413047-Underground-Commercial-Sex-Economy

Finally, respondents also charged different amounts based on the employee completing the sex act. One
respondent explained the perspective behind this price model: “People are willing to pay for what they
think that you’re worth. Some girls make $100 a trick, some make $1,000 a trick, some make $10,000 a
trick. It’s the product” (G7).
Forms of Payment
Respondents accepted different forms of payment, though cash was by far the most common. Figure 7.2
illustrates the percentage of employees that accepted cash, drugs, credit or debit cards, and objects or
merchandise as a form of payment. Some pimps accepted more than one form of payment, therefore the
categories below are not mutually exclusive.
Figure 7.2 Forms of Payment Accepted
The majority of respondents accepted cash, but some offenders also accepted alternative forms of
payment. One interviewee shared that he was not particular regarding types of compensation: “Credit
cards, gifts—I mean, if he wants to buy you a mink coat, then get a floor length mink coat and get the hat
and purse. If he wants to buy you a fridge, get the stove and washer and dryer. [I had] a credit card
machine and a PayPal account. The credit card linked straight to the PayPal” (D5). A woman who worked
as a bottom also reported that “For a short period, [my pimp] accepted PayPal” (D21). Other less
traditional forms of payment were permissible at times: “I’d accept payment in gold or silver” (A4).
Employees also accepted additional gifts that were turned over to the pimp, though they were generally
accompanied by a cash payment: “I take everything, diamonds from a trick before, laptops, digital
cameras, a lot of weed. My girl came out from a dude who gave her two ounces of cocaine. They’re not
going to have sex for that, they’ve got to have cash, too” (B3). Other pimps also reported additional
earnings from employees who would rob clients while on the job. One pimp explained, “You’d be
surprised how many of these watches these girls might accidentally pick up. Gotta sell them” (D8).
Pawning stolen goods brought additional income.
While pimps collected significant earnings, some respondents also reported substantial costs to operating
a business within the UCSE. The following section explores those costs.
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