I don’t think it’s a smart idea to have pros and non-pros intermingled on a website. Yes, there’s a filter, but it shouldn’t even be an option. Here’s why: When a non-pro visits this site the first time, I think they’re assuming it to be all pros. However, the results from that initial search displays a lot of people who are looking to cuddle for free. Therefore, new members are likely to spend their first few months messaging non-pros to avoid having to pay for it. This isn’t beneficial for professionals by any means. If the non-pros weren’t in the search, it would’ve never crossed the persons mind. However, now they’re thinking “why should I pay $100 if I can get similar service for $0.”
Actually, it doesn’t matter what service or product is being advertised, as a consumer will always try and get what’s “free” first. Especially if the consumer will benefit the same from either.
Personally, I definitely would’ve been better off if I saw only pros here when joining. Seeing the non-pros was a surprise for me and I’ve wasted a lot of time messaging them. Actually, it wasn’t a lot rather all my time wasted. Should’ve contacted a pro from the very beginning.
If no pros were not allowed, who would pay the pros? Other pros?
It seems a rather silly thing to segregate. Because of the amount of media attention that professional cuddling is getting, I wouldn't be surprised if most people skim the "about" page and assume right away that the website is full of professionals just by seeing a few posting on the forum. Furthermore, not everybody who cuddles as a professional is there to be a human body pillow or to soothe lack of touch exclusively. Some offer wellness and coaching as well, and these services are made available to the clients who want them.
I think a better idea is to clearly distinguish who is a pro and who is not from first glance in some places, such as the forums. The other solution could be to state somewhere visible when someone first signs up that this is a free-to-use website though you will also encounter pros here. The forums make it so you have to click on a profile to find any information. People's time would actually be saved if they could see this information from the get-go.
Therefore, new members are likely to spend their first few months messaging non-pros to avoid having to pay for it. This isn’t beneficial for professionals by any means.
I don't think that a lot of non-pro females end up responding to a lot of people that message them, and the reasons for that can be formed into a plethora. This is exactly why we exist. When you don't feel like you are getting what you want, or like you're having any results, we're open for you to book with. Perhaps there's something you need to work on, and some of us can help you do that.
If no non-pros were allowed, how would you join, @luv2cudl2?
Segregation Is the choice of people who have great fears of other groups and feel deep inadequacies about themselves.
Frederick Douglass
@Fairbutfirm and @DarrenWalker I would say most other cuddling sites only have "professionals" on them (quality of them may differ based on site and of course the person). This site feels much more similar to a dating site or social media. Thus some people's confusion sometimes...
@empee I will often send one follow-up and assume they aren't interested if I don't hear back after that. People come and go from the site or read a message and forget to respond, so I think one reminder is ok 😊 They can always block you if you're bothering them, and as long as you are being kind and polite, if they do that, you probably don't want to see them anyway 😜 ha.
@ubergigglefritz: If the site only has pros, one wonders where they get their clients. Other pros?
I challenge @luv2cudl2's idea that it's even possible to have pros and non-pros not intermingled on a website.
@DarrenWalker We get our clients from people contacting us, just like almost all other professions 😊 If you need a doctor, you look for a doctor, read reviews (though a lot of these sites don't have reviews, which is annoying, I have reviews on my personal website, and trying to build on my Facebook page and Google), contact the one you choose, etc. You don't enter yourself in a database of people looking for doctors. Lol. Not saying this site should be any different, as having a community of both is nice sometimes, especially in the infancy of this work, but just responding to the notion that this couldn't work if non-professionals weren't allowed. That's basically how every other line of work works. Except for annoying businesses like those who use telemarketers, ha.
@ubergigglefritz: From people contacting you—people also on the website, yes? I mean, they'd almost have to be on here in order to send you a message... unless you put your phone number or email address or something in your profile.
Pretty sure that would make verifying bookings very difficult for the site.
Edit: Point is, there have to be both pros and non-pros on the site, and some on both sides are going to be male, and some are going to be female (and some are going to be both, and some are going to be neither...). And if you're doing a dual "only cis women, only professionals" search anyway, why bother keeping enthusiasts out?
Potential clients go to the site, but they are not members. They just click a button to contact the professional and it gets sent to my personal email address. On the two others I'm on, I also have my personal website on my profile (we are allowed to), so they can contact me through my website as well if they prefer. It's like any other line of work... There are definitely way more services that work the way I am describing than work the way cuddle comfort works... :-/
I have become friendly with a lot of both pros and non pros here . I think the idea to not have them on the same site is silly . Otherwise options for social interaction are very limited , and this would be a business transactional only site
I second @FunCartel on this.
I sure hope so. I am looking to make friends not hire someone. Nothing against the practice, it's just not why I'm here.
I suggest a second web site payforhugs.com for professional huggers. 25 dollars a hug. 10 dollars a handshake.
Well i am new to the site and have schedule my first cuddle with a pro my line of thinking is this is a safer way to go
All cuddlers unite!
This site already has the "general," "cuddles requests," and also "professional cuddling" forums. One can filter/include/exclude pros and non-pros on the search options. New folks might take some time to navigate and look around (or not), but I think it's pretty straight forward. I don't have numbers or data, but it seems there are more enthusiasts on here than pros.
I agree with @Catloaf and that it would be nice to visually see pros versus non-pros in either a different color or symbol on their thumbnail when browsing the forums without having to click on their profile.
How is this even a topic? This is a business. I am quite sure the owners put in thought about how to run their company. I guess Best Buy should not sell Apple products and Microsoft products. Pros and non-pros is what makes this better than the others.
I'm guessing that you are referring to non FEMALE professionals!? If not then imagine if we were all pros. I would pay someone $80 to cuddle with me, and they would pay me $80 to cuddle with them. Doesn't make sense right.
@luv2cudl2 noticeable flaw in your argument there, if people are desperate enough to not have to pay for cuddles when that's an option, that they'll spend months searching for non pros to cuddle while ignoring the pros - then if you remove the non pros from the site as potential cuddle buddies all you'll be doing is driving those new people off to other sites that do have non professionals.
If someone is prioritising saving money that much at the cost of their own time/effort browsing and messaging non pros then they'd absolutely be willing to put some of that into pursuing other sites when that option is taken away.
The mix of pros and non pros has lead to the unique community and feel that CC has, I can't imagine what it'd be like if it didn't have that. Can't imagine many people would stick around if such a change was made either.
@luv2cudl2 I strong disagree with with this: "Here’s why: When a non-pro visits this site the first time, I think they’re assuming it to be all pros." On what basis would you feel non-pro make the assumption?
@SteveInDurham: Seconded. When I joined up I thought the site was all enthusiasts.
@ubergigglefritz: Oh, I see. So if CC ran that way, it'd basically be a menu of pros off of which anyone with the money could order—I can see how that would work. I wouldn't be able to use it, of course....
Yeah, why not? it's not confusing to me and not a genius!
some of my best cuddling experiences have been with non pros! i think that would be a terrible idea. the focus is on building friendships/relationships based on cuddling not the business transaction.
Did someone just compare themselves to a doctor ?
@SteveInDurham It it isn't unheard of for the main forum to get the odd "Are there any non-pro people here?" topic. That's indicative that at least some people are assuming the website is all pros. Mix that with the amount of attention pro cuddling has got in the media, people might not be aware that there are social sites where you can meet people who aren't pro for free. People these days typically have the attention span of a housefly as well, so add that into signing up for a site and they probably won't read something that's even right in front of their face in large print. If they did, then they'd know that there are far, far less professional accounts here than there are enthusiasts (the approximate number used to be displayed on the front page, or maybe it still is... correct me if needed).
@slumberjack My experience as well.
@dakota29 It wouldn’t be the first time.
This is about the dumbest conversation I've seen out here. Everyone should have some sort of profile. I don't even understand why this question even comes up - or the idea that it's bad to have pro's and non-pro's intermingled. A better question would be how do the "pro's" substantiate that they are indeed professional cuddlers?