…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!!

They should be paying you 150 a day for that level of service.

Hold firm! Let them learn their lesson and block their number from here on.

Quoting my own post to make it more clear
I paid in total about £500 for 10 days cat looking after. With the money left for takeaways, the heating, the money I paid my son, the litter as my cat usually goes outside, the food I put in the fridge and freezer, the treats I left my for my son, the money I paid him in advance, you get the idea.

Fgs value your service, it's worth more than gold to the right pet owner.

Ah well their other mates/family can crack on with it , !

Originally I did think you should honour your original rates but as they are propsing reducing this further and charging you to live there you would be well within your rights ( if you still wanted to do the job) to tell them there is an increase .

If they splutter how unreasonable you are when this was booked 11 months ago , you can put the ball firmly back in their court that they were trying to undercut your previous generous fee and you don;t feel you can do this now .
But it's great they can get someone to step in so that's worked out well .

We have 2 cats who I know wouldn't cope with cattery life . Our male hid all day after we had a delivery to the house so he wouldn't deal with change .A PetSitter wouldn't work either as he'd stay out 24/7

Our adult DS and DD are on CatDuty and HouseSitting (they live at home)
Cattery fees near me are £30/day for two in a shared accomodation. We give our DC £15/day (basically feed/trays/open/close cat door and keep the cats happy ) + a take away on top of full freezer and supermarket delivery

And most charge double for Christmas Day/Boxing Day/New Years Day

Leave their mates to this awesome deal of essentially paying for the privilege of looking after their house and pets then. Do not budge; you are already charging them a shockingly low rate. They are CF of the highest order.

You lost me at "little businesses."

You're either a successful self employed business owner or you're not. Calling them "little businesses" puts you into the not category.

You're just playing. Charging pennies on the pound for your time, no proper business structure and no self respect when it comes to your work. Why?

Do you want success? Do you want to be able to pay bills and provide housing for yourself without constantly having to hustle? Then you need to take it seriously and realise this is real work, not make believe business which your friends will prop up. Charge properly, be professional and have an actual plan.

Drip feed alert!

Reread my opening post and forgot to add that they’ve changed the dates 2-3 times as well- as to when I would be required. They have a neighbouring couple who also ‘fancied helping out a bit’ and weren’t sure if they wanted to do 1, 2 or 3 days: just ridiculous!

So the time I’d have been booked for ‘may have’ been broken up by this couple doing the odd day. I know! I don’t know if I’m coming or going now; I suspect they are just the same!

If anything, you should be charging 'peak rates' over that period. Higher price.

My mother also said what would happen if they decided not to go away/couldn’t go away at the last minute: I said that I just wouldn’t get a penny.

She said: “no retainer?”; I said no, to which she replied: “that’s your answer. You owe them nothing and need to walk way without looking back.”

Your mum speaks slot of sense!

Thanks, @WeepingSomnambulist - needed to hear that. Sensible, straight-talking advice. You sound like my eastern European mother, but I know that she has no interest in using the internet!

Are they waiting for you to get back to them?

You need to be assertive (but not rude) and turn it right back on them.

"Hello CF , just fetting back to you about the Pet/House sittting . From how I see it you're wanting to cancel without incurring a cancellation fee as you've got mates/family to step in . So you've dropped your price to make me back out . That's fine , bit short notice but I'll waive the cancellation fee this time"

If they bluster back that "No we neeeeed you , Please say you'll still do it "

Then you can decide if you want to (at your full rate /original rate)
Or no you don't treat someone so disrespecfully as that and that's the end of it .

Re: your last paragraph...

A friend was being a pain to a wedding-related company & when she quibbled over the price of something & said, "I'm not paying that - I've got a friend who can do it," she was told, "Well get your friend to do it, then"!

Unfortunately that friend was me, & after a couple of months my sympathies were entirely with the business owner.

Fuck that noise.
Advise them that due to the increase in living costs, you understand that their circumstances may have changed however, as companionship and warmth are two of the services for which people are hiring you, you do not contribute to heating, electricity or water bills during that period of time.
Advise them that you are still receiving inquiries about your availability over this period at your newer INCREASED rate, and you understand completely if they wish to cancel. You will accept your usual cancellation fee of X% of the agreed amount payable to you had you looked after their pets.

Odd response.
I'm just a business owner, fed up of seeing women (it's almost never men) having "little businesses" which they never earn enough from and dont seem to understand why.

This is why.

Do it properly or dont do it. You'd be better off just getting any job at this point. You're a grown, capable woman. Act like it.

I’d put your prices back up to non mates rates.

They’re not mates. If they cancel, they’ll fuck themselves over as they’ll never find house/pet sitters at such short notice.

”I must say, I have never been asked to contribute to client’s bills before! Obviously this won’t be possible. I should also point out that we had agreed a “mates rate” for your booking. There was clearly a misunderstanding - current rate is £x/day so total of £X. I will also need full payment before the booking commences. Let me know if you’re happy to proceed, or if you’d prefer to make other arrangements. Kind regards, Me”

Also, insist on full payment upfront. We always have to pay our dog sitter the full amount before dropping our dog off with her.

It’s not an odd response at all. OP’s thanked
you for your direct and frank advice.

No need to be a bitch now and keep turning the knife! It was helpful, but there’s no need to be nasty

When it comes to money we need to learn to get over our embarrassment and take the emotion out of things - just think about what our bottom line is and convey it unapologetically. So in this case, what others have said - I have already offered you a discounted rate and cannot reduce it any further. I am also not willing to break up the booking when you have other people taking over for a few days. I wish you all the best, and will leave it there for now.

This

FWIW, I charge them £150 per week.

That's not even minimum wage!! No wonder you can't afford your own house. Listen to your mother for advice!!

Oh tell them to piss off. You have been kind enough to honour the agreed and reduced rate in spite of prices exploding, you are giving up your own Christmas and you will still have rent/mortgage/bills to pay on your own home. Those costs don't magically get lowered if you aren't there do they? I'd cancel and put the feelers out for another booking.

Calm down.

She was just thanking you for your input - it helped her to see more clearly.

Why are you being so rude?

I paid £45 per day this summer for a house sitter. I have horses and cats. The horses are out 24/7 in the summer so didn't need anything doing, just checking they were fine.

I stocked the fridge and freezer. Bought wine, gin and loads of chocolate.

Over 3 weeks that would be more than £800. Even with a good discount you are seriously underselling yourself. Tell them to jog on.

That should say over £900. I've been on the gin 😝

I just checked the dog rates for the cattery I used to use.

Their current dog rates are £26 per day per dog.

The rates for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day are doubled.

and this is a kennels, the exercise they get is being let loose in the walking field, no personal fun time or cuddles .

you are seriously underselling your services.

I suggest you forward some kennel rates to your friends and suggest they try to get a late booking!