Got Ripped off at Glamour Girls . . .
Preface
First, I don’t believe that ANYONE “Deserves” to be ripped off, however, I think I did just about everything except hang a sign around my neck saying “Take my money” to make it easy for them to do so.
Second, you may understand some of my actions better if you understand that I live in Houston, there are thousands of massage parlors and you can walk into any one of them and pay $40-$60 for the house and $150 to $200 for the masseuse. For that get a private room, nice massage and all the extras. So if a dancer is asking for more than $250 or so, it’s a tough sell. Yes, I know there is a whole different vibe to club extras having spent over 40 years chasing and enjoying them.
The Story
I arrived at the club at around 1pm on a Thursday and walked in (around the metal detector rather than through it. Have never been asked to go through it, I feel soooo safe). I paid the girl at the desk the $10 entry fee and then went down the hall toward the showroom. There is a short hall you walk down, as you are walking down you see the dancer “bull pen” where all the girls are sitting and playing on their phones. Straight past them and to the right a bit is the bar and to your direct right is the stage and tables. Today, I went with the express purpose of looking for the extras.
I was met as usual by a waitress who told me I could sit where I wanted and asked what I wanted to drink. I ordered a domestic beer as I walked to my chosen table. I had just sat down and Candy, one of the dancers that I have got dances with in the past, sat down in my lap with her standard stripper handshake. The waitress then returned with my beer and I paid her the $5 she asked for and gave her a dollar tip. (note here, I have paid $5, $6, and $7 for the same beer during the afternoon. When going to the bar to get a the same beer it’s always $5.25) Candy then asked if I wanted a dance and since that’s what I was there for today, I told her sure, let’s go.
I got two dances that definitely got my attention and she asked if I wanted to go to the VIP section for a much better dance as she made promises of what she would do to me. I asked her how much and she told me that it was $150 and then a beat later told me that was for the house. I repeated $150 and she said that was for the house. I then asked her how much for her and she looked down as she said $40-$50. I repeated $40-$50 and as she said yes, I started my first mistake and started over thinking things. That was way to low for what she told me she wanted to do to me and I started thinking that since I know the dancers often get a cut from the dancer drinks in most places, it was likely she got $50-$75 from the house payment, so that price wasn’t hugely off if that was the case. And I fully expected the price would go up to $100 when we reached the VIP. So I told her sure.
Once we reached the VIP she told me I needed to give the waitress the house fee (second mistake) The waitress was carrying some “supplies” Wet wipes, lube, condom, Candy told me to tip her $20 for these which I did as Candy started taking off her costume. Candy then told me that I needed to pay her. I handed her a $50 bill and she told me “No honey, it’s $200 for me” I said “What? You told me $40 or $50” She then told me she could probably do everything for $150. I told her never mind we weren’t doing this as I took back the $50. She asked if I could at least pay her for the dances which I did (2 dances $40 total). I started walking out as Candy was putting back on her costume and then came after me trying to hand me the supplies that I'd paid for, told her I didn't need them.
At this point you are likely thinking I am an F’n idiot. That I stand a better chance of winning the lotto, 5 times in a row, than I do getting $150 back from a strip club. You’re right about that, I didn’t expect to get my money back, but I was not going to let her profit from screwing me over in that way. I also knew I was pissed off and that I would not have been able to enjoy the time. Don’t get me wrong, I expect to be lied to in a club. “Oh, you’re so good looking…”, “You look great for your age, you look 40!” , etc. etc. But I don’t expect to be lied to in that way. I’d rather lose the $150 than dump another $150-$200 on top of it.
I went to talk to the manager explaining how she had changed the dancer price multiplying it by at least 4 times. He told me that was between her and me, but he could not refund the money, because, wait for it . . . “They don’t have a void key on the register so that would make the register short” I do believe they win the award for the worlds lamest excuse. I could have come up with a half dozen ways to remedy that issue. I argued with him for a few minutes, just to annoy him and let him feel a bit of my pain, I was not loud or obnoxious, just insistent.
After I had made his day a bit less joyful, I dropped my beer in a trash can by the bar, and left. Stopped by one of the afore mentioned massage places and got a nice relaxing massage. . . .
Lessons for the Newbies (that I should have followed, I knew them, but ignored them)
1) If you are in a situation where you are paying a club fee and the dancer ALWAYS be sure of the price. I only did a half assed job of that part. I SHOULD have said something like "Ok, so $150 for the club and $50 for you so that's a total of $200 for both you and the club" It would have pushed her a bit more to be upfront with the cost, she may have still lied, but . . .
2) If you have agreed on the prices, ALWAYS pay the girl first if at all possible. That forces her to either accept it or tell you it's more before you pay the club. Be aware even then they can come back in the middle of things and say something like "I can finish things for another $100" but there's only so much you can do and normally that will not happen.
3) Go in with a the amount your comfortable spending. Too many times a bit of drink and a dancer urging you on will leave you broke and wondering why the hell did I pay that much . . . Don't worry, we've all be there it's the strip club version of the walk of shame . . .
4) Even when you've been ripped off, keep your cool, be respectful. It will do you no good to get tossed out by the bouncers or arrested.