Hey, I went and looked at the "worked for Alison". My sister had a party at the Hudson. It was the party before her wedding. I thought that place was strange. I never thought people would frequest that place. I also didn't remember the name of it, what a lasting impression it must have left on me...

Needless to say, the marrage lasted 6 weeks. He was suck an ass.

damn, but the button by accident.

I would think that it's hard to prevent this type of action happening when you team up with someone. Personally, I'm sure the client was drawn by the price discount. But the nerve of him to ask for a price match. Last time I checked, you weren't K-Mart.

I hope she didn't set you back too much.

that really sux. but then again... people screw their friends over all the time. it's not right. but it happens. try not to let it get to you. :)

It is like that in all of business. I am sorry you have to go thru this. Some people are just lazy. Keep your head up, the Karma knows..

Hi A. -

If I was in your situation, my instinct would be to kick her ass.

If that isn't an option (professional courtesy or whatever), I compiled a list of CDs earlier this week to which you might find some measure of catharsis in listening (linked below).

On a personal note: Yay! I finally had something to contribute ... after reading for the last three months.

Tsk, offering a discount? How tacky. Clearly she's aware your humping skills are superior if she has to go down (ahem) that route. If the guys are cheap enough to go for a discount, you're better off.

Business is business... Sucks, eh? I hope your ex-friend was motivated by financial necessity, not the thrill of poaching. 'Cause she's had her last kick at that money tree!

I have to wonder though: how did she get the client's contact info? Did you let it slip, or did she and the client exchange info behind your back?

My sympathies... Take care :)

I don't intend to be mean, or rude, but this is the nature of a free market capitalist economy, black market or not, the same rules apply, though some what less so at the premium services level that you are providing at, and while it is a dick (cunt?) thing to do, especially if you had some kind of friendly working relationship, thats the way business is, and the more money involved the more often this kind of thing will happen, regardless of the industry. That being said, if he was so excited by the discount, how good of a client could he have been?

You may have done so already, but - I'd check this out with her before you get out the brass knuckles. Clients lie - sometimes even the nice-seeming ones. I've had boys try the "she offered me a discount" line with me when the other girl had done no such thing. They were just trying to work a deal. Needless to say, they didn't get one. She may deny it even if it's true, of course. You'll have to use your judgement. But either way, I wouldn't even give that guy a discount, uh-uh. You stick to your guns, and don't let anyone - whether it's him or her - manipulate you.

Well, from a business standpoint price wars are bad for business. They kill margins and when margins die usually quality takes a dive. It's a pity you can't sign non-disclosure and anti-competitive MOUs in your line.

I'd say, suck it up, move on and value-add your services if possible. I don't think taking it up with her is a good idea. It may turn into an ego/price war and that's to no one's benefit.

Maybe a good pact with a new partner, someone who can never get her hands on the clients' number?

Anyway, good luck!

She must be hard up for the money.

I would write it and her off as a business learning experience.

Never discount, BTW.

I was just thinking the exact same thing Mattisse said. I'm not so sure the guy wasn't pulling your chain hoping you'd cut him a break and not really considering (or caring) about the consequences to you and her. I wouldn't accuse her of anything, although I might ask.

Hi
Just found your blog - linked from another site i pop into regularly. Like your style and I have to say you probably have the highest readership I've seen on a blog so far...
xxxxxx

Sucks when you realize you can't trust someone. Time to cut the losses.

Sorry, but this is not a perfect example of free-market capitalism. I'm involved a long series of discussions now with a joint venture partner, and one of the things we're talking about is respecting each other's existing businesses so we can make the joint venture work. Truly respectable ethical companies don't work like the example laid out here, because they know that if their reputation is bad, nobody will want to deal with them anymore; the short-term gains are not worth the long-term losses. But what does anybody expect? We're dealing with friggin' hookers here! When we think of professions we admire for their strong ethics, how many people put prostitutes near the top of their list? Let's have a show of hands.....c'mon, raise them high.....oh, well. But to read some of the comments posted on this blog, you'd think we were talking about Mother Teresa.

Alexa, my friend, you would seem to have a choice to make. High road vs. low road. Reasonable arguments exist for both I suppose. I WILL take exception to David T's comment (and some others) in that the ONLY true difference here is that you have not the legal recourse other business partnerships might pursuit. I generally find considerably more honor and respect among your profession than I do the bastards dominating Wall Street or Madison Ave. in theoretically "legitimate" business. However, that is irrelevant at this point.

The answer ultimately lies within your own conscience. With what action(s) can proceed without feeling that you have in some way compromised your self? The options are myriad, but the true answer is singular and one only you can make.

((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))

-G

What Candi did was reprehensible, but sadly not that uncommon in business. I'd talk to Candi first before making any decisions of the future of the partnership as the client may not be honest with the facts. If it turns out to be true, then you can either take the lumps and continue on with the partnership or just search for another partner.

My sympaties for your predicament. I've had my share of partners in my IT work that backhanded me by stealing mutual clients or skipping out on the workload.

One question, have you ever had a client not pay for the date (as in bounced check or bad credit card, etc.) and how did you deal with it?

"Especially since I'd been bringing in eighty percent of the clients who asked for the two girl fantasies!" In my opinion, this is the motivation. She was jealous. She felt she was doing just as much work and and missing out on 25% more to often.

Whatever happened to honor among theieves...or some sort of saying? I'd follow Matisse's advice and confront it first with Candi, using best judgement with her answer. Unfortunately, as most have posted, it happens all the time.

David T:
Consider the following:
Take a look at the Fortune 500 list, and see how many of those companies follow the lessons of a business ethics class.
A corporation is an amoral entity. In smaller situations (such as this one) the personal emotions of individuals may override the profit motive, but in this case they did not. Ethics, as far as the modern corporation is concerned exist only so far as public relations, and government enforce them, and this situation gets no government oversight and minimal PR. As far as corporations going on joint ventures are concerned, consider Microsoft, and their reputation, yet they still have numerous companies willing to engage in joint ventures. Your beliefs show a general naïveté to the actual practice of business, and if you can practice business in that manner, congratulations, you live in quite an ideal setting, however, the rest of the world is in a traditional

the rest of that that got cut off should read: "zero sum game"

Sounds like she needs to be the object of a bukkake.

Alexa deare you must be really enjoying all this public brawl! your small, highly commen, and obvious eventuality leades us posters to discuss corporate ethics, business citizenship cte.. well what are all those things aneway in business, may i ask? give me one business that has it...let alone this escorting. move along my love, thats nothing new in it. People like PM, G et'al come here to have good time, read other peoples stuff(in this post, Alexas ireful venting of anger). the only reason I come here is that she's brutally honest abt meny things about her...in this case including her anger. thats being humane'

" Last time I checked, you weren't K-Mart."

If it's a business we're calling it, then there should be no problem with working it like a biz, from the client's perspective as much as from hers.

That really sucks. I say get revenge. Send her to Doggy Man.