Do you tip your petsitter?

[CheshireVal]

I can't remember if I've asked this before or not, but I still don't know the answer, so I'll ask again.

Last night I met with the petsitter who is going to be taking care of my two kitties while I'm at Disney for Christmas. She seemed super nice-- she works for a big pet sitting company and is bonded, insured, etc.

I'm to leave my check for her before I leave, and I make it out to the owner of the company, not her.

So my question is: am I supposed to tip her when I get back and reclaim my key? Or is that not necessary with pet sitters? Someone else suggested a souvenir from Disney, but I really don't know her very well since we just met last night....

I've never hired a petsiter before. Any advice on ettiquette??

 

[LoraJ]

I hired a petsitter when I went to WDW last month. They told me the same thing, to leave a check for them.

I didn't leave them a tip, it's their own business, so I don't think you normally tip owners. But I was thinking about bringing them back a gift if they did anything above and beyond. But I didn't really getting anything above and beyond their standard service (i.e. daily email updates on my pet), so I didn't get anything.


I had a tipping ettiquette dilema yesterday. I wasn't sure if I should tip the woman at the wash-n-fold where I brought all my summer clothes to be washed. Again, I think she owns the place, and I am not even actually sure if she is the one who washes and folds. Hmmm...

 

[vettechick99]

I was a petsitter/owner for 4 years. I almost always got tips, but it just depended on the client. I never expected it, but was always appreciative (I was putting myself through college).

When my business boomed, I hired two petsitters and they always got 100% of the tips left for them. Of course!

 

[2BOYMOM]

I was also a petsitter for a large petsitting company for years and years. I loved it when I got a tip, the owner didn't require us to turn our tips over to him, they were ours, we earned them. I do a small amount of petsitting on my own now but still appreciate a tip! I have one customer who leaves me Disney Dollars at Christmas. She knows me well!

 

[LoraJ]

See, now I know I shouldn't have listened to my friends who said that I shouldn't tip the petsitter when I asked about ettiquete, now I feel guilty.

 

[Lisa F]

Wow, I feel cheap for never tipping the pet sitter... on the other hand, he got $22/day for coming in for a half hour or so and it never occured to me. The check was always made out to the actual pet sitter and not to the company (though I assume he had to pay the company for coordinating).

We did, however, give him $50 at christmas from the kitties.

 

[puggymom]

Oh geez, I never thought, what a jerk. I recently hired someone to come in at lunch time once a week to let my boys out (I go home the other days). I was planning on getting her a Xmas gift though.

What is a average tip 10%, 15?

The check is made out to the company, but I chose this company because I knew the woman first and asked how do I hire you?

 

[vettechick99]

I wouldn't feel guilty about this. It's one of those gray tip areas. My pet sitters made good money even if they didn't get a tip. But if you like them or they do good service, a few extra dollars is always nice.

Or a sweet note, or an Xmas gift, or a call to their boss....

 

[CheshireVal]

Hmmmm thanks for all your replies. Seems like there really is no general consensus on this.

I think maybe I'll buy her a box of candy or something from Disney. She has 2 daughters and a husband so if she doesn't like it, then I'm sure someone in her family will!

 

[Sleepy]

I do pet sitting in my home when people transfer in country. I feel I charge enough per day for my services that if I thought I should make more, I would increase my daily fee to make up for lack of a tip. I find it odd to expect a tip from someone already paying me for services.

 

[ZachnElli]

I have never tipped a pet sitter, but they were always independent and they charged alot. My first sitter was $36 a day for 3 trips. The next 2 (my first one quit) both charged $47 a day! The last 2 were terrible and my neighbor could hear one of them yelling at my dogs! They are going to a doggie cabin this Christmas.

 

[mrsstats]

My pet sitter runs her own small business. I do not tip her but I sometimes ask her to come in 2x a day and come home early. I always pay her for 2 visits even if she does 1. Sometimes I leave a few $$ more. Also, I do send her a gift certificate at Christmas. I think tipping is out of hand. If she felt her services were worth more, I am sure she would charge more.