Hi! Yes, there is a wide variance in hourly prices. I have explored different price levels in both in-person and virtual cuddles. Hint: the quality is the same; it's the locale that determines pricing (larger cities vs. towns/rural areas).
As I get more established, I may try lower-priced pro cuddlers. One thing I do with virtual cuddlers is to limit those sessions to 1/2 hour. You can also limit the number of professional cuddles you take on monthly, as well as exploring the different hourly rates of in-person cuddles. There is a happy medium to be had out there.
I feel the pricing/hour has a wide range
That's the beautiful thing about the free market: an abundance of options at various price points.
is this platform slowly becoming unaffordable to majority??
No. But even if the bell curve began trending that way, a gradual slip in demand would cause a pricing course correction.
Of course, enthusiasts are available if you'd rather invest time and effort, instead of dollars, getting to know them.
@TxTom Lol you never heard of monopolies? free market is not always a beautiful thing! we learned that roughly a century ago. might also want to look up price fixing. or implicit or explicit collusion. big example being verizon/at&t/t-mobile. all 3 you end up with virtually the same cost. they use smoke and mirrors to make you think one offers a better deal than the other but no its virtually the same price, and all those other little competitors aren't true competition because they won't be allowed to install their own towers/networks. cities won't just allow additional towers. actually its been MORE than a century since we learned how free market is not so beautiful. The Sherman Antitrust Act (1890) prohibits:
Monopolization
Attempts to monopolize
Conspiracies to restrain trade
The government sued U.S. Steel arguing:
It was a monopoly controlling over 60% of production initially
It engaged in price coordination (Gary Dinners)
Competitors were discouraged from undercutting prices
@Melancholy A monopoly is not a free market.
I can't advocate for the vast majority but speaking from personal experience yes, I am no longer willing to spend what pros are charging nowadays because I no longer value their services what at what they are charging.
I don't really see any ethical issues with this as it's pretty much just economics. People are allowed to charge what they want for their services and customers are allowed to choose not to buy if they don't feel like the price is worth it.
But the fact that cuddling and attention being an emotional thing can lead to resentment from both sides and I get it. It can be frustrating to feel like you have to shell out a lot of money to not feel lonely. On the other end, it can also be frustrating to have people constantly complain what you charge for your own service you provide. In the end I think it's fair everyone that everyone has access to their own autonomy and does what they want with themselves as long as its ethical and legal.
I also think this as a whole is less of a problem with monopoly and more with the prices themselves being a bubble. If pros keep raising their prices, sooner or later what will probably happen is you will reach a price point where no one or very few clients will be willing to pay the amount they charge. At this point you will probably see a lot of pros start to lose most if not all of their client base as overall interest in the service they provide collapses very suddenly.
FYI there's already a stickied thread on this topic in another sub forum, so you may find a more appropriate discussion there.
Agreed. Even an oligopoly really isn't a free market.
Isn't there an entire mega thread for this sort of jazz ?
I will agree cuddling with pros on the site does get very expensive. I mean you don’t want to just book one hour; if the pro is really good then you’re going to want to book 2, 3, 5, maybe overnight, and it gets even more expensive if it’s with a pro you want to travel across country to meet up with. It’s especially hard because I feel like the people who need it the most are probably the ones who can’t afford it. I mean hell, people nowadays can barely afford going out and getting a cheeseburger. But for me it’s perfect. I’m happy being alone and having someone to cuddle with every once in a while.
Lot of insights from these responses. Thank you.
Another things is ..I have had sessions with actual therapists/counsellors/functional health doctors who has degrees in their respective fields. The average pricing is around 100/hr..give or take. Here on this platform, anybody can be a pro after satisfying a certain criteria, accept the guidelines, pay membership etc. Enlighten me if there is more to become a pro or something comparable to those who have degrees?
Don't you guys think cuddle comfort should regulate or cap price range?
Pro cuddlers here are independent contractors and can charge whatever they want. Since they're not employees of Cuddle Comfort, Cuddle Comfort can't regulate, cap or influence pro cuddlers' fees.
Pros are not employees of CC and this isn’t the NFL.
No, I don’t think what pro cuddlers charge should be regulated except through what they are willing to accept to feel motivated to keep seeing clients and by how much people are willing to pay.
I don't think licenses and educational credentials are a good reason to limit someone's income if they can perform a job or gig where they have customers willing to pay the rate. Why do you think that should be the case? 🙂
Absolutely not.
No, but if you have complaints about paying to cuddle then simply don't. Or if you don't think someone is in your budget, hire someone else. You will survive regardless. It's not that deep.
I’ve been saying for awhile that prices are out of hand. Back when I started in 2015 and sessions were more affordable, I would have a session once a week. Now with the median price around $150, I have maybe 4 a year. I can afford it, for me though, paying $150 and up for a cuddle session is just not a smart financial decision.
It’s interesting though, most pros that charge over $150, are either eventually banned, they have no bio or and or they have no karma which leads me to believe they are up to no good, fake or not really interested in being a pro cuddler.
I’ve been saying for awhile that prices are out of hand.
Yes the prices have gone up, I can still afford it, but I just stay under a certain per hour rate. You still have the power by not hiring those cuddlers. I simply refuse to hire at a certain per hour rate, but I do not believe what someone wants to charge should be dictated by anyone but the pro. If they don’t get any business that’s on them.
I do feel like there is low key manipulation involved wherever I see people continually complain about prices and insinuate/state that there is something sketchy about it, or that the cuddler doesn't care about people, and how cuddling is this sacred cow that shouldn't involve cuddle pros at all blah blah. It just ends up seeming like a passive aggressive tactic to try to shame or guilt people into charging less.
Speaking for myself, my intention is not to shame anyone. Pros charge what they want and I choose to book them or not which now a days, I don’t book very often at all and that’s okay.
@pmvines ..this statement "I do feel like there is low key manipulation involved wherever I see people continually complain about prices and insinuate/state that there is something sketchy about it, or that the cuddler doesn't care about people, and how cuddling is this sacred cow that shouldn't involve cuddle pros at all blah blah. It just ends up seeming like a passive aggressive tactic to try to shame or guilt people into charging less."
I do not know about any other threads or discussions elsewhere, but this thread is not intended any such sort. I think trying to manipulate the outcome by shaming works well in one-on-one or a smaller group setting. If a particular pro is being shamed by any individual then it an absolute manipulation. We must call out those individuals.
Moreover, I feel we have become hyper sensitive to concepts like manipulation, gaslighting etcetera. We have started looking through those lenses and immediately jumping into conclusions, questioning other persons intentions almost always. It has become our usual reflex. I hope we go back to start looking at things as-is, from a neutral perspective.
Back to your logic of manipulation : Let's say new pros are absolutely okay and content with 50-60/hr but by looking at the average price by other Pros in the area they might think it is okay to charge more. Wouldn't that be a manipulation as well?
This platform is big and people continue to do what they want to. People who continue to afford will get the services. People who don't will continue to complain. and there are some people who vouch for affordability so that more people can avail the services. Not just here but applies to every general thing..be it healthcare or groceries or gas or any utilities.
If we continue to be selfish just because we can afford and do not look out for each other, then we can never be able to build a safe community.
I do acknowledge your point of view (looking out for Pros) but I am on the other side wanting more people to receive services not just with big pockets.
It is not shaming anyone but hoping to establish more understanding between providers and seekers to have the touch therapy reach broader section since majority of us are disconnected and touch deprived. Cuddle therapy can transform more lives.
@Katelyn_B - replying to your comment. " No, I don’t think what pro cuddlers charge should be regulated except through what they are willing to accept to feel motivated to keep seeing clients and by how much people are willing to pay.
I don't think licenses and educational credentials are a good reason to limit someone's income if they can perform a job or gig where they have customers willing to pay the rate. Why do you think that should be the case? 🙂"
I have to disagree. Someone who went to school, paying thousands towards tuition, spending years getting a degree is not same as someone who did the paper work and got approved to be a Pro. Yes there is no guarantee that a certified individual can perform a better job but the probability is more. Otherwise why do we even have all these educational institutions? Certifications and all the grinding process of college/job etc.
@consciousseeker If you price fix then you will find you will aggravate the problem as the number of cuddlers will evaporate for a very obvious reason—you are trying to tell someone how much their body, mind and care is worth. And you are not neutral no matter how much you claim to be because you want better access to cuddlers that you do not have right now or you would not have a thread on capping what a pro charges.
What I can offer is advice. Your best bet is communication. Talk to pros and explain your situation. Some will offer a discount, others won’t. I think you will find the ones that do offer you a discount will provide a high quality experience because they do care. Now I have never asked for a discount but I have seen profiles that say they do. So ask…politely and even if they say no, end your conversation politely.
@TheFunCartel - your advice is certainly acknowledged.
I do feel I am being judged a little bit by this "you want better access to cuddlers that you do not have right now or you would not have a thread on capping what a pro charges."
Irrespective of whether I have or not access to a lot of cuddlers at this point, my view does not change. I like to post, participate and love to hear people's thoughts, learning, growing and be aware of how I react to positive and not so positive feedbacks and also get a feel of what kind of world I am living in.
Personal exp - I have been talking to someone. She was touch deprived, signed up to CC, looking for fellow people like her to provide and receive cuddles and company. After seeing some Pro profiles and prices, she got motivated and now is a pro provides comfort to those who books session with her. There is nothing wrong about it but money can be a cruel thing derailing the purpose or becomes the purpose.
Though I am a newbie here, I do see a lot of potential to this platform especially how disconnected we have become lately. I think this platform's potential will be capped by prices being go out of hand, if not already.
Now you might be curious if there is something personal about posting this thread. May be may be not haha. Either you judge me or think bigger picture.
Price controls? I vote yes. In additon: Banning other services besides cuddling? Yes, this site should be cuddling only. Not someone looking for a plus one for their friends wedding or bosses party or dinner date. Also, get rid of virtual cuddling. It's not Covid anymore. All these jack up the prices for ACTUAL cuddles. Haggling? A big yes. If you have good Karma, pros will take at least 10% off right at the top. It's a service game, you have to know how to play it. It's no coincidence these threads keep popping up. Streets are talking.
@Midnight01 - good points..especially virtual cuddling and plus ones.
@consciousseeker Not judging, just responding to your assertion:
I hope we go back to start looking at things as-is, from a neutral perspective.
If you are asking for a cap right from the start, you are not neutral. You have chosen a side.
Also, I have several degrees and I see no harm in someone with no degrees charging whatever they want for any service. A lack of certifications and degrees are not a justification for how much someone charges. If I am charging 150/hr and I am getting it and suddenly I am told I can’t charge a penny over 100/hr I would quit. As an INDEPENDENT contractor no one should tell you how much you can or cannot charge. In any field. The laws of supply and demand pretty much gauge what the market will bear. And as far as another post about abolishing other platonic offerings? That is a ludicrous request because if you don’t want to partake no one is making you do it. And if they accompany you to a movie theater for example, how do you know you aren’t cuddling there? It seems people want to curtail the income and opportunities for others just because they disapprove of what they offer, even when it is something that does not affect them.
Final point. Many of the female pros are on here as a side hustle because of gender wage disparity which I rarely see men acknowledge.
@FunCartel_ 👏👏 thank you. I don’t understand why trying to control pros would suddenly fix everything. I’ve seen plenty of pros charging $50-$60 an hour. Why don’t they go to them instead of trying to control others? And if someone doesn’t like the extra platonic things Cuddlers do or they don’t see any benefit from it, move on. Live your life. Why make it your mission to state that you hate something you won’t ever want to take part in?? I don’t like pineapples but you don’t see me standing in front is a pineapple stand declaring this stand should be closed down because I don’t like pineapples. I walk past them and get the superior fruit: mangoes 😆😆😆😆
@TheFunCartel When I say neutral - I meant looking at both sides. We ultimately have to choose a side but be open to change your perspective if you have more convincing information.
to this point " If I am charging 150/hr and I am getting it and suddenly I am told I can’t charge a penny over 100/hr I would quit." I would absolutely do that too. But how did we even get to the point of normalizing that price to set with?
Gender wage disparity is a whole different discussion. Not a right platform I guess.
Final point: I like to listen to the side of the people that do not agree with me. Why? It gives me a different perspective that I may not be able to see. Keep them coming.
@consciousseeker: I'll have to agree to disagree then.
Thank you for your perspective. I like the idea of people from all economic walks of life having access to things like therapeutic massage, someone to cuddle, etc., but I remain unconvinced that top-down price controls are the way to do it.
If someone told me I was only "allowed" to make $40 - 80 per hour as an LMT when there are people lining up to pay me triple that, I would ignore them and make the $120/hour. If I could not ignore them for whatever reason, I'd probably either go do something else or move to another platform, municipality, etc.
As for me, I occasionally hire a female pro myself, when I'm traveling and get lonely someplace where I don't know anyone, but most of the time I put in the effort locally to get to know other enthusiasts.
I wouldn't dream of telling the pro women how much to charge, but then I also wouldn't dream of booking someone who I think is too expensive.
I believe all of the pros are charging a price they're comfortable with. The price I charge is what I'm comfortable with. I don't know about others, but I'm willing to discuss a discount. I also charge a fee if I'm expected to drive over an hour or need to pay tolls. This is all told and discussed up front.
Our of curiosity, what would you consider to be a fair and reasonable hourly rate for cuddling in person?
@Sheena123 I must apologize - If this thread made you feel like somebody is hating or control or saying price cap can fix everything. We are trying to have a rational discussion.