…to think it’s a bit tight & embarrassing to haggle on some things?

[NellesVilla]

Hello all,

I was due to cat and dog sit over Xmas for about 3 x weeks. It had been booked since last Xmas. I’ve worked for the for years and already offer them a mates’ rate discount- relevant.I was also their nanny several years’ ago whilst at uni.

Last night the family called me to ask for another discount just over 2 weeks’ before the start date, plus asking if I’d contribute to bills for my ‘stay’. Not that it matters but they are loaded, are flying to the states to a v expensive Christmassy city, and will be spending shitloads- they do every year.

So they want a discount on the already crazily reduced bargain rate I give them; money that I need and forms part of my meagre current income. Additionally, they’d like something towards bills- when they have asked me to care for their home and cherished pets.

Wtaf? Is this normal? Do I tell them to take a long walk off a short pier or what?! Please vipers; I need to grow a pair as I find this type of thing- money-orientated issue- challenging at the best of times!!

Absolute cheeky bastards!!! Cancel on them. They have really taken the piss

NellesVilla, their nerve is jaw dropping.

Please make it your new year's resolution to appreciate your own worth and charge the going rate for your services. Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, undercharging equates to you being undervalued by your clients. Set your rates realistically and similar to other pet minders in the area. There is no need to be embarrassed, just take confidence from knowing your fees are comparable and stick to them.

If you do know them fairly well then I’d be honest and would actually tell them that you’re upset and say something like
”that’s actually really upset me that you have asked and it’s made me feel like I don’t want to sit for you anymore. You know I already give you a discounted rate so it’s pretty bloody cheeky to ask for even more of one, especially when most people are putting their prices up. I’m still happy to do it for the price we agreed, but please don’t ask me to reduce my rates further for you or to contribute to bills. It just makes things awkward. Anyway, let me know if you need to cancel. If you could let me know by Tuesday please as then I can find alternative work”.
then if you don’t get an apology I’d be gobsmacked.

😁

I’m a pet sitter and I would just drop the booking if clients behaved like this. They won’t find anyone else to do it now and they will hopefully learn their lesson. It’s really unreasonable of them to expect you to pay the bills when you are there pet sitting for them!

Ha! Just noticed as well that they put you on the spot by calling you – not incidental that they rang you I’d bet.

I am just astounded at the people willing to screw people over to “maintain their lifestyles”. I’m sure that the level of expenditure could be met by perhaps economising on the monthly food shop or cutting down on the fancy meals out. But nope cut the gardeners rate or the house sitters. Ffs.

That in a nutshell is how the rich stay rich and you OP are struggling to buy a house.
Be as breezy as them. No apology just a 'no. In fact all my rates have increased and I was not going to change yours but now negotiations are underway, my revised rate is xxx. Please let me know if you still require my service'

We pay a daily rate for a cat sitter. I would feel a poor cat owner if I underpaid. Even if it for 30 days I pay the same daily rate as for a weekend. Cat sitter has to live

‘now negotiations are inderway’

Lovely way of putting it. I’d use this!

Although don’t do it in the ‘inderway’ accent 🤣

This is why rich people are rich….

because the find suckers… don’t be that sucker

you’re worth more and you know it

Yes. This.

Tell them you were only honoring the verbal agreement in the first place because of your history. But you have holiday offers at your normal rate, so will be more than happy to accept one of those and leave the CFers to it if they don't want to pay what was agreed.

If you can get other work easily I'd say "no I can't do that but I can instead let you cancel without the usual cancellation fee. If you need my services in the future note that my fee will be $x (full rate) with 50% paid at the time of booking".

Totally.

These are mean dishonourable people.

Cancel the job and refuse any further discussion about it.

They have zero respect for you or what you do.

They are trying to screw you.

Trying to renegotiate is the height of disrespect and is a complete breakdown of the relationship.

Decades ago as a 19 year old, a friend asked me would I babysit for the weekend for the neighbours of her regular family, in two months time.

I said sure and a rate of £100 was agreed for 3 full days, they were off to a wedding.

48 hours before the wedding the woman rang me at home and told me that they thought it was too much money and she could only pay me £70.

I was pissed off and told her I would ring her back

My parents advised me to cancel the job.

They felt it was rude and that they were trying to take advantage of me.

They said it was up to me, but what they were doing was very shabby.

I agreed. I already had a summer job, we all did, so this was extra money, not crucial.

I rang her back and said thanks but no thanks and got off the phone really quickly as she spluttered.

She rang back immediately and said I could have the full amount, which pissed me off even more.

I told her No thanks that I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it now.

She had the cheek to go back to her neighbours and bad mouth me, but my friend put the family straight and told them that she was very annoyed because I had done HER a favour.
They apologised to her for putting her in that position.

I learned a lot from that experience and can rememberit clearly from 40 years ago.

They were cheap, and thought they could exploit a teen.

My parents gave me good advice.

OP, they are untrustworthy.
Cancel and get another gig.
You have time.

Assholes.

Either pull out, or say "hi Jane, I'm not in a position to reduce my original quote. My usual rate is X which I reduced to Y on account of our friendship. I don't contribute to utilities when I house or pet sit, that responsibly rests with the homeowner. Let me know by Monday whether you want to cancel or go ahead so I can organise another booking as I depend on the income."

Many, many people need pet sitting at the holidays. Cancel on these assholes and advertise your availability.

Asking for the discount is bad enough but expecting you to contribute to bills??? Are they insane?

Errr, what?! We have a friend who enjoys house/pet sitting for us - particularly because she can invite her own family from abroad to stay whilst she’s here (her own place is so small it’s not possible). Despite her insistence that it’s useful for her, I insist on paying her when she does this - she’s taking care of our house and pets for us!

these people are taking the piss, OP xx

This

and the family are horribly selfish

be just as flakey as they are, and a bit more for good measure, you can really mess up thier xmas if you feel like it.....

If you find it difficult to ask for money, create a rate sheet where you outline what you do, what your daily/hourly/weekly fees are, and the requirement that you be paid up front. If people inquire, text them that rate sheet. Then you won't have to verbalize it, and they can never pretend there was a misundertanding.

I employ a professional organizer about one day a month (lately) as I'm trying to declutter and downsize. She's a 40ish grad student who needs the income to pay for her studies. Even though we have become friendly, she never hesitates to ask at the start of each session "Can you pay me now, please?" as she has been stiffed in the past. I don't begrudge it and always either send the funds digitally right then and there, or hand her an envelope with cash if I've had a moment to hit the cashpoint.

You have to be assertive and firm. There is no shame in expecting to be paid for your services.

'Fraid that won't be possible.

Would you like to cancel. My rates for cancellation (already set out in our agreement) are ...

Another thing: I am going away for a week in early December; my dog will be cared for by professional pet sitters in their own home; it is costing me 650 for the week plus additional for pickup/dropoff service. And I had to pay in July at the time of booking, in full! So please, do not be embarrassed or ashamed to a) charge as much as the market will bear and b) demand payment up front. Or at least a 50 percent deposit.

I'd cancel.

I'd answer, no way and add one of the very useful other replies upthread.

I pay my cat minder before I even go away. We agree a decent cost, I leave all the goodies I can think of/buy in the shop the day before, all heating costs are on me, food is in fridge and freezer, kitchen is a free for all basically, I also leave local takeaway menus and extra money, all cat food and treats left in easy reach, extras in cupboard just in case, the entire house is ok to use if required and speed dial to vet just in case, and it's my son who does the cat minding.
I would go much much further for a house sitter.
I pay because amazingly I love my cat and want him to be happy while I'm away.
So a sitter who also was in the house is too good to lose for miserly reasons.

Value yourself, charge a rate that's commensurate with others doing the same,

FWIW a cat feeder near me charges £10per visit so £30 per day as I want my cat feeding 3 times, I pay my son £35 a day because my cat adores him and hes local enough. If he wasnt local or couldn't do it I'd pay whoever the same as I pay my son. That's because I value peoples time and my cat.

Excellent suggestion from @ZeldaWillTellYourFortune.

No discussion just a sheet that can be forwarded with details and prices.

I also think her suggestion of payment in advance is very reasonable.

If you don't value what you do, can you really expect other to?

My childrens piano lessons are always in advance.