I've been talking to a potential client since yesterday.  He wants me to travel over 100 miles to London and suggested meeting me at 10am and taking me back to the station for 4pm.

I considered the fact that I would have to pay for a ticket and travel time, plus parking my vehicle and that it was a good 6 hour booking.  My normal rates are ?410 for 4 hours and ?600 for an all night.  This is reflected for the area that I live in.

With this in mind I quoted ?600 to him, which I think is fair as I would be spending some of that on getting there etc.

He came back to me with ?450.

I don't know if I should or not, but I actually feel quite insulted by this offer.  Has he been wasting me time?  Am I being unreasonable?

I have told him that I don't think he is being reasonable and am awaiting a reply.  If he comes back with another amount between the two, would I be fair to consider it, or should I stick to my guns, believing that I am worth the amount quoted?

What would you do?

Sounds like a timewaster to me and haggling with me gets you blocked on my phone but then again I have a short fuse.

Block him after telling what a lowlife he is!

I completely second this.

Of course, you are free to do as you wish - it's your rates and your body after all. But no matter what clients try to tell you, you aren't obliged to negotiate your rates and many of us sex workers refuse to even deal with clients who try to haggle. So whatever choice you make, be sure it's not because you think or are told that "everybody else is doing it", cos we're not.

I have noticed a dramatic increase in calls lately, which means a correlating increase in hagglers, timewasters and idiots, unfortunately! Love those texts, "Can I have an hour for ?100 babe" - I cackle and reply with something rude, before blocking them so I never have to be offended by their existence again.

I don't feel that my rate was at all unreasonable, especially when I have friends that would happily charge ?900 for an all night and get them, so I think this person is taking liberties.

Well, the thing is, you have to look at each situation individually and judge carefully how you feel about it. I have clients who, if they wanted a dinner date, I wouldn't dream of charging for anything but the private time afterwards (and they usually get a little extra of that, too!) because they've seen me a few times before and I know they wouldn't abuse the situation and (essentially) that they are the sort of client who you can spend ages with without feeling exhausted, ragged or used and broken like an old sex toy.

On the other hand, I don't even offer dinner dates or overnights to clients that I haven't met before, let alone discounts or bargaining! You never know what kind of intolerable arsehole you might be trapped in a hotel room for 12+ hours with. So you might personally feel that with one regular client you'd happily give him extra time on a shorter booking but would prefer not to do an overnight with him, or with another client, you'd do a discounted overnight but wouldn't apply the same discount for a shorter appointment - maybe because he just doesn't ask about it, or maybe because he asks in a rude and entitled sort of way.

Working relationships can be a little complex and week to week I usually stick to the appointment times listed on my site without much deviation. Occasionally, though, you might end up with a gem of a regular who's already spent a grand on you so why not go for a 'free' dinner if you feel like it and you get to pick the restaurant? Just make sure to always check, no matter how awkward it might seem, that you're both on the same page regarding the time that he does have to pay for, if that will be involved as 'dessert'.

Anyway, some random bloke you've never met is much too likely to be a scammer, a creep or, at best, a timewaster to really be worth entering into negotiations with. And for any first booking, I very much like to keep the upper hand - my location, my rates, an appointment of standard duration. It helps because if at any stage during the process a client seems uncomfortable or angry about having to do things my way, that's a really good sign that I shouldn't be letting him near me. It sounds really pushy but I actually find that 90% of clients are fine with it and prefer having a little instruction - I see a lot of intrepid but nervous newbies! And nobody haggles.

Half of it seems to me to be a waiting game. After being haggled at by illiterate text messages half the day, it's easy to doubt yourself but I always hold out til I get a lovely, genuine phone call and a real appointment from a nice guy. I think being self-employed means it's hard to relax when you feel you ought to be working but honestly - if you want longer bookings, they'll be fewer but they will be out there so you mustn't get panicked and start jumping into things without due caution!

If you aren't happy with the rate, just say you can only make it for your original offer. I've anguished in the past about "How dare he expect me to accept so little", or "Am I not being reasonable" and all that did was result in a very negative 'all men are out to get me' headset.

Easiest way is to be clear in your mind what you will, or won't accept. Makes it a lot simpler than losing sleep over it.

I would decline the booking. It sounds like he is taking the piss. I do believe this sort of thing is on the increase though and one of the main reasons is the reverse booking thing on AW.

Good news!  I stuck to my guns and told him I was a little offended and he apologised and agreed to the original rate.  He has also given me a name of a lady I know that he has met before and she says he is a good character, so it looks like it is a safe bet and he was just trying it on a bit.

I think I do need to add a comment on my site about not trying to haggle.  It's not a pleasant situation to be in, as it does make you question 'self worth' and people's perception of you.  It may not occur to the men that this is what they are doing, but that is the end result.

Thank you x

I can't believe some of the reverse bookings on aw.  My jaw literally drops when I see some of the rates they are prepared to pay and then the dozen or so escorts that are bidding on them!!!! Why?

Good for you sticking to your guns, I refuse to negotiate because it seems that guys who try this will be more likely to push other boundries as well.  Also they seem to be the type of person that will "try and get their money's worth" which would be an absolute nightmare on an overnight!