that decision. Given my skillset, personality, free optional add ons such as aromatherapy, dry cupping, spiritual counseling, energy healing etc., I made the decision that felt most fair and reasonable.
And as some of yall probably already guessed- yes I absolutely did write the original post in a spur of frustration with a deceptive and unruly client.
Women go through a lot on a daily basis- let’s make this a safer and more beneficial space for them in the future! Full stop. Whatever that means to anyone reading- take what resonates and leave the rest.
Like I said. My issue has nothing at all to do with what you choose to charge. It's the way you come across and you certainly must realize how off putting that can be to a potential client. But I'm sure you've thought of things from all angles.
@pmvines I apologize for the tone of my original post. And admittedly, I accidentally posted it in the wrong category as it wasn’t meant to be seen by clients. I also admit that I should limit my keyboard use when I am coming from a place of reactivity!
@anjicuddles I believe you have the right to charge whatever amount is right for you, what you’re comfortable with and your time is worth. I’m sorry that others don’t understand someone else’s rights when I’m sure they expect the same for themselves in their work.
IMO too many people in the forum can’t get outside of their own needs and be objective.
You could always go out and get a real job
@gingerroot You just revealed a lot about yourself. Being a caregiver is a real job, though I don’t speak to the specifics of anyone else’s experience. Does being self employed mean you don’t have a “real job “?
It’s always fun to watch the non-moderators and enthusiasts encounter a professional who thought they were only talking to their peers…
@anjicuddles I agree that the professionals should organize, and maybe even set rates, or suggested rate discounts, or packages etc. But what you really should be talking about is vetting, safety, better marketing from this site, etc.
Of course, that won’t happen, because organizing competitors is VERY difficult, and historically has required an outside party with resources and power.
And, in my experience, if those competitors are in a service or entertainment industry their own egos and competitive interests prevent that organization.
You know the dance…
“Ok, everyone charge $200.00 an hour!”
crowd cheers
“Becky is only charging $150.00! She’s cheating!”
etc…
I'm indifferent about what most people think of me.
I am very thankful to the pros that charged a rate that I could afford because I am definitely not a member of the high-profile living-wage-paying clientele.
For me it's very simple:
For these reasons, I limit my search to women to a rate I feel demonstrates these qualities which is what I can afford
It's your prerogative to charge literally Anything you wish, but the clients you get will he reflective of that