all relative. The Toronto market is completely different. That's where the cash is, so an SP can probably charge 300, 400 or even more $ for the HR and she'll do okay if she provides excellent services. Was there last summer and i saw so many BMW, Mercedez, Lamborghini, Ferrari's i thought i might have been at the rich boy's friendly neighborhood exotic car dealership. But in the Ottawa market which is smaller and somewhat less fortunate, charging the going rates of TO will only get you into a very small niche of clients that can afford these rates. When the average Joe makes 50 or 60k, pays half of it in taxes, benefits, OAP, employment insurance, then uses the rest for rent or mortgage, food, kids (if any), car, clothes etc...how much is really left to partake in this hobby??? It's all simple economics, you can't charge the same going rates here as in TO where the market is not only much bigger, but also more well off salary wise and expect the same kind of business you'd get in TO.
Now i'm not cheap, i have always showed up with a good bottle ( i ask beforehand if interested and about 75% appreciate having some) and a small gift which increases my expense for see an SP so for me the going rate is anything between 200 and 240, maybe 250 if i really really want to see someone in particular. It's just what i can afford without breaking the bank and my salary is above the medium income in Ottawa by about 20%. And truth be told i get an excellent HR paying these rates (220 for my regular provider). I mostly stick with her because she is sweet, not a clock watcher, provides me with everything i require and sometimes more so as itd131 says, why bother risking getting fleeced by someone i do not know. Like everyone else here i think, i've been burned so i am really careful of who i will see.
Asuran: maybe it's because they've been burned so many times by unreliable providers or BP posters. It also goes back to what they can afford, if you only have so much dineros to spend, you want to know you get what you want and so the questions are asked. Is it so much out of whack with other places???? If your idea of a good hr includes certain services, wouldn't you want to know if it's provided beforehand?
As for you Charlotte, i understand you are a well reviewed provider and whatever your fee is your business and i respect that. I'll just add that i'm not surprised that you mention you didn't get a whole lot of good clients on your last visit given what i stated above.
No disrespect to anyone, i'm just stating what my view is of the Ottawa market.