Agencies

[wimpy]

Since this board is a cross section of clients and providers. No hidden agendas. I have a question that I brought up elsewhere awhile ago.

Now, I hate agencies. They always lie about whose who. So awhile back I saw a picture of a provider. Called the agency up and specifally asked "is this lady was available". They said yes, I said are you sure? They said yes. So I printed a pic of the lady and went to the place. Its not the lady theypromised. I tell her its a no go because she not whom they said she was. She call the agency and tells them I am not staying for the reason stated. I leave. Half way down the block in the cold I realize she's not that bad. I go back and we work a deal that pays her more and saves me cash.

Was I wrong? The moral of this for me at least is use independants. But what do you think? I want to know!!

 

[Slinky Bender]

It's a tough call in my mind, although I think I differ from a lot of guys on this subject. First, I'll state that if you see someone through an agency, I do think it's wrong to try and get a direct number and then cut out the agency in the future. The only thing which is different in this case is that the agency clearly screwed both you and the lady by lying to you. They clearly cost her an appointment ( unless they told her "we're sending you a guy who we lied to about who you were", which I somehow doubt ). They also clearly wasted your time given the specificity of your request.

So, in this very specific case, I would say neither you nor she could be faulted for your actions. OTOH, I wouldn't say that in general I would think someone should go around collecting number from "agency girls" and "cutting out the middle man".

 

[wimpy]

How this. Say the provider is from out of town. Has worked with an agency for a year or two. Then she intiates contact with clients and cuts the agency out. Is she wrong? This is a true scenario.

 

[Slinky Bender]

Well, to some extent i think you are setting up a straw man to knock down. How is she "initiating contacts" if there wasn't something "going on" while she was working for the agency ? ( i.e. how does she contact without the contact info sshe got while working for them ? ). However, in my mind, there is a huge difference between any attempts at gaining new business when you are on your own and taking "side business" away from a place you are currently working at. Once you go into business for yourself everything changes. that's not only true of this business, but most $/hr consultancy type stuff. Wasn't some fairly big name attorney recently disbarred for taking side business while working at a "name" firm ? It's the same way in Real Estate Bvrokerage, etc.

But to answer the question asked, if a truly independant contacts you, even if you saw her thru an agency at one point in time, I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with you seeing her. The only potential "bad" I could see is if she "wrongly" got your info that was the propoerty of the agency. OTOH, if what happened was she knows you as "wimpy", saw you post here, and contacted you saying:"I don't know if you remember me, but I remember you. I saw you when I was working for ABC Girls in Houston. I got your email addy from utopiaguide.com, and I see you are posting there so I know you are in the "hobby" still. Would you like to get together some time ?". I would see absolutely nothing wrong in that.

Compared to:"Last time I was in NYC I saw you thru ABC Girls. At that time, you gave me your email and asked if the next time I was in town I contact you directly. Well I'm coming in again and ABC has booked me pretty solid, but I have a few empty slots. If you want to see me, I am available Tuesday at noon for two hours. Email me here and I can work out a lower rate since I don't have to go thru ABC Girls with you".





[Edited by slinkybender on 12-27-2000 at 02:01 PM]

 

[justme]

Taking side work while working is extremely unprofessional in law, management consultency, ad, or anything that I've ever heard of (unless, of course, it is approved of by the firm). Most professionals are under an understood obligation not to moonlight at all, much less with clients that they know through their employer. I don't see why it should be any different with pros. From the clients perspective, it's probably not as unethical, but it is bad form.