Do I have the right to be mad and what would you do?

[JCJRSmith]

So far it appears everyone is in complete agreement, even the poster who admittedly clicked the wrong button

When my kids were in daycare, we were charged by the week, whether they were there or not. The did give us a reduced rate for weeks we were on vacations, but only with at least two week's notice. I looked at it this way: we paid for the center to keep the kid's spots available for us when we needed it. It was up to us to actually use it.

If you give this neighbor a discount for "part-time" care, the time when their child is not there is not paid for, and your chances of getting paid for that time would be incumbent on you being able to find another family who also wanted part time care on the exact opposite schedule of the neighbor. Yeah, good luck with that

Tell them no, or tell them you charge for the full week, whether they choose to use that full week or not.

 

[Lionqueen2]

I agree with everyone else. Your rates are way too low. Anything near me ranges from $200 to $500 per week. One place has a charge $200 for the first three days. Days 4 and 5 - no charge.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I wouldn't be upset because business is business, but I wouldn't lower my rate, either, for the same reason.

This is one of the problems with doing business with friends and family (and neighbors are friends for purposes of this discussion, IMHO). If you have to hold the line with them for business reasons, there can be hurt feelings and you still have to look at them for a long time after.

 

[tomthebarncat]

Are you a business or a charity? If you are a business then tell her no and fill the slot with paying babies. If you are a charity lower your rate and or offer to help her find other arrangements. How is her problem yours? you do not need to explain anything, just say no and move on. I also don't understand why you should have to help her find other arrangements! it is her responsibility to find childcare within her budget not yours.

 

[dawn1620]

You should not lower your rate for this person, you are running a business. I'm sure she would not go into her grocery store and ask to only pay half price at the checkout when given her total.

In my opinion she had a nerve asking you to cut your prices in the first place. And then to not pay you the deposit was the second thing that gave me the feeling this might not be a reliable customer - maybe she can't pay this week and will catch up the next, or can you watch my baby a few extra hours today, ect and not pay you for the extra time. If she doesn't understand your reasons for not being able to keep her child part time then she is a little thick in the head in my opinion. I would not worry too much about what she says (if she does say anything) - I'm sure your reputation as a caregiver will stand on it's own, especially with the number of calls you get, sounds like you are being recommended quite a bit.

When we were in the military and my daughter was being kept by one of the people they licensed to keep kids on base we had to pay $55 a week and that was subsidised by the Navy. AND we had to provide diapers, wipes, formula and babyfood. $75 a week is a steal with what you are providing.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Read most of the replies and am in general agreement, but I don't understand why you are upset. Her hours were changed, so she wants to pay less. She has someone that can do the work for less. Why would you get upset because she asked? If she became insistent or obnoxious, I could understand.

Just as you run a business, so must she manage her home finances. With her hours reduced, she is hoping to cut her expenses. You both win if you just tell her that you cannot lower your price, explaining why, and she moves to the other option. As you have indicated, you will be able to fill this slot at your normal rate.

Good luck...

 

[laurie31]

Read most of the replies and am in general agreement, but I don't understand why you are upset. Her hours were changed, so she wants to pay less. She has someone that can do the work for less. Why would you get upset because she asked? If she became insistent or obnoxious, I could understand.

Just as you run a business, so must she manage her home finances. With her hours reduced, she is hoping to cut her expenses. You both win if you just tell her that you cannot lower your price, explaining why, and she moves to the other option. As you have indicated, you will be able to fill this slot at your normal rate.

Good luck...

She *held a spot* for this lady, turing away others, and lost out on $2100 in income in the process. Now the lady is (probably) going to use someone else. Of course I understand anyone wanting to pay the least amount possible, but the OP certainly has the right to be ticked off about it.

 

[clutter]

The reality is that you don't do part-time. Someone is welcome to use you part-time, but they must pay for full time.

Around here (where 12 years ago I paid 2x that for baby care) people know that you pay to have a spot held and you pay for full time care even if you work part time.

I wouldn't worry about it at all. Given the number of calls you've had, you will fill that spot quickly. Just take a breath and relax. Bet you'll have it filled by this time next week!

 

[carmiedog]

Your poll doesn't include the "Heck no, what were they thinking, I can't believe she'd even ASK that" option so I had to vote just plain no.

That's pretty much what I was going to say!

This is a no-brainer. I pay $75 for 16-20 hours/week. That's through a private, unlicensed sitter. If I were to go with a licensed sitter or daycare, it'd be a heck of a lot more!

So, OP, where do you live? Maybe it's time for me to move! Are your rates standard where you live? Don't undervalue yourself!

 

[swald91]

Well, I too own a business & it's VERY difficult to do business with a neighbor, friend-etc. Sometimes being nice is not at the top of the list. I agree with the other posters here-you run a full time day care-you charge for a full time spot-period. Not sure how friendly you are with her, but I know someone in the same business as you-she had to turn a so called friend away for similiar reasons and this woman caused her more trouble-ran her name around town as a bad provider & then contacted the state & just lied about things-in the end it all worked out but she spent alot of money on a lawyer to protect her business that never had any issues to begin with until this woman was turned away....just caused alot of headaches. Good luck & let us know how it all turns out.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

She *held a spot* for this lady, turing away others, and lost out on $2100 in income in the process. Now the lady is (probably) going to use someone else. Of course I understand anyone wanting to pay the least amount possible, but the OP certainly has the right to be ticked off about it.

We can get ticked off at anything if we choose, but why waste the energy? IMO, that was a bad business decision. I certainly wouldn't hold a spot that only lasts for 11 months for 7 months. The $2,100 loss is on her, not the neighbor. Why? Because even if she agreed to pay full price, the OP is still out that $2,100.

All that the OP really loses (that can be laid at the feet of this neighbor) is the amount lost until the slot is filled.

 

[robinb]

Think of it this way ... you are really only out $75 because she would have done this to you anyway. PLUS, if you kept that $75 when she tried to change things around she would have been P.O.'d at YOU instead.

I would tell her that you can't lower your rates because of the difficulty of finding another part-time baby to take the rest of the slot while her baby is at home. She probably thinks she is being more than fair since she is offering you more than 50% of your rate for 50% of the time, so you'll have to tread softly. Tell her that you understand that things change and to go ahead with the other sitter. I might include something like "I'm disappointed that we can't work things out with little Joey. I saved the spot for him and turned down a LOT of other babies waiting for him." But I can be passive-aggressive like that .

FWIW, I think your rates are WAY too low. I paid $125 per week eight years ago for my toddler to attend pre-school for 8 hours a week here in Madison, WI. The fact that you turned down so many babies while you held the spot for her shows that you are in very high demand. It may be your great child rearing skills or it may be your low, low price .... but it's probably a combination of both. It's time to raise your prices starting with the next baby that comes in. $75 is DIRT cheap especially since you include so much. Can you even make any money after you pay for diapers, formula and wipes? Babies go through 8-12 diapers per day and you provide half of them. Diapers and wipes are about 27¢ for each change so you're spending $8.13 on diapers and wipes alone for every kid in diapers. I have no idea how much formula costs, but you are probably feeding 20 oz per day ... a 2 oz serving costs about 16¢ each so you're spending another $1.60 per day on feeding. So ... you're spending another $8 per week on feeding the babies too. So, I guess that you are making $59 after your expenses per week but that's ONLY $1.48 per hour. To watch someone's BABY. I pay more for a babysitter for my 10-year old!

I would raise your prices to at least $90 per week or I would require people to provide their own diapers & formula or give them the option to buy a week's worth for an $10 each. Of those options, I would simply raise the price because you can continue to charge the higher price for the children as they get older.

 

[MELSMICE]

I would probably be annoyed, but you just need to move on. Tell her that you can not reduce your rate & wish her the best. I'm sure your baby spot will be filled in no time.

BTW - $75 a week for a full-time baby slot is ridiculously inexpensive & I can't believe it includes diapers, etc. Day cares around here charge approximately $40 per day for an infant & it includes nothing!

My sister pays $40 per day to her sitter for her 3 year old son - it does include food & snacks.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Read most of the replies and am in general agreement, but I don't understand why you are upset. Her hours were changed, so she wants to pay less.

While the thread asks if the OP has the right to be upset, the poll actually just asks if we think she should acquiesce and lower her rates to accommodate the neighbor (overwhelmingly, we don't ). But the neighbor's hours weren't changed - as the business owner, she changed them herself - and yes, there is a difference

The neighbor is welcome to set whatever work hours for herself that she wants - but the OP only provides full-time daycare.

 

[kaytieeldr]

but I know someone in the same business as you-she had to turn a so called friend away for similiar reasons and this woman caused her more trouble-ran her name around town as a bad provider & then contacted the state & just lied about things

Fortunately, if the neighbor in this case is being truthful, she HAS an alternate arrangement and is simply trying to negotiate with the OP - not bluff her, and then make her life miserable. After all, as a business owner herself, reputation and slander work both ways - NOT to even imply the OP would respond in kind.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Hey, I would not be mad....

I would just tell her, NO, NO way, not possible...
Period, end of discussion.

You made the decisions on your end.
You are responsible for your decisions (holding a spot without being paid)

This whole thing goes back to the same theme of several recent threads...
WHY DO PEOPLE THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS SOMETHING AND IT IS 'THERE' THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASK FOR IT FOR FREE?????

As another person posted on the most recent thread "Just not cool...."

Seriously, people are just so self-centered and narcissitic... How presumptous to put you in this awkward situation and even ask!!!!

IMHO....
Why waste time being mad...
Take ownership....

JUST SAY 'NO'... and move on...

 

[Eeyores#1Fan]

I agree with the majority on this post. You run a business...she has to manage her budget. She asked but you don't have to say yes. Say no, explain why and move on. I understand being mad but staying mad isn't good for you, your family or your daycare kids ;o)

This coming from a mom that pays $155 a week for homebased and a sister whom also has her own homebased daycare and charges $175 for infants. And that doesn't include diapers and formula.

 

[nexttrip4us]

Wow--maybe that's the going rate for in-home daycares in your area, but that is cheap! We live in the midwest, NOT in a large metropolitan area...and I pay $35/day for my almost 5 year old at a preschool/daycare center. I pay extra for her snacks and pack her lunch. When she was a baby, it was closer to $50/day. My four kids were always in part-time daycare and I often paid full-time rates. If the place was good, I was happy to pay to guarantee their spots.

Bottom line...do the right thing for you and your business. No different than what she is doing trying to manage expenses for her family. It is a drag that you held the spot that long, but no sense wasting any more energy on worrying about this. What's done is done. Let her know you can't do that and move on.

Good luck!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I agree with the majority on this post. You run a business...she has to manage her budget. She asked but you don't have to say yes. Say no, explain why and move on.

Actually, the OP's entire response should be, "I appreciate your situation, but I can't do that." Period. Once again, I'm offering my services free as 'agent' to say no on behalf of a DISer not comfortable saying it.

 

[babyrich]

this is your business, not a side job. If you do not want to lower your rate, than tell her no. If you want to keep the "neighborly" part, than do not tell her that you held this spot for her and are really pissed off now.

Business is business!!