German authorities want to end 'flat-rate' offers in brothels

[FarCenter]

Police and law officials raided bordells under suspicion of social security fraud, among others. They have been trying to stop the flat-rate fee system in brothels, arguing that it violates prostitutes' dignity.

While the global recession has hit the financial sector, the export industry, and car companies, it has also been felt in the world's oldest business sector - prostitution.

Brothels across Germany have seen their client numbers dwindle. Since they are not at the top of the list for a government bailout, they are having to look for other ways to battle the downturn.

One such way which has made headlines in Germany is the "flat-rate" fee system, offered by at least four brothels in Germany, where prostitution in legal.

The "Pussy Club" chain offers such a flat rate, which entitles customers to unlimited sexual services all day for a one-off entry fee of 70 euros ($100).

But the new discount scheme has triggered a wave of protests, especially in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg.

<SNIP>http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4518767,00.html

[Strong Atheist]

1. !

:popcorn:

[imdjh]

2. It's just one of those things that sounds kind of revolting

even though a person with enough cash could do essentially the same thing.

[FarCenter]

3. Do German guys like to cuddle, or is it just the free beer?

For 70 euros customers are entitled to all the sex, food and drink they want between 10 am and 4 pm. The evening flat rate rises to 100 euros.

...

"It simply brings in more customers. Hardly anyone can 'do it' more than twice. So basically the flat rate is mostly for the free beer," she says.

[imdjh]

4. I'm pretty sure that when social security and brothels are mentioned in the same article...

.... that I don't want to think about it too much.

[foo_bar]

5. it's like the Old Country Buffet

[obliviously]

7. I used to like the

old country buffet but they closed them all down around here!

[rug]

6. I assume the flat rates are cheaper.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Is a flat rate anything like a standing offer?

[rug]

9. I imagine it's even less if they're standing.

[Jackpine Radical]

15. If SOMETHING isn't standing,

the whole thing seems kinda pointless.

[safeinOhio]

10. Sounds like the name of a bad stripper

Miss Flat Rate.

[BlooInBloo]

11. Oh - I thought you meant Dignity.

:P

[vixengrl]

12. I would suppose one possible (unspoken) issue in such a "deal" is tipping.

"If you look at the way these brothels advertise, then there's a violation of the human dignity of the prostitutes who work there," he said, adding that authorities "were working on a way to stop the brothels from operating the way they do under that current fee system."

Baden-Wuerttemberg Interior Minister Heribert Rech, who has led a campaign against one particular brothel, said the "price suggests women there are being exploited."


Or not, in terms strictly of compensation (the moral question of whether sex work is innately exploitative being left aside, for the moment).


Under a "cover charge" for all the food, drink, and sex one can manage pricing scheme, I would presume a custom should develop for tipping one's "server." After all, I don't know about anyone else, but I know people who could probably eat and drink their money's worth of 70 euros, depending upon the quality of the food. However, the actual sex component is very, shall we say, personal and individualized. The house may claim to the taxation authorities that the prix fixe includes gratuities, but there isn't much of a practical way to establish what any woman's actual take-home is. Which would lead to shorting the revenue offices, since that money would likely remain as secretive as whatever else occurs behind closed doors.

A formula could conceivably be devloped to rationalize what a working person in this trade "would" expect to receive in tips, in something like the fashion our IRS has for wait staff in restaurants, but its actual imposition would be difficult to follow up on, and probably not especially equitable (given that some "staff" may be more popular, or because of other factors such as "return clients" who may be more inclined to reward favorites with better tips.)

[nevergiveup]

13. If we could someway get all the Republicans

in congress to take their vacations in Germany the brothel industry could be saved.

[Confusious]

14. I Think I got done with my second semester of German just in time!

Nuff said!